This is the fourth sermon in a series entitled Life's Pitfalls. I preached this sermon at the First Baptist Church Coeburn on January 27, 2008.
Text: Genesis 39:1-20
Introduction
The pit of temptation is like the jaws of a trap. I have used illustrations of trying to capture mice with traps before. When we get a mouse in the house, I get several of the spring action traps. Most mice seem to be smart enough to not fall for a single trap setting there for all to see. I will set the trap, put out some bait and the mouse will usually eat the bait right off and leave the trap set. But I am patient. I persistently set out the traps in the same place and get the mouse used to coming to eat there. I then set out a few traps close together and make the mouse have to climb over them to get to the food and pow! The mouse is caught.
Temptation is a patient adversary. Temptation finds the bait that you like and keeps you coming back for more until one day you find youself in the middle of temptation’s trap and you think you got it all under control and pow! You are caught in the grip of sin.
1 Peter 5:8-9 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Temptation is much like a trap and we see this trap at work with Joseph but it fails to trap him. What was Joseph’s secret to escaping sin’s ugly trap?
I. The Trap is Set vs 1-11
1. Temptation feeds on power
2. Temptation appeals to natural desires
3. Temptation is constant - tries to wear you down
4. Temptation seeks the perfect opportunity - no one will know!
5. Temptation is deadly
James 1:14-15 14: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15: Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
II. The Trap Springs vs 12-20
Joseph flees (he was prepared for the trap to spring and reflecting his godly character he fled) - we should never try to challenge temptation the best response to temptation is retreat, you can’t handle it! 1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Fleeing temptation is not cowardice, but wisdom. -We are told in the scripture to flee idolatry, flee youthful lusts, flee fornication, Paul tells Timothy to flee false teaching, pride and envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, And the love of money
1 Cor 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Joseph is jailed We may think, well great, he should have went ahead and enjoyed the pleasure in sin for a season because he ended up in prison anyway. We may wonder why God allowed this to happen since Joseph showed great character. In similar situations we may think might as well as have fun because I lose either way. But Joseph did not lose.
-Joseph could not remain a slave and be in God’s will. He could have given in to the temptation and maybe got away with it but adultery would have made him more of a slave than he already was and he would have remained and died a slave in Potipher‘s house. It was better to be in the king’s prison than in prison to sin. In fact, had Joseph went ahead with Potipher’s wife, God would not have blessed him to arise to power in Egypt and he would likely never have seen his family again. Yes Joseph landed in prison, but a man with such character will not rot in the prisons of this world because he is free in the Lord!
you have to be prepared for the trap. Joseph was prepared. This pit of temptation did not mold his character, it simply revealed his character. His character had already been forming and so the temptation showed his strength of chacater.
Temptation is not sin, but temptation does not build character. Your ability to overcome temptation does not build character nor does it build will power. Your will power might help you overcome temptation from time to time, but it is not enough your will is not strong enough to overcome temptation in the long haul. It is Godly character
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Content in the Pit
I preached this sermon at the January 20, 2008 service at First Baptist Church Coeburn. It is the third sermon in a seried entitled Life's Pitfalls. We have seen how that Joseph was thrown into the pit and sold into slavery in Egypt, but this chapter seems to go off in a different direction concentrating on the life of Judah, the brother of Joseph. We may wonder why the events of chapter 38 were inserted into Joseph’s narrative, but we will see the important contrast of Joseph and Judah. While that Joseph was thrown into a pit unexpectedly and against his will, Judah found himself in a pit of his own making by his own choice.
Text: Genesis 38
Introduction: When I was a teenager dad got me a Boston Terrier. The only dog that we ever let live in the house. The main condition for this dog to live with us was that he be house trained and the be kept clean.
In the summer the dog spent a lot of time outside with the outside dogs and would roam around with them. One day Bill came home and he was filthy and stinky. He had rolled in something in the dirt and was covered. I prepared a bath for Bill. Now this dog did not mind a bath, in fact he seemed to kind of like it. So giving Bill a bath was not much of a problem. When I was done with him he was shiny black with his white fur so clean and he smelled OK.
