The Life of Joseph #1

Becoming a Believer of Integrity and Forgiveness
The Life of Joseph #1
Pastor Ben Fleming

The English poet – Alexander Pope said, “To err is human and to forgive is divine.” Everyone of us have done something to hurt someone else and we want to be forgiven… but forgiving someone who has done a wrong to us is difficult….. And for some us – we think it is next to impossible to forgive them. There is a bumper sticker that says “I do not get mad, I just get even” -------- you might laugh at that but to most people it is not a joke – it is a reality. Getting even has become a twisted art in our society….. for example, this past week, when some gang members could not tag some mailboxes on Woodside Drive because the residents chased them away…. they came back and shot guns at the residents because they said they were disrespected. Today – I want to begin a study with you of the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. We are going to study his integrity and his forgiveness of his brothers. We are going to begin today by looking at his father Jacob and his family background.

I have been hurt by people who have said that they loved me and so have you. I have been hurt and taken advantage by believers and non believers who thought they were persons of integrity. When you think of integrity what do you think of???? Are you a person of integrity??

Some say integrity is what you are when no one is watching. Let me give you a working definition of integrity.

Integrity = One can describe a person as having integrity to the extent that everything that person does comes from the same core set of values while those values may change, their consistency with each other and with the person's actions determine the person's degree of integrity. ------ some of us have little integrity and some have a lot

We are going to study the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. You can find him starting in chapter 37 all the way through chapter 50. Joseph was a man of integrity and forgiveness. That is why I have given this series the title “Becoming a believer of integrity and forgiveness”. Joseph was a man who demonstrated and lived out integrity and forgiveness in spite of how he was treated – he did so, in spite of how unfair his circumstances were – he was rejected – he was abused – he was abandoned and forgotten. He refused to become resentful – he refused to bear a grudge or become bitter. Some of you might have been treated like him in your past and some of you might be going through things like he did today??

The life of Joseph almost seems to be to good to be true – but Egyptian archeology tells of a leader who made great storehouses for food that saved the nation – Genesis tells who that leader was – Joseph. God has given us the record of many biblical characters to teach us and warn us as children of God. This is the reason we study such people like Moses and Joseph – David – Esther – Jonah – Peter and Paul. The bible tells us why God has given these written records:

Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” God has given us the Old Testament for two reasons: First - to teach us how to live and secondly to give us hope for the future…… We can learn who God is in the OT and we can learn how to persevere from the OT for the future….. The apostle Paul also wrote to the Jewish believers in the church at Corinth about their forefathers -

1 Corinthians 10: 9 - 11 “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did – and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings to us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” God has given us the life of Joseph as an example to follow and aim for --- So let’s begin - chapter 37: 1 - 4

Vs. 1 “Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” ---- Let us pray. ------ keep your bible open to Genesis….

Background: So that we can understand what family background Joseph grew up in…. and what he had to overcome…. lets understand some background….. His father, Jacob was an old man when his son Joseph was born. The bible tells us that Joseph was the “son of his old age”. Jacobs original name in Hebrew meant “deceiver” or “conniver”. He was this kind of a man from his youth even though he was the son of Issac and the grandson of Abraham. This is one reason why you will read of Jacob at times referred to as the name “Israel” --- Right in the beginning Jacob deceived his father Issac and stole his fathers blessing from his brother Esau. It is not surprising that deception was part of Jacobs family and that he passed it on to his sons. Not only was he a dad who deceived but he was a passive father – he was too busy for his family – too preoccupied and could care less about what was happening in the lives of his children. And sadly, Many dads today are just like Jacob.

