Joseph Factor

Week 14: Heaven’s Courtroom of Justice

Heaven’s Courtroom• A series on the life of Joseph. • Learning applicable life lessons. • Key Message of Joseph’s Life: How do you stay on

course when your promised breakthrough seems nowhere in sight!

• Joseph knew his call—he was to a be a leader of nations!

Heaven’s Courtroom• Since this is Passion Week, the last week of Jesus’

life on earth, I would like for us to look at what Jesus did for us.

• We are going to do this by looking at a scene from heaven’s courtroom of Justice.

Heaven’s Courtroom• Genesis 41:8-16 – 8 The next morning Pharaoh was

very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

• Remember that the Pharaoh had 2 dreams the night before.

• He knew they were significant. • But, he did not know what they meant.

Heaven’s Courtroom9 Finally, the king's chief cup-bearer spoke up. "Today I have been reminded of my failure," he told Pharaoh. 10 "Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. 11 One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. 12 There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant.

Heaven’s Courtroom13 And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole." 14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh.

• Let’s skip down to verse 40.

Heaven’s Courtroom40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours." 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.

Heaven’s Courtroom43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, "Kneel down!" So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, "I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval."

Heaven’s Courtroom• One moment, Joseph was in prison wearing his

orange, prison jumpsuit.• The next moment he had showered, shaved and

changed into nice clothing and was standing before the most powerful man on earth at that time.

• Talk about your head spinning! • From the prison to the palace in less than an hour!

Heaven’s Courtroom• This is a clear picture of what happens to us in

salvation. Is it not? • Similar to a vision that Zechariah had. • This is a clear picture of redemption. • As you will see what happened to Joseph was an

earthly process that just mirrors what happens to each of us supernaturally when we are born again.

Heaven’s CourtroomZechariah 3:1-5 – Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel's right hand, making accusations against Joshua.

• Let’s explain what is going on in this scene.1. Which Joshua is this? • This is not the Joshua who led Israel into the

Promised Land. • This was the high priest at the time of Zech’s vision.

Heaven’s Courtroom2. Joshua Defined – Joshua literally means Jehovah

saves! • When you translate it from Hebrew to Greek to

English, you get Jesus!3. The Angel of the Lord – Not an angel but THE Angel

of the Lord. • Who is that? • This is probably a pre-incarnate manifestation of

Jesus.

Heaven’s CourtroomJohn 1:1-4 – In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.

• Who is the Word of God? • Jesus!

Heaven’s Courtroom• He has existed from eternal past and all things were

created through Him. • So, this is a picture of Jesus before He came into the

world. • Jesus did not come into existence in the stable in

Bethlehem or when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

• That was just His physical birth when God became man.

• He is eternal—past, present & future!

Heaven’s Courtroom• Whenever you see the Angel of the Lord in the Old

Testament it is probably Jesus. • Like when the Angel of the Lord announced the birth of

Samson to his parents. • They asked Him, What is Your Name?• He answered that His Name was incomprehensible! It is too

wonderful for you to understand!• Then, He walked into the fire of the sacrifice and ascended. • This was a picture that He was to be the sinless Lamb of

God who would take away the sins of the world (Judges 13:1-20).

Heaven’s Courtroom4. Satan, the Accuser – was there on the other side doing

what he does best. • Revelation 12:10 – "It has come at last—salvation and

power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

• This is a picture of what satan was doing before Joshua the high priest.

• He was making accusations. • God, You have no right to forgive this man! He is guilty! I

have a long list of sins to prove it!

Heaven’s Courtroom5. Heaven’s Courtroom of Justice • If you could imagine, all the players here—

– Jesus – the accuser, the devil – Joshua or you or me– God, the Judge.

• This is a scene from the courtroom of justice in heaven.

Heaven’s Courtroom6. What is Jesus’ role here? • This is so important for us! • He is Joshua’s advocte or his defender.

1 John 2:1 – My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who is truly righteous.

Heaven’s Courtroom• Can you see what is happening here? • Joshua represents you and me as we are standing

before the Lord.• The devil accuses us of being the worst of sinners. • Even though the devil is the Father of lies, most of

what he accuses us of is true.• But, as a believer, we are not left alone but,

standing by our side is our Advocate, Jesus, Who defends us!