The problem was when I was done with Bill. He took off and came back within 10 minutes just as filthy and stinky as he was before I gave him his bath. I was so angry, but I think Bill was laughing at me. The dog’s problem was that he loved to be dirty.
Today we take a brief break from Joseph’s life of pitfalls and look at Judah his brother. Joseph was never content to be a pit dweller, but Judah actually seemed to like it. Judah was content in the pit. Much like my dog enjoyed the dirt, so did Judah. Judah seemed perfectly happy in the filth of sin.
Now Judah was not in a literal pit, but a pit just the same. Unlike Joseph who was a man of godly character and caught in a pit by surprise. Judah dove into his pit headfirst. Joseph was often in the pits as a result of other people’s sin, but Judah was in the pit as a result of his own sin. Joseph did not like the life of a pit dweller, but Judah seemed right at home in the pit. Judah experienced a pitfall of life and although God, by his grace, gave Judah’s descendents the kingdom of David and through his lineage came Jesus, Judah himself was never the king that Joseph was.
I am afraid that too many of us are content in the pit. We are living in a culture much like the culture that Judah did, the culture of the Canaanites which represents sin. Judah tried to be like them. Many of us are trying to hard to fit in with the world and that is our pitfall like Judah
Judah loved the world, and too many Christians love the world today. Love for the world is a pitfall and a pitfall that we chose, not one that caught us by surprise.
What can we learn from Judah about his pitfall?
I. Judah took the wrong way vs 1-11
Judah’s first mistake was to separate himself from his father and his brethren. He voluntarily left his brothers and father whereas Joseph was forced too.
-we make the same mistake when we love the world and we separate ourselves from our Father and brethren.
Judah conformed to the corrupt culture of the Canaanites.
Judah is an example of someone wandering from God and his church and conforming the corrupt culture.
II. Judah walked the broad way vs 12 - 23
she veiled her face so that Judah would not recognize her and presented herself as a prostitute.
-she disguised herself as a temple prostitute of Baal
he gives up his identification to her, a modern day example would be to giver her is driver's license and credit cards.
Judah reflected the values of his culture. He walked the broadway. But it is the broadway that leads to death. the broadway vs. the narrow way
Matthew 7:13-14 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
III. Judah learned the hard way vs 24-30
Just three months after having been with a prostitute he condemns Tamar to death for the same action he himself engaged in.
he came to himself - he realized his own moral depravity that he had sunk so low in sin. His repentance is evidenced in several ways: He never returned to Tamar and he at some point returned to his father and brethren. The final evidence of his repentance is when he was blessed by Jacob that his descendants would rule the nation. God is gracious to Judah. Judah was not the king that David would one day be, but he was a changed man.
hope for those who have to learn the hard way
If you are the kind that has to learn the hardway Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Text: Genesis 38
Introduction: When I was a teenager dad got me a Boston Terrier. The only dog that we ever let live in the house. The main condition for this dog to live with us was that he be house trained and the be kept clean.
In the summer the dog spent a lot of time outside with the outside dogs and would roam around with them. One day Bill came home and he was filthy and stinky. He had rolled in something in the dirt and was covered. I prepared a bath for Bill. Now this dog did not mind a bath, in fact he seemed to kind of like it. So giving Bill a bath was not much of a problem. When I was done with him he was shiny black with his white fur so clean and he smelled OK.
The problem was when I was done with Bill. He took off and came back within 10 minutes just as filthy and stinky as he was before I gave him his bath. I was so angry, but I think Bill was laughing at me. The dog’s problem was that he loved to be dirty.
Today we take a brief break from Joseph’s life of pitfalls and look at Judah his brother. Joseph was never content to be a pit dweller, but Judah actually seemed to like it. Judah was content in the pit. Much like my dog enjoyed the dirt, so did Judah. Judah seemed perfectly happy in the filth of sin.