Jacob was getting old, and when Joseph was born.. he got a new lease on life. Joseph was his last born son and he loved him more than any of his other children. Jacob’s love for Joseph was also perhaps because of his great love for his beloved wife Rachel. Look at chapter 30: 22. “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, God has taken away my disgrace. She named him Joseph, and said, May the Lord add to me another son.” This is what the name Joseph means – “add to me” or may “He God add.”….. Up to this point --- Rachel was barren ---- in her culture… a woman had great shame if she could not bear a child. Jacob had another wife whose name was Leah ----- who had already given Jacob children. Some of you know this story or Rachel and Leah and some of you do not.-- let’s review it…

When Jacob was a young man --- he fell in love with Rachel who was the beautiful daughter of Laban. He asked Laban if he could marry his daughter Rachel and told him that he would work for him for 7 years ------- Laban agreed and Jacob worked 7 years for Laban – but on Jacobs wedding day --- Laban deceived him and switched girls and he ended up married to Leah – Rachel’s sister. Jacob worked 7 more years for Laban and he finally married Rachel. Over time – Leah had given Jacob 6 sons and 1 daughter and Rachel had given him none. Can you imagine the competition – resentment and bitterness in that family??

Laban lived in Haran – which was far to the north of Canaan – which was the promised land or today’s Israel. Jacob had worked for his father – in law for 20 years and now he wanted to go back home. Turn in your bible to chapter 30:25 “After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.” Laban agreed with Jacob but if you read on in the process both the son in law and the father in law again try to deceive each other. Jacob left, but on their way south – Jacob ran into tragedy when they got to the city of Shechem where the Hivites lived – Jacobs daughter Dinah was raped by the prince of the land --- look at chapter 34:1 “ Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her. After this, Dinah, was surrounded by her brothers who loved her and cared for her and they came up with a plan and they killed all the men of that city. When Jacob heard what his sons had done – he was angry. He was not concerned about what was done to his daughter or how brutal his sons were…. he was upset at what the people of the land would think and do. He was more concerned with how the public would react.

They left Bethel and continued south towards Jacobs home of Jerusalem and on the way Rachel gave birth to another son who was named Benjamin....... but Rachel died in childbirth…… Can you imagine how Jacob felt? He had waited years to marry this women and now she dies. He buries her and continues on and one of his sons has sexual relations with one of the concubines who was the mother of his two half brothers. When Jacob heard that his son had committed incest – he did nothing. He was such a passive father that he did nothing. He did nothing when his daughter was raped and he did nothing when his son disgraced him with incest.

Folks ----This is the family that Joseph was born into…. His family was one of deception – anger – rebellion – sexual immorality - rivalry and out and out jealousy. All of these characteristics had been displayed and modeled by his father. Some of you come from such homes --- some of you know people who are in such homes and maybe your home is like this???? This is the home into which Joseph was born. You reap what you sow. Jacob learned that and it affected his entire family. Let us draw several lessons for our lives today from the life of Jacob.

Lessons from Jacob

#1 If you ignore God’s plan for a biblical marriage you can expect that eventually in your family others will ignore God’s plan. Monkey see monkey do. Children of divorced parents divorce easier. That is not to say that the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer cannot break the curse of divorcee but without the transformation of the Holy Spirit the curse of divorcee is easily passed on to the children. Right from the beginning Jacob was controlled by the lust of his flesh when he married two women.

#2 If you show favoritism in your family it will create serious friction that results in jealousy, resentment and hatred. This is what we saw in Josephs family – all because of the father Jacob. Look with me at our text in chapter 37.

Vs. 2 Jacob used Joseph to spy on his older brothers. “Joseph, a young man of seventeen was tending the flocks with his brothers,….. and he brought their father a bad report about them. “ Jacob elevated Joseph above his brothers as the object of his love and praise – he sent wrong signals to Joseph about his importance in the family. Jacob had raised a family and he had poured gasoline all over its members and now Joseph was going to light it……
It is easy to play favorites in a family and rationalize it --- but when you do you are creating a climate of resentment and bitterness.

Vs.3 Jacob made a special display of favoritism in his family by giving Joseph a special tunic. ”Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his others sons… and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.” Can you imagine the pain of rejection that Jacob was inflicting on the rest of the sons who were the object of his attention and then this Joseph comes into the family. He treated his sons more like servants.

Vs.4 Jacob’s attitude and actions fed sibling rivalry, but his sons directed their anger at Joseph and not at their father. “When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” You can imagine the resentment that is building in these brothers and next week when Joseph tells them his dreams you can fully understand how they responded to their brother.

