Joseph: Guardrails & Off-Ramps

Joseph: 4. Guardrails & Off-Ramps 5. Genesis 39 anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then January 14, 2017 Proverbs 25:28 says, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” The Big Idea: All humans face temptations on a daily basis. A temptation is an enticement to do something evil. It is not a sin to experience temptation and can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Off-Ramps 1. Reject the idea that the sin is less serious if no one else knows. (v. 11) 2. Run – it is a sign of spiritual and moral courage and strength, not of cowardice and weakness. (v. 12) 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 yielding to temptation is not necessary. God loves to guide us toward obedience and give us what we need to choose a righteous path. ü We all need guardrails and off-ramps in our lives. ü Guardrails are boundaries and protections that we have chosen and put in places of danger and weakness. ü Off-Ramps are plans and strategies by which we act quickly to remove ourselves from danger (temptations). Joseph’s New Life: • • • • • Genesis 39:1-6a A radical shift has occurred in his life – moving from the favor of his father, Jacob, to being sold as a slave in Egypt. Does not speak the language or understand the culture. Joseph learns a hard lesson: “There is no ‘ideal’ place to serve God – there is simply the place God takes us – the place we are, now.” He is living in God’s blessings (vv. 2-3; 21, 23) At the same time, he is living in the harsh reality of regular temptations. Guardrails Genesis 39:10 (ESV) “And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.” He would not “listen” to her. He would not “lie“with her. He stopped putting himself in proximity to her [“be with her”]. Spiritual Take-Aways from Joseph’s Life: 1. Don’t expect a trophy every time you do the right thing! 2. The sin is not in being tempted, but in acting on the temptation. 3. Sexual temptations are among the most common of all our temptations 4. Young Men (and women) and middle-aged and old…don’t have to sin! Psalm 119:9 -10 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 9 Putting Scripture into Life Genesis 39:6b-19 1. 2. 3. He determined before the temptation ever came, what he believed to be God’s standards – what was right and what was wrong. He used correct, Biblical terms to describe potential behaviors. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back 1. Where do guardrails need to be installed in my life? 2. Have I determined what God’s standards of right and wrong behaviors are – if I’m a parent, am I teaching those? 3. Am I committed to taking “off-ramps” to remove myself from situations that present opportunities to disobey the Lord? 4. Am I following Jesus’ admonition to fill my life with the Lord after I’ve “swept out my house?” [Matthew 12:43-45] www.crossrdschurch.com