In a live broadcast "Morning Prayer" on WeChat, Pastor Zhang Zhongqiu shared a sermon entitled, "Joseph’s time in prison teaches us to not rush for success in the workplace." From the experience of Joseph, we learn the meaning of hardship and suffering in our lives.
Pastor Zhang shared three points. First of all, despite being sold into slavery, Joseph remained faithful.
Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Genesis 37:36) Before Joseph was 17 years old, he was his father's favorite son at home. Because of the jealousy of his brothers, he was sold to Egypt as a slave and robbed of his dignity. Although God gave Joseph a dream, he suffered greatly and everything changed after he was sold into slavery.
For the many students who have just graduated, they have been very happy at home and school, and have not experienced any pain. But upon entering the workplace, their lives are completely different from school, and they will experience more difficult circumstances. Sometimes their lives go from the highest point to the lowest, just like Joseph. The dream is good, but reality is cruel.
It is the same when they become adults and face marriage and having a family. They hope for a good marriage, but there are practical difficulties. They need to deal with the chores of daily life, providing the rice, oil, salt, vinegar and tea needed to live, learning how to raise children and how to take care of elderly family members. But Joseph accepted his new role and identity in prison, slowly accepted hisnew environment and with God’s help overcame the difficulties he faced.
They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free. (Psalms 105:18-20) Although God allows some suffering to happen in our lives, he also provides powerful protection. Although Joseph fell to the very bottom of society, he was able to miraculously rise above his circumstances. "When Joseph was a slave, he worked diligently, though he experienced a lot of injuries. When many young people today suffer blows, they may be unwilling to continue their work. They are not mentally strong and unable to bear the pain,” said Pastor Zhang.
Later Joseph became a servant in the house of Potiphar, appreciated and trusted by the Egyptian official. This was a great testimony. "Today in the workplace, as a Christian, are you honest, and do others trust your character? Do others feel safe with you?" Many times the workplace is like a threshing floor, you have the opportunity to share Christ with others because they trust you and feel safe. This is a beautiful witness that we as Christians can share with others.
Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph because he was a handsome man. Every day she attempted to seduce him. But Joseph feared God, so he avoided evil and refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife. He said: How can I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Joseph was able to avoid sin, but he was framed by Potiphar’s wife and put in prison.
Today we Christians should imitate Joseph—avoid adultery and uphold God’s principles. There is a bottom line that we cannot cross. We should fear God, work hard for him, and believe that he is in charge of everything.
Second, despite being framed, Joseph’s heart was filled with love. Pastor Zhang shared that Joseph's heart had not been distorted by his suffering;his heart was still filled with love. When Joseph saw the dejection of the king’s cupbearer and baker, he immediately asked what troubled them and then interpreted their dreams. The opportunities God gives us are often because of our love. Joseph had love in his heart, which was very remarkable. He helped to interpret their dreams faithfully. He asked the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh and help get him out of the prison after his position was restored. It was because of the love that was in him that he had this opportunity to get out of prison.
Although Joseph suffered a lot, his heart was still filled with love. The person loved by God is the one who has delights in his soul. The love of God overcomes pain. Perhaps we all have wounds in our hearts, but God heals us and turns the wounds into scars which will no longer affect our lives.
Being forgotten, Joseph still had hope. After the cupbearer was released from prison he forgot about Joseph. Joseph spent another two years in prison. These two years were very important for Joseph. Maybe we can't understand why God let him stay in prison for two more years? God had his own schedule—the time helped to prepare Joseph for the future.
Because Pharaoh's dreams could not be solved, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, who was released from prison and then interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. We can see that these two years were very important to Joseph because God was training him in faith. During the next 14 years, Joseph learned a lesson in believing in God's control. What God said would certainly come true, seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. Joseph learned patience. All things including time are in the hands of God. ”If he couldn’t believe and wait, he might be in danger, because the Pharaoh might find he was a liar,” Zhang stated.
Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. (Psalms 39:8-9)
In conclusion, he said, “Because what I have encountered is from God, I need to be patient, wait on God, experience his peace and praise him. From a spiritual point of view, God gives me a much more abundant life filled with vitality. God will not let us waste time but give us opportunities to witness for God by our experience and do greater work in the future. In this time when there is much selfishness, we need to rely on the grace of God to go upstream, not following the waves and not overwhelmed by the tide."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
得胜职场——从约瑟13年为奴为囚看职场不要急功近利
微信平台“早祷记”的直播当中，张忠秋传道以《约瑟13年为奴为囚——在职场不要急功近利》为主题分享了从约瑟的经历当中，来看在我们生命当中的苦难和艰难对于我们有什么价值和意义。张传道从以下三点进行分享：
一、虽被贩卖，仍是敬畏。
米甸人带约瑟到埃及，把他卖给法老的内臣护卫长波提乏。 （创37：36）17岁前约瑟在家中是父亲最宠爱的儿子，因着哥哥们的嫉妒被卖到埃及做奴隶， 没有一丝尊严。神虽然给了约瑟很大的梦，但是被卖之后一切都发生了变化，并且受了很多苦。Daily necessities, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar t
就如现在很多学生刚刚毕业，在家里和学校是很幸福的，没有经历什么苦痛，但是进入职场后就和学校里的生活完全不一样的，会经历生活的锤炼。有时会觉得像约瑟一样看似是从人生的最后高点走到了最低点。梦想很好，但现实很残酷。同样成年人面对婚姻家庭也如此，盼望美好的婚姻，但有现实的困难——柴米油盐酱醋茶，还有孩子要抚养，还有老人要照顾。但是约瑟马上接受了自己工作的内容和自己的身份，靠着神慢慢接受这个环境并得胜了这个环境。
人用脚镣伤他的脚，他被铁链捆拘。耶和华的话试炼他，直等到他所说的应验了。 （诗105：19-20）
虽然神允许一些苦难的事情发生在我们生命当中，但是有神大能的保守。约瑟虽然跌至低谷，但生命在不断往上升，这是神奇妙的作为 。“为奴的时候，尽职尽责地工作.没有因为自己经历了很多伤害.受到一些点打击就自暴自弃，不想干了。看现在很多年轻人多少都有一点心里疾病，受到一些打击，承担不了痛苦。”牧者说。
约瑟得到了波提乏的赏识，成为管家，并且被波提乏信任。这是一个很大的见证。“今天在职场上，身为基督徒，在你的人品上，别人是否信任你，你是否是诚实的人呢？别人与你相处中是否有安全感？” 很多时候职场就是我们的牧场，借着你的见证牧养那些没有基督的灵魂，让他们在你身上得到安全感，这是基督徒属灵生命的品格。
约瑟长相俊美，被波提乏的妻子看上，并天天引诱，勾引他。但约瑟非常敬畏神，所以约瑟始终远离恶事，逃避淫行，说：我岂能做这大恶得罪神呢？约瑟躲避了罪恶，但反遭诬陷被她陷害，下在监里。
今天我们基督徒要效法约瑟逃避淫行，持守原则。有我们不能破坏的底线。要有敬畏之心，好好为主做工，相信神凡事在掌权。
二、虽被陷害，仍是有爱。
牧者提到：“约瑟的心没有被苦痛变得扭曲，约瑟仍然有爱心。约瑟看到酒政和膳长心里边愁闷，马上去问，帮他们解梦。神给我们预备的机会往往在你的爱心当中。约瑟是内心有爱的，这是非常了不起的，如实给他们解梦，正是他里面有爱，他才能抓住这个出去的机会。“
约瑟虽然受到很多伤害，内心仍然是健康的。被神所爱的人是内心喜乐的人，靠着神的喜爱胜过伤痛，也许我们内心都有伤口，但是神会医治我们把它变成伤疤，不再对我们的生命造成影响。
三、虽被遗忘，仍是盼望。
酒政不纪念约瑟，竟把他忘了。约瑟又在监里多待了两年。这两年对约瑟非常重要，也许我们不能理解，为什么神让他多待两年？神有祂自己的时间表，有神的美意，操练。
因法老做梦无人能解，酒政才想起他来，提他出监，为法老解梦。通过紧接着来到的7个荒年可知，这两年对约瑟非常重要，上帝是在信心上操练他。约瑟在后来的14年学习的一个功课——相信神的掌权。神说了必定会成就，7个丰年，7个荒年，操练他等候。所有的事情和时间神都在掌权。张传道提到：如果约瑟不相信神，不等候神，认为明天不是荒年，这是欺君之罪。
求你救我脱离一切的过犯。不要使我受愚顽人的羞辱。因我所遭遇的是出于你，我就默然不语。 （诗39：8-9）
最后，牧者说“因为我所遭遇的出于神，要安心等待，安心赞美。从属灵上讲神让我的生命越来越丰盛，越来越让我有生命能力。并且神不会让我们浪费时间，让我们今天所经历的以后为神见证，做更大的工作。在这个虚浮的年代，快餐的文化当中，仍然靠着神的恩典，逆流而上，不被潮流淹没，不随波逐流。”
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/52382
In a live broadcast "Morning Prayer" on WeChat, Pastor Zhang Zhongqiu shared a sermon entitled, "Joseph’s time in prison teaches us to not rush for success in the workplace." From the experience of Joseph, we learn the meaning of hardship and suffering in our lives.
