CHARACTER LESSONS FROM BIBLE CHARACTERS

Transcription

1 CHARACTER LESSONS FROM BIBLE CHARACTERS Thirteen Lessons About People In The Bible That Teach Us How To Live Volume One Lessons Written by: William S. Wallace, Jr. Retired Preacher Copyright All Rights Reserved 1

2 Lesson Three: Joseph, A Lesson In Forgiveness 2

3 Gen. 37:1. And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 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 colors. 4 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. 3

4 Gen. 37:17.And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 4

5 Gen. 37:23. And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 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. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 5

6 Joseph Was Favored By His Father Jacob Who Gave Him A Coat Of Many Colors 6

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12 Joseph Chosen To Save Egypt From Famine 12

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17 Joseph Was Over All Of The Land Of Egypt 17

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20 Joseph Sent Wagons To Bring His Family Down To Egypt 20

21 No one should ever betray or sell out their brother or sister. 21

22 What Did Jesus Teach About Forgiveness? 22

23 Parable Of The Unjust Servant Matt. 18:

24 HE COULD RECEIVE FORGIVENESS BUT HE COULD NOT GIVE FORGIVENESS 24

25 JESUS WARNING TO FORGIVE OTHERS 25

26 Luke 17:3. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive." 26

27 THE RESULT OF BEING FORGIVING 27

28 Matt. 6:14. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 28

29 CHRIST SHOWED FORGIVENESS 29

30 Luke 23:34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 30

31 OUR CALLING TO BE FORGIVING 31

32 Col. 3:13. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 32

33 Matt. 5:13. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 33

34 WHY IS FORGIVENESS SO IMPORTANT? 34

35 Rom. 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; I John 2:1. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 35

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37 I John 2:12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. This forgiveness is found ONLY in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Acts 13:38. Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; 39 by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 37

38 Forgiveness comes to us ONLY as we are willing to forgive those who trespass or offend against us. Mark 11:25. And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 38

39 Our Next Lesson: David, And Mephibosheth 39