SERMON SEEDS H17 FOR 7/12/04
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
SERMON SEEDS FOR JULY 12, 2004
WHERE ARE THE HEBREWS STUDIES THAT JACK STARTED?
They have take a brief respite, but Lord willing, next weeks Seeds will include the next installment in the series.
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Genesis 39
BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU
Old Testament Treasures #1
(This series will eventually include 39 outlines, one from each book of the Old Testament. Personally I am bringing the series in the morning services in the summer. Sometime I plan to move them to the evening service. Of course, everyone of these messages is self contained and can be preached individually.)
If you are a born again Christian, you should have a recurring realization of the presence of God.
The moment you turned from your sins and trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, the one who died for your sins, the presence of God became a great reality. Romans 8:15-17, 8:9, Hebrews 13:5-6, Matthew 8:20
So, if you are a born again Christian, God is with you.
But do you understand that means you have some responsibilities because God is with you?
One of the biggest responsibilities that you have is to live a changed life in His power. 2 Corinthians 5:177, 1 Peter 1:15-16
Joseph was the next to youngest of Jacobs twelve sons. He had made a godly stand against his older brothers. His older brothers were jealous of him and unknown to His father, had him sold into slavery in Egypt.
Eventually Joseph would rise to power in Egypt as Prime Minister and deliver Egypt though a great time of drought and famine. Also he would save his fathers household and be reunited with His brothers.
As we meet Joseph in Genesis 39 his circumstances are not good at all.
Vs. 1 Upon coming to Egypt, Joseph was purchased as a slave by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaohs guards. He had gone down from being a privileged son of a wealthy herdsman to being a slave. Circumstances were not good for Joseph, but there is an encouraging thought found here in verse 2.
Genesis 39:2 - And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
The Lord was with Joseph, but Joseph did not use this fact as an excuse for not doing his best. Because the Lord was with Joseph, he demonstrated certain qualities that should be true of us, if the Lord is with us.
In this chapter there are three ways Joseph behaved because the Lord was with Him. We should behave in the same three ways because the Lord is with us.
BE CONSCIENTIOUS BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU Vss. 1-6
Joseph had been mistreated by His brothers and sold into slavery (Genesis 37). He could have had a bad attitude because of the mistreatment.
Instead he evidently did his best and God prospered Him.
Vs. 3 Notice that Joseph was active.
He would have done his work well.
He was probably what some would call an overachiever.
God is not impressed with laziness.
God blesses those who are willing to work. Proverbs 13:4
God blessed Joseph and what he did God prospered.
And please note that it was obvious to Potiphar that God was with Joseph. He could see the success that God was giving Joseph.
Vs. 4 Joseph was put in charge of everything that Potiphar had in the house and in the fields. Later, Joseph would be in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
God blessed Joseph, but there is no doubt that Joseph was conscientious about what he was doing.
Vs. 5 God blessed Potiphar for Josephs sake.
Vs. 6 Joseph was so conscientious that Potiphar only concerned himself with one thing at home, Whats for supper!?
Joseph was so conscientious that he was trustworthy.
Doing our best, being conscientious, is a requirement for all Christians.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
If God is truly with us, it means that we have named Jesus as our Savior, our hope for Heaven.
If we have claimed Jesus as Savior, He is also to be the Lord of our lives.
If He is the boss, the Lord of our lives, whatever we do in word or deed should be done in His name, and be thankful to God because of Him and through Him.
Very simply, if we can do something in the name of Jesus, we should be doing it. If we can not do something in the name of Jesus we should not be doing it. Let us ask ourselves conscientiously, Can I honestly do what I want to do in the name of the Lord Jesus?
Colossians 3:23 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
This verse was spoken to slaves. There were millions of them in the Roman Empire when Paul wrote these words.
Although we are not slaves today, I believe that this verse applies to all of us who are employees or even students.
Whatever we do is to be done heartily, with enthusiasm.
Thats hard to do sometimes if we dont like the employer or the teacher.
Its easier to do when we are conscientious enough to do everything for the Lord first, and then for the boss or teacher.
BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU Vss. 7-20
Joseph was doing a great job, but temptation came his way through the advances of his boss's wife.
