Character in the Storm
Notes
Transcript
Your defeat doesn’t have to be your demise
Your defeat doesn’t have to be your demise
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
Too many Christians get knocked down and stay down. They not only know defeat but they often build their lives there!
How sad my friends when you and I need to rise but choose to stay down.
Joseph has a choice here. He wallow in his self pity and in his arrogance or he can choose to rise again and learn from these situations.
Church you and I need to be the beacons of hope that say, no matter what happens we will rise, not because we’re awesome, but because our king lives!
Walk in the blessing of God.
Walk in the blessing of God.
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
If you and I choose today to walk in integrity, we will walk in the blessing and strength of god.
So many will undermine the work of God in their lives, for temporary pleasure. Don’t do it.
No Compromise
Because Joseph took all this hardship in stride and allowed God to build him through it. Joseph was able to Rise and be a blessing to the entire world.
Do not undermine the blessing of God with compromise
Do not undermine the blessing of God with compromise
and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
Compromise tears down your Character
“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”
-Billy Graham
Potiphar wife is offering Joseph something sweet and secret. Joseph has been to hell and back. He has been wronged, he has been thrown low.Here comes a beautiful women who says, come with me. It will be our secret. Indulge in love. Compromise, you deserve it.
A recent study by crossway relieved that only 6% of Christians in America adhere to a Biblical standard. Only 6% live as Christ calls them to live. I just found the problem with America. It is not Washington, It is the local Church.
If you and I would commit to never compromise. Think of how this country would change.
Joseph has such high character that He rejects the idea. But he doesn’t just reject it, He fully rejects it.
He will no longer even be with Potiphar wife ever. If she walks in a room he leaves.
Where does get the strength?
His standard is not based on his name or his career. It is based on God.
Remain Faithful and and the blessing of God will carry you through.
Remain Faithful and and the blessing of God will carry you through.
the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller
So much of American life is in the pursuit of ease and efficiency. How do we make things easier. When we apply this method to our walk with Christ we end up deeply wounding ourselves in the long run because we are taking modern values and methods and applying them to an ancient faith.
Steadfast Love?
How is it love to call your servant into pain?
It is love in this way, God sees fit to bring you to a new level. a new level in Him. Praise the Lord! How is it Love?
It is love in this way, God was with Joseph, Sustaining him in the Fire
If we want to begin to Grow more efficiently and build character more effectually we must do these things:
Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither will you be!
So many temptations will arrive when you an I try and force Gods process, When if we just patiently waited with God, He would grow us into His likeness with relative ease.
Look at Adam, How did God teach him, He walked with him in coolness of the day.
There is no fast track with God.
it simply takes time.
Learn to Thrive in the process. This Goes back to last week. Enjoy life's seasons. They are gifts from God. Do not long for the next season. Thrive in your current one.
God help us grow in the places where we are planted.
It will hurt!
You sculpt Rock with a hammer, not a feather!
In the Storm, Praise God! You are being made in His image!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
