Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
This week's message explores the theme of faith
through the story of Joseph in Genesis 47 to 48
and the disciples in Matthew 8.
In times of uncertainty,
both Joseph and the disciples face challenges
that tested their trust in God's provision and power.
From Joseph's leadership during famine
to Jesus calming the storm,
we see how faith in God's word, covenant, and purpose
shapes our response to life's trials.
Join us as we reflect on what it means
to have unwavering faith in God's perfect timing.
Thanks for listening.
Good morning.
If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do,
I want to invite you to join us in Genesis chapter 47.
If you're wondering,
why did I send Grayson out of the auditorium
and in a panic trying to get my glasses clean?
I don't know.
That worship set just produced a little bit of tears
and a lot of sweat.
So I really appreciate that
and kind of fogged up my glasses a little bit.
So trying to get that
so that I don't have to try to play on memorization for this.
But we're glad that you guys are here.
And I think I can see good enough out of my glasses
for the remainder of our service together.
Hey, if you're a first-time guest,
thank you so much for being here.
At the end of the service,
I'll be back here to my left,
back here at this table.
Would love for you to stop by.
It's a great place if you've got questions
about our church to get those questions answered.
But if nothing more,
I would just like to personally learn your name,
shake your hand,
and thank you for being here
and for worshiping with us.
Also, with that,
we are going to have the Lord's Supper
at the very end of the service together.
So I'll preach here
and then the band will come up
for a time of response for us.
And then the very last thing we'll do
is I'll come back on stage
and we'll partake in the Lord's Supper together.
If you are a follower of Jesus,
regardless if you're a member of Willow Ridge Church or not,
we want to encourage you to take that with us
if the Spirit of God so leads you to.
We'll walk through that together
about what we're doing
and why we're doing it
and the heart that we need to have
in order to do that.
But if you are a follower of Jesus,
I want to encourage you to do that.
And then also,
we do have our third through fifth graders in the room
and we're doing that the first Sunday of every month
because we're so excited to see what God is doing to them.
So many of them have given their life to Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Savior.
We wanted them when we have baptism
to be able to celebrate that with us
as so many others are getting baptized.
But we also want to provide them,
those that are followers of Jesus,
the opportunity to partake in the Lord's Supper together.
And so we're glad, kids,
that you were here with us,
a part of our church,
and that God is working and moving
in our students,
in our youth,
in our kids,
in our adults,
in all three of our church.
And we celebrate Him for that.
Before we get into Genesis 47, though,
I want to read out of Matthew chapter 8.
Starting in verse 25, it says,
And they went and woke Him, saying,
Save us, Lord, we are perishing.
And He said to them,
Why are you afraid?
Oh, you of little faith.
Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
And the men marveled, saying,
What sort of man is this?
Let even winds and sea obey Him.
Would you pray with me?
God, I thank You so much
for our time together in Your Word.
God, I pray as You've taught me this week,
Lord, I pray that You would teach us today.
God, if any part of this is of me,
is from me,
God, please remove it.
And Lord, may this be of You and from You.
Lord, may it penetrate our hearts
in the way that You desire
and in the way that we need.
God, I pray that if there's anyone here
who doesn't know You,
that today they would put their faith
and their hope and trust
in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
God, I pray if there's anyone
who is running from You,
that today would be the day of their repentance.
And that, God, all of us,
who are Your sons and daughters,
would be strengthened in our faith
to live for Your glory
and for Your purpose.
And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So this morning,
we're gonna pick up here
in Genesis 47, verse 13.
We're gonna read all of the remainder of 47,
all of 48.
And then we got two more weeks in Genesis.
We'll do chapter 49
and then we'll wrap up with chapter 50.
And then we're gonna be getting
into New Testament book.
We're gonna be looking
in the book of Titus,
I believe, for about six weeks.
And we're gonna work through that together.
And so excited about that.
It's been a,
just God's taught me a lot.
I hope that God's taught you a lot.
Some of the feedback
that I've been getting
of walking through a book
the way that we've done
over the last two years in Genesis
to really dive in,
to kind of see.
I do feel like sometimes
we can become very New Testament heavy.
And you guys have shared that with me.
And so we wanna make sure
that all of this is God's word
and it's all good.
Sometimes different parts, right?
They're more challenging for us
as we labor through.
And I mean that in a good way
as we work diligently through them
to see what God has for us.
And so we're gonna be wrapping up.
Kind of look at these.
This week and the next two weeks
is kind of wrapping up Genesis.
