Joseph

I had said that during this week, we were in for a grand time with the Name of Jesus. Many of us think that we know the Name of Jesus, and perhaps we do, nevertheless, I guarantee you that as you follow on during this week, you will be telling a different story about yourself and Jesus.

We are being led through a time in the life of Joseph, to show, more about, not just Jesus, but the Name of Jesus and specifically, the Power His Name carries for you and for me, in our present conditions.

Joseph also has a meaning to his name, for we are told that it means, increase or addition. We listen to Rachel, his mother, after she had given birth to Joseph. She named him Joseph, saying, The Lord shall add to me another son. Genesis 30: 24b. The increase or addition is being clearly lived out in this study before us.

First, I need to bring the Bible passage to you, for two main reasons. It is discipline for me to write it and discipline for you to read it. The discipline of spiritual hearing is given to you and me as we feed upon what is brought before us.

Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, Make everyone go out from me! So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph; does my father still live? But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, Please come near me. So they came near. Then he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine. Genesis 45: 1 -7 and 9b – 11.  

O the Presence of the Power in the listening to the Word of God. O how it feeds and grants ever-refreshing newness of life. O the quickening Word of the Lord!

The reading tells about Joseph, but as you will note, Joseph is a prototype, a glimpse, if you like, into the fullness of truth we have in Jesus, Saviour of the world.

Three facts will be studied as we gain, receive and earnestly seek much more of the Power there is in the Name of Jesus.  

1.    The Living Presence of His Name

2.    The Loving Pardon of His Name

3.    The Lasting Provision of His Name. 

Keep ever in full, conscious focus that we are viewing all of this through Joseph, as the Bible passage states. However, our seeing is Jesus, as has been already stated. Joseph is but the shadow to Jesus, the Substance. 

We continue on one sound, sure, immovable fact. The Name of Jesus is all in all. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 9 – 11.

There is Power in the Name of Jesus, given by God the Father Himself.

There is Truth in the Name of Jesus for He is faithful in all His ways.