Vss. 7-9 Although Joseph was in charge of his masters house, he was still a slave.
It would have been easy for him to have given in to the sexual advances of his masters wife. Out of expediency, pride and pleasure it would have been quite simple to give into the masters wife. He could have even rationalize it.
Joseph had the courage, the guts to say no to something that was wrong.
Joseph refused because his master trusted Him as Vs. 8 says.
In Vs. 9 Joseph states that the only thing that was off limits to him in the house was his masters wife.
And Joseph was bold to call adultery what it is, wickedness and sin!
And Joseph was bold enough to state that the wickedness and sin was against God!
Do you know why we often fall into sin? It is because we often give it another label, like a mistake or indiscretion
We fall to identify it as wickedness and sin against God!
Vs. 10 Joseph had to say no more than once. This woman was persistent. And some of the temptations we face will be equally persistent.
Vss. 11-12 The woman was even bolder than before when nobody was around. She grabbed him and he fled as quickly as possible, leaving the coat in her hand.
It takes courage to call sin what it is, sin against God!
It takes courage to consistently say no to what we know is wrong.
And it takes courage to run when the only way we can resist is by running.
When God is with us, we need to learn to run from temptation and not towards it. God provides the way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13,
Id like to tell you that everything will turn out well when we say no to sin.
Sometimes we will be falsely accused if we dont do what others are enticed to do.
Joseph was falsely accused as Verses 13-19 tell us.
The wife of Potiphar falsely accused Joseph.
Vs. 20 Joseph ended up a prisoner because of saying no to sin.
So what about you? Would you rather be falsely accused when saying no to sin, or would you rather answer to God at the judgment for not doing what was right?
BE CONSISTENT BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU - Vss. 21-23
There is many a person who has stopped doing what is right because it got them in trouble.
It would have been easy for Joseph to just give up and stop serving God because doing right got him in trouble.
Joseph did not do this. Was he devastated? Probably!
Was he outraged at the injustice? Most likely!
Was he defeated? No!
Did he give up on God? No!
Vs. 21 God was still with Joseph.
God showed Joseph mercy.
God gave Joseph favor in the eyes of the keeper of
the prison.
God did not deliver Joseph from jail because God had a plan that involved the jail (See Genesis 40-41).
God may not deliver you right away from suffering for what is right, but He will show His mercy upon you as you remain consistent.
Vs. 22-23 - Joseph again did a conscientious job.
Joseph remained faithful to God. He was consistent
Joseph did his job as well as he had before.
It wasnt long before Joseph ran the jail.
Remember this, my friend, God is keeping score.
God knows how youve been mistreated.
God will settle the score in his time whether it be in this life or at Judgment Day.
If you have stood for what is right and have been falsely accused, continue to be faithful! Continue to be consistent! Romans 12:19-21, 1 Corinthians 4:2
BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU
BE CONSCIENTIOUS BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU
BE CONSISTENT BECAUSE GOD IS WITH YOU - Vss. 20-23
I expanded an older outline for a message this past Sunday. These are expanded notes from C47.
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2 Chronicles 8
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Solomon was a busy king. Here are some the areas of business that he took care of.
THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION Vss. 1-6
THE BUSINESS OF CONTROL Vss. 7-19
THE BUSINESS OF CONSECRATION Vss. 11-16
THE BUSINESS OF COMMERCE Vss. 17-18
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Psalm 39
DAVIDS TONGUE
A RESTRICTED TONGUE Vss. 1-2
A RELEASED TONGUE Vs. 3
A REFLECTIVE TONGUE Vss. 4-6
A RELIANT TONGUE Vs. 7
A REQUESTING TONGUE Vss. 8-13
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Matthew 13:53-58
HOMETOWN CROWD
THEIR OBSERVATIONS Vss. 54-56
THEIR OFFENCE Vs. 57a
THEIR OBSTINACY Vs. 57b
THEIR OMISSION Vs. 58
They missed Gods best through their unbelief.
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Mark 11:15-19
CLEAN UP TIME!
This is a complete lesson.
· In what ways have people polluted the earth?
· In what ways have people polluted their bodies?
· In what ways have people polluted their minds?
· In what ways have people polluted the church?
