"AND JOSEPH was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain and chief executioner of the [royal] guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and 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 flourish and succeed in his hand. So Joseph pleased [Potiphar] and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And [his master] made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge. From the time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the Lord's blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field and [Potiphar] left all that he had in Joseph's charge and paid no attention to anything he had except the food he ate." -The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
You and I have been created to produce overflow in the lives of people.
Though a slave and prisoner, Joseph was a successful and prosperous man that flourished in whatever He put His hand to. That means with NO paycheck, Joseph worked with such detail, excellence and results that Potiphar left all he had in his charge and paid no attention to anything except his food.
- Who are you like that to?
- Who can trust you to supervise ALL that is in their possession in their absence without the wage you deserve without an attitude or grudge?
Let's face it, the only reason why people don't carry this kind of work ethic and fight over wages is because they believe their promotion comes from man, not God.
Joseph was the direct result and product of overflow in Potiphar's house, yet his promotion didn't come from Potiphar. In fact, he was falsely accused of rape after bringing increase and in Gen. 39:20 he is thrown into prison by unlawful force. Yet in Genesis 39:21-23 it says:
"But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. And the warden of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatsoever was done there, he was in charge of it. The prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in [Joseph's] charge, for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper."
When you understand that promotion comes from God and man does not employ you (that you report to a higher authority) you will do ALL things "heartily" unto the Lord and realize that God will cause WHATEVER YOU DO TO PROSPER.
It doesn't matter what man does or fails to do.
God will cause whatever you do to prosper.
But overflow comes into your life when people don't have to pay attention to what they put in your charge. In other words, things prosper and succeed in your care because you care about demonstrating to God that He can trust you with results or other people's affairs. You prove to Him that He can trust you with excellence, authority and favor regardless of what your wage is or what man can give you.
It is interesting though that when you are the catalyst and product of overflow, you don't always see increase and favor from the place you have brought it. Yet when men have forgotten you in a jail cell or lie on you, God will remember you and elevate you to a place you never dreamed or seem unqualified for.
So we know the story, while in prison Joseph is promoted SUDDENLY and the overflow and favor he experiences in Potipher's house and the prison have now followed him to the Palace. He builds and opens storehouses in the midst of a famine and all nations come to Egypt to buy grain from Him and his position and fame reunites him with his father and brothers.
If he is not productive as a working slave or prisoner without a title or wages, the Palace will not have him; he dies in prison with his gift and Israel's legacy of miracles in Egypt never come to pass.
So the first two chapters of Exodus introduce us to a radical turn of events for God's favored people. Under Joseph they had enjoyed special status in Egypt, but now those privileges have been removed (Ex. 1:8). And after more than 400 years, they are a slave people-helpless and oppressed.
But because increase and overflow is in their bloodline (the ability to prosper in slavery or prison is in the DNA of Joseph, the first one to land in Egypt), they grow from seventy people into several million under the same circumstances.
In fact, the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.
And in Ex 13:19, a profound event happens: "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for [Joseph] had strictly sworn the Israelites, saying, Surely God will be with you, and you must carry my bones away from here with you."
In other words, Joseph told them, "When you exit this place, carry my bones, -- the remnants of my blessing and favor that built Egypt's cities and storehouses out of here."
THAT'S THE FAVOR YOUR PRESENCE BRINGS TO WORKPLACES, BANKS, HOSPITALS AND CITIES.
You have a mandate to increase in hostile working environments. God told His people in Ex. 23:10:
"Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.
In a world that demands we produce results for success in business, school, prosperity, it is hard to believe that God can promise HARVEST to grow on its own.
But He planned that whatever seed comes out of your life be supernatural, prosper and multiply in the place that it is sowed.
God told His people work for six years and take off the seventh because the earth (the place of their planting and harvesting) was going to supernaturally produce crops on its own from the residue of seeds planted and harvested in previous years.
So today, as you read and lead, I declare over your life:
· Tax refunds to come on their own
· Sales, contracts, business deals, promotions, jobs and better jobs, opportunities, gifts and surprises to come on their own.
· Miracles in your health, MIRACLE cures, miracles in your family or (YOU NAME IT) to come on their own or suddenly.
But the only way God allows your seed to grow on its own, is when you plant and harvest your "crops" and realize that He increases you for a reason.
God has purpose for the overflow in your life.
He allocated more in that tax refund, more in that raise, more in that sale price of your real estate, more patience, more creativity and supernatural ideas for Kingdom use.
That word OVERFLOW means: to run after or over; to breakthrough, outpour or tear down; it indicates abundance or surplus that goes beyond what already exceeds. To exceedingly increase to a frequency that exceeds all description and expectation!
I declare SUDDEN OVERFLOW in you. If there be any history (or residue) of increase and success in that relationship, in that career or business, or your health, TODAY, you can prophesy to what is dead to yet live again.