There's a lot of referring back to
remember when,
think about this kind of pieces
as we see God for us
in so many ways
putting the final puzzle pieces together
of his story in Genesis
as he shares them with us.
So let's read,
we're gonna start verse 12
and read all the way through chapter,
I'm sorry, verse 13
and read all the way through
the remainder of chapter 47.
It says,
Now there was no food in all the land
for the famine was severe
so that the land of Egypt
and the land of Canaan
languished by reason of the famine.
And Joseph gathered up all the money
that was found in the land of Egypt
and in the land of Canaan
in exchange for the grain
that they had bought.
And Joseph brought the money
into Pharaoh's house.
And when the money was all spent
in the land of Egypt
and the land of Canaan,
all the Egyptians came to Joseph
and said,
Give us food.
Why should we die before your eyes
for our money is gone?
And Joseph answered,
Give your livestock
and I will give you food
in exchange for your livestock
if your money is gone.
So they brought their livestock
to Joseph
and Joseph gave them food
in exchange for the horses,
the flocks,
the herds,
the donkeys.
He supplied them with food
in exchange for all their livestock
that year.
And when that year ended,
they came to him
the following year
and said to him,
We will not hide from my Lord
that our money is all spent.
The herds of our livestock
are my Lord's.
There's nothing left
in the sight of my Lord
but our bodies and our land.
Why should we die before your eyes,
both we and our land
by us
and by our land for food
and we with our land
will be servants to Pharaoh
and give us seed
that we may live
and not die
and that the land
may not be desolate.
So Joseph bought all the land
of Egypt for Pharaoh
for all the Egyptians
sold their fields
because this famine
was severe on them
and the land became Pharaoh's.
As for the people,
he made servants of them
from one end of Egypt
to the other.
Only the land of the priest
he did not buy
for the priest had fixed,
had a fixed allowance
from Pharaoh
and lived on the allowance
that Pharaoh gave them.
Therefore,
they did not sell their land.
Then Joseph said to the people,
Behold,
I have this day bought you
and your land for Pharaoh.
Now here is seed for you
and you shall sow the land.
And at the harvest,
you shall give a fifth
to Pharaoh
and four fifths
shall be your own
as a seed for the field
and as food for yourselves
and for your household
and as food for your little ones.
And they said,
You have saved our lives.
May it please my Lord,
we will be servants to Pharaoh.
So Joseph made it a statute
concerning the land
that it stands to this day
that Pharaoh should have the fifth.
The land of the priest alone
did not become Pharaoh's.
Thus Israel settled
in the land of Egypt
in the land of Goshen
and they gained possessions in it
and were fruitful
and multiplied greatly.
And Jacob lived
in the land of Egypt
seventeen years.
So the days of Jacob,
the years of his life
were a hundred and forty-seven years.
And when the time drew near
that Israel must die,
remember,
I will say these names
back and forth,
Israel and Jacob,
same person,
that Israel must die.
He called his son Joseph
and said to him,
If now I have found favor
in your sight,
put your hand under my thigh
and promise to deal kindly
and truly with me.
Do not bury me in Egypt,
but let me lie with my fathers.
Carry me out of Egypt
and bury me in their burying place.
And he answered,
I will do as you have said.
And he said,
Swear to me.
And he swore to him.
And then Israel bowed himself
upon the head of his bed.
So last week,
we were looking back
in an exciting time,
a family torn apart,
a family destroyed,
is reconciled.
But as we see right here
in 47, right,
not everything's easy.
The famine is still there.
The famine is growing.
The famine is spreading.
Because of Joseph
being in the right place,
in the right time,
with the right skills,
not because of happenstance,
but because of the move
in the hand of God,
there is still food
that is available.
While people,
while there could have been
massive death,
massive famine across,
that what we see here
in the land of Egypt,
in the land of Canaan,
that there is hope.
There's hope because of
the hand of the move of God,
which has been placed on Joseph,
and Joseph doing
what God has called him to do.
And so first people
paid with money.
And then when their money
was gone in order to buy food,
they paid with their livestock.
And then when their livestock
was gone,
they paid with themselves.
They paid with their land.
And scripture is very clear
that the agreement was
that they would give a percentage,
give 20%,
and keep the remainder.
And we see that what happens
in this is that Pharaoh's power
and wealth would multiply.
And essentially he was able
to secure the land
and the people
that worked the land.
And in essence,
what we see if we were going
from Genesis to Exodus,
we would see that a foundation
is being laid
for the enslavement
of the people who would come.
Right now we see servants
for a percentage,
but we will something
that will happen
to Joseph's people,
the Israelites,
as they'll become slaves.
