TEXT: GENESIS 37: 1-29

INTRODUCTION

Joseph has a wonderful story scripted for the best movies with two sides. I am sure you would love the success part but am not sure you would want the underlying struggles that he faced. It was a story of a young man with dreams that could still have been wonderful without the attacks and setbacks that he faced. We want to analyze these setbacks and barriers to understand what causes stagnation. In his own case – thank God He survived each barrier, some people don’t and never overcame if they don’t take action.

Mat 13:25 One night, when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

It is time to wake up.

NO MORE STAGNATION – PRAYER POINTS

CAUSES OF STAGNATION

A. HATRED AND JEALOUSY

Gen 37:3 Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a long robe with full sleeves for him.
Gen 37:4 When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them, they hated their brother so much that they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.

Joseph did not asked to be loved more by His Dad more the others! Unprovoked Jealousy. Some are provoked by us by the things we do and we bring enmity against us that is avoidable.

1. Lord, every foundation of Hatred that has been built against my destiny – uproot them.
2. Every eyes – spiritual, physical or emotional that is seeing how far I have come and want to cause me pain – shut them permanently.
3. Every good “robe” and great things that you have made for me that gives me joy, will not become a source of pain.
4. Everyone in my life that is or used to be a source of strength and progress – Lord, preserve them for me and let their relevance never cease in my life.

Isa 59:19 So they shall fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of Jehovah shall make him flee.

5. The arrows of hatred, vitriol, wrath, spleen, fury directed against me and my family members – Holy spirit – Raise your standard and make them flee!
6. In every area I need to wake up to manage hatred and Jealousy around me so I can move forward, give me the wisdom and vigilance.

Gen 37:10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”
Gen 37:11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

7. Whatever it will take, In the name of Jesus, EVERY DREAM YOU HAVE GIVEN ME WILL LIVE!
8. No amount of opposition, hatred or envy will distract me – I will not lose my dreams.
9. All the way, despite the negative stance of the brothers, Joseph’s Dad kept focus on Joseph’s dream. Raise dream activators for me. Raise men and women who believe in me so I can move forward!

Psa 125:3 He won’t let the wicked rule his people or lead them to do wrong.

10. We decree that the rod of the wicked in the form of hatred, jealousy and envy will cease to rest on our future, home and our lots.
11. Every stagnation that we have suffered or suffering on the basis of envy and Jealousy – Lord, reverse it now!
12. Every spirit of revenge, resentment, bitterness and retaliation that have accumulated in my heart due to the abuse and hatred I had experienced – deliver me Lord! I uproot them out of my life in Jesus name. Lord, Ilet go now!

B. TENACITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

Gen 37:14 His father said, “Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know.” So he sent him from Hebron Valley. Joseph was near Shechem
Gen 37:15 and wandering through the fields, when a man asked, “What are you looking for?”
Gen 37:16 Joseph answered, “I’m looking for my brothers who are watching the sheep. Can you tell me where they are?”

13. In every area of my life that my commitment and drive to excellence is being used against my growth – vindicate me!
14. Lord, As I desire to move forward to follow “instructions” and implement “directions”, I will not walk into pain!
15. In my legitimate quest to further life’s aspiration, I will not become a victim! I will be a victor.
16. In every area I had become discouraged because I did not get validation for my effort, Almighty God – Encourage me.

C. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND DESTRUCTION OF DREAM

When a man gets repeated attacks on his life because of his dreams, he will be likely become stagnated because of fear of death or harm!

Gen 37:18 But before he got there, they saw him coming and made plans to kill him.
Gen 37:19 They said to one another, “Look, here comes the hero of those dreams!
Gen 37:20 Let’s kill him and throw him into a pit and say that some wild animal ate him. Then we’ll see what happens to those dreams.”

17. Every gathering against my destiny and that of my family, scatter them Lord!
18. Every conspiracy that is planning to kill the precious dreams you have given me – terminate them.
19. Every alliance against the continuity of my assignment in life – Lord, let the center cease to hold.
20. My life is in yours Lord. I will not be cut short in the name of Jesus.
21. Every plan to make me “lifeless” and “irrelevant” even while breathing will fail! I will live my life to its fullness.
22. ” Then we’ll see what happens to those dreams.” Daddy – surprise them! Internal and external forces – surprise them.

Gen 37:21 Reuben heard this and tried to protect Joseph from them. “Let’s not kill him,” he said.
Gen 37:22 “Don’t murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a dry well out here in the desert.” Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.

23. Lord! Lord! Lord! When it matters most – RAISE A VOICE FOR ME! RAISE A VOICE FOR MY CHILDREN! RAISE A VOICE FOR MY BUSINESS! RAISE A VOICE FOR MY BUSINESS!

Psa 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

24. I decree in the name of Jesus – I will not die prematurely but live to declare the goodness of the Lord and I will live to tell what the LORD has done.

D. SLAVERY

Slavery is the fastest path to stagnancy. Slavery causes under utilization of capacity. A wife who is a slave can never be relevant. A man who is a slave will work 18 hour days for 35 years and have nothing to show for it!

Gen 37:25 As Joseph’s brothers sat down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with all kinds of spices that they were taking to Egypt.
Gen 37:26 So Judah said, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and hide his body?
Gen 37:27 Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not harm him. After all, he is our brother.” And the others agreed.
Gen 37:28 When the Midianite merchants came by, Joseph’s brothers took him out of the well, and for twenty pieces of silver they sold him to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt.