Pastor Zhang shared three points. First of all, despite being sold into slavery, Joseph remained faithful.
Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Genesis 37:36) Before Joseph was 17 years old, he was his father's favorite son at home. Because of the jealousy of his brothers, he was sold to Egypt as a slave and robbed of his dignity. Although God gave Joseph a dream, he suffered greatly and everything changed after he was sold into slavery.
For the many students who have just graduated, they have been very happy at home and school, and have not experienced any pain. But upon entering the workplace, their lives are completely different from school, and they will experience more difficult circumstances. Sometimes their lives go from the highest point to the lowest, just like Joseph. The dream is good, but reality is cruel.
It is the same when they become adults and face marriage and having a family. They hope for a good marriage, but there are practical difficulties. They need to deal with the chores of daily life, providing the rice, oil, salt, vinegar and tea needed to live, learning how to raise children and how to take care of elderly family members. But Joseph accepted his new role and identity in prison, slowly accepted hisnew environment and with God’s help overcame the difficulties he faced.
They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free. (Psalms 105:18-20) Although God allows some suffering to happen in our lives, he also provides powerful protection. Although Joseph fell to the very bottom of society, he was able to miraculously rise above his circumstances. "When Joseph was a slave, he worked diligently, though he experienced a lot of injuries. When many young people today suffer blows, they may be unwilling to continue their work. They are not mentally strong and unable to bear the pain,” said Pastor Zhang.
Later Joseph became a servant in the house of Potiphar, appreciated and trusted by the Egyptian official. This was a great testimony. "Today in the workplace, as a Christian, are you honest, and do others trust your character? Do others feel safe with you?" Many times the workplace is like a threshing floor, you have the opportunity to share Christ with others because they trust you and feel safe. This is a beautiful witness that we as Christians can share with others.
Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph because he was a handsome man. Every day she attempted to seduce him. But Joseph feared God, so he avoided evil and refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife. He said: How can I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Joseph was able to avoid sin, but he was framed by Potiphar’s wife and put in prison.
Today we Christians should imitate Joseph—avoid adultery and uphold God’s principles. There is a bottom line that we cannot cross. We should fear God, work hard for him, and believe that he is in charge of everything.
Second, despite being framed, Joseph’s heart was filled with love. Pastor Zhang shared that Joseph's heart had not been distorted by his suffering;his heart was still filled with love. When Joseph saw the dejection of the king’s cupbearer and baker, he immediately asked what troubled them and then interpreted their dreams. The opportunities God gives us are often because of our love. Joseph had love in his heart, which was very remarkable. He helped to interpret their dreams faithfully. He asked the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh and help get him out of the prison after his position was restored. It was because of the love that was in him that he had this opportunity to get out of prison.
Although Joseph suffered a lot, his heart was still filled with love. The person loved by God is the one who has delights in his soul. The love of God overcomes pain. Perhaps we all have wounds in our hearts, but God heals us and turns the wounds into scars which will no longer affect our lives.
Being forgotten, Joseph still had hope. After the cupbearer was released from prison he forgot about Joseph. Joseph spent another two years in prison. These two years were very important for Joseph. Maybe we can't understand why God let him stay in prison for two more years? God had his own schedule—the time helped to prepare Joseph for the future.
Because Pharaoh's dreams could not be solved, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, who was released from prison and then interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. We can see that these two years were very important to Joseph because God was training him in faith. During the next 14 years, Joseph learned a lesson in believing in God's control. What God said would certainly come true, seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. Joseph learned patience. All things including time are in the hands of God. ”If he couldn’t believe and wait, he might be in danger, because the Pharaoh might find he was a liar,” Zhang stated.
Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. (Psalms 39:8-9)
In conclusion, he said, “Because what I have encountered is from God, I need to be patient, wait on God, experience his peace and praise him. From a spiritual point of view, God gives me a much more abundant life filled with vitality. God will not let us waste time but give us opportunities to witness for God by our experience and do greater work in the future. In this time when there is much selfishness, we need to rely on the grace of God to go upstream, not following the waves and not overwhelmed by the tide."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Joseph’s Time in Prison Teaches Us to not Rush for Success in Workplace
