Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
This week's message reflects on Joseph's journey in Genesis 50,
where he faces loss, forgiveness, and the fulfillment of God's promises.
As Joseph mourns his father and reassures his fearful brothers,
we see how God transforms what was meant for evil into good.
His legacy of faith, integrity, and trust in God's plan
challenges us to consider our own reputation and purpose.
Join us as we look back on God's faithfulness
and move forward with confidence in his promises.
Thanks for listening.
Well, good morning.
If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Genesis chapter 50.
This is where we're going to be this morning as we are wrapping up our series in Genesis.
Next week, we're going to begin a new study of a different book of the Bible.
We're going to be looking at Titus, a short letter, three chapters.
I think we're doing it in five or six weeks.
But it's a good, good word from the Lord.
Excited as Pastor Dave and I are going to kind of rotate and doing some teaching through Titus.
So you want to be there as we read Apostle Paul.
He's sending this letter to Titus.
Titus is pastoring the church at Crete.
Crete is a wild and crazy place.
And it's the reminder, the importance, the urgency for Titus to stay on track,
be reminded of the faithfulness of God, and to be faithful to him.
Well, it is cough, cold, flu, RSV season.
As Dave was praying earlier, I heard all of your amens in forms of coughs.
And so I'm there with you in my cough this morning.
So if you could pray for me as we're preaching through this this morning for my throat.
And if all of a sudden I'm muting and unmuting my microphone,
just trying to avoid the booming cough that could ring through as I do not cough or sneeze quietly.
It's a violent thing that happens with me.
So just give me grace within there.
As we get started, I do want to read from our last chapter here in Genesis before we get to the whole chapter.
Just two verses that are going to be key and important and monumental for us this morning.
And it's found in Genesis 50, 19 through 20.
It says this,
Would you join me in prayer?
God, I thank you for the wonderful opportunity and privilege it is to study your word.
God, I thank you as we wrap up this season of time that we've been studying your word, working through Genesis.
I thank you for the powerful truths as you've taught us and reminded us of who you are.
As you've taught us and reminded us of the powerfulness and the goodness of your hand.
Your grace and your grace and your mercy and your love for us, even in our rebellion.
God, as we study your word this morning, would you speak clearly to our hearts?
God, for those of us who know you and who are known by you and who love you,
God, may you create in us a greater depth of love and willingness of obedience on our part.
God, for those of us here who may not know Christ as their Lord and Savior,
that I pray today through the teaching of your word,
God, that they would come to know Christ.
And today would be their day of salvation.
And let's call these things in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
A quick little recap of Genesis.
Some things that God's been teaching me as we've rolled through this long but wonderful book
of what God has for us.
We've seen from the very beginning of what we opened up with in Genesis chapter 1 of the hand of God at work.
Very specifically, the word of God at work as God spoke and creation came into being.
But we've seen God at work.
We've seen God working.
We've seen him work in creative works.
We've seen God calling and choosing works.
We've seen God working in the lives of individuals.
We've seen God working in the lives of families.
And now we see the future of what God is doing as he is working in the life of what he will create for himself a nation.
And this over time and time again, while we pause, while we break, while we have to consider
that we see the working, moving hand of God continually at play in our life.
And it just reminds me, it encourages me, it strengthens me in my faith and in my hope when I look out into this world.
And sometimes our tendency can be to wonder, God, where are you?
And the answer to that of what we've seen throughout Genesis is God saying, I'm here, man.
I'm here and I'm working.
And I'm working.
Even when you don't see it, even when you don't know it.
As we've studied through and as we've looked at Genesis, we were reminded time and time again,
from Genesis 3 in the fall to the brokenness of man.
We've seen our propensity to wonder, to choose the lesser, even in spite of knowing and living it and experiencing the goodness of God.
That you and I and those like us, known and loved by him, can still find within ourselves the choosing of the less instead of choosing the greater of who he is and his desire for us.
But we see within the brokenness of man, God's desire to pursue us.
That we are his and that he is ours.
And while there is the brokenness in this world, that when we are found in him on the hope of Jesus Christ,
there is the wholeness of us being held in his hand and God's desire to pursue us.
We see within him the power of God, the creator, not only the giver and bringer of life, but the sustainer of your life.
And for me, as we've been working through within the patriarchs and seeing within there that the reminder that God and his work is greater than your work and my sin.