25. Lord! I repeat again firmly – when it matters most – Please raise a voice for my destiny.
26. From the hopelessness of the darkness of life’s “well” and hole – deliver me permanently.
27. I renounce all forms of slavery – spiritual, financial, emotional, physical etc.
28. In the name of Jesus, I proclaim my deliverance from the slavery and bondage of sicknesses, poverty and shame.
29. It is perversion for a promising man from a promising background to become a slave for no fault of his. Lord! enough is enough – FREE ME NOW.

E. TRIALS AND FALSE ACCUSATION

Gen 39:7 and Potiphar’s wife soon noticed him. She asked him to make love to her,
Gen 39:8 but he refused and said, “My master isn’t worried about anything in his house, because he has placed me in charge of everything he owns.
Gen 39:9 No one in my master’s house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn’t given me is you, and that’s because you are his wife. I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.”
Gen 39:10 She kept begging Joseph day after day, but he refused to do what she wanted or even to go near her.
Gen 39:11 One day, Joseph went to Potiphar’s house to do his work, and none of the other servants were there.

30. In the name of Jesus, I will no longer be noticed for evil purposes!
31. Every attraction that is intended to cause me pain, end it now! Lord! end it!
32. Whatever it will take, Lord give me power over sin and weaknesses.
33. ” She kept begging Joseph day after day,” – This persistent attack intended to set me back – terminate it!
34. ” One day,” Lord in the name of Jesus, I cancel the day of pain and setback intended for me and my family.

F. IMPRISONMENT

Imprisonment is worse than slavery! Even in slavery, while not good, you can move around, you can travel, you can still have choices but limited. Imprisonment lives you with no options!

Gen 39:19 Potiphar became very angry
Gen 39:20 and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. While Joseph was in prison,
Gen 39:21 the LORD helped him and was good to him. He even made the jailer like Joseph so much that
Gen 39:22 he put him in charge of the other prisoners and of everything that was done in the jail.
Gen 39:23 The jailer did not worry about anything, because the LORD was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did.

35. Every anger and bitterness in people’s heart towards me – justified or not – uproot Lord!
36. Daddy, from the life of a prisoner, from the zone of prisoners, from the prison of life, deliver me!
37. From the prison of infirmities and sicknesses – deliver me Lord!
38. Even in prison, Joseph shone! Lord, your light in my life will never grow dim!
39. Even in prison, your presence never left Joseph. Daddy, don’t leave me! Never!
G. FORGOTTEN

Gen 40:23 but the king’s personal servant completely forgot about Joseph.
Gen 41:1 Two years later the king of Egypt dreamed he was standing beside the Nile River.
Gen 41:8 The next morning the king was upset. So he called in his magicians and wise men and told them what he had dreamed. None of them could tell him what the dreams meant.
Gen 41:9 The king’s personal servant said: Now I remember what I was supposed to do.

40. All my years of toil and cries – Let it end well this year!
41. Joseph came this far with life’s struggles without offending anyone, Lord – please it’s time to end stagnation and struggles – all wise – Remember me and put an end to the struggles!
42. For me to move forward, create a need for me to meet. Create an assignment for me to solve Lord!
43. Let my own “Two year” in the “forgotten desert” end this month.
44. Remember me beyond the boundaries of my struggles and pain. Break into the zone of pain and release joy!
45. Whoever is out there that you have chosen to be my helper – connect us and let the power of remembrance activate them.

Gen 41:14 The king sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of jail. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to the king.

46. Lord! Lord! send for me! send for me for good! Send for me to move forward. Let me be sent for – urgently!
47: I reject the dress of stagnation! I received the attire of Royalty in Jesus name.

H. REDUNDANCY AND LACK OF PROMOTION

Gen 41:16 “Your Majesty,” Joseph answered, “I can’t do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.”
Gen 41:28 It is just as I said–God has shown what he intends to do.
Gen 41:41 You are now governor of all Egypt!”
Gen 41:42 Then the king took off his royal ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He gave him fine clothes to wear and placed a gold chain around his neck.
Gen 41:43 He also let him ride in the chariot next to his own, and people shouted, “Make way for Joseph!” So Joseph was governor of Egypt.
Gen 41:44 The king told Joseph, “Although I’m king, no one in Egypt is to do anything without your permission.”
Gen 41:45 He gave Joseph the Egyptian name Zaphenath Paneah. And he let him marry Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest in the city of Heliopolis. Joseph traveled all over Egypt.
Gen 41:46 Joseph was thirty when the king made him governor, and he went everywhere for the king.
48. In the name of Jesus – My gifts and “giftings” will find expression and relevance again.
49. My gifts will show up in the right places. I reject redundancy!.
50. The gift of a man makes way for him. I command my gifts to make way in the name of Jesus!
51. He became a Governor at thirty. Lord in the name of Jesus, restore all wasted years in Jesus name.
52. Lord release the ring of power and freshness into my finger and life
53. ” You are now governor of all Egypt!” In the name of Jesus, I call in my promotion in the name of Jesus.
54. Irrespective of all that live has thrown at me. I will end well in Jesus.
55. As the Lord lives, this season will not pass me!
IN JESUS NAME WE HAVE PRAYED.

EVB