OPENING SCRIPTURE:
Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. (Genesis 39:20-23 NKJ)

Timeline: Joseph was 17 when he was sold into Egypt; Served in Potiphar’s house for around 10 years. At the age of 27, serving a life sentence for something he did not do.

• Serving a life sentence in prison can hardly be considered a promotion.
• The prison was God’s waiting room for Joseph.
• Being in God’s waiting room is not a punishment but a privilege.

Lessons From God’s Waiting Room

#1: God’s waiting room is a place of service

• A place where you work. A place where you serve.
• The common thread throughout the life of Joseph: Stewardship and Service

But those who WAIT ON THE LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJ)

• Waiting here is an active verb.
• It means to actively trust God in His process and His timing.
• We wait upon the Lord by serving Him and by serving others in His name.
• In the judgment to come Jesus tells us that it’s in our service to others that we will be blessed.

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” (Matthew 25:34-36 NKJ)
And they asked when they did all these things, and Jesus said,
“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40 NKJV)

• God’s waiting room is a place of service. Serving God by serving others in His name.
• Joseph served God by serving the prison keeper.

It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while. (Genesis 40: 1-4)

• Potiphar, the Captain of The Guard, trusted Joseph and he knew that God had a higher calling for Joseph.

#2 God’s Waiting Room is a place for Divine Appointments

Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” (Genesis 40:5-7 NKJ)

• Joseph had a divine appointment with 2 of Pharoah’s officers: The Chief Butler and The Baker.

And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” (Genesis 40:8 NKJ)

• Joseph begged the Chief Butler to remember him when he gets out:

But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. (Genesis 40:14 NKJ)

• Joseph spent 2 more years in prison, God had more work to do with Joseph’s character.

#3 God’s waiting room is a place for Character Development

• Precious metals are refined when they are drawn near to a fire. The goal of the fire is to purify the metal by removing impurities that do not belong there.
• God uses that same process to develop our character.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)

• Without the right character, God’s dream for your life can destroy you.

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5 NKJ)

• What we see as tribulation, could be the best opportunity to see the glory of God.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJ)

• You can rejoice knowing that He has overcome the enemy.

CONCLUSION
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?