As we wrap up Genesis,
chapter 49 will be
where Jacob,
where Israel will bless his sons.
All of these sons
and these dysfunctional relationships
that God is working
powerfully in
and amongst
and he will bless his sons.
And then we'll see
in chapter 50
where he'll die.
And then in Exodus,
here's how it will begin.
And I apologize,
this isn't on the screen,
but if you want to jot this down,
Exodus 1, 8 says,
now there arose
a new king
over Egypt
who did not know Joseph.
And we see the oppression
that Pharaoh,
that Egypt
will have on God's people.
Why?
Well, remember God's promise,
God needed to build himself.
God said
that he would build himself
a people.
And this is what he will do.
He will not build this people
in the land of freedom.
God will build this people
in enslavement.
And here's what we will see happen.
We see,
oh, and all the way back
with God and Abraham
and Genesis 12,
all the way rolling through
into Exodus.
of what we will see
with this people
that it took,
in the very beginning,
it took about 50 years
to grow to 100 people.
But then what we will see
happen in the way
that God does,
because God doesn't say,
I'm going to create
for myself a family.
God says,
I'm going to create
for myself a nation,
a people.
Is that what we will see
over the next 430 years
is several million people.
Were these times easy?
No.
But were these times
of the hand of God?
Yes.
In our lives,
whether we're looking
at the account of Genesis
or we're looking
at the account
of our lives
in present day time,
what does our trust
look like
in trusting
the plan of God?
I think if we were
to sit down,
like we know
how God works
and what God
is working for,
His glory,
our good.
But let's be honest,
sometimes it's a little difficult
to understand
the route
that God has taken
to get us there.
We know the start.
We know the destination.
But the means
in which we will get there
is a little complex,
especially in the moment.
And I believe
what God is growing
in us,
what God is doing
in us
is developing
big faith.
Big faith.
I think if I were
to ask you,
and I believe
many of you
that are here today
are professing
followers of Jesus Christ.
Maybe not all of us.
And if you're not,
we're glad you're here.
We're glad you're here.
We're glad you came
to listen,
to understand,
and we've been praying
for you.
Man, we've been praying
for you.
But for all of us
here,
if I were to say,
do you have faith
in God?
Yes.
Do you have faith
in God's plan?
Yes.
Do you have faith
in God's purpose?
Yes.
Do you have faith
in God's word?
Yes.
Do you have faith
in God's love
and kindness?
Yes.
But the question is,
not do you have faith,
but what is the depth
of your faith?
Do you have little faith?
Do you have big faith?
We start off
with Matthew 8.
I want to read
this story to you
because this,
this to me,
is so powerful
in Jesus' words here.
Matthew 8,
23 and 27.
It says,
when he got into
the boat,
he being Jesus,
his disciples
followed him.
So who took him there?
Jesus.
He led the way.
Where are we going?
I don't know.
We're going where
Jesus takes us.
And behold,
there arose a great storm
on the sea
so that the boat
was being swamped
by the waves,
but he was asleep.
And they went
and woke him saying,
save us, Lord,
we are perishing.
How many of you,
raise your hand,
get seasick?
I do.
All right?
Here's,
if you don't know
if you get seasick or not,
my understanding is
there's only one way
to really find out
if you get seasick or not,
and that's get on a boat
and go out into the water
and find out.
And when you get out
into that water,
if you get seasick,
let me just tell you,
it doesn't matter
how much fun
they've told you
the rest of that day
is going to be,
it is awful.
I spent eight hours
on a boat
off of Edisto.
Now,
we didn't even
get out deep.
At one point in time,
we got stuck.
And by the end of that,
here's what I know,
I never need to get
on a boat again.
And the sky was clear,
there was no storms,
the wind was good,
but there was just enough
of da-da-da-duck,
da-da-da-duck,
constantly to cause me
to say no thank you.
And let's look at them.
Let's look at them.
They're not on a simple
ride around Edisto
with some waves
moving the boat.
The Bible says
that the boat
was being swamped,
overrun
by the waves.
This wasn't,
hey, Jesus,
John's out here
throwing up
because you kind of
come help him a little bit.
He's a little weak
when it comes to this,
right?
This isn't this.
Look at their words.
Save us, Lord,
we're perishing.
Now,
in our times
of difficulty
and dismay,
and we should,
man,
we should run
to the Lord,
run to the Lord,
run to the Lord.
Cast all your anxieties
on him,
all your cares.
Bring him to the Lord,
bring him to the Lord.
