The Key to Being Firmly Committed
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
“Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge of temptation, they’ll check to see which way their friends are going” (Charles Stanley).
The truth is, most of us would probably say we are not as committed to the Lord as we’d like to be. But being firmly committed to the Lord in such a sinful world is hard. There are so many sources of temptation. So much working against the Christian. There is nothing that is going to make commitment to the Lord in a sinful world easy. But there is something that makes it possible.
Turn in your Bible to genesis 39. Give context.
As we walk through this story tonight God is going to show us the key to being firmly committed to Him in a sinful world.
I. The obvious presence of the Lord (Vv 1-6a)
I. The obvious presence of the Lord (Vv 1-6a)
Joseph succeeded in Potiphar’s house because the Lord was with him. (Vv 2 & 3)
Jospeh went from household slave, to personal attendant, to overseer.
The Lord caused all that he did to succeed. (V 3)
The Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph’s sake.
The blessing of the Lord was on all that Potiphar had, in house and field.
Potiphar left all he had in Joseph’s charge. (V 6)
Jospeh succeeded in Potiphar’s house because the Lord was with him.
But Jospeh’s success in Potiphar’s house is going to suffer a setback.
II. A firm commitment to the Lord (Vv 6b-20)
II. A firm commitment to the Lord (Vv 6b-20)
Jospeh was good looking and Potiphar’s wife set her eyes on him.
Jospeh refused her advances.
Because he didn’t want to betray his master’s trust. (V 9)
Because he didn’t want to sin against God. (V 9b)
Consider the level of commitment this required of Jospeh.
Potiphar’s wife was likely attractive.
Jospeh was only 17.
Joseph was technically under her authority.
This was common practice.
She pursued him everyday. (V 10)
Wouldn’t it be great to have the same level of commitment to the Lord as Jospeh did?
Potiphar’s wife set a trap for Joseph.
It was no accident no one else was in the house. (V 11)
She grabbed Joseph forcefully insisting that he sleep with her.
Jospeh slipped out of his outer garment so he could get away.
Potiphar’s wife is a picture of the sinful world we live in.
Driven by a lust for pleasure
No morals
Dishonest
Disregard for others
Self-seeking
Wouldn’t it be great to have the same level of commitment to the Lord as Jospeh did, in such a messed up world?
Potiphar’s wife quickly invented a story to cover herself.
She told her story to the other household servants.
She told her story to Potiphar.
She was clearly implying it was Potiphar’s fault.
Potiphar throws Jospeh in prison.
Jospeh’s commitment to the Lord ultimately landed him in prison. Where does that level of commitment come from?
III. The obvious presence of the Lord (Vv 21-23)
III. The obvious presence of the Lord (Vv 21-23)
With the exception of the fact that Jospeh is now in prison this paragraph reads almost exactly like the first one.
The Lord was with Jospeh (Vv 21 & 23)
Gave him favor.
Jospeh put in charge.
Keeper of prison didn’t have to be concerned about anything.
All that Joseph did succeeded.
The Lord was clearly with Joseph when this story began.
He was clearly with Jospeh when the story ends.
But where was the Lord in the middle when Jospeh was facing the wicked witch?
The reason the story begins and ends the way it does is to make sure you know where the Lord was in the middle.
Joseph isn’t the one to be praised. It wasn’t his strength of character or outstanding personal integrity that kept his commitment to the Lord so firm.
So, how do you explain it? The Lord was with Jospeh.
We can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with us.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
It’s Christ in you that enables you to remain firmly commited to the Lord.
You can say “No!” to the temptation to sin because the Lord is with you.
You can deny self because the Lord is with you.
You can endure the abuse of the world without losing hope or faith because the Lord is with you.
You can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with you.
But there is one other question that needs an answer. If God is with Jospeh why does his situation seem to be getting worse.
He went from stuck in a pit, to a slave of Potiphar, to suffering in prison.
Jospeh was going to be exalted to a high place. But before he could be exalted he had to be humbled.
Jospeh was going to be put in a place to save his people. But before he could save he had to suffer.
Does that sound familiar? It should.
Jesus has been exalted to the highest place. But before He was exalted He was humbled.
Jesus is our Savior. But before he could save he had to suffer.
Jospeh’s suffering brought about his people’s rescue.
Jesus’ sufferings brought about our salvation.
Don’t miss this! Jesus’ humiliation resulted in your salvation.
It’s because of Him I can stand here today and say, “The Lord is with you.”
Your commitment to the Lord does not rely on your own personal willpower or strength of character. That’s not will enable you to stand firm for the Lord.
You can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with you.
Big Idea: We can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with us.
Big Idea: We can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with us.
It’s like the father who is playing basketball with his four year old son. His son wants desperately to make a basket. But the goal is much too high. He doesn’t have the strength to make the ball reach it. So what does dad do. He puts the ball is his son’s hands, picks him up high in the air, so his little boy can make a basket. Who made the basket? The little boy did. But it is only because his father held him up. His efforts were sufficient only because of his father. The same will be true of you in your efforts to remain committed to the Lord.
Personal effort is necessary in the Christian life. But, remaining firmly committed to the Lord is not a matter of “try harder.” It’s a matter of “trust more.” We can remain committed to the Lord in a sinful world because He is with us.