GENESIS – CHAPTER 41

THE KING’S TWO DISTURBING DREAMS
DREAM 1: 7 fat, well-fed cows came up out of the river.  Afterwards, 7 lean, skinny, ugly cows arose out of the water and ate up the 7 fat cows, and the 7 lean cows were just as lean and ugly as they were before they ate the 7 fat cows.

DREAM 2: 7 full and good ears of corn grew on a stalk, and 7 withered, thin ears came up afterward and ate up the 7 good ears of corn.

The king was troubled by these dreams and sought interpretation from his wise men.  After the wise men surrounding him could not interpret his dreams, his cup-bearer remembered Joseph in prison had given him a right interpretation of his dream when he was incarcerated.  So, he suggested to the king that he call Joseph up from the prison to respond to his dreams.  Joseph was called, and
he gave the king the following interpretation:

The 7 fat cows and the 7 full ears of corn represent 7 years of plenty.

The 7 lean, ugly cows and the 7 withered ears of corn represent 7 years of famine, which will follow the 7 years of plenty.

This famine will consume the land to the point that all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt.  It will cause people to forget the comfort of the 7 good years.

This, Joseph said, is what God will bring to pass shortly.  Thus, the obvious question was –

“WHAT DO WE DO NOW?”

THE JOSEPH STRATEGY and ADVICE

• Look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
• Let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land (20%) of Egypt in the 7 plenteous years.
• Gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh.
• And let them keep food in the cities.

This food shall be for store to the land against the 7 years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

APPLICATION OF JOSEPH’S STRATEGY
The king said unto his servants, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?”  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God has showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: You will be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than you.

Joseph – brought from the prison to the throne – received the honor and the responsibility of implementing his strategy.  He was successful because the Lord was with him, and he gave God all the credit.  Note verse 51 and 52: “For God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.  For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

THE FAMINE CAME
The dearth was in all lands, but, in all the land of Egypt, there was bread.  When the hungry, starving people cried to Pharaoh, he said to them, “Go unto Joseph; what he says to you, do.” Thus, people came from everywhere into the cities of Egypt looking for bread.  Each city had resources to meet the needs of the people.  

The Joseph Strategy became a salvation to his own family.  For his brothers showed up at his throne in Egypt - begging for food.  After much dialogue and interaction, Joseph helped his family and eventually directed them to bring Dad and the entire family to Egypt, so that he could care for them there.  The rejected, despised brother is now their savior, because the Lord was with him.

THE NEW TESTAMENT ALLEGORY
In St. Matthew 5:14, Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”  Jesus refers to his disciples – his church – as the light and a city on a hill.  We are the lighted city on a hill to which people come looking for resources.  “Let them keep food in the cities.”
They come to us looking for answers and responses to their many needs.  We, the church, are given by Christ the awesome responsibility of being the light of the world and a city elevated in the eyes of the people with resources to help in the time of need.

WHEN TIMES ARE DIFFICULT, THE CHURCH IS THE LEADER!
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 8, 12-13 say – “And it shall come to pass, if you will hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that the Lord your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings will come on you and overtake you, if you will hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God.”

“The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand unto; and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”

“The Lord will open unto you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto your land in His season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you will lend unto many nations, and you will not borrow.  And the Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath; if you hearken unto the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them….”

Psalm 48:2 says that the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion.  Hebrews 12:22 says that we are come to Mount Zion.  Thus, our connection with Mount Zion makes us the joy of the whole earth.

Jesus further said in St. Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” These scriptures and many others indicate that we are to be the CEO’s of major businesses, for we are the head.  Daniel 7:18 says that the saints of the most High God shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.  God has positioned us to function at the top of this world’s administration.  We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  We simply need to implement the Joseph Strategy today, and keep food in the cities!

THE JOSEPH STRATEGY IN SUMMARY

• Appoint Officers over every city.
• Encourage the farmers to work hard – during the years of plenty - to grow as much as possible – to reap as much as possible – to give, not 10% but, 20% to be stored for the lean years.

MY JOSEPH STRATEGY FOR 5TH EAST

• Make a church a city, supervised by an appointed officer called a Pastor – to receive revenue sufficient to create a resource center at each location.
• Develop the members into CEO’s and successful workers with ample earnings to pay 20% of their income to their local church, so that a significant percentage can be stored for the lean years.
• Financially strong local churches then report significant income to the Jurisdiction monthly, causing us to be in a position to represent the jurisdictional churches both at home and abroad with more authority.
• The Jurisdiction is empowered to undergird the National Church in its many endeavors.

THE SPIRIT-DRIVEN SACRIFICE
Acts 2:44-45 say “all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”  Acts 4:33-35 say “with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Believers were land and real estate owners.  They had the power to liquidate their holdings for the benefit of the church.  Needs were met, and there was joy in the city.  They praised God and had favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.  You must have something, if you want to do anything.  These believers had something which they owned to work with.  My goal is to ensure that all believer have something they call their own to generate revenue sufficient enough to give a significant percentage to the church.  Suggestions for revenue-generating opportunities, click on  OPPORTUNITIES.