Joseph, the faithful man who saw tomorrow

Theme: Integrity in temptation


Scriptures:
Genesis 39:1-23
Genesis 45:1-28
Genesis 50:22-26


Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)
Know: Joseph made difficult but wise decisions that led to God’s future blessings.
Think: I consider my integrity to be more important than my feelings and desires.
Do: Choose what is good and right and refuse every temptation that would call me away from God.

Notes and questions:
B1 What is temptation?

C1 Our life before believing in Jesus: Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

C2 Our life after believing in Jesus: Galatians 5:22-24 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (24) And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

C3 Are there different desires, yet different struggles?

C4 Is temptation the same as sin? See Hebrews 4:15 NKJV For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

C5 Can a non-christian resist sin? How about a Christian, or an atheist?

B2 What to do in temptation

C1 Pray to be delivered from temptation: Mark 14:38 GNB And he said to them, "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

C2 God limits the strength of the temptation: 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

C3 Resist: Genesis 39:7-12 NRSV 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, "Look, with me here, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand. (9) He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (10) And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not consent to lie beside her or to be with her. (11) One day, however, when he went into the house to do his work, and while no one else was in the house, (12) she caught hold of his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

C4 How did the Lord Jesus resist temptation?

D1 Hebrews 4:15 GW We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn't sin.

D2 Luke 4:1-4 NKJV Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (2) being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (3) And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (4) But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

D3 Hebrews 4:15-16 GW We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn't sin. (16) So we can go confidently to the throne of God's kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.

D4 The dog resists temptation?

E1 How?







E2 Why?




B3 Genesis 39:1-23,

C1 How can we avoid temptation?

C2 What does this verse say about Joseph and Potiphar? Genesis 39:3 GW Joseph's master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he did successful.

C3 How would you handle the lies and false accusations? Genesis 39:13-19 NRSV When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, (14) she called out to the members of her household and said to them, "See, my husband has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us! He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice; (15) and when he heard me raise my voice and cry out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside." (16) Then she kept his garment by her until his master came home, (17) and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; (18) but as soon as I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside." (19) When his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, "This is the way your servant treated me," he became enraged.

C4 Why didn’t Potiphar ask Joseph for his side of the story?

C5 What is most significant about this verse? Genesis 39:21 NRSV But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

C6 Genesis 39:23 NRSV The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph's care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. What character trait is God approved in this verse?

C7 What did Potiphar think when Joseph was promoted to his position by Pharaoh?

B4 Genesis 45:1-28,

C1 Genesis 45:5-8 NRSV And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. (6) For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. (7) God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. (8) So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Calvinists use this verse to teach that God exhaustively decrees all things.

Does this verse teach that or does it teach that this situation with Joseph was sovereignly guided? Is every event in life exhaustively decreed? Is this passage descriptive or prescriptive?

C2 What is the importance of having Dad (Jacob) there?

C3 Genesis 45:21-22 NRSV The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. (22) To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. Why did Joseph give more to Benjamin? Was that the right thing to do?

C4 How does this verse apply? Proverbs 11:8 NKJV The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

C5 Jude 1:24-25 NKJV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

D1 We all stumble, but this would be a permanent stumbling.

D2 Why does God keep us?

D3 How does God do this? Hebrews 7:25 NKJV Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Also read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 GNB Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. (8) We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; (9) there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

C6 How do we know how to do and what is the right choice in our everyday situations?

D1 The Bible

D2 Some things we must do, as Hebrews 11:6 NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

D3 Some things we must NOT do, as Colossians 3:21 NKJV Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

D4 We have principles we can apply to the situation, as 2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

D5 We have examples of those who made choice

E1 Bad choice: Luke 22:3-6 NKJV Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. (4) So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. (5) And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. (6) So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

E2 Good choice: Luke 18:13 NKJV And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!

E3 What other examples can you think of?