That we see of God continuing to work and to move, that in spite of every failure, every fault, every issue that man tries to bring to the table,
we see that God is greater than that.
His plan is greater than that.
His grace is greater than that.
His love is greater than that.
And so when we look through and we read Genesis, it can be...
I'm hoping that was the last, like, big one that I needed to get out, right?
But we see that in spite of that, God is greater.
God is greater.
And his plans are going to be seen through.
That when we see failure and failure and failure and we realize we can't, we see that even though we fail, that God can.
And that God does.
And that God fulfills all that he says that he's going to do.
And so as we read through this book that points out so many failures and the sinfulness of man,
we learn so much about our holy God.
His righteousness, his justice, his goodness, his love, his grace, and his kindness.
And it's this beautiful, beautiful picture of a holy, powerful, creative God creating for himself a people who desire to choose everything else but him.
But he continues to call, he continues to pursue, and he continues to save.
And praise God that that's the reality, not just of Genesis, but it's the reality of today.
And so this morning, we're going to wrap up.
We're going to look at chapter 50.
And we're going to see this story that comes to an end before it comes to a beginning in Exodus.
So I want you to join me in Genesis 50, verse 1.
So if you're here with us last week, but if not, Jacob dies.
The father dies.
And then Joseph, who a lot of this story has been based around, fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.
And Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father.
So the physicians embalmed Israel, also Jacob.
Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming.
And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying,
If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
My father made me swear, saying, I'm about to die in my tomb that I have hid out for myself in the land of Canaan.
There you shall bury me.
Now, therefore, let me please go up and bury my father.
Then I will turn in Pharaoh to answer, go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.
So Joseph went up to bury his father.
With him he went up, all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
as well as the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father's household.
Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen.
And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen.
It was a great company.
When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan,
they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation.
And he made a mourning for his father seven days.
When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad,
they said, This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.
Therefore, the place was named Abel-Mezerim.
It is beyond the Jordan.
Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them.
For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at the fill of Mechpelah,
to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.
After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers
and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
I'm going to talk to you this morning in this first part of Scripture
as we look to the past about a word called reputation.
What we see here is the reputation of a man
who in his passing people respond with.
Jacob was mourned, the Scripture tells us,
for 70 days among the entire nation of Egypt.
Now, that would be considerable because of Joseph and Joseph's relationship with his dad
and Joseph and being one of the leaders of Egypt,
but it is significant to see that this nation who looks at an outsider,
this nation who looks at an outsider's family
because of the character and pieces of what they've seen,
decide within them that we're going to mourn.
Now, it's significant to know that a typical time period for mourning a royal official in Egypt was 72 days.
72.
But what we see here for Jacob was 70.
Respect.
We see in his reputation, Joseph goes to Pharaoh
and says that his father has made him swear that he would appeal,
that Jacob would be buried to appeal before Pharaoh,
that he could be buried in Canaan.
And out of respect of reputation,
Pharaoh agrees, and this is what we see.
The beautiful imagery of what God begins to paint for us
as we begin to understand the beautiful imagery of what God does with his church
as he plants a group of people that he's chosen for himself
in amongst a pagan group of people,
and what we find in here is that their reputation is commendable.
While we know, oftentimes,
the dysfunction that even exists amongst them,
but we see that the reputation amongst them was commendable.
And actually this morning, as you look at your own life
and the reputation and the evidence of what your life leaves behind,
as you interact with those that God has placed in your path
that you and I have been called to live boldly for the gospel of Jesus Christ,
what does your reputation reflect?
What does your reputation show?
What story does your reputation tell?
What is your reputation amongst lost people?
What's your reputation amongst your family?
What's your reputation amongst the church?
You see, it wasn't just that those who knew of him mourned.
It wasn't just that those who just knew him closely mourned.
It's that we see within all of this,
surrounding in the country and in the family,
there was the mourning of this man.
Even though oftentimes his sons opposed and disappointed him
with the many things in their life,
they came to honor him and serve him as well.
Sometimes I think we can feel as Christians
that we should rise above the way the world looks at us
and the way that those around us look at us and perceive us to be.
And I'll say, in some instances, sure,
as we stand on the truth of God's word,
say whatever it is that you want to say about me
because I'm going to stand on what God has me to stand on.