That's what they do.
So they should be
commended, right?
They followed Jesus.
He took them on the boat.
They're on the boat.
Things aren't going as planned.
They didn't get mad.
They didn't try
to have a mutiny.
Save us, Lord.
We're perishing.
Verse 26.
And he said to them,
why are you afraid,
oh, you of little faith?
Then he rose
and rebuked
the winds
and the sea
and there was
a great calm
and the men marveled
saying,
what sort of a man
is this
that even the winds
and sea
obeyed?
You've used that verse.
I found out this week
when I think of that verse,
I always think of that verse
in the King James.
Oh, ye of little faith.
I don't say ye
in any context,
but I do when I think
of that verse.
Oh, you of little faith.
So why does Jesus
rebuke them
and not commend them?
Why in this moment
is Jesus like,
listen, stop.
Stop.
Little faith people,
stop.
Because he put them
in the boat.
He put them in the boat.
You get like,
he's like,
you're trusting me.
You're following me.
You want to be a part
of this.
Like, you're pumped
when I cast out the demon.
You're pumped
when I turn the water
into wine.
You're pumped
when the blind man sees.
You're pumped
when the crippled person
gets up and walks.
But now there's
a little bit of calamity.
There's a little bit
of difficulty.
There's a little bit
of stress.
There's a little bit
of things that you think
that are outside
of your hand.
Oh, you of little faith.
Here's what I want
you and I
to grasp
in our minds
that Jesus
wants you
and me
to not have
little faith.
He doesn't want us
to have faith.
He wants us
to have big faith.
Big faith.
So what is big faith?
I mean,
we've been seeing
some big faith
moments
throughout Genesis.
And when we think
oftentimes
about big faith,
we think about
big decisions.
We think about
big actions.
We think about
monumental moments
in Scripture
and monumental moments
in our life.
Just walking through
Genesis, right?
We see big faith.
Build an ark.
Okay,
I've never built a boat.
Well, here's what
you got to do.
You got to build
one big enough
for your family
and for
at least
for two
of every animal.
Well,
am I going to build it
by the river?
Am I going to build it
by this?
No, you're going to build it
on dry land
because rain,
it's never rained before
but rain's going to fall
and the whole earth
is going to flood.
We think, man,
that's big faith.
That's big faith.
Go have big faith
like that
in that moment,
in that big moment
that's there.
Big faith.
We think about Abraham
when he was Abraham
and the call
to leave
because of what God
wanted to do
and you remember
what he had to leave?
He had to leave everything.
He had to leave his home,
his business,
his power,
his influence,
everything
to follow God.
That's big faith.
It's a big faith moment,
big faith action.
Think of
God calling Abraham
Abraham to
sacrifice the son
that God had promised
that he'd always wanted
and Abraham goes
and I believe
was willing to do
exactly what God
called him to do
until God stopped him.
That's big faith.
But here's
what I want us to get.
If you wait
to have big faith
on big faith
moments
then you're not
going to have
big faith.
Right?
Like,
what about,
let's just say
today is just boring.
It's just plain.
There's no
arc moment.
There's no
sacrifice moment.
There's no
leave everything
behind moment.
There's no
big decision
quote unquote
big faith.
We've been
reading through
and seeing
moment by
moment
of big faith
decisions
that God
has called
these men
and women
to make
and what I would
argue
is that in the
momentum
to get to
big faith,
if you've got to
have big faith
on Friday,
let me just tell you
something,
you can't have
little faith
on Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
and Thursday.
And so
in big faith
also requires
big faith
and simple
decisions.
Here's a lot
of what we've
seen in God's
word.
We see men
and women
of faith
give an offering.
Here's what
we've seen
in Genesis.
We've seen
men and women
of faith
worship.
We've seen
them choose
to be honest
instead of lie.
we've seen
them do
what is
fair
and what
is right.
We've seen
them
as they're
waiting and
preparing
themselves
from the
big decisions
that they
would have
to face
implement
big faith
in the
simple
decisions
of life.
And if
you and
I
do not
make
simple
daily
decisions
based off
of big
faith
we will
never
make
the big
faith
decisions
when big
decisions
come.
We'll never
do it.
You and
I
will never
stand
still
in minimal
faith
and then
when big
faith
call
happens
take that
step.
Jesus is
like
I'm
here
I'm
with you
I'm
on this
journey
small
you know
who I
am
be still
and it's
calm.
So
what we
see in
Genesis
48
is Jacob
is going
to bless
two
individuals
and what
we will
see from
these
are just
some
simple
but
powerful
decisions
of what
it means
to have
big
faith.
