APPEARANCE MATTERS

MEMORY VERSE: then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh, Genesis 41:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 12, Phil 3, Ezek 42, Ps 33

Pharaoh had two dreams, when he woke up his heart was troubled. He told the dreams to his wise men, but none of them could interpret them. The chief butler remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream in the king’s prison so he recommended Joseph. The king asked for him, within minutes Joseph was standing before Pharaoh. After interpreting the dreams , the King made him a prime minister. Before appearing before the king, Joseph did two things. Genesis 41:14 says then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

The first thing Joseph did was he shaved himself. A young man was sharing with us how his beards worked against him at interviews. His barber suggested he shaved it but he didn't pay any attention to it. Out of curiosity, he decided to check the pictures of all the successful men in the world and he found out that most of them had a clean shave. He attended his next job interview clean shaven and got the job. Have you ever seen a president or king with a goatee? Clean shave makes you look younger, neater, kingly and respectable. Joseph stood before Pharaoh clean shaved and Pharaoh saw the prime minister in him.

The second thing Joseph did was he changed his raiment which tells you different clothes have different purposes. There is a way to dress when you are in the bedroom with your husband or wife, there is a way to dress when you have visitors, and there is a way to dress  when you are going for interviews. For example avoid too many bright colors and please don’t wear a green suit or yellow suit or purple suit to a job interview. There is a way to dress when you are going for evangelism. When you are coming before God you put on your best because you are coming to meet the King of kings. When you are going for evangelism, you dress well. The changed raiment also signifies a changed mentality. When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, he spoke with authority like a prime minister not a prisoner. Joseph’s physical appearance played a major role in Pharaoh’s decision to make him a prime minister.

ACTION POINT: Always comb your hair and women should keep their hair neat.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.