The Coats

'Then Pharaoh...clothed him in garments of fine linen...' Genesis 41:42 NKJV

To be used by God, you must wear the two coats Joseph wore-namely, those of favor and integrity.

First, the coat of favor. 'Now [Jacob] loved Joseph...and he made him a coat of many colors.' (Genesis 37:3 KJV) Like Joseph's multicolored coat, the favor of God will cause you to stand out in the crowd; it will open doors, protect and promote you. The Bible says, 'For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.' (Psalm 5:12 NKJV)

Secondly, the coat of integrity. Joseph left his physical coat in the hands of Potiphar's wife when he refused her advances but not his coat of integrity. 'When Joseph went into the house to do his work... she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand, and fled...' (Genesis 39:11-12 NKJV) Your temptation may be different from Joseph's. You may be tempted to gossip, cut corners on a job, lie to save face, or claim credit for something you didn't do; whatever it is, you'll be tested. And your character will be revealed. Passing the test of integrity is what qualifies you to be used by God. Dr Joseph Parker, the great English preacher and contemporary of Charles Spurgeon, said, 'An un-tempted minister will never do us any good, and an untried one will talk over our heads.' When your hour of testing comes, the thing that will hold you steady and get you through is knowing, standing on, and speaking God's Word. That's why the Psalmist wrote, 'Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.' (Psalm 119:11 NKJV)