But the question that I have for you today
is your reputation amongst the outsiders
because of the truth that we stand on in God's word,
or is your reputation from the outside
because of those when we step off of God's word for ourselves,
of what we have for us.
The Apostle Paul continually, in his letters
that he writes to the churches of what he addresses,
he continually says both,
here is what I have heard.
Here is what your reputation appears to be.
And in some of those, it's affirmations of the positive,
of the impact that they have in their community
and amongst one another for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But sometimes it's in rebuking
because of the reputation that they have
as they carry for others for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul says that it's of great importance
of what our reputation is
and what our reputation is founded on.
Is our reputation on Christ?
Jesus, in his own words, in Revelation 2 and 3,
says to the churches of Revelation,
here's the deal,
I know who you are.
So it's not just our reputation in the world,
but it's our accurate reputation
of who we are before him.
Does your life and my life
exhibit the biblical grace and truth
of who Jesus Christ is
and the impact that he's played in our lives
and the work that he's doing in our hearts
and in our lives
to carry the name of God
into this world?
That you and I,
the Bible tells us,
a word that we're described to be
as we carry the gospel
is we're ambassadors.
A neat thing about this word, ambassador,
when this word is used in Scripture,
the ambassador is the person
who goes out
and carries the authority
and the message
as if the king himself
were declaring it.
I find that oftentimes
that we want our reputations
to be based in the words
that we say
of I'll pray for you,
I love you,
I care for you,
but then sometimes
our actions
display things
that are different.
So what should our reputation
reflect in this world
that God has called us to?
What should our reputation
be marked with
and be reflective of
as we're called to carry
not just what we know
but who we are
into a world
that is lost
and broken
and dying?
God's grace
and the power of his truth.
Grace being God's
mercy on you
that God
does not give you
and I
what we deserve
but instead
he gives to us
based off of
what we do not deserve.
And so we begin
to understand
when we live
in the reality
of God's grace
it's not just
that I've been forgiven
but I'm called to forgive.
It's not just
that I've been loved
but I'm called to love.
It's not just
that I'm called
to have hope
but I'm to be a person
of hope.
It's not just
that I'm a person
who lives
in the peace
of my relationship
with God
but I'm to go
and to be a person
of peace
into the world
in which I live.
To understand
grace in our lives
causes for you
and I
to say
it's not about
my rights
here on this
earth
but it's about
the right
and the truth
of God's word.
So we live
and promote
share
God's grace
while not
backing down
from God's truth.
From God's truth.
The truth
of his word
of God's standard
of God's purpose
of what God's
trying to do.
We can never
break apart
or remove
grace and truth
because when grace
is removed from truth
it ceases to be grace
and when truth
is removed from grace
it ceases to be truth.
And so we unapologetically
stand
for the truth
of what God
has called us to.
The truth
of who Christ is.
The truth
of God's love.
The truth
of God's forgiveness.
The truth
of God's word
while living
as evidence
of grace
in this world.
Church
I'm not asking you
do your co-workers
do your neighbors
do the other parents
on your sports teams
or students
the other participants
on your sports teams
or the band
or whatever
that you have
know that you're
at church today.
I'm not asking you that.
It's easy
to click a share
to click a like
to mention in conversation
about being at church
on Sunday.
Here's what I'm going
to ask you
is when they interact
with you
is there the evidence
of the fruit
in your life
not that you've been
to church
but is there the evidence
and the fruit
of your life
of a relationship
with Jesus Christ?
Is it their part
that they can taste
and see
that the Lord
is good?
Is there a part
within you
of what they gather
around
when they're like
you know what
I don't believe
everything that you believe
but there's a goodness
of being around you
and I want to know
more about that.
Is it evident?
Is it clear?
I think sometimes
we say
I just want to be
the hands and feet
of Jesus
well then
go be like Jesus.
What's your reputation?
And is it found
and centered in Christ?
Well if you've been
studying this with us
you know that
there's some conflict
with this family
specifically with
Joseph and his brothers
and kind of the part
that holds the family
together is dad.
Right?
Joseph was dad's favorite.
You wouldn't want
to disappoint dad.
So with all of these
and so there's this
tension that's there
Jacob or Israel
is kind of holding
it all together
like you probably
know who that person
is in your family
right?
