Sermon Reflections based on from Navigating Launchpad Temptations | Alex Hardt | January 21, 2024
BETRAYAL, LIES and DECEIT are all elements in the continuing story of Joseph this week. For the first time we see Joseph as a young man who lives a life of integrity in the midst of evil doers. Joseph is without family, alone in a foreign country and yet he survives well as he continues to follow God and depend upon Him. Joseph does not succumb to the lower moral conduct of the pagan society but clings to God’s rules of conduct. God hon- ored Joseph’s integrity with blessings. God blessed Joseph with His favor. Genesis 39:3 “the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,” God blessed Potiphar through Joseph, 5 “The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.” This is a biblical principle we can count on today. God blesses those who follow and obey Him. God blesses others through us because of our faithfulness. Have you seen this at work in your own life? Think about how God has blessed you and think about how others have been blessed because of this. An example of this in my own life is when God blessed me with the books I have written. I was blessed by the truths I uncovered, app- lied to my life and the process of publishing that stretched my faith. In turn, those who have read and studied by books have been blessed as they have applied God’s word to their lives and told me about it. The blessings came to them and back to me! Praise God! How can and do you confront temptations? Joseph was again betrayed by Potiphar’s wife when she lied about Joseph’s actions. She wanted what she wanted and desired he be punished because he would not give into her demands. Have you know people who demanded their own way and when they do not get it seek any by any means possible to get their way? In today’s language Joseph first said NO! Actually he did that repeatedly as she confronted him daily. When that did not succeed, she sought to punish him for avoiding her. Joseph’s running away, avoiding the situation by getting out of there, Potiphar’s wife turned to her advantage. It seemed that Joseph had lost again but God! When he was put in prison, God met him there. 20 “But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” God had his back and saw to it that Joseph was again put in a position to shine for Him. Our memory verse Gen 50:20 gives God’s principle of care for those He loves. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Joseph’s brothers, Potiphar’s wife and Potiphar all intended to harm Joseph, but God! Joseph’s faith in God allowed him to navigate the troubled situations of his life. The betraying brothers, the slave traders, Potiphar and his wife had all presented Joseph with temptations, but God knew how to guide Him through the troubling trials. As Joseph depended upon God, He was given a pathway and guided so that he could withstand the adversities of His life. How about you? Are you finding God to be the answer? Is he showing you the way to navigate your troubling situations? Pray and lean into Him. He keeps His promises and will guide you. ere are a couple of promises to cling to: Psalm 25:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Trials and Temptations | Alex Hardt | July 1, 2023
What kind of appliance would you equate with life? A sieve, a blender, a mixer, a BBQ or a pressure cooker? I grew up with a working mom that used the pressure cooker to speed meals to the table. She found it a wonderful tool to get what she needed done quickly. Pastor Alex’s example of the way diamonds are formed reminded me of the pressure cooker. Life is like that- we’re in it and the product, meal, diamond, are not produced unless pressure is applied. God uses this same principle when working with our character as James reminds us in James 1:2-4 “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The pressures of life’s trials are used by God to produce steadfast, enduring character within us. As we walk with Christ, they cause us to grow more and more like Jesus. He did not crack under pressure regardless of the cost. God desires to build, create that same steadfast faithful character within us. This godly character will help us withstand even greater things in our future. This character will build and strengthen our faith and trust in God. What is it that is looming in your future that is causing you to doubt or be afraid? Are your bills to high, your job unsteady, or are your family relationships in trouble? Whatever the trials you are facing He is greater. 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” John 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” As Pastor Alex reminded us, the truth of God’s greatness and goodness needs to be applied to our lives in faith. With faith, even as small as a mustard seed, God can transform our lives and deliver us from fear! Trials and temptations are part of life and it is not if they will come to us but a matter of when. James reminds us that God is there for us and has His great wisdom available for us to use. James 1:5 “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” I take this to mean that God does not consider any question dumb or worthless. He is not going to think badly of us when we ask for wisdom or put us down for not knowing the answer or the way. He promises to not find fault in our asking and delights to give us His wisdom! When God gives, it is pressed down to overflowing, abundant wisdom that is practical and applicable to our lives! James 1:17 reminds us that God is unchanging. He will not change His mind or principles. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” We can count on God to remain steadfast. I love Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” What comfort we have knowing our God is immutable generation to generation! The last verses of James 1 are rich in wisdom on how to live our lives in a godly way. He admonished us to watch how we interact with others. 19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” He reminds us to live clean lives and stay in God’s Word. 21 “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted can save you in you, which.” James wants us to look truthfully at ourselves and our walk with Jesus seeking to apply God’s Word to our lives. 25 “ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” Lastly he exhorts us to seek to live with pure faith and religion so that we may be victorious over the pressures of the world. 27 “ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” How will you deal with your pressures this week? Will you look to God and seek His wisdom and advice. Will you seek to apply His Word to your life and circumstances? This chapter is rich and has much to teach us about life, living and using God’s ways in the world. Will you seek to understand and apply the messages found in James 1? Linda SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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