In Pursuit...of Godliness

INTRO

What is Godliness: A Reverent Devotion to God

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Genesis 39:1–10 ESV

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

3 Essentials for Pursuing Godliness

1) Fear the Lord

We live in a culture where God or religious belief is very far down on the scale of what is really important and what really matters.

Most people give greater preference and attention to their jobs, their hobbies, their kids, their kids’ sports or activities, their leisure time, etc.

Even among today’s Christian culture, God is a nice accessory.

God is too holy and too great to just be a life accessory. We need to rediscovery a reverence for God.

We need to truly dwell on God’s holiness, His righteousness, His perfection, His supreme authority, etc.

In Joseph’s story, Joseph was chosen by God for a special purpose. This passage shows that he had a healthy reverence for God.

Think about his story:

One of the youngest brothers, favored by his father, hated by his brothers.

Abandoned and sold into slavery as an alternative to just kill him and leave him laying.

Bought and taken to Egypt, with the real possibility that he would never see his family again.

Joseph could have rejected God and been bitter, yet he maintained reverence and fear for the LORD and LORD remained with him even in his uncertain circumstances.

Most people would have rejected God when their circumstance turned sour.

Fearing the Lord means you let the Lord define your circumstance rather than letting your circumstances define your lord.

2) Flee Temptation

Joseph didn’t flirt with temptation…he outright rejected it and separated himself from it.

He knew that giving into temptation was a sin against God.

His fear of the Lord defined the severity of sin.

Too many Christians want to play with sin and want to ask, just how close to the line can I get? This is why there is a great lack of godliness among people.

You don’t play with the line, you stay far away from the line.

We need to understand that temptation will always be before us.

We need to love God so much that the appeals of temptation become repulsive and we would rather resist the temptation.

It is only through walking in the Spirit that the flesh is defeated!

Galatians 5:16–17 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

3) Forbid Complacency

Joseph was always intentional about following God no matter what:

In slavery…followed God, God was with Him

In prison…followed God, God was with Him

In power…followed God, God was with Him

In reuniting with family…followed God, God was with Him

Joseph never compromised godliness by becoming complacent with his positions.

Joseph didn’t want fleshly comforts…He wanted God, no matter what.

It was through his desire for God, that God blessed him and provided for him.

Too often we get it all backwards…we want what God gives, without wanting God Himself.

Pursuing blessings is not pursuing godliness. It’s pursuing religion.

Pursuing God is pursuing godliness no matter the cost nor the circumstances.

CLOSING

ARE YOU PURSUING GODLINESS?