Like when things
get tense
you look to grandma
when things get tense
you look to dad
when things get tense
you look to that person
that's within there
and they're kind of
the linchpin
well now
within this
Jacob dies
and these brothers
that done horrific
things to their brother
because of their
jealousy toward him
because he's dad's
favorite
kind of have a panic
moment.
Let's see verse 15
when Joseph's brothers
saw that their father
was dead
they said
it may be
that Joseph
will hate us
and pay us back
for all the evil
we did to him.
So they sent a message
to Joseph
saying
your father
gave this command
before he died
say to Joseph
please forgive
the transgression
of your brothers
and their sin
because they did
evil to you
and now
please forgive
the transgression
of the servants
of the God
of your father
and Joseph
wept
when they spoke
to him
his brothers
also came
and fell down
before him
and said
behold
we are your servants
but Joseph
said to them
do not fear
for am I
in the place
of God
as for you
you meant evil
against me
but God
meant it for good
to bring it about
that many people
should be kept alive
as they are today
so do not fear
I will provide
for you
and your little ones
thus he comforted
them
and spoke
kindly to them
so Joseph
remained in Egypt
he and his
father's house
Joseph lived
110 years
and Joseph
saw
Ephraim's children
in the third
generation
the children
also
of Micah
the son
of Manasseh
were counted
as Joseph
and Joseph
said to his
brothers
I'm about
to die
but God
will visit
you
and bring
you up
out of this
land
to the land
that he
swore to
Abraham
to Isaac
and to
Jacob
then Joseph
made the
sons of
Israel
swear
saying
God
will
surely
visit
you
and you
shall
carry
up
my
bones
from
here
so
Joseph
died
being
110
years
old
they
embalmed
him
and he
was put
in a
coffin
in
Egypt
right
so
dad
dies
and here's
what happens
you know
we've been
seeing
in
Joseph's
brothers
steps
of what
God's
doing
in their
heart
but
sometimes
old
habits
are
hard
to
break
and
lying
is
one
of
those
and
they're
afraid
now
that
dad
has
died
that
Joseph
who
they
had
turned
on
would
turn
on
them
seems
like
fair
play
they
acknowledged
through
their
words
that
they
did
evil
to
Joseph
and
now
what
we've
seen
since
they've
been
back
interacting
with
Joseph
has
not
done
evil
to
them
even
though
time
and
time
again
they
feel
like
this
is
what
could
happen
but
he
has
not
and
they
feel
like
now
that
dad's
gone
man
he's
probably
just
been
holding
out
he's
probably
been
waiting
for
this
moment
so
they
make up
a story
and
instead
of
just
coming
over
and
saying
listen
man
let's
just
make
sure
everything's
good
they
come
and
they
come
hey
one
of
dad's
last
request
is
like
please
give
us
mercy
we
did
evil
the
truth
they
communicate
about
themselves
is
accurate
the
way
in
which
they
communicate
it
is
sinful
there's
some
pieces
that we
need to
see
within
that
be a
people
of
truth
do
not
be a
people
of
deception
don't
do
what
Satan
did
and
try
to
take
truths
and
twist
them
truths
and
manipulate
them
truths
and
leave
sections
out
for
own
personal
agendas
and self
gratification
this is
what they
do
and
the
Bible
says
that
Joseph
weeps
here's
what I
think
is
happening
Joseph
has
been
sinned
against
and
Joseph
has
been
enslaved
imprisoned
forgotten
about
and
through
it all
what we
see
is this
man
on his
own
journey
with the
Lord
and God's
working and
moving in
his heart
and God's
eliminating
the bitterness
and giving
him mercy
God's
eliminating
the anger
and giving
him joy
God's
doing the
work
he's
cutting out
the cancer
of sin
and he's
implanting
the righteousness
of God
and Joseph
has walked
through this
reconciliation
with his
brothers
this reconciliation
with his
family
they've had
this moment
he's brought
them here
he's provided
he feels
like you know
what we're
heading down
this journey
of growth
we're heading
down this
journey
of healthy
relationships
dad dies
we're going
to continue
on with this
and these
brothers
they come
and they
lie again
in a
passive aggressive
way
to say
what we did
is wrong
forgive us
and the Bible
says he
weeps
here's what I
think is
happening
Joseph
has moved
past
what's
happened
but it's
evident to him
that his
brothers
do not
they
don't
they don't
understand
grace
they don't
understand
mercy
they don't
understand
trusting in
the hand
of God