3. No enemy is more subtle in our lives than passivity. When parents are passive, they may eventually discipline their children but in the end their delayed action will often be carried out in anger. Passivity is an enemy. Inaction is ungodly. A family is not just going to take care of itself. Your marriage is not just going to take care of itself. Your finances are not going to get in order by doing nothing and going deeper and deeper into debt – and living the way you have always lived. The status quo is not acceptable in God’s economy. When there is action to be taken --- take it.

James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” The best action is not inaction. When it comes to broken relationships take action to restore them. When it comes to an offense – take action to forgive the offender or reach out to the one you have offended. Listen to me: Things will not get better by just sweeping them under the carpet. For example: A father of a 7 year old boy was troubled. His father thought that he might be having nightmares and he patiently urged his boy to tell him what was bothering him. After a lot of persuasion, the boy began to describe several scenes of horrible – hard core pornography. Restraining his surprise and anger – the father probed to find out where his son had been exposed to this. The finger pointed to a 9 year old neighborhood boy who had turned a computer room into a porn shop --- and neither of his parents knew anything about it. Passivity is an enemy.

4. No response is more cruel than jealousy. King Solomon wrote in Song of Solomon 8:6 “Jealousy is cruel as the grave”. If we allow jealousy to rule in our hearts and in our families it will grow and fester and lead to devastating consequences. If you allow jealousy in your family – you are asking for trouble. The writer of Proverbs put it this way on your outline.

Proverbs 27:4 “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

We have to come down hard on jealously in our own lives and in the lives of our families. We have to attack attitudes that are wrong and when you catch glimpses of right attitudes – reward and build up that other person. Jacob – Rachel – Leah and Laban were very poor examples for Joseph and his brothers. Jacob could have turned to prayer – the bible does not say that he did but he could have modeled a life of prayer for his family. A father who prays is a father who brings power to his family. A father who speaks out verbally to God in front of his family models godliness. Fathers –we must become men of prayer. Single men – you must become a man of prayer.

Application:
1. Allow God to change you and begin to conform you into His image. It does not matter what your family background has been. You begin this change by coming to Jesus. You begin this change by being born again. It is what is known as saving faith. Saving faith changes a person. Saving faith is different from believing faith. Saving faith begins to restore a person. It begins to make them whole. It takes the past and begins to heal it.

2 Cor 5:17 --- “if any man or woman is in Christ – they are a new creation – the old is passing away and the new is coming.” Old habits – old sin – old pain – old resentment – anger and bitterness. Start by coming to Jesus …….. ask God to give you saving faith. COMMENTS…

2. Begin to understand and live out your new identity in Christ. You are a new person in Jesus Christ. You do not have to wait until you go to heaven to begin to experience the benefits of saving faith. Your past does not have to control you and determine your future. Your family and the pain and disappointments of the past have no power over you when you begin to understand and live your new identity in Jesus Christ. The bible says, “you are complete in Christ” – “You have been redeemed and forgiven from all your sins, you may approach God with boldness and confidence, you are a member of God’s household, you have been adopted as God’s child, you are Christ friend…. and I could go on and on and on telling you more of who you are in Christ. Joseph did not live his life like his father. He knew His God and His God knew Him.

3. Keep on pursuing a renewed mind. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul tells the believer three vital actions in the renewal process. In Romans 6:14 – he says that “sin shall not be your master. In Romans 8:2 – he says – the law of Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death – we do not have to live in the past --- we do not have to live the way were taught and how it was demonstrated for us by our families and then in Romans 12:2 “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. I do not have to think like my parents Bill and Rowena Fleming taught me to think. I can think like God wants me to think and has freed me to think. Joesph learned this – we are going to see time and time again --- Joseph did not think like his family taught him to --- he allowed God to renew his mind. What are you doing? Is the past still controlling you? Are you still living and thinking the way you did last year? Comments……….