Big
faith.
So let's
read verses
1-7
to 48
it says
after this
Joseph
was told
behold
your father
is ill
so he
took with
him his
two sons
Manasseh
and Ephraim
and it
was told
to Jacob
your son
Joseph
has come
to you
then Israel
summoned his
strength
and sat
up in bed
and Jacob
said to
Joseph
God
almighty
appeared
to me
at
Lutz
in the
land of
Canaan
and blessed
me
and said
to me
behold
I will
make you
fruitful
and multiply
you
and I
will make
you a
company
of peoples
and will
give this
land to
your
offspring
after
you
for an
everlasting
possession
and now
your two
sons
who were
born in
the land
of Egypt
before I
came to
you in
Egypt
are mine
Ephraim
and Manasseh
shall be
mine
as Reuben
and Simeon
are
and the
children
that you
fathered
after them
shall be
yours
they
shall be
called
by the
name
of their
brothers
in their
inheritance
as for
me
when I
came to
Padnam
and my
sorrow for
Rachel
died in
the land
of Canaan
on the way
when there
was still
some distance
to go
to Ephrath
I buried
her there
on the way
to Ephrath
that is
Bethlehem
Jacob
is going
to receive
two of
the sons
of Joseph
and he's
going to
adopt
them
into the
family
at the
highest
level
now
if you've
been journeying
with us
it's a
risky move
but it's
very interesting
and you guys
know this
we've been
on this
journey
with Jacob
Jacob
is a
godly
man
who
doesn't
always
get it
right
but he's
a man
of faith
that we
see
so hopefully
that
maybe
describes
you
and describes
me
we're people
of faith
who don't
always get
it right
but that's
why God
gives us
his grace
and so
what does
he lean
into in
this moment
he leans
into God's
word
verse 3
he presses
in
look what he
says
and Jacob
said to
Joseph
God
almighty
appeared
to me
at
let's
in the
land
of
Canaan
and blessed
me
and said
to me
but behold
I will make
you fruitful
and multiply
you and I
will make
you a company
of peoples
and give
this land
to your
offspring
after you
for an
everlasting
possession
he presses
into
he can't
say
hey man
go get
your bible
let's walk
through this
together
he doesn't
have
God's
copy
of God's
word
but what
does he
do
in this
moment
for what
I'm
going to
do
in this
moment
for the
actions
that I
have
in this
moment
for this
piece
let me
press in
let me
say
this
is
God's
word
and if
you and
I are
going to
live
in big
faith
if you
and I
are
going to
base
our
daily
life
not in
the
oh
ye of
little
faith
but if
we're
going to
base
our
faith
in the
get out
of the
boat
and walk
with
Jesus
faith
then what
we have
to do
is have
to have
big
faith
in the
daily
moments
and what
we see
right here
is faith
in God's
word
faith
in God's
word
there's
nothing
in this
part
right here
that's
blood
in people's
mind
is just
hey let me
remind you
of the
plan
and the
faithfulness
of God
now
I
there's
no
agenda
with what
I'm about
to say
but
there's
two types
of
people
in my
house
there
are those
in my
house
who do
all of the
things
and go to
all of the
doctor's
appointments
that the
doctors have
asked them
to do
as they
look to
daily care
for their
bodies
and then
there's
me
and I
just go
when it
gets bad
enough
and my
wife is
like I'm
done
dealing
with this
you
stubborn
man
get up
and go
right
I need
to go
more
I need
to care
for myself
more
I'm
stubborn
I'm
hard
headed
I don't
do it
if you
if I
asked you
again
the same
question
do you
have faith
in God's
word
the answer
for you
would be
yes
if you're
a follower
of Jesus
I assume
and I hope
that your
answer
would be
yes
but
but I
asked you
if I
asked you
when it
comes
to the
practice
and to
the
discipline
and to
the joy
and
desire
of your
life
do you
constantly
go to
and find
fulfillment
and hope
and promise
and joy
and purpose
and in
calling
in God's
word
and I
hope
that your
answer is
yes
but all
too often
our answer
is no
when the
answer is
no
how do we
know what
to do
when God
places us
in the
moment
oh
oh ye
of little
faith
God's
word
is here
when we
need it
some of you
approach God's
word the way
that I
approach the
doctor
it's all
falling apart
I can't get
out of bed
I've lost
control
I've
turned to
everything
else
now I
