Maintain Pocket Presence
Tony Schachle
Gameplan for Victory • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 39:1-12
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
What is pressure?
P = FA
Pressure is a force applied to a certain area.
Pressure in our lives can come from:
Family Problems
Health Problems
Financial Problems
Persecution
Criticism
Temptation
How do you handle pressure?
Are you cool under pressure?
Or does pressure raise your temperature?
Do you allow yourself to be defeated by the pressure?
Would you like to be able to overcome the pressure and be victorious?
In football, there are three ways a QB can overcome pressure:
Stay in the Pocket.
Step up in the Pocket.
Scramble out of the Pocket.
In a spiritual sense, we can follow these same principles to overcome pressure and Maintain Pocket Presence in our lives.
SCRIPTURE VAULT
SCRIPTURE VAULT
The Source of Temptation
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
God’s Faithfulness and Assurance
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
Stay in the Pocket (Stand Your Ground)
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Exposition
Joseph faced relentless temptation from Potiphar’s wife.
He refused to give in to the temptation:
He didn’t flinch.
He didn’t compromise.
He didn’t panic.
His first response what to remember who God is and his moral responsibility.
Illustration
A QB under pressure cannot panic and freeze up or throw the ball away.
This could result in a sack or interception.
The QB has to learn to stay in the pocket.
Application
Are you under pressure?
Work.
Family.
Finances.
Too many things on your plate.
You cannot panic, freeze up, or give up on your faith.
Maintain your moral foundation.
Remember God is watching you.
Stay in the pocket and stick to the Gameplan for Victory.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Step Up in the Pocket (Declare Your Faith)
10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
Exposition
Joseph did not just resist the temptation internally:
He stepped up by being clear about his beliefs.
He set a clear boundary.
He maintained that boundary “day after day.”
Illustration
Stepping up in the pocket helps the QB:
Avoid the pressure.
See the field more clearly.
Execute the play.
Application
Spiritually, stepping up is an act of boldness to stand your ground.
When you are under pressure:
Do not step back or get taken down.
Step up in faith.
Speak God’s Word over the situation.
Let your convictions be known.
Sometimes you have to declare:
This is who I am.
This is what I believe.
And I will not compromise.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
Scramble Out of the Pocket (Make an Exit)
11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Exposition
When the pressure got too high, Joseph made an exit:
He did not linger.
He did not negotiate.
He did not try to manage the situation.
Joseph did the right thing even thought the results were not favorable:
He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife.
Potiphar had Joseph thrown in prison.
But God had a gameplan!
Illustration
Sometimes the pocket collapses and the only way for the QB to avoid a sack or negative play is to scramble.
The QB has to sense when the pressure is about to get to him.
The QB can turn a negative situation into a positive play.
Application
There are times when the most spiritual thing you can do is to scramble.
Flee temptation.
Get out of the situation.
You have to trust God with the results:
You might be wrongly understood.
You might be falsely accused.
But God will be with you just like he was with Joseph!
CALL TO ACTION
CALL TO ACTION
Joseph maintained pocket presence through temptation because he had God’s presence.
You are going to face pressure:
Temptation.
Criticism.
Spiritual Attack.
When you face pressure, here are the steps you need to remember:
Stay in the Pocket
Do not panic.
Do not compromise.
Step up in the Pocket
Speak faith.
Be confident in your convictions.
Scramble out of the Pocket.
Flee temptation.
Trust God to bring victory.