Let us pray:

Brady Family Blog

Phil and Stacie Brady now have a family blog for their mission plans. www.TheBradyFive.blogspot.com. In December, Silver Hills Church Family will be saying goodby to the Bradys as they leave for missionary training in Texas. We are going to be having a cookbook for sale to help raise funds for their training course. After they finish, they hope to be assigned to an unreach people group with To Every Tribe Mission. Jesus said, "The harvest is ripe, ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into the harvest field." Folks, we have asked and here are laborers. My wife and I are changing our mission support in January so that we can support the Bradys as the Fleming Family. Would you consider what you are going to do so that you can be an active part of sending the Bradys to the mission field?

Prayer Vigil

HELP Would you come and join me in prayer on August 6th? I would appreciate it my church family gathering for prayer. I know of nothing better that God's people could do than to gather in unity to pray. There are so many issues to pray for - there are so many people who need prayer. God said, "Call to me and I will tell you great and mighty things you do not know". What makes me think I can go through this life thinking that I know everything??

Peacemaking

I recently met with a woman from another church in Carson City who is divorced from her husband and they are in court battling child support issues. She came to me and asked, "how can I get rid of the resentment and unforgiveness in my mind and heart"? I presented the Gospel to her and in the end, she said that she wanted to work towards peacemaking and take the issues out of the courtroom. Pray for me for wisdom in this issue.

Resentment

I have been meditating on the issue of forgiveness and resentment in the life of a believer. I would like to believe that I am a forgiving person but I seriously think I battle resentment. I have recently done some postive outreach actions to people from my past who have hurt me in attempt to let the chains fall off of my mind and heart. It was good to see some of them respond.

Recently, Roma Wade, a talk show host of all things, had this to say about resentment. "Do you harbor resentment? Then you are poisoning your own meal at life's banquet table. Imagine your mind as a "little shop of horrors", a kind of museum filled with relics of all the injustices and harm you've ever endured. Each exhibit depicts your memory of what someone did or didn't do that hurt you. Brightly illuminated by your resentment, every exhibit has a sound track echoing with loud, angry, and accusing voices. The walls are covered with horrible instruments of punishment and long lists of penalities to be inflicted on your wrongdoers. And coating everything is a thick, clingling residue of self - pity that keeps you from moving along to the New Futures Wing of your museum - where the exhibits are filled with pleasure and joy - and possibilities. Can you imagine what it would be like to be locked permanently inside a changer of horror and hate and resentment? If you are unable to forgive others for real or imagined wrongs then that horror chamber exists within YOU. That chamber of Ill Will is YOUR OWN MIND."

1 Peter 5:5 - 11

1 Peter 5:5 – 11
Pastor Ben Fleming
July 27, 2008
The Character of Sheep

This is our 18th and last message from
1 Peter. Next week we are going to start studying the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis……. Last week we saw Peter addressing the character of the shepherd. Spiritual shepherds are to be examples to God’s people. They are to point God’s people to Christ and the #1 calling of a shepherd is to preach and teach God’s Word to God’s people. Jesus said it to Peter when He told Peter “feed My sheep” and Paul said it to Timothy, “preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”….. The character of the shepherd –

Now for the sheep. The magazines Newsweek and Time both have had Obama and McCain on their covers .. focusing on the character of each person – who they are – what is their character – what do they believe --- for some reason we still think character matters in our political world….

In God’s world character matters with His sheep. God cares about the character of the sheep that are in His sheep fold. He cares about how they act and how they treat one another – He cares about how they respond when there is danger and temptation……in God’s economy you cannot be one of His sheep and not grow and develop and mature in how you treat and respond to the other sheep around you.

Today – Peter is closing his letter to the churches – he is closing his letter to the elect --------- “to those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God” ----- by addressing them about their character and how their character must grow and mature. In our text, we are going to see Peter hammer home on 5 character qualities believers must grow and mature in.

1 Peter 5:5 - 14 5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”£ 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12With the help of Silas,£ whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. PRAY

1. Believers must grow in submission. (vs. 5a) “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.” When Peter uses the words “in the same way” – he is shifting his focus from one group to another group --- he is shifting from the elders or leaders of the flock to the flock itself. Shepherds submit to the chief Shepherd (JESUS)… and now the flock must submit to its shepherds or leaders – the older spiritually mature men. Submission is a character quality that we see all throughout the New Testament. If a believer is maturing ------- if a believer is growing to become more like Jesus they are in the pursuit of reflecting and living a submissive lifestyle.

