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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever sensed the presence of God in your life in certain situations that came your way?

The reality is that those of us who are saved have the LORD with us all the time, but I’m talking about those times when you can sense the very presence of God being with you in an unusually distinct way. (For example–When my Dad died over seven years ago.)

I’ve had many times like that in my Christian walk. But I’ve also had those times when it didn’t seem like the LORD was anywhere to be found, yet I knew He was.

It is when we come to those times in our life that we just have to take God at His word that He is with us. We know that even when we cannot sense His presence, the LORD is still with us who are saved!

The moment we turned from our sins and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour–at that moment the presence of the LORD became a great reality in our lives!

Hebrews 13:5-6–“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Matthew 28:20–“…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

So, if you are a born again Christian, then the LORD is with you!

But along with the presence of the LORD in our lives comes some responsibilities.

Because we have the presence of God in our lives we should understand that we are not to just carelessly live our lives unto ourselves, but rather live them unto God.

One of the biggest responsibilities that we have is to live changed lives both in and by His power.

2 Corinthians 5:17–“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

1 Peter 1:15-16 –“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Tonight I want us to look at the life of a young man by the name of Joseph.

Joseph was the next to youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons. His older brothers were jealous of him because his father favored him. They sold him into slavery and deceived their father into thinking that he was slain by a beast.

We know from what we read about the account of Joseph’s life here in Genesis that he would eventually rise to power in Egypt as Prime Minister and deliver Egypt through a great time of drought and famine.

From his exalted position, he would also save his father’s household and be reunited with His brothers.

As we meet Joseph in Genesis 39 though his circumstances are not good at all.

In Verse 1 we see that upon coming to Egypt, Joseph was purchased as a slave by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guards.

Joseph had gone from being a privileged son of a wealthy herdsman to being a slave. Circumstances were not good for Joseph, but there is an encouraging thought found in verse 2.

Did you get that? The LORD was with Joseph, but Joseph did not use this fact as an excuse for not doing his best. Because the LORD was with Joseph, he demonstrated certain qualities that should be true of us, if the LORD is with us.

In this chapter there are three ways Joseph behaved because the LORD was with Him.

We should behave in the same three ways if the LORD is with us.

I.         WE SHOULD BE CONSCIENTIOUS BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

            (Vs. 1-6)

Joseph had been mistreated by His brothers and sold into slavery according to Genesis 37.

            Understand that he could have had a bad attitude because of the mistreatment.

Instead, he did his best with the circumstances he found himself in and the LORD prospered Him.

Look at verse 3 and notice that Joseph was active.

            He did his work well. He was probably what some today would call an overachiever.

Did you know that the LORD is not impressed with laziness? He blesses those who are willing to work and give their best when they work.

Proverbs 13:4–“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

The LORD blessed Joseph in whatever he did. And please note that it was obvious to Potiphar that the LORD was with Joseph. He could see the success that the LORD was giving Joseph.

In verse 4 we see that Joseph was put in charge of everything that Potiphar had.

            Later, we know that Joseph would be in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

God blessed Joseph, but there is no doubt that Joseph was conscientious about what he was doing.

In verse 5 we see that the LORD blessed Potiphar for Joseph’s sake.

Here is a challenging question: Does the LORD bless your boss’ business for your sake?

Are you so conscientious about your Christian testimony and so wanting to do a good job that the LORD blesses the business where you are employed?

In verse 6 we see that Joseph was so conscientious that Potiphar only concerned himself with one thing at home, “What’s for supper!?”

            Joseph was so conscientious that he was considered trustworthy.

My Dad worked as a painter all of his life–I didn’t say an artist, but a painter! However, my Dad was as conscientious about his work as any artist might be! He worked for my uncle’s business, Coastal Decorators, and did the best job of any painter that my uncle ever hired. Because he was so conscientious, customers would frequently ask for him by name to do their job. My Dad became a foreman over other painters and eventually became part owner of the business. Why? Because he was conscientious!

Being conscientious and doing our absolute best is what the LORD expects for each Christian! Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

If the LORD is truly with us, it means that we have claimed Jesus as our Saviour–that is, He is our hope of Heaven! And, if we have claimed Jesus as Saviour, He is also to be the Lord of our lives!

If He is the boss, the Lord of our lives, then whatever we do in word or deed should be done in His name, and we should be thankful to God because of Him and through Him.

            Very simply, if we can do something in the name of Jesus, we should be doing it and

            if we cannot do something in the name of Jesus we should not be doing it.

We should ask ourselves as we go about in this life, “Can I honestly do what I am about to do in the name of the Lord Jesus?”

            Colossians 3:23 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

This verse was spoken to slaves. There were millions of them in the Roman Empire when Paul wrote these words.

Although we are not slaves today, I believe that this verse applies to all of us who are employees or otherwise– after all, we are to be servants (i.e. slaves) of the Lord!

Whatever we do is to be done heartily! That means it is to be done with enthusiasm!

            That’s hard to do sometimes if we don’t particularly like the authorities that are over us.

