THE BREAKING

Isaiah 59:21 (KJV) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever (this life time).

Exodus 20:20 (KJV) And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

To my fellow reader, this posting is to encourage you in the process toward the destiny God has predestined for you in this God-given life time. Many of us are familiar with the famous Bible story of Joseph and his God given gift of interpretation of dreams. He had an extraordinary gift, especially at a young age in which God used in order to get him in the position as a ruler over the land of Egypt. However there was a process of refining, even with his gifting, that Joseph had to go through.

Proverbs 18:16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

The God given gift will make room, not the man makes room for the gift. Joseph had a gift, but from the age of 17 until 30, the Lord was going to bring him through a very memorable process in transformation.

In Genesis 37 it is written of Joseph first dream and the interpretation of it. This was concerning the bound sheaves from his brother’s in the field all bowing down toward his (Joseph’s) sheaf and how that the sun, the moon and eleven stars paid respect unto Joseph which interpreted to be his father, mother, and brethren. When Joseph spoke of his dreams, he only noted them to be dreams he had and didn’t state of them to be God given. Perhaps if he acknowledges God to be the giver of these dreams, then Jacob his father may have not rebuked Joseph as we see he did in Genesis 37:10.

As we read on, Joseph gets thrown in a pit by his jealous brother’s and sold into slavery. It doesn’t seem that the favor of God is upon Joseph until finally a door opens at Potiphar’s (an officer of Pharaoh) house in which Joseph had favor with Potiphar and Potiphar saw the hand of the Lord upon Joseph. Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

I am sure by now Joseph is thinking… “Ok I got the favor, now bring on the fulfillment of my dream I had that I told my brothers and parents. Surely now, I will be a great ruler or dictator or something….the favor is here and now!” As soon as Joseph relaxed and rested in his favor and am sure thinking that its easy sailing now into God’s destination for him, The Lord then added another situation to his life and favor that would put Joseph back in the refining fire of process. God brought in Potiphar’s wife into the scene to lie to her husband concerning Joseph’s godly character, in which resulted in putting Joseph in prison.

As God created and reserved a great fish to swallow Jonah in order to teach Jonah a lesson and bring him through process of brokenness into submission, the same was with Joseph having a reserved cell block by God to break him and refine him. To show Joseph that truly all favor comes by the doing of God and not the doing of man.

Later on, while in the cell, Joseph confronts two men both worked for Pharaoh. One was a butler and the other was a baker. Both of these men had dreams, but no interpreter to interpret the dreams. Joseph does ask… “Do not interpretations belong to God?”, however Joseph continues, after hearing each dream, he begins the interpretation of each of the two dreams saying… “This is the interpretation of it”. Now, the interpretation was prophetically right on concerning the lives of the two men, however Joseph’s own assumption of God’s door opening to him, was not right on. Joseph trusted more in his God given gift to get him out of prison, rather than the initial gift of God’s promise over his life. Joseph at this point relied more on his reputation, that God’s reputation through his life. He was hoping that his “religious” holiness would get him out of prison, rather than a “relational” holiness to bring him in, into God’s Promise. Joseph asked the butler in Genesis 40:14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: In that scripture you see how Joseph asked a man, rather than asking God. The Bible says in verse 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Man will fail you, but God never fails! His promises and word is yes and Amen. There is no extra backup plan with God. It’s either His way or the lost way. I believe God caused the butler to forget about Joseph in that present time, just the same way how that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh (a different Pharaoh, not the same one during Joseph’s time) each time God told Moses to command Pharaoh to let the children of Israel free from slavery and into the wilderness (process) to serve God. Our process is of service to God when we submit to it!

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Finally 2 years later The Lord brought back the remembrance of Joseph to the chief butler. After Pharaoh himself had a troubling dream, none to interpret the dream, then the chief butler spoke of Joseph to Pharaoh concerning his ability to interpret dreams. Which God used to open the door for Joseph to interpret Pharaoh's dream. Joseph came unto Pharaoh with not only different garments from prison cloths to clean royal cloths, but Joseph came with a different heart.

Now, when Joseph began the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, he began saying… “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace”. In other words, Joseph realized that it was not by his own power or holiness that can give the interpretation, but only by faith in God who gave the gift, that the prophetic interpretation shall come forth. Peter stated something similar when God healed a lame man through Peter and John. Look in Acts 3:12-16.

When Joseph finally subjected to God’s dealing within him, he went from prison to palace in one day. From false accused convict, to ruler over the land of Egypt. Due to Joseph’s humility, yet boldness in God, God granted great favor upon Joseph and opened the door.

If we only submit to the process in which God has us to go through. Don’t complain, but rather Praise God! It is easier said then done, but I know that if only by God’s given grace we die to our flesh, we shall resurrect in spirit and magnify His name! Jesus wants to put new garments on us! To constantly transform us through the breaking from glory to glory in Him! Garments are symbolic of a changing. Most likely, it’s we who need the changing and not our circumstances. When we allow the Lord to change us, then everything around us will begin to change. When we give God more of our heart, than our gifting, only then will we be connected to a whole other world. It is a world of great riches and blessings in Christ, a whole other world which is The Kingdom of God. It is more important of what Christ does in you than through you. I encourage us all, to walk in the Kingdom lifestyle of continual breaking and transformation in Jesus. Submit and rejoice in the process, because God is being The Chief Surgeon and perfecting your heart to His Will for your life! The breaking and process toward The Promise will be hard at times, but you will continue forward under the canopy of His Promise, of His Word. Stay in His Word, stay in His Promise.

II Timothy 3:16-17 (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

God Bless