• Let’s continue in Zechariah’s vision:

Heaven’s Courtroom2 And the Lord said to Satan, "I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire."

• Even though satan’s claims may be true, God rejects them.

• Why? • Because of the Advocate, Jesus.

Heaven’s Courtroom• Look at the 1 John 2:1-2 passage again: • Dear children, I am writing this to you so that you

will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who is truly righteous. 2 He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

• Even though every one of us stands before God guilty as charged, we are not sentenced.

• God rejects the accuser’s claims! Why?

Heaven’s Courtroom• Because our Advocate stepped forward to pay our

penalty for us! • According to Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and

fallen short of the glory of God. • In other words, we are all guilty and are punishable

by death for our sins. • Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death. • Death is the penalty for sin, and in the justice of the

courtroom of heaven, someone has to die to pay for our sin.

Heaven’s Courtroom• But, thank God, the verse continues by stating, But

the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

• Jesus steps forward at the right moment as the Judge of the Ages is about to pronounce our judgment and says,

• No, Father! I will take Hal’s place! I will pay the penalty not only for him but for everyone who will accept it.

Heaven’s Courtroom• Because Jesus was sinless, He is the only One who

could do this. • Yes, He is the sinless Lamb of God who takes away

the sins of the world!• Now, look at what happens next! • 3 Joshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there

before the Angel. • What do those filthy clothes represent? • Our sinful deeds.

Heaven’s Courtroom• Romans 1:21 – There is no one righteous. Not even

one! • Our righteousness is as filthy rags. • The Hebrew for filthy means that his garments had

human waste on them, so not only were they dirty but they smelled.

• Our unrighteous deeds are not a sweet smelling fragrance, but they stink.

• Because we have a Righteous One who takes our place, look at what happens next:

Heaven’s Courtroom4 So the Angel said to the others standing there, "Take off his filthy clothes." And turning to Joshua He said, "See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes."

• We now stand sinless and holy before the Father because it is not our righteousness that we are trusting in but Jesus’.

• His clothes are clean, squeaky clean! • There are no spots or wrinkles in them! • We are no longer trusting in our deeds to get to heaven

but in the free gift of salvation from Jesus.

Heaven’s Courtroom5 Then I said, "They should also place a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the Angel of the Lord stood by.

• This turban was actually worn by the high priest, and it had Holiness unto the Lord written across the front of it.

• We are His priests or representatives in this world.• Now that our sins have been forgiven, we need to

walk in holiness.

Heaven’s Courtroom• I can’t help but think about the crown of

righteousness that we will be given during our court room appearance in heaven.

2 Timothy 4:8 – And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.

Heaven’s Courtroom• This crown is for all who are living for Him and

trusting in Him for their salvation. • That is why they are eagerly awaiting His return. • People who are not trusting Jesus for their salvation

are not eagerly waiting His return. • If they are doing anything, they are dreading it

because they are not prepared!

Heaven’s Courtroom• This is what Jesus did for us on what we call Good

Friday. • He went to the cross and took our sins and

exchanged our sins for His righteousness! • He took our filthy, smelly rags and exchanged them

for His Robe of Righteousness that is so white that even Clorox could not make it shine that bright.

• The Great Exchange! • What a great deal for us! • That is something worth praising Him for eternity!

Heaven’s Courtroom• This is, in essence, what happened to Joseph when

he went from the prison to the palace. • His filthy prison rags were exchanged for the robes

of royalty. • The king’s signet ring was placed on his finger giving

him all the authority of the king and the king’s gold chain was placed around his neck.

Heaven’s Courtroom• James 1:12 – God blesses those who patiently

endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

• What does a crown represent? • Royalty! • Not only are we His priests, but we are a royal

priesthood now!

Heaven’s Courtroom• Just like Joseph, Jesus does not leave us in prison,

but He has raised us up and seated us in heavenly thrones where we will rule and reign for eternity!

• Do we deserve it! • NO! • But that is the beauty of God’s grace. • Allow me to read a short passage in Ephesians that

will sum up all we have been saying tonight.

Heaven’s CourtroomEphesians 2:4-10 – 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) 6 For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

Heaven’s Courtroom7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Joseph Factor

Week 14: Heaven’s Courtroom