they don't
understand
there's still
this brokenness
that's there
in all of
the newness
of these
moments
I feel like
in Joseph
he begins
to wrestle
with what's
going on
and he's
grieving
he's
grieving
because he
has seen
the hand
of God
work
and they
haven't
and they
haven't
and they
miss it
and they
miss it
sometimes
in our
life
God
takes us
through
very
difficult
painful
seasons
of suffering
and loss
and then
in the midst
of that
God
while bitterness
and anger
and hatred
should take
root
in our
hearts
that God
in his
loving
and kindness
does not
allow
sin
to take
hold
but instead
allows
grace
and mercy
and forgiveness
and love
to not only
be present
but to grow
deep
and if you've
walked through
that season
of life
where the world
feels like you
should be bitter
but God
has made you
better
and people
don't get it
and people
don't trust
the work
that God
has done
in your
life
you understand
the weeping
of Joseph
he wants
them
to know
he wants
them
to have
the depth
he wants
them
to have
the relationship
and they
just miss
it
and so
Joseph
says
two things
to them
two things
in verse
19
and 20
to teach
them
what God
has done
for these
years
of his
life
of why
Joseph
can respond
the way
that he
has
and as I
stand here
today
before you
having gone
through my
own unique
times
of seasons
of difficulty
of seasons
of suffering
of seasons
of pain
and of sorrow
and I know
that so many
of you
have as well
and when we
ask the question
God
what are
you doing
why would
you allow
this to
happen
God
why could
things not
have been
different
well it's
maybe because
God
wants to
teach you
and me
what God
taught
Joseph
the first
thing that God
taught Joseph
that we see
in his
response
is Joseph's
position
Joseph's
position
look back
at verse 19
this is after
their appeal
to him
but Joseph
said to
them
do not
fear
for am
I
in the
place
of God
pause here
for a minute
if you
were to
look at
this
through a
sinful
worldly
perspective
okay
not through
a Christian
narrative
through a
Christian
worldview
through
biblical
truth
if you
were to
look at
this
through the
lens of
the world
there is
no greater
story
of a
self
made
person
than
Joseph
hated
by his
family
check
sold
into
slavery
check
false
allegations
of
assault
check
imprisoned
for those
allegations
check
forgotten
about
check
then
figures out
a way
to earn
his way
out of
this
situation
and now
finds
himself
as second
in charge
in the
world's
largest
empire
at the
time
the world
looks at
Joseph
and says
that's the
definition
of
self
made
if
Hollywood
were
writing
this
story
here's
how
Hollywood
would
put
verse
19
but
Joseph
said
to
them
I
am
God
I
am
God
but
that's
not
the
truth
of
this
story
that's
not
what
Joseph
says
because
through
it
all
what
God
is
teaching
what
God
is
revealing
what
God
is
showing
Joseph
is
hey
Joseph
here's
who
you
are
here's
who
you
are
that
through
your
slavery
your
false
allegations
your
imprisonment
and now
where you
are
you
haven't
grown
bitter
you
haven't
grown
angry
but you
haven't
grown
arrogant
you
haven't
grown
apathetic
you
haven't
grown
in
rebellion
you
haven't
grown
in
revenge
what
does
Joseph
do
he
grows
in
humility
he
grows
in
humility
the
men
who
sold
him
into
slavery
don't
get
the
hand
of
God
and what
does
Joseph
do
he
weeps
for
them
he
weeps
for
them
God
uses
the
situations
of our
life
to not
simply
just
strengthen
our
spirit
but also
to humble
our
flesh
do you
remember
Joseph
when he
was young
a little
bit
arrogant
a little
bit
cocky
a little
bit
look
what
I
got
and
now
we
found
the
second
most
powerful
person
in the
world
and he
says
am I
God
no
it's
not
only
Joseph's
positioning
as a
brother
but it's
Joseph's
positioning
for the
Lord
I'm
just a
servant
being
used
do I
want to
go through
the
suffering
do I
want to
go through
the pain
do I
want to
go through
the struggle
absolutely
not
but through
it all
God's
working
and God's
doing
and God's
creating
me
so church
when you
walk through
and Genesis
is filled
with suffering
and pain
and God's
word
reminds us
of suffering
and pain
and God's
word
promise us
in Christ
that we'll
walk through
seasons and
times of
suffering
and pain
and persecution
and it's
not God's
punishment
it's God
positioning us
in humility
before him
in humility
before others
to give him
the praise
and the glory
but the
second thing
not only
is it
Joseph's
