Everyone has disadvantages. For some it maybe a physical issue, a family background issue, an economic issue, or even an educational issue, but everyone has some disadvantage in their life. Because we have disadvantages, the question is how do we overcome them to become the person God wants us to be? In our series on Joseph we have seen how he overcame many disadvantages with God’s help to fulfil God’s plan and this week we will examine how we can overcome any disadvantage we think we might have which is keeping us from being the person God desires.

Why do people doubt their salvation? We have the promises of God that He will never leave us and He will never let us go, and yet people still struggle with doubts. In our series on Joseph we will answer the question, "How do we overcome our doubts?". As you listen to the message, if you have any doubts about God's promises, then pray God will help you to accept Him at His word and release your doubts to Him.

One of the events we all will face someday is death. For the Christian we have the assurance of salvation and heaven is in our future so death is not something we should fear. But what if you do fear death? Can you overcome it? And if so, how?  In our sermon this weekend we will look at Joseph's father as he faced death bravely to discover how we can overcome our fear of death. This is one of the few death bed moments in the Bible and it is important for us to know how to prepare as we leave this earth.

One of the key tenets of our Christian Faith is forgiveness. We understand that Jesus died for our sins and forgives us unconditionally and therefore we are to forgive others the same way through the power of the Holy Spirit. But what happens when you think you cannot forgive someone? What can you do? This Sunday morning our message is from the life of Joseph entitled, “Overcoming Unforgiveness” and we will witness Joseph forgiving his family for what they did to him. This is one of the most powerful passages in the Bible and one we all need to hear and obey.

In the Garden of Eden, the idea or concept of guilt was not there because sin was not present in the world and therefore there was no guilt. But soon after sin entered the world, guilt entered also. Why? Because they both go hand in hand. We all struggle with guilt of some kind and sometimes even after we are forgiven we still struggle with guilt. How do we overcome this? This Sunday our sermon title is “Overcoming Guilt.” We will be looking at the brothers of Joseph who sold him into slavery and then years later they were still struggling with the guilt of their actions. We will look at how to overcome our guilt and we will also examine the difference between being convicted and guilt. Be in prayer that the Lord will release us of our guilt as we take our sins to the cross of Christ.

It has been said the worst feeling is hopelessness. This Sunday as we continue our series on the life of Joseph we will find him in a hopeless situation, in prison with no chance to ever be released. The question is what did he do? For those who follow God, we are never in a truly hopeless situation, because God can change lives, events, people, and our attitude.  Please continue to keep Lone Oak FBC in your prayers as we continue to  Exalt Christ, Make Disciples, and Pass the Torch.

Everyone goes through dark periods in their life, but imagine being accused of a crime you did not commit and then being thrown into a prison in another country with no possible way to escape?  That is the scenario of what will happen to Joseph in the sermon this weekend in our message entitled, “Overcoming Darkness.”  What can we do when it seems there is no escape and we feel darkness all around us? Where is God when we think we are alone?  What do we focus on?  Once again, Joseph overcomes his situation as the Lord continues to prepare him to save the world. Please pray as the Lord reveals to you what steps you need to take when you are in the darkness.

This Sunday the title of the message is “Overcoming Tests.” Every Christian will go through many tests in their lives and the question we need to answer is will we pass them? This Sunday we will find Joseph facing not one but three different tests in Potiphar’s house and those three tests are still prevalent today for Christians. Please remember tests should not scare us, but we need to be prepared for them. Why? Because as we pass our tests, God will use us more in His Kingdom.

All of us will go through a crisis or a disaster, so the question is never “if” but “when.” Maybe the real question should be, “What will I do when I go through a disaster?” As we continue to study the life of Joseph this weekend, we will be asking that important question. Joseph, a man of God, went through many disasters and every time the Lord blessed him on the other side of them. What can we learn from Joseph on overcoming disasters?