B5 Genesis 50:22-26,

C1 Timeline

D1 Joseph goes to Egypt– 17 years old

D2 Joseph in Potiphar’s service– until he was ~27-28 years old

D3 Joseph in prison– ~30-31 years old

D4 Joseph promoted by Pharaoh– ~30-31 years old

D5 Joseph asks for His father, Jacob to come to Egypt– Joseph ~39-40 years old and Jacob ~ 130 years old

D6 Joseph dies– 110 years old

C2 Genesis 50:24-25 NKJV And Joseph said to his brethren, "I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (25) Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.

D1 What character traits do we see in Joseph?

D2 Why was Joseph so confident that the children of Israel would go back to the promised land?

D3 How can we be confident to go to our promised land?

C3 How did integrity affect Joseph’s life?

B7 Next week:

C1 Undivided

C2 Theme: Unity in Christ

C3 Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Trust and Obey

Theme: Trusting God’s Plan

Scriptures: Judges 4:1-16

Objectives (from the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Deborah the prophetess instructed Barak to lead an army against Sisera and the superior Canaanite army. God gave Barak victory.

Think: Live with the assurance that God will show Himself and His power through my life as I follow and obey Him.

Do: Trust God and obey His leading to experience victory.

Notes and questions:

B1 Names

C1 Deborah means bee.

C2 Barak means lightning flash.

C3 Sisera means battle array.

C4 Jael means mountain goat.

B2 Outline

C1 Israel’s disobedience Judges 4:1-3

C2 Deborah prophesies to Barak Judges 4:4-10

C3 Heber the Kenite Judges 4:11

C4 Barak fights Sisera Judges 4:12-16

C5 Sisera dies Judges 4:17-24

B3 Israel fails again

C1 Why are foreign gods so alluring?

C2 What do people not like about Yahweh?

C3 Why was Barak not willing to go and fight without Deborah with him?

B4 Trust and obey

C1 Trust has the meaning of confident rest in another’s ability, reliability, and faithfulness to do what they say they can.

D1 Negative illustration is

E1 Israel. Then the LORD will ask his people, ‘Where are those mighty gods you trusted? (Deuteronomy 32:37, GNB92)

E2 Israel. Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the LORD’s help. (Isaiah 31:1, HCSB)

D2 Positive illustration is

E1 Asa. Then Asa called to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides Thee to help [in the battle] between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in Thee, and in Thy name have come against this multitude. O LORD, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee.” So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. (2 Chronicles 14:11-12, NASB77)

E2 Hezekiah. Hezekiah trusted in the LORD God of Israel; not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. (2 Kings 18:5, HCSB)

C2 Obey has the meaning of doing faithfully all that God commands.

D1 Negative illustration is

E1 King Saul. And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him [to be] commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14, NKJV)

E2 The unnamed prophet sent to King Jeroboam. Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, ‘but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which [the LORD] said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ ” (1 Kings 13:20-22, NKJV)

D2 Positive illustration is

E1 Both are illustrated in Jesus’s parable. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ “He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. “Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I [go,] sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of [his] father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw [it,] you did not afterward relent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32, NKJV)

E2 Moses. “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. “You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. “And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. “You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did. (Exodus 40:12-16, NKJV)

E3 Noah. And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him. (Genesis 7:5, NKJV)

C3 Questions

D1 What increases trust?

D2 What decreases trust?

D3 What helps us to obey?

D4 What hinders us to obey?

D5 Why do people put their trust in a politician or expert or media?

D6 Why do people obey false prophets, false teachers, and false preachers?

B5  Judges 4:1-3

C1 The word sold in Judges 4:2 can mean exchanged for money or can mean surrendered.

D1 Sell

E1 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” (Genesis 25:31, NKJV)

E2 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you [and] your sons live on the rest.” (2 Kings 4:7, NKJV)

D2 How does God sell? To whom does He sell?

E1 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. (Judges 3:8, NKJV)

E2 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found [you,] because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: (1 Kings 21:20, NKJV)

E3 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. (1 Kings 21:25,

E4 ‘And if [one of] your brethren [who dwells] by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. (Leviticus 25:39, NKJV)

E5 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 [EMTV])

E6 A person who was in too much debt that could not be paid off, would sell themselves to someone. The person who bought this person paid that person’s debt. The debtor than worked in exchange for the debt that was paid. This is the meaning of Leviticus 25:39 and extends to other passages as Judges 4:2.