However, it is easier to do things heartily when we are conscientious enough to do everything we do as if we were doing it for the LORD first.

Warren Wiersbe wrote of having a friend, “who many years ago was fired from his job for working too hard. He was earning money to go to college, and he wanted to give the employer a good day’s work each day. The trouble was, his zeal was showing up the laziness of some of the other employees-and they started fighting back. One of them falsely accused (his) friend of something and he was fired. He lost his job but he kept his character, and the Lord rewarded him.” Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, (Wheaton IL, Victor Books, 1989), pp. 144-145

That man did that which was right in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ even though it cost him being falsely accused and ultimately cost him his job. He was conscientious because the LORD was with him.

            Joseph was conscientious about what he did because the LORD was with Him.

            WE NEED TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

II.       WE NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

            (Vs. 7-20)

Joseph was doing a great job, but temptation came his way through the advances of his boss's wife. We see in verses 7-9 that although Joseph was in charge of his master’s house, he was still a slave.

It would have been easy for him to have given in to the sexual advances of his master’s wife. He could have rationalized it the way that we many times try to rationalize the wrong that we do.

            Joseph had the courage, that is, he had the guts, to say “no” to something that was wrong.

            Joseph refused to do this wrong because his master trusted Him as verse 8 says.

In verse 9, Joseph states that the only thing that was “off limits” to him in the house was his master’s wife.

            And Joseph was bold to call adultery what it is, wickedness and sin!

            And Joseph was bold enough to state that the wickedness and sin was against God!

Do you know why we often fall into sin? It is because we often give it another label, like “a mistake” or “an indiscretion.”

            We fail to identify it as wickedness and sin against God!

In verse 10, we see that Joseph had to say “no” more than once. This woman was persistent. And some of the temptations we face will be equally persistent.

In verses 11-12 it says that the woman was even bolder than before when nobody was around. She grabbed for Joseph and he fled as quickly as possible, leaving his garment in her hand.

            It takes courage to call sin what it is–That is, it is sin against God!

            It takes courage to consistently say “no” to what we know is wrong.

            And it takes courage to run when the only way we can resist is by running.

When the LORD is with us, we need to learn to run from temptation and not towards it!

1 Corinthians 10:12-13–“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [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.”

Do you have the courage to say “no” when you are tempted?

“The father of a small boy would occasionally sneak into a neighbor's orchard and pluck some of the choicest fruit. He always made sure, however, that "the coast was clear.” One day with his son tagging along, after carefully looking in every direction and seeing no one, he crept through the fence. He was just about ready to help himself when the youngster startled him by crying out, ‘Dad! Dad! You didn't look UP! You forgot to see if God is watching.’ When temptation besets you and you're inclined to yield because no one else seems to be around, remember, if you're a Christian, your "Master is always in!” --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 477. Bible Illustrator 3.0

             I’d like to tell you that everything will turn out well when we say “no” to sin. I can’t.

            Sometimes we will be falsely accused if we don’t do what others are enticing us to do.

            Joseph was falsely accused as Verses 13-19 tell us.

            The wife of Potiphar falsely accused Joseph.

Verse 20 says that Joseph ended up a prisoner because of saying “no” to sin.

So what about you? Would you rather be falsely accused when saying “no” to sin, or would you rather answer to God at the judgment for not doing what is right?

Matthew 5:11-12– “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

            WE NEED TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

            WE NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

III.      WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH US.

            (Vs. 21-23)

There are many people who have stopped doing what is right because it got them in trouble.

It would have been easy for Joseph to just give up and stop serving the LORD because doing right got him in trouble.

            Joseph didn’t do that though!

                        Was he devastated? Probably!

                        Was he outraged at the injustice? Most likely!

                        Was he defeated? No!

                        Did he give up on the LORD? No!

            Look at verse 21 – It says that the LORD was still with Joseph.

The LORD showed Joseph mercy.

The LORD gave Joseph favor in the eyes of the keeper of the prison.

The LORD did not deliver Joseph from jail immediately because the LORD had a plan that involved the jail. (You can read Genesis 40-41 and find that out.)

The LORD may not deliver us right away from suffering for what is right, but He will show His mercy upon us as we remain consistent.

In verses 22-23 we find that Joseph again did a conscientious job.

            Joseph remained faithful to the LORD. He was consistent!

Joseph did his job as well as he had before and it wasn’t long before Joseph ran the jail.

            Remember this, my friend, God is keeping score.

                        God knows if we’ve been mistreated.

                        God will settle the score in His time whether it be in this life or at Judgment Day.

If you have stood for what is right and have been falsely accused, continue to be faithful! Don’t quit! Continue to be consistent!

Romans 12:19-21–“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

             1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Conclusion

The LORD was with Joseph in his day and if you are a Christian, the LORD is with you!

Because the LORD is with us let’s

BE CONSCIENTIOUS,

BE COURAGEOUS, AND

BE CONSISTENT!

Is the LORD with you? If not, it is because you have never placed your faith and trust in Him?

Why not turn to Jesus and trust Him as your Saviour today!

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!