It does not matter how educated or how spiritually verbal they are--- God’s children in His flock must pursue a character of submission….. When we talk about submission in the church we generally think of wives submitting to their husbands – that is only part of it. The opposite of submission is rebellion and to be very direct with you – which most of you know I am – the church of America generally does not reflect and live a submissive lifestyle. The church in America is generally rebellious. I see that in you and I see that in myself.

Submit = to line up under. Peter says that the younger men must submit to the elders. They are to submit to older mature godly men….. it means that they are to learn from the older men – they are to spend time with the older men and hang around with them. You do not find that much in the church today -- the younger men are generally not in church and if they are they are looking for girls. Most young men would have nothing to do with older men. So, why should a young man submit to an older man in his church??? Think about it… Because if he does --- perhaps he will make fewer mistakes and mess ups and perhaps God knew that young men will one day be the elders of tomorrow? The NT church was full of this example of submission.

1 Corinthians 16:15 - 17 “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12 -13 “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” ------ a submissive spirit

Application: Ask yourself --- in what area of your life are you rebellious?????

2. Believers must grow in humility. (vs. 5b - 6) “ All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” Linked right to the character of submission is the character of humility. You cannot be humble and not be submissive…. You cannot be submissive and not be humble. Peter says to clothe yourself with humility - I brought this apron with me from home – no I am not going to cook something -------the word Peter used literally meant to tie something on oneself like a work apron worn by a servant….. Humility is an act. You demonstrate humility through service to your church family….. You live out humility in the body of Christ. You just do not sit there silent and say nothing and think that you are demonstrating humility by your silence and inactivity. The opposite of humility is pride. Pride and especially spiritual pride is perhaps the worst of sins in God’s eyes. Pride keeps the character of sheep from growing. Pride stops spiritual maturity.

If the foundational character in spiritual growth is submission… humility is, then, the footing to which the foundation is anchored. When God’s sheep become proudly rebellious, fight against the Lord’s purposes or judge God as unkind or unfair, they forfeit the grace of God in their lives. ---- how can you demonstrate humility??

Application
* Confess to another sheep. When you confess your sin to another believer in your church family you are humbling yourself. It is humbling to confess your sin to another believer ---- it is not always true humility to confess your sin quietly and privately to God. If you do not confess your sin sometime to another believer you have a problem with pride in your life.

* Serve other sheep. Listen to someone else in your church family, learn to ask them questions about themselves. Stop talking and telling your own stories for once. Find someone you do not know and who does not know you……… When Peter said to clothe yourself with humility he was most likely thinking about when Jesus washed the disciples feet. It is humbling to serve the body of Christ. It is humbling to serve and not expect any thank you or recognition….. Look what Peter says --- humble yourself under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Those who serve…….. – God is the one who brings thanks and blessing to them. God’s sees the service of His children to other children in the flock of God. God is watching those who give and God is watching those who are simply takers…..

* Do not be offended by other sheep. Sheep will insult sheep. Sheep will offend sheep. If you are in the flock of God and if you care to associate or know other sheep in that flock – I guarantee you – at one time you are going to run into a situation where you are either going to be humble and forgiving to other sheep or you are going to be insulted and offended. --------- how is the character of humility growing in your life??????

3. Believers must grow in trust (vs. 7) “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” ……. When you begin to learn submission and humility you will find that when the trials and testing come your way you will grow in trusting God and His purposes. Peter knows that God’s people will have problems –……. God’s people will be abused and used and suffer…… If they are humble and submissive they will find the character of trust easier to grab hold of in their lives…… Peter says to cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God.”.. Peter did not steal these words from Paul – he was thinking about the words of King David on your outline Ps 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Both in the Hebrew and the Greek --- the word used here to cast meant to throw something on someone or something else. In Luke 19 – it was used of throwing a blanket on an animal. – so if I am growing in the character of trust --- I am learning to throw my anxiety on the Lord. It does not meant that I do not deal with it and wrestle with anxiety it means that I am learning to throw it on God. Your anxiety can include discontentment – discouragement – despair – questioning – pain – suffering or any trial that you are suffering or face in your life. You begin to TRUST GOD as you mature and grow spiritually because you have learned to trust His love – His faithfulness – His power and His wisdom. Submission – Humility and Trust – are you starting to see any of those three character qualities on your wool?????

