When God is with You – Genesis 39:1-6

Today, we want to briefly discuss what we happen when God is with a man? What are those signs to look out for when God is with you as He has promised to be with you always? What are those factors that will keep you going, keep assuring you of God’s presence even in the midst of challenges?

1. Your desire will be to please God and not man. Your life will be dedicated to His service. Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ”. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts”. Colossians 3:23, says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”.
2. No matter the challenges, you will always have reason to praise God. It is easy to praise God when things are going well with you but let not deceive ourselves, it can never be smooth road all through. There will surely be one bump or another and no wonder cars have shock absorber. Our shock absorber is in praising God in tough times. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. You will not enjoy the company of sinners. You will make progress in life even in times of famine”. Paul and Silas used this key in Acts 16:25-26 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose”. Psalm 34:1-4 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears”.
3. You will enjoy peace that is beyond explanation. Peace is defined as calmness in the midst of storms. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and His disciples were in the boat travelling. Jesus was sleeping and heavy storm came and the disciples were sore afraid and woke the master up. In verse 39, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace.” 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
4. You will enjoy health and wealth. Sound mind will be your portion. If you have good health and sound mind, you’re a wealthy man. Daddy GO told us a story of one of his friends who has money, I mean real money but he has be confined to drinking milk alone due to his ill health. What is the benefits of the money he has and cannot enjoy. Exodus 15:26 says, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” 3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers”. Jeremiah 30:17 says, “For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord, because they have called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!
5. Your life will be open and transparent. Our lives should be an open book exams. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 is a good example to note and take to heart.
6. You will be a reference point. People will look up to you. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 says, “David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was [a]discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him”. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
7. Life will be meaningful to you. So many people out there has given up on reason to live. Joseph (teenager, 18), life was worse for him than most people today but he found strength to move on because God was with him. Genesis 39:2-4 says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favour in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
8. You will not be lazy. Proverbs 6:6-11 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard!Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.