Now Judah was not in a literal pit, but a pit just the same. Unlike Joseph who was a man of godly character and caught in a pit by surprise. Judah dove into his pit headfirst. Joseph was often in the pits as a result of other people’s sin, but Judah was in the pit as a result of his own sin. Joseph did not like the life of a pit dweller, but Judah seemed right at home in the pit. Judah experienced a pitfall of life and although God, by his grace, gave Judah’s descendents the kingdom of David and through his lineage came Jesus, Judah himself was never the king that Joseph was.
I am afraid that too many of us are content in the pit. We are living in a culture much like the culture that Judah did, the culture of the Canaanites which represents sin. Judah tried to be like them. Many of us are trying to hard to fit in with the world and that is our pitfall like Judah
Judah loved the world, and too many Christians love the world today. Love for the world is a pitfall and a pitfall that we chose, not one that caught us by surprise.
What can we learn from Judah about his pitfall?
I. Judah took the wrong way vs 1-11
Judah’s first mistake was to separate himself from his father and his brethren. He voluntarily left his brothers and father whereas Joseph was forced too.
-we make the same mistake when we love the world and we separate ourselves from our Father and brethren.
Judah conformed to the corrupt culture of the Canaanites.
Judah is an example of someone wandering from God and his church and conforming the corrupt culture.
II. Judah walked the broad way vs 12 - 23
she veiled her face so that Judah would not recognize her and presented herself as a prostitute.
-she disguised herself as a temple prostitute of Baal
he gives up his identification to her, a modern day example would be to giver her is driver's license and credit cards.
Judah reflected the values of his culture. He walked the broadway. But it is the broadway that leads to death. the broadway vs. the narrow way
Matthew 7:13-14 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
III. Judah learned the hard way vs 24-30
Just three months after having been with a prostitute he condemns Tamar to death for the same action he himself engaged in.
he came to himself - he realized his own moral depravity that he had sunk so low in sin. His repentance is evidenced in several ways: He never returned to Tamar and he at some point returned to his father and brethren. The final evidence of his repentance is when he was blessed by Jacob that his descendants would rule the nation. God is gracious to Judah. Judah was not the king that David would one day be, but he was a changed man.
hope for those who have to learn the hard way
If you are the kind that has to learn the hardway Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Horrible Pit
I preached this sermon at the January 13 service at First Baptist Church Coeburn, it is the second in a series entitled Life's Pitfalls.
Text: Genesis 37:12-36
Introduction: One of my favorite movies that came out about 20 years ago is called The Princess Bride. It is a fairytale movie with a lot of comedy in it about a man named Wesley who hand found true love in a woman named Buttercup. But Buttercup is to be wed to the prince who plans nothing but to murder her on the night of the wedding. Wesley must save Buttercup from death. In one scene of the movie Wesley is captured and taken to a torture chamber of the prince called the pit of despair. In this pit of despair Wesley is subjected to a horrible torture. Is attached to a machine that drains away life from a person. Wesley is strong but when the machine takes away a year of his life he begins to sob and to cry. It really is the pit of despair.
That is a good description of the pits of life that we often find ourselves in. We find ourselves in the pit of despair. The pits of life are a place of torture, a place that will drain away your life. The pit is a horrible place! Don’t be content in the pit!
We saw last week that Joseph was a young man of integrity, a man who represented his father well and a man with a God given dream. Yet even Joseph could not avoid the pitfalls of life. What can we learn about Joseph’s experience in the pit?
I. You can fall into a pit and it is no fault of your own vs 12-22
Joseph's brothers planned to kill him when he arrived in Dothan and cast his body into a pit (a cistern). Surprisingly Reuben wants to save him, Reuben who really is the firstborn but was treated as second class, who could profit the most at Joseph’s death was the one who rose above his own humility and shame to Joseph’s defense.
1 Chronicles 5:1-2 - Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2: For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) Reuben deceived his brothers by simply saying lets throw him in a pit and leave him to rot, but his intention was to return later to set Joseph free. He planned to deliver him from their hands.
Be careful that when you see someone in the pit that you don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that they are getting what they deserve.
You may have to humble yourself like Reuben and come to their aid!
Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
II. When you are in the pit and you are helpless on your own vs 23-36
They stripped him of his coat, his status as the favored son of Jacob, and threw him in the pit.
Then they sat down to eat - their cold indifference, even joyfully partaking of food knowing their brother was in a dark pit suffering and will slowly die.
Joseph is sold into slavery but is part of the unseen hand of God’s deliverance! (had Reuben freed him Joseph’s brothers would have found other opportunity to slay him),they thought that Joseph being sold into slavery would also be a guarantee that they would never bow down to him as his dream indicated.
When you are in the pit and you are helpless on your own, you need someone to help you out! Psalm 40:1-3,11-12 1: I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2: He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 11: Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12: For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Text: Genesis 37:12-36
Introduction: One of my favorite movies that came out about 20 years ago is called The Princess Bride. It is a fairytale movie with a lot of comedy in it about a man named Wesley who hand found true love in a woman named Buttercup. But Buttercup is to be wed to the prince who plans nothing but to murder her on the night of the wedding. Wesley must save Buttercup from death. In one scene of the movie Wesley is captured and taken to a torture chamber of the prince called the pit of despair. In this pit of despair Wesley is subjected to a horrible torture. Is attached to a machine that drains away life from a person. Wesley is strong but when the machine takes away a year of his life he begins to sob and to cry. It really is the pit of despair.
That is a good description of the pits of life that we often find ourselves in. We find ourselves in the pit of despair. The pits of life are a place of torture, a place that will drain away your life. The pit is a horrible place! Don’t be content in the pit!
We saw last week that Joseph was a young man of integrity, a man who represented his father well and a man with a God given dream. Yet even Joseph could not avoid the pitfalls of life. What can we learn about Joseph’s experience in the pit?
I. You can fall into a pit and it is no fault of your own vs 12-22
Joseph's brothers planned to kill him when he arrived in Dothan and cast his body into a pit (a cistern). Surprisingly Reuben wants to save him, Reuben who really is the firstborn but was treated as second class, who could profit the most at Joseph’s death was the one who rose above his own humility and shame to Joseph’s defense.
1 Chronicles 5:1-2 - Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2: For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) Reuben deceived his brothers by simply saying lets throw him in a pit and leave him to rot, but his intention was to return later to set Joseph free. He planned to deliver him from their hands.
Be careful that when you see someone in the pit that you don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that they are getting what they deserve.
You may have to humble yourself like Reuben and come to their aid!
Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
II. When you are in the pit and you are helpless on your own vs 23-36
They stripped him of his coat, his status as the favored son of Jacob, and threw him in the pit.
Then they sat down to eat - their cold indifference, even joyfully partaking of food knowing their brother was in a dark pit suffering and will slowly die.
Joseph is sold into slavery but is part of the unseen hand of God’s deliverance! (had Reuben freed him Joseph’s brothers would have found other opportunity to slay him),they thought that Joseph being sold into slavery would also be a guarantee that they would never bow down to him as his dream indicated.
When you are in the pit and you are helpless on your own, you need someone to help you out! Psalm 40:1-3,11-12 1: I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2: He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 11: Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12: For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Watch Your Step
I preached this sermon on January 6, 2008 at First Baptist Church. This is the first sermon in a new series entitled Life's Pitfalls about the life of Joseph.
Title: Life's Pitfalls: Watch Your Step
Text: Genesis 37:1-11
introduction: When I was a camp counselor at Camp Jacob in Clintwood I experienced a pitfall in a very real sense. One evening we had the kids at a play area and when it was time to go back to the lodge for a night time snack. We had to walk across a large field to the lodge and the field was covered in crawdad holes. The counselors always had to remind the kids of holes because we did not want one of them to step into a hole and twist their ankle. So I was walking along with a group of kids and telling them to watch out. But I was so busy watching out for them that I failed to see the danger in front of me. As I was walking I stepped in a hole, but not a crawdad hole. It was a huge hole left from a utility pole that had been removed from the ground. The hole literally swallowed my entire leg! Fortunately the only thing hurt was my pride as I suffered a little embarrassment as the kids laughed at me. One of life’s pitfalls had caught me unaware. I should have watched my step.