position
he takes
a step
back
and he
says
but it's
people's
salvation
it's
people's
salvation
look at
verse 20
as for
you
you meant
evil
against me
but God
meant it
for good
if there
was a
period
this
verse
would be
more
difficult
but it
doesn't
the sentence
doesn't end
the conversation
continues
to bring
it about
that many
people
should be
kept alive
as they
are
today
Joseph
does not
dismiss
the evil
intent
of his
brothers
he doesn't
but what
does he
see
the working
hand
of God
extending
life
to people
for Joseph
God had a
plan to
save people
from famine
and in
order for
this to
happen
Joseph
would need
to walk
through
this
process
what
Joseph
chose
to focus
on
was not
the pain
of his
suffering
but the
hope
of the
people
will
in this
world
hurt
you
God's
word
tells
you
and I
that
God's
word
is clear
that you
and I
when we
live for
Christ
that we
will face
seasons
trials
and persecution
and suffering
and you
and I
have one
of two
options
within this
do we
as we
go through
this
as we
walk
through
this
as we
face
this
will we
focus on
the pain
and grow
in the
bitterness
will we
wait for
our moment
where we
can seize
power
and seize
control
will we
be those
whose hearts
become so
hardened
that they
become just
as sinful
and angry
and wrathful
as those
who are doing
these things
to us
or
will we
focus
on the
promises
of God
and grow
in faithfulness
will we
begin to
see
that every
moment of
pain
is opportunity
for God
to grow
you
and God
to add
a chapter
to your
story
that can
be used
to minister
to others
and that
can be used
to give you
and I
an opportunity
to share
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
to not
just be
the hands
and feet
of Jesus
but to be
the very
words
as we
share the
gospel
of Jesus
Christ
you see
because
in this
what we
see
was the
work of
God
to save
lives
but what
we're called
to
through it
all
is the
work of
God
to save
souls
Joseph
was sent
to a
people
to save
them from
their famine
and Jesus
was sent
to save
the people
from their
sin
then you
and I
are entrusted
are empowered
are called
to be the
ambassadors
of Christ
to share
that very
message
may we
weep
over the
lostness of
this world
and may
our response
to it
be
our
humility
before
God
in the
beauty
of the
gospel
for all
who call
upon the
name of
the Lord
shall be
saved
you pray
with me
God we
thank you
for the
truth
of your
word
God
thank you
for the
work
or that
you did
in the
life of
Joseph
that through
the slavery
through the
imprisonment
through the
neglect
through the
suffering
that his
heart
didn't
grow bitter
that his
heart
was made
soft
for the
work that
you wanted
to do
in him
God I
thank you
that as
he
stared
in the
face
of the
brokenness
of his
brothers
God where
he could
have
called for
the armies
of Pharaoh
and struck
them all
down
God he
would have
been right
in the
standing
of the
world
to do
as he
did
instead
he
chose your
will
and your
way
to
not
just
extend
life
through
food
to save
from the
famine
but to
extend
life
through the
hand of
forgiveness
God I
thank you
that every
single one
of us
in here
who know
Jesus Christ
as our
Lord and
Savior
have
experienced
the sweet
and the
goodness
hand
of the
forgiveness
of God
that we
were dirty
and filthy
and dead
in our
trespasses
and sins
but Jesus
through his
work on the
cross
forgave us
and through
the power
of the
resurrection
gives us
life
so that we
would walk
in a reflection
of who
he is
and what
he's done
and what
he will
do
God as we
go from
here today
may our
reputation
may what
is known
of us
reflect
sinners
saved by
the grace
of God
and now
saints
as we
walk with
you
God it's
my prayer
for all
of us
if there's
anyone here
or who
does not
know Christ
the concept
of forgiveness
is something
that's earned
may they
understand
that the
concept of
grace
the biblical
truth of
your forgiveness
cannot be
earned by
us
but was
paid for
by Christ
and given
to all
who put
their faith
their hope
and their
trust
in him
Jesus
work in
us
and work
through us
it's in
your 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
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stay up
to date
with
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happening
at
Willow
Ridge
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at
willowridgechurch.org
thanks again
for listening
and on
the next one
time