HOW TO BE AN OVERCOMER

In the Book of Genesis, Joseph went through good times and bad times in his life. Dr. Lin called the good times “south wind” and bad times “north wind.” Joseph went through both kinds of wind, and so will you. This is for you!

First, Joseph had the south wind of his father’s support.

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him” (Genesis 37:3-4; p. 53).

The approval of parents, especially the father, does a lot for a young man. Joseph had that.

But that south wind did not last long. Soon came the north wind of rejection by his brothers, who hated him and wanted to kill him. They threw him into a pit, and finally they sold him so they wouldn’t be blamed for his death.

“And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt” (Genesis 37:23-28; p. 54).

Sold as a slave! Taken to another country! No hope! Lots of people would give up. But Joseph kept on going, and one day a south wind came.

“And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous 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 that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 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. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured” (Genesis 39:1-6; p. 56).

Joseph was sold to a captain of Pharaoh’s guard named Potiphar. Instead of complaining Joseph went to work. He won the confidence of Potiphar, and became a man characterized by success. But Joseph needed further training. So God allowed a north wind to come.

Dr. Lin said, “When the north wind blows into their lives, many young people think it is tragic…But such trouble is often a manifestation of God’s grace. Jeremiah said, ‘It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth’ (Lamentations 3:27; p. 837). A life of ease without struggle can ruin a young person. [I’ve seen spoiled children.] But the yoke borne in youth is a stepping stone for him to reach a higher station.”

“And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth [knows] not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out” (Genesis 39:7-18; p. 56).

One day as Joseph was working in Potiphar’s house, his wife tried to make him lie with her. But Joseph pulled himself loose, left his garment in her hand, and ran away.

This temptation might have been irresistible for other young men, but Joseph overcame it. He overcame it by getting away quickly. Some temptations can be overcome by facing them, but temptations connected with sex and lust can only be overcome by fleeing (II Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts”). For God’s sake he would rather go to jail than yield to the wicked woman’s desire. Joseph did not play around. He got out of there. One person wrote, “Don’t flirt with sin, flee from sin.” When Potiphar returned home, he accepted his wife’s accusation, and put Joseph in jail. Joseph was in prison, until God sent the next south wind.

“And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it” (Genesis 39:20-22; p. 56).

Joseph’s physical environment was bad, but his spiritual conviction never changed. God’s presence was a blessing to him in jail.

Pharaoh’s butler and baker, who were also in jail, were troubled by dreams. No one knew what these dreams meant. In Joseph’s mind God could do anything. He interpreted the butler’s and baker’s dreams. After three days both interpretations were fulfilled. The butler was restored, and the baker was hanged. This was Joseph’s south wind blowing, even in jail.

But then a north wind came to Joseph.

“Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but [forgot] him” (Genesis 40:23; p. 57).

Joseph’s was imprisoned for two more years. “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him” (Genesis 40:23). This shows the ungrateful character of the butler. Joseph was not bitter. He had learned the virtue of waiting for God to work. God prolonged his time in jail to increase Joseph’s patience in waiting for God to work, and to deepen his confidence in God’s faithfulness. That may happen to you. Later David said, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14; p. 611). Joseph did wait, and God sent a south wind. Joseph advised Pharaoh to store up food, for a famine was coming. This saved many lives, including Joseph’s family.

“And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year” (Genesis 47:12-17; p. 66).

Let me explain.

Dr. Lin said about this, “No chastening is enjoyable when it is received; it is always painful and unpleasant. But it brings forth the fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it” (see Hebrews 12:11).

Before the food was stored, God caused Pharaoh to have a dream. The butler remembered that Joseph had interpreted his dream. The butler told Pharaoh about Joseph. The dream meant that the seven years of plenty would end with seven years of famine. Pharaoh appointed Joseph to carry out the plan, and prepare for the coming seven years of famine. Pharaoh saw that Joseph was supernaturally gifted to do this work. Thus Joseph was made a ruler over all the land of Egypt (41:38-43). Finally Joseph was honored above his brothers (49:26).

Dr. Lin said, “As God trained Joseph to lead an earthly kingdom, so God trains His overcomers to have authority over His coming Kingdom. Salvation is unconditional. No works are involved. But reigning with Christ in His Kingdom is conditional.” The Bible says,

“If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with him” (II Timothy 2:12; p. 1280).

All you go through is training for you.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand suffered for 14 years in a Communist prison. He said, “I have not known a Christian who remained faithful through adversities and inner struggles who did not come out of them enriched.”

Again, Pastor Wurmbrand said, “My brothers and sisters, you must believe that your lives are like clay in the hands of God. He never makes mistakes. If at times he is hard on you…just trust. Discover the message for which He is molding you. Amen.” (p. 16).

If you become an overcomer like Joseph, you have this promise from God. Turn to Revelation 2:26 (p. 1333).

“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).

Now I will give you two applications, two points for your own life.

First, everyone, including you, has ups and down in life. You have times of success and happiness. You may think that a golden age has finally come, but it won’t last very long. Then trouble comes, because everyone, has times of failure, pain, depression and stress. You feel hopeless, like it will never end. I felt that way for years at one time of my life. But it will pass.

Second, the secret to becoming an overcomer is simply to keep going all the way to the end. It’s that simple. When things look bad, like there’s no hope, just keep on. Admit your problems and your pain. Admit the situation. But just keep on. Jesus said,

“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26). Amen.