C2 Why did it take 20 years before Israel cried for help and the Lord delivered them?

B6 Judges 4:4-10

C1 Why gather the troops at Mt. Tabor?

D1 Picture

D2 Map

C2 What characteristic, attribute, of God is seen in Judges 4:7?

C3 Why did Barak insist that Deborah go with him?

C4 Barak was not to receive the honor of the defeat of General Sisera. Two verses:

D1 Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever, but now the LORD declares: Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (I Samuel 2:30 [ESV]. The honor given by the world system are temporal; the honor given by God is eternal. Consider: How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God? (John 5:44 [EMTV]

D2 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God. (II Chronicles 26:18 [ESV]. Here the King does a good thing, but it is not lawful. God knows the King is disobedient and rebellious.

B7 Judges 4:11-16

C1 What if Barak had hesitated to start out to fight?

C2 What fights does the Christian have today? (A spiritual fight).

D1 Temptation

E1  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty by God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to avenge every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled. (II Corinthians 10:3-6 [EMTV])

E2  Because of this, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having accomplished all things, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; through every prayer and petition, praying in every season in the Spirit, being watchful to this same thing with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints— (Ephesians 6:13-18 [EMTV]

D2 Persecution--from the Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (2004) on Persecution: Those who love evil rather than good will inevitably want to persecute those who desire to live godly lives (John 3:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:12). Christians should not be surprised when they suffer persecution. If they show themselves to be Christ's people, they can expect the sort of opposition that Christ suffered. They should consider it a privilege to suffer for Christ's sake (Matthew 5:10-11; John 15:20; Acts 5:41; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Peter 4:12-13).

Both Jesus and the New Testament writers taught Christians that they should pray for their persecutors. Certainly they should not try to return evil upon those who attack them. God's people should have confidence in him that, when they are persecuted, they will know how to act and what to say (Matthew 5:44; 10:17-20; Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 4:14-16).

Persecution tests the genuineness of a person's faith, but true believers will endure it, knowing that God will not forsake them (Matthew 13:21; Romans 5:3-5; 8:35; 2 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:4). The early Christians proved the reality of God's presence with them when they suffered persecution, much of which was at the hands of the Jews (Acts 4:29-31; 5:17-21; 7:54-56; 18:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:17).

C3 Who gave the victory?

B8 Victory for the Christian

C1 The fight is in temptation and persecution. Tempted to sin, rebell, deny Christ, to lose faith, etc. Persecution because we love God and His ways. Our Master was persecuted and not believed, so it happens to us. Sometimes the persecution is physical but also emotional and spiritual.

C2 Victory

D1 Temptation

E1 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it.] (1 Corinthians 10:13, NKJV) The way out would be to resist (Luke 4:1-13, Hebrew 11:25, James 4:7) and/or to flee (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22).

E2 [then] the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, (2 Peter 2:9, NKJV)

E3 If tempted, turn away. If tempted to steal, leave. If tempted to lie, say nothing or determine to tell the truth.

E4 We have to have knowledge of God’s ways. There are over 1,000 in the New Testament for Christians. Consider just a few:

F1 Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right.

F2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.

F3 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

F4 Slaves [employees today--ed], obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.

F5 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

F6 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

F7 And masters [employers today--ed], treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. F8 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. F9 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. (Ephesians 6:1-11, HCSB)

E5 It is by God’s grace that we can win against temptation.

E6 If sin, repent.

D2 Persecution

E1 With lies: All Your commands are true; people persecute me with lies — help me! (Psalms 119:86, HCSB). The solution is to depend on God’s help and know the truth.

E2 For no reason (other than we are Christians): Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word. (Psalms 119:161, HCSB). The solution is to fear God, that is, respect, trust, and obey.

E3 Because we want and do live God’s way: Blessed [are ]those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10, NKJV). The solution is to continue steadfastly knowing God is helping (2 Corinthians 10:14). We are blessed if this happens.