· What should be done to stop the pollution of our earth, bodies, minds and churches?
One of the great problems in the world today is pollution. Each year millions of dollars are spent cleaning up after mankind! Jesus was concerned about a different kind of pollution found in our text. Those who would make it a place of business and dishonesty were polluting the temple of God.
We must remember that today the body of the Christian is the temple of God. We must make sure that we keep it clean.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
· What was the purpose of the Jewish temple?
· How did the Jewish temple fulfill its purpose?
· How did the Jewish temple not fulfill its purpose?
· What is the purpose of our bodies as a temple?
· Why should we want to fulfill that purpose?
DISINFECTING THE TEMPLE - Vs. 15
The area of the temple described here was the "Court of the Gentiles". This is where non-Jewish people could come and pray. Instead it became a marketplace for moneychangers and salesmen.
· What does a disinfectant do?
· What did Jesus do to disinfect the temple?
· What right did Jesus have to do what He did?
· Our bodies are the temples of God. What right does Jesus have to disinfect our temples?
· Why should we be willing to let Jesus disinfect our temples?
· Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
· Why is the prayer above a necessary prayer to pray?
· Why is the prayer above a dangerous prayer to pray?
· Why do too few Christians pray that prayer?
· Have you prayed that prayer lately?
· In what ways does Romans 12:1-2 help the cleansing of our temples? I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
DELETING THE TRAFFIC - Vs. 16
People would use this part of the temple as a street. This would distract anyone who was trying to pray, and showed disrespect for God.
· As we prepare to pray what precautions should we take to delete traffic in our minds?
· What part does praise and confession have to do with deleting the traffic in our minds?
· How do we go about unburdening ourselves of the cares which besiege us? 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
· What great reward is promised to us if we pray properly? Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
DEFINING THE PROBLEM - Vs. 17
The house of prayer had become a den of thieves. The people who sold in the temple were dishonest. Anything that would steal from our devotion to God needs to be removed from our lives.
· What are some of the dishonest things that crop up in our minds and hearts that need to be removed?
· How do we know when an attitude, habit, activity, or thought pattern is a thief stealing from our prayer lives.
· How do we know when our temple is truly a house of prayer and not a den of thieves?
· Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
· 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice evermore. [17] Pray without ceasing. [18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
DISTURBING THE LEADERS - Vs. 18
· Why did the Jewish leaders not like Jesus?
· In what ways was Jesus a threat?
· Who will be disturbed when Jesus starts cleaning your temple and why?
· What will he do because he is disturbed?
· How do we keep him from hindering the cleaning process?
· What will happen when we allow Jesus to clean our temples?
What will happen if we dont allow Jesus to clean our temples?
This is another expansion of a previously submitted outline from Sermon Seeds C28.
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1 Corinthians 6:1-11
CHRISTIANS IN COURT?
Going to court may not always be avoidable because we live among unsaved people.
However, Christians should not be taking other Christians to court.
PAUL IS INCENSED Vss, 1, 4-5
Christians were taking other to court.
Unsaved people were passing judgment.
There were saved people who could of acted as judges between believers.
PAUL IS INSTRUCTIVE Vss. 2-3, 9-11
In the future we will serve as judges, we should be able to do so now among believers.
Unrighteous people will not inherit the Kingdom of God, therefore they should not be judging between believers. Some of the believers had been unrighteous also, but now they have been changed!
PAUL IS INSISTENT Vss. 7-8
It is better to suffer wrong than to drag a fellow believer into court.
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1 Timothy 3:1-7
GODLY LEADERSHIP
The word "bishop" means "overseer". When we see this term we often think of the pastor and other Godly leaders in the church. The role of leadership in the church is not for everyone, because everyone does not qualify. Even though we might never fully qualify to be leaders, we should still strive to be as Godly as possible. Making the characteristics of leadership our goal will help us live Godly lives.
A Godly leader is:
CONSISTENT IN BEHAVIOR - Vss. 1-3
CONSCIENTIOUS AT HOME - Vss. 4-5
CONDITIONED BY EXPERIENCE - Vs. 6
COMPLIMENTED BY OUTSIDERS - Vs. 7
Sermon Seeds A43
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