Application: What one thing in your life do you need to trust God with right now? ________________________________________________________________

4. Believers must grow in self control and vigilance (vs. 8) “Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The believer will begin to the character of self control when they are walking in the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit in your life produces self control. Most of the time we might think of self control in relation to intoxication or gluttony but here it is used more in a metaphorical sense that refers to the ordering and balancing of ones life and the issues of life that require one to have a discipline of mind and body….. This character quality of self control is necessary in our lives because it will cause us to be alert spiritually. Believers are to be awake and alert because there are many spiritual forces attacking believers.

Peter puts it very clearly -- “you enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.” The devil is looking and scheming to attack believers in churches --- he is looking to attack Christian marriages ---- he looking to attack Christian teenagers and Christian singles --- he is looking to attack Christian pastors.

Growth in spiritual maturity in a believers life is seen when they are awake and sober - on their guard against the attacks of the devil. Think about it……. Why is this command in the bible?? God’s people are naturally not self controlled and alert --- they do not believe that the devil is real and out to defeat them. If that was not the case – you would not find so many divorcees in the church --- you would not find so many believers hoping from church to church and so many believers living rebellious – independent - impotent and defeated Christian lives.

Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing but the body is weak.” Why do believers fall into and give into temptation? The command of Jesus tells you why – they do not watch and they do not pray.

The apostle James put it this way in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Where do you get the power to resist Satan in your life? From the Holy Spirit. When you grow in submission – when you grow in humility and when you grow in trusting God you will experience and demonstrate self control and vigilance in your life.

Application: Where do you need to see more self control in your life today? ______________

5. Believers must grow in spiritual fortitude (vs. 9) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Peter now says that believers must have a mind that is going to resist Satan by standing firm in their faith. You do not resist Satan by yelling at Him ---- you do not resist Satan by reading a spiritual book or listening to music or saying nice positive chants. The bible clearly says that the believer resists Satan by standing firm in their faith. When you do – the bible says he will flee from you.

How do you stand firm in your faith? As a believer in Jesus Christ - you stand firm in biblical revelation. That means you stand firm in the truth that is contained in the Bible. Look what Hebrews says about the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. “ Read Matthew 4 – every time the devil attacked and tempted Jesus – Jesus responded to the devil with the Word of God – He said – it is written and then quoted scripture over and over and over again. If Jesus stood firm against the devil with the Word of God what makes a believer today think they can use something else and be victorious over the devil? How can you build spiritual fortitude in your life? Is there anybody here who wants to be victorious over temptation and the attacks of the devil in your life?

Application:

1. Know the truth. Read the bible. Get into the habit of a devotion. Learn the bible address of where something is in the bible. Resist Satan and stand firm in your faith.

2. Obey the truth. It is one thing to read the bible and it is another thing to obey the truth that you know. James 4: 17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Summary: We look for shortcuts in life…….but there are no shortcuts to experiencing and living out the godly character qualities that Peter has outlined for us. These character qualities will only be perfected in our lives as we regularly and faithfully place ourselves under the preaching, teaching and study of God’s truth and obediently allow His Word to change our hearts and shape our character. 2x

Continental Worship Band

It was nice to have a full house when the Continental Worship Band was here at Silver Hills on Wednesday the 23rd. I was encouraged to see these young people set up and take down and during that time they presented a godly testimony for Christ. That was encouraging. I invited many people to come on Wednesday. There were several churches represented. Would a prayer meeting or an outreach to our city draw churches together like Wednesday night. We will always come and hear music but will we come to pray that God's will would be done here on this earth and in our city? The last time we had a music group come, many Silver Hills family members did not support it. It was encouraging to see most of us present. Thank you . I especially want to thank those who hosted the band members in their homes.