What is the FIDO Principle - Part 2

Happy Sunday. Today I continue with the story of last week and how it applies to the phto principle. If you haven't seen that video, you can go to my website, David shiv., and you'll find it there. Again, I want to give credit to Cle mlar for his insight into the phto principle, which stands for "forget it and drive on."

Last week we looked at the life of Joseph. Thus far his life has been pretty tough: sold into slavery by his brothers, who hated him, thrown into an Egyptian jail because of false charges. Joseph had a difficult life. We ended last week noting that scripture teaches that although Joseph was in jail, that God truly was with him.

One day there were two new prisoners at the jail. They were once Servants of pharaoh. One was was Pharaoh's Chief cup Bearer, and one was Pharaoh's Chief Baker. One night these men had dreams, and Joseph was able to interpret the dreams. Joseph's interpretation was spoton, and it all came to pass.

Joseph asked the cup Bearer to put in a good word to Pharaoh on his behalf. The cup Bearer said that he would, and when he was released, he forgot his promise. Joseph stayed in jail. In Genesis 41 we read that pharaoh had a dream, and no one in the Kingdom could tell him what it meant, and that was when the cup Bearer remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh there was a man in jail that was gifted in interpreting dreams, and immediately Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph rightly interpreted Pharaoh's Dream.

By the way, Joseph is now at least 30 years old. He's been a slave in Egypt and in prison for almost half his life. The dream that troubled Pharaoh so was really a warning. Joseph told Pharaoh that there would be seven years of bumper crops followed by seven years of famine. You can read of this in Genesis 41.

Joseph became Pharaoh's right-hand man. He was given the job of saving up grain in the good years so that they would be ready for famine to come. Joseph was good at his job, and he had Egypt prepared. During this time Joseph married, and he had two sons. I want to tell you their names.

It appears that Joseph truly did live by the phal principle. Joseph's son's names were Manasseh and Ephraim. The name Manasseh means "forgetful," and the name Ephraim means "fruitful." It's as if he named his sons "forget it" and "drive on," don't you think? In order to be fruitful, we must be forgetful at times of things in the past.

Joseph chose not to live a life of a victim. He pressed on. He bloomed where he was planted. The famine came, and the story takes an interesting twist. One day 10 men came to the grainary to ask for help.

They were Joseph's 10 older brothers, and they didn't recognize Joseph. He was near 40 now. They probably figured he was long dead, or they' put him out of their minds. They had no idea that he was second only to Pharaoh. Joseph recognized his brothers, and he hatched a plan to test them, and that's in chapter 44.

Let me pick up the story in chapter 45 of Genesis. Now Joseph 11 brothers are all before Him. Scripture says, "Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, 'Send everyone away from me.' So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?' But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence." They had to be scared to death.

Scripture goes on to say, "Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come closer to me.' And they G closer. He said, 'I am your brother Joseph, who you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor Harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a Remnant on Earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.'"

Joseph was truly practicing the phto principle. He did not blame his brothers. He did not retaliate against them. He did not hate them. He credited God.

He didn't let his past ruin his future. I know a lot of people that can learn from this story. Maybe there's something you need to let go. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ, there's a new creation. Everything old has passed away; everything has become new." I love that.

The Christian life is all about change. The phto principle truly overcomes the Cinderella complex. What's the Cinderella complex? It's what the devil tries to use on all of us. He tells us, "You're ugly, so you need to hide in the castle."

Can you imagine what a world this would be if all those in hiding would come out? Forget and drive on. Today's a new day. May God bless you as you forget the past and drive on for the things that God wants you to do.

Pray with me. Father, help us to learn from the life of Joseph. Help us to learn from the life of CLE mclary, and I thank you for his devotion to you. Father, thank you that every day is a new day. Thank you that there's forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and thank you that regardless of the past, you can use us for great things.

Do just that. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. God bless. Thanks for joining me today.