turn to
you
when we
don't need
to approach
God's
word
because we
need it
in the
situation
solely
but we
approach
God's
word
because we
need it
daily
because we
don't know
when the
situation
is going
to come
all right
let's keep
on reading
verse 8
when Israel
saw Joseph's
son he
said whose
are these
and Joseph
said to
his father
they are
my sons
whom God
has given
me here
and he
said bring
them to
me
please
that I
may
bless
them
now the
eyes
of Israel
were dim
with age
so that he
could not
see so
Joseph
brought them
near him
and he
kissed
them and
embraced
them
and Israel
said to
Joseph
I never
expected
to see
your face
and behold
God
has let
me see
your
offspring
also
then
Joseph
removed
them
from his
knees
and he
bowed
himself
with his
face
to the
earth
and Joseph
took them
both
Ephraim
in his
right hand
toward Israel's
left hand
and Manasseh
in his
left hand
toward Israel's
right hand
and brought
them near to
him
and Israel
look at this
Israel stretched out
his right hand
and laid it
on Ephraim
who was the
younger
in his
left hand
on the head
of Manasseh
crossing his
hands
for Manasseh
was the
firstborn
and he
blessed
Joseph
and said
the God
before whom
my fathers
Abraham
and Isaac
walked
underline this
in your
Bible
the God
who has
been my
shepherd
all my
life long
to this
day
the angel
who has
redeemed
me from
all evil
bless
the boys
and in
them let
my name
be carried
on in
the name
of my
fathers
Abraham
and Isaac
and let
them grow
into a
multitude
in the
midst
of the
earth
so here's
what's
happening
here
Jacob
is going
to bless
the boys
but he's
going to
bless
Ephraim
the younger
with the
greater
blessing
which was
against
custom
okay
but he
blessed
both boys
because here's
what I want
us to see
in this
daily
decisions
of faith
mean
daily
faith
in God's
covenant
daily
faith
in God's
covenant
Jacob
in his
blessing
in verses
15 and
16
recounts
the covenant
going all
the way
back to
Abraham
the covenant
that God
made with
Abraham
continues
on with
Isaac
and Jacob
and now
will continue
on with
his sons
and these
two now
adopted
sons of
Jacob
but he says
something very
interesting
what I told
you to
underline
in verse
14
the God
who has
been my
shepherd
all my
life long
to this
day
what he
does right
here is he
speaks to
God's covenant
by talking
about God's
grace
remember this
is the same
guy
this is the
same guy
a couple
of chapters
ago
who was
feeling like
every part
of his
world
was falling
apart
and he
was cursed
and now
look at what
he's doing
now what
we see here
is what
he is
acknowledging
in his
life
is that
he says
God
you've
been my
shepherd
all my
life long
to this
day
shepherd
theme
over and
over
throughout
scripture
because can
I tell you
what a
sheep
cannot do
is keep
itself
a sheep
needs a
shepherd
when a
sheep
wanders
the shepherd
gets it
when the
sheep
gets in
trouble
the shepherd
rescues
it
when the
sheep
gets hurt
the shepherd
heals
it
when the
sheep
are lost
they go
find it
it's the
shepherd
it's the
shepherd
it's the
shepherd
and what
he's saying
here is
I'm the
dumb
sheep
and you're
the holy
shepherd
and in the
covenant of
what you've
promised
it's not
because we've
done it
right
it's because
of your
goodness
and your
grace
to us
faith in
God's
covenant
faith
in Christ
faith in
his grace
is not
saying
just
this is
how God
saved me
in the
past
but is
also
looking
currently
how God
is saving
us
daily
by his
grace
and mercy
how he
keeps you
how he
keeps me
and how we
celebrate him
for that
and so
when we're
having to
make in
those day
to day
decisions
I don't
need that
emotional
moment to
remind me
of his
goodness
and how
I'm
undeserving
of that
in my
life
because
it's a
daily
reminder
of who
I am
of his
goodness
and so
within that
it puts
all of
the bad
that has
happened
around me
it puts
all of
the suffering
that's
happened
around me
in perspective
because I
can trust
no matter
what happens
in the boat
out of the boat
coming over
into the boat
of my life
that God
is good
that God
is control
and his grace
and his mercy
are keeping me
and I deserve
none of it