We can be walking along in life’s journey and fall into a pit just as innocently and just as easily. We can’t see every pitfall that lies ahead. When we are involved in some sort of immorality or we are doing something just plain wrong we can expect a pitfall somewhere ahead. But even those times when we seem to be walking with Lord and we are doing the best we can we still may stumble into a pit. You can’t assume just because you live a moral lifestyle that you won’t occasionally fall into a pit. There are pitfalls waiting for us all down the road somewhere.
Joseph is a great example of someone who is moral and upright yet was caught by many of life’s pitfalls. Yet throughout the pitfalls we see that God did amazing things. We see Romans 8:28 at work. Today we see aspects of Joseph’s character as well as glimpse of God’s purpose for Joseph, yet we will see as the narrative continues that despite his character and despite God’s plan that he experiences many years of pitfalls before he arrives at the palace.
I. Deeds vs 1-2
Joseph was a man of godly character and would not partake in his brother’s evil deeds
II. Dress vs 3-4
This was a coat reaching to the hands and feet, not worn for manual labor such as a shepherd, but was a robe for a ruler. The robe represented status, and likely Joseph’s status as the heir.
-we should adorn ourselves with a coat of godliness
IV. Dreams vs 5-11
their hatred finally went over the top because of Joseph’s dreams. We are never told in this text that Joseph understood these dreams to come from God, but we know the whole story and we do know in fact that these dreams reflect God’s divine plan. Remember, their hatred in part is because of Joseph’s elevated status over them.
Title: Life's Pitfalls: Watch Your Step
Text: Genesis 37:1-11
introduction: When I was a camp counselor at Camp Jacob in Clintwood I experienced a pitfall in a very real sense. One evening we had the kids at a play area and when it was time to go back to the lodge for a night time snack. We had to walk across a large field to the lodge and the field was covered in crawdad holes. The counselors always had to remind the kids of holes because we did not want one of them to step into a hole and twist their ankle. So I was walking along with a group of kids and telling them to watch out. But I was so busy watching out for them that I failed to see the danger in front of me. As I was walking I stepped in a hole, but not a crawdad hole. It was a huge hole left from a utility pole that had been removed from the ground. The hole literally swallowed my entire leg! Fortunately the only thing hurt was my pride as I suffered a little embarrassment as the kids laughed at me. One of life’s pitfalls had caught me unaware. I should have watched my step.
We can be walking along in life’s journey and fall into a pit just as innocently and just as easily. We can’t see every pitfall that lies ahead. When we are involved in some sort of immorality or we are doing something just plain wrong we can expect a pitfall somewhere ahead. But even those times when we seem to be walking with Lord and we are doing the best we can we still may stumble into a pit. You can’t assume just because you live a moral lifestyle that you won’t occasionally fall into a pit. There are pitfalls waiting for us all down the road somewhere.
Joseph is a great example of someone who is moral and upright yet was caught by many of life’s pitfalls. Yet throughout the pitfalls we see that God did amazing things. We see Romans 8:28 at work. Today we see aspects of Joseph’s character as well as glimpse of God’s purpose for Joseph, yet we will see as the narrative continues that despite his character and despite God’s plan that he experiences many years of pitfalls before he arrives at the palace.
I. Deeds vs 1-2
Joseph was a man of godly character and would not partake in his brother’s evil deeds
II. Dress vs 3-4
This was a coat reaching to the hands and feet, not worn for manual labor such as a shepherd, but was a robe for a ruler. The robe represented status, and likely Joseph’s status as the heir.
-we should adorn ourselves with a coat of godliness
IV. Dreams vs 5-11
their hatred finally went over the top because of Joseph’s dreams. We are never told in this text that Joseph understood these dreams to come from God, but we know the whole story and we do know in fact that these dreams reflect God’s divine plan. Remember, their hatred in part is because of Joseph’s elevated status over them.
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