E4 Because we worship and serve Jesus Christ. “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12, HCSB). The solution is to remember those who have gone before us and those today. There is a reward. We are to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14). It may be that we have to leave the area (Matthew 10:23).

E5 We live a godly life: In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12, HCSB). God encourages and helps us: But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, (1 Peter 3:14, HCSB)

E6 The devil is our main enemy. He will fight us with bad dreams, bring to memory our failures and past, accuse us of being evil and not forgiven, remind us that we are failures, so that we might as well give up, etc. Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8, HCSB). The solution is to remember these things of persecution do NOT separate us from the love of God.

F1 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 8:36-39, HCSB).

F2 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, (2 Peter 2:9, HCSB)

F3 You might be helped by reading Psalm 37.

B9 Remember:

C1 Why is obeying God important? (“If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15, NKJV) and what else)?

C2 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5, HCSB)

C3 It might be helpful to read Psalm 118.

B10 Next week:

C1 When less is more

C2 Theme: Trusting God’s Power

C3 Scripture: Judges 7:1-23

Sexual Purity

Theme: Guard Your Heart

Objectives (from the D6 Sunday School Lesson)

Know: Each Christian must take great effort to guard his or her heart.

Think: Condition myself to take thoughts captive and think right thoughts.

Do: Walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh to enable myself to guard my heart.

Scriptures: Philippians 4:7-8, 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, and 1 Corinthians 16:13

Notes and questions:

Philippians 4:7-8: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:7-8, NKJV)

2 Corinthians 10:1-6: Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ–who in presence [am] lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg [you] that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:1-6, NKJV)

1 Corinthians 16:13: Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13, NKJV)

B1 Outline

• What to think Philippians 4:7-8
• What to fight 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
• What to live 1 Corinthians 16:13

B2 “Sexual intercourse is rapidly becoming the one thing venerated in a world without veneration.” ― C.S. Lewis, Miracles

B3 Sexual promiscuity affects (Source  Disclaimer--I cannot vouch or necessary recommend this site. Use at your own discretion).

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Marital health
• The desire for abnormal sexual behaviors
• A person’s soul
• Society

B4 Carolyn C. Ross M.D., M.P.H.has an article entitled Overexposed and Under-Prepared: The Effects of Early Exposure to Sexual Content.”  (Link.  This is a non-Christian source showing the dangers of the sex saturated society on youth.)

B5 Some quotes (Source)

• "We have bartered holiness for convenience, ... wisdom for information, joy for pleasure, tradition for fashion." (Abraham Herschel, The Insecurity of Freedom, p. 200.)
• “Nakedness has become the hallmark of much public entertainment. It reaches beyond this into the realm of sadistic perversion. As one seasoned New York critic remarked, "It's not only the nudity; it's the crudity." (Gordon B. Hinckley)
• “Can there be any reasonable doubt that in sowing the wind of pornography, we are reaping the whirlwind of decay?” (Gordon B. Hinckley)

B5 Christian, there is a problem. What is happening

• To us
• Our churches
• Our families
• Our children
• Our society

B6 What is the core of this problem?

• Sin
• “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Matthew 12:35, NKJV)
• “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Matthew 15:18-19, NKJV)
• Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV)
• There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:11-12, NKJV)
• Romans 1:18-31 shows the downhill course of humanity starting with the rejection of truth and an attitude of ingratitude. This downhill course leads to physical death,eternal death, and punishment.

B7 Some Scriptures we need. There are many but here are three.

• Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22, NKJV)
• Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV)
• Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, NKJV)

B8 How to handle temptation

• No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it.] (1 Corinthians 10:13, NKJV)
• For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects [this] does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, NKJV)
• Sexual immorality (fornication) is wrong
• Avoid the passion of lust
• Brother is used in the sense of neighbor. See But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; (1 Thessalonians 4:9, NKJV)
• Uncleanness as God defines it.
• Holiness
• Rejecting this teaching is rejecting God Himself

B9 Be Aware of the appeal to lust

• Consider: For when they speak great swelling [words] of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-19, NKJV). Two other translations:
• They make proud and stupid statements, and use immoral bodily lusts to trap those who are just beginning to escape from among people who live in error. They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits—for we are slaves of anything that has conquered us. (2 Peter 2:18-19, GNB92))
• They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. (2 Peter 2:18-19, NLT)
• The appeal to lust, which we see in advertizing, movies, books, music, parades, protests, etc.
• Temptation
• How to fight it?
• Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13-16, NKJV)
• God does not entice us to sin
• Desire leads to enticement
• Enticement leads stronger desire
• Getting stronger temptations leads to sin
• Sin leads to death
• Temptation itself is not sin. If we are tempted, we can resist or not resist. We can sin or not sin. Jesus was tempted but did not sin. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin. (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)
• Recognize it as a temptation (The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8) and the Scriptures teach what is right and wrong (2 Timothy 3:16-17)).
• Be alert. Don’t use things that lower judgment and discernment. Consider: [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [It is] not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. (Proverbs 31:4-7, NKJV)
• “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. (Hosea 4:11, NKJV)
• Face the truth
• Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; (2 Timothy 3:8, NKJV). These men did resist truth. We are to do the opposite.
• “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (John 3:19-20, NKJV). Jesus teaches us that our natural self does not like the truth. We, however, are regenerated, born again, and have a new heart.
• Humble ourselves.
• But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6, NKJV)
• Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12, NKJV)
• Avoid, run, turn away. ...that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. (Genesis 39:12, NKJV). Joseph fled.
• Ask (pray) for help. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV)
• Realize God’s help.
• No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it.] (1 Corinthians 10:13, NKJV)
• [then] the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, (2 Peter 2:9, NKJV)
• Sometimes it is more than I think I can bear. We need each other. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who [are] spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1, NKJV)
• If alcohol is my temptation (For we [have spent] enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles–when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. (1 Peter 4:3, NKJV), then we must not be where that is and resist any want of it. Leave.
• If lying is my temptation, then speak the truth. If we lie, go back to that person and tell them the truth.
• If we sin, repent. Psalm 51
• David confesses. He does not evade the truth.
• David realizes that all sin is sin against God.
• David asks for forgiveness.
• David asks to be given a clean heart. So he asks not only for mercy but also grace. He wants a heart that does not do this again and a heart that can serve God.
• David realizes that sacrifices do not cleanse from sin, only God can cleanse. The sacrifice that God wants is “...a broken spirit;A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
• The devil wants us to sin. He is a rebel in its worst sense.
• Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)
• “You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources,] for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44, NKJV)

B10 Questions

• Philippians 4:7-8
• How will thinking pure things in Philippians help us in temptation?
• How can we think the pure things of Philippians?
• What are some things that are _____ that we can think about?
• True
• Noble (the Greek word means something honorable)
• Just (the Greek word means equitable, impartial)
• Pure (the Greek word means clean)
• Lovely (the Greek word means pleasing, sweetly charming)
• Good report (the Greek word means commendable, well spoken of)
• Virtue (the Greek word means excellence (mental, spiritual, physical, etc.))
• Praise (the Greek words means something praiseworthy)
• 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
• What kind of warfare is Paul speaking of?
• What kinds of warfare do we face?
• Does 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 describe an apologetic ministry?
• If so, what are we to do to be apologists for Jesus Christ?
• 1 Corinthians 16:13
• What we are to do to?
• Watch (be alert)
• This homeowner is alert: “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (Matthew 24:43, NKJV)
• The evil are alert: But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. (Acts 9:24, NKJV)
• We should be alert:
• “Blessed [are] those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down [to eat,] and will come and serve them. (Luke 12:37, NKJV)
• Be of sober [spirit,] be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NASB77)
• Stand fast in the faith
• Be brave
• Be strong
• Remember: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise,[ Be] glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25, NKJV)

B11 Next week

• The Way God Made Us
• Theme: God’s Design
• Scriptures: Matthew 19:4-6 and Genesis 2:18