because I deserve
to be on the boat
that's flood
and set
on fire
and sinking
to the bottom
that's what
I deserve
but he gives
me his grace
he gives
me his grace
so verse 17
so when
Joseph saw
that his father
laid his right
hand on
Ephraim
it displeased
him
and he took
his father's
hands
to move
them
from Ephraim's
head to
Manasseh's head
and Joseph
said to his
father
not this way
my father
since this
one is the
firstborn
put your right
hand on his
head
but his
father
refused
and said
I know
my son
I know
he shall
become a
people
and he
also shall
be great
nevertheless
his younger
brother
shall be
greater than
he
and his
offspring
shall become
a multitude
of nations
so he
blessed them
that day
by you
Israel
will pronounce
blessings
saying God
make you
as Ephraim
and as
Manasseh
thus
he put
Ephraim
before
Manasseh
he
he's trusting
in God's
plan
he's trusting
in God's
plan
remember
Jacob is
blessing the
younger
not the
older
Joseph
tries to
correct him
but that
doesn't
work
I believe
on the
screen
incorrectly
I wrote
from my
notes
faith in
God's
purpose
and you
can write
purpose
maybe purpose
and plan
are interchangeable
but I like
that
even I like
plan better
so I
changed it
this morning
after I
turned my
notes in
what
we see
here
is
son
listen
I
know
what
it
should
be
I
know
how
we
think
this
should
work
but
let me
tell you
what
God's
doing
and it's
this
I
know
you're
comfortable
with
this
but
God's
doing
this
but
this
makes
sense
this
is
accepted
by
culture
I
know
but
God's
doing
this
and so
here's
what
God's
doing
and so
even
the
culture
and
everything
says
this
and
your
mind
says
this
and
your
wife
is
going
to
say
this
and
your
co-workers
are going
to say
this
and
everybody
is
going
to
say
this
but
here's
what
God's
doing
this
plan
and
when
it
comes
time
for
this
to
be
a
really
twisted
intermingled
plan
if
all we
can
trust
is our
plan
and we
can't
even
trust
this
it's
going
to be
difficult
to walk
through
those
days
you
know
my
plan
oftentimes
is
good
my
plan
man
I
hope
it's
moral
my
plan
I
hope
is
smart
I
hope
my
plan
is
sincere
but
if
my
plan
doesn't
match
God's
plan
then
it
doesn't
matter
that
my
plan
is
good
smart
moral
and
sincere
because
my
plan
can
also
be
evil
and
foolish
and
selfish
because
sometimes
that's
who I
can
be
but
God's
plan
it's
always
wise
God's
plan
is
always
right
God's
plan
is
always
holy
and
God's
plan
is
always
perfect
even
what
it
doesn't
make
sense
so
here's
what
I
hope
about
your
faith
in
God's
plan
I
hope
your
faith
is
solid
and
fixed
and
set
on
Christ
and
flexible
to move
with
him
and
flexible
to go
as
he
goes
and
even
when
he
takes
you
onto
the
boat
you
can
go
God's
got
this
God's
got
this
man
that
wave
it
may
sink
us
God's
got
this
we
may
drown
God's
got
this
God's
got
this
his
plan
is
good
his
plan
is
holy
his
plan
is
right
and
I
may
not
like
the
path
that
we're
on
but
I
can
trust
the
plan
and
the
purpose
behind
it
last
two
verses
then
Israel
said
to
Joseph
behold
I'm
about
to
die
but
God
will
be
with
you
and
will
bring
you
again
to
the
land
of
your
fathers
moreover
I've
given
to
you
rather
than
to
your
brothers
one
mountain
slope
that
I
took
from
the
hand
of
the
Amorites
with
my
sword
and
with
my
bow
that's
just
some
pretty
awesome
last words
right there
right
I'm
giving you
a mountain
slope
here's
where I
got it
from
right
from
the
hand
of
the
Amorites
with
my
sword
and
with
my
bow
147
year
journey
that's
a long
time
that's
more
time
than
you
and
I
could
possibly
fathom
being
on
this
earth
that's
more
time
than
we
can
begin
to
wrap
our
minds
around
and
when
we
look
at
it
and
we
think
we
like
a
natural
question
would
come
to
like
God
why
did
it
take
all
of
this
time
for
you
to
work
and
move
and
how
you're
going
to
work
and
move
God
why
didn't
you
do
it
live in
God's
timing
and
here's
why
it's
great
that
you
and
I
live
in
God's
timing
because
God's
not
bound
by
time
God's
not
bound
by
time
so
he
always
knows
he's
always
there
he's
always
acting
he's
always
moving
he's
not
bound
by
time
I
don't
I
don't
know
all
the
reasons
but
I
came
up
with
one
reason
