Open Heavens Devotional: WHEN YOUR FAME SPREADS Sunday 6 March 2011

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Gen. 39:21).

READ: Genesis 39 :19-21

Two people who demonstrated unbelief in the Bible were the Economic Adviser in Samaria and Sarah. While the former died, the latter, however, lived and remained relevant in God’s plan. Why? “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exo. 33:19). God is sovereign, over all and above all. He has nobody to report to other than Himself. He is free to do whatsoever He likes with the works of His hands and nobody can query Him. When things go wrong with the design or production of a car, the manufacturer does not commit any sin reconstructing or changing His original design.

In the same way, God is free to do with you as He pleases. He is free to also determine how to judge those who sin against Him. For instance, when the children of Israel sinned, some died by the sword, some by famine, some by disease or epidemic, while there was a remnant spared out of God’s unusual mercy. This season, the Lord will select you as a candidate for His unusual mercy. While judgement is coming on some, you will be spared even when you are not better than those judged.

Another sign of the arrival of your day of favour is unusual growth of fame. One fellow who benefited from this was Joseph. After he was sold into slavery, Joseph stood out among the other servants. He even became head servant. His fame continued to soar to the point that the devil planed to cause him to sin so as to replace the good news and records of him with negative ones. Even when the devil appeared to have succeeded in throwing him into the prison through the lies told by Potiphar’s wife, his name continued to make waves and his fame continued to grow. In no time, the warders appointed him an unofficial warder—the official head of the inmates. When your fame continues to grow in spite of determined opposition, fiery attacks, the active presence of enemies, and unpleasant reports, know that it is your season of favour. Joseph’s fame did not stop spreading until it got to the King’s palace; he received a presidential pardon, and ended up as the Prime Minister of Egypt. When it is your time of favour, evil news and schemes will lose their power over you, and your few good deeds will be shouted from roof tops.

ACTION POINT: Joseph was labeled a ‘rapist’. Later, he was labeled a ‘man with the Midas touch’ and made Prime Minister. Do you have a reputation problem? Ask God to clear your reputation.

Bible in One year: Acts 27-28

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