of
this
timing
one
reason
why
all
of
this
would
have
to
take
place
I
know
there's
more
but
I
found
one
and
it's
this
I
love
I
love
hearing
about
Joseph
I
love
when
God
gives
us
in
the
Old
Testament
I
mean
God
does
it
so
much
Moses
David
with
so
many
but
with
Joseph
too
and
he
gives
us
Joseph
so
that
we
can
see
Jesus
he
gives
us
Joseph
so
that
you
and
I
stand
in
here
February
1st
2025
in
Lexington
South
Carolina
long
removed
from
the
famine
of
Egypt
and
Canaan
long
removed
from
the
day
that
a
servant
boy
was
brought
through
the
ranks
and
became
the
right
hand
of
Pharaoh
so
that
we
could
look
at
his
life
and
see
this
Joseph
and
Jesus
loved
by
his
father
but
rejected
and
hated
by
his
brothers
endured
punishment
and
imprisonment
and
sold
for a
few
pieces
of
silver
tempted
Joseph
with
the
master's
wife
Jesus
by
Satan
but
did
not
sin
and as
a
result
made
to be
a
servant
both
of
them
associated
with
two
criminals
one
pardoned
one
was
not
showed
compassion
brought
a
message
of
forgiveness
reconciliation
deliverance
and
freedom
and
became
the
source
of
life
for
the
world
through
the
bread
he
offered
I
don't
know
why
I own
a lot
of
God's
timing
and
you
don't
either
but
as we
walk
in
these
daily
decisions
in
these
faith
moments
in
our
life
it's
not
knowing
God's
timing
that
we're
called
to
but
it's
knowing
that
his
timing
is
always
perfect
always
I'm
going to
ask the
band
if they'll
make their
way to
the
stage
we're
going to
prepare
to
partake
in the
Lord's
Supper
today
Jesus
Christ
sent
by
his
father
and
rejected
by
those
he
came
to
save
hated
mocked
sold
for a
few pieces
of
silver
and as
a result
was
punished
and
imprisoned
and
crucified
became
the
sacrifice
for our
sin
that in
the
temptation
by
Satan
and in
every
moment
of his
life
was
sinless
and was
perfect
and so
his
sacrifice
is
sinless
and
perfect
and as
he hung
on the
cross
a thief
on either
side
one who
put his
faith
and one
who
mocked
one
who
was
pardoned
and one
who
was
not
and he
offers
you
and I
the
gospel
the gospel
message of
compassion
that the
father has
for us
who are
sinners
and
in the
gospel
that
Jesus
says
that
he
came
through
his
spilled
blood
to
offer
forgiveness
for your
sin
for my
sin
the
sin
that
condemns
us
to hell
Jesus
says
I
forgive
I
forgive
past
I
forgive
present
forgive
future
he's
going
to
deliver
us
from
our
sin
that
we're
no
longer
slaves
to
sin
but
we're
slaves
to
righteousness
we're
no
longer
enemies
of
God
but
we're
sons
and
daughters
of
God
we're
reconciled
to
him
because
he
offered
us
the
forgiveness
of sin
through
his
blood
and
the
bread
of
life
through
his
body
for
all
who
put
their
faith
their
hope
and
their
trust
in
him
would
you
pray
with
me
God
I
pray
as we
prepare
to
partake
in the
Lord's
Supper
God
for an
examination
of our
heart
God
if any
of us
is found
with
unrepentant
sin
may we
confess it
before you
may we
repent
we
prepare
to
acknowledge
the
work
of
Christ
God
if
there's
any
bitterness
and anger
we
hold
in our
hearts
as we
have been
forgiven
God
you've
called
us
to
forgive
others
so
God
I
pray
that
we
would
we
forgive
freely
we
forgive
without
agendas
without
selfish
motivation
but for
glory
to your
name
and God
if we
need to
ask for
forgiveness
from someone
that we've
hurt
from someone
that we've
wronged
today
Lord
we
commit
to you
we
will do
just
that
God
give us
the power
through your
Holy Spirit
to be
big faith
people
big faith
in our
worship
big faith
in our
sacrifice
big faith
in our
obedience
big faith
with our
family
big faith
with our
finances
big faith
with our
growth
big faith
with lostness
big faith
with brothers
and sisters
in Christ
God
may we
this daily
faith
in your
word
faith
in your
gospel
faith
in your
grace
faith
in your
plan
and faith
in your
time
in Jesus
name we
pray
amen
that's it
for this
week's
message
be sure
to check
back
next week
for another
episode
in the
meantime
you can
stay up
to date
with everything
happening
at Willow Ridge
by visiting
us on
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and online
at
willowridgechurch.org
thanks again
for listening