Last month Sharon had a really close call at Laurier Ave. and Ontario St. The light turned green and as she was about to enter the intersection she took a quick glance and here came a truck barreling through a light that had turned red well before he arrived there. She noticed that he was talking on his cell completely oblivious to the obvious. After that it took her a moment to regroup as she realized how quickly she could have lost her life in that moment. If there is one lesson in driver’s education that you get drilled into you, it is to pay attention at the intersections, but how easily we can forget.
I believe that is the same message God is teaching us today. Pay attention at the intersections of life! It is here that we must keep our eyes open to look at what might be going on and whose path we might be crossing. I can admit that are times that I have gone blazing through the intersections of life focused on my own agenda and missed what I exactly needed to do. The focus for us today is to learn how to see those divine appointments so as that we don’t become so preoccupied and busy that we miss where God is leading us.
Joseph moves through three major intersections very early on in his experience beyond the pit and this morning we will learn about the grace he discovered there.
The 1st Intersection – Potiphar – The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation
The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line.
The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should
The 1st Intersection - The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation v1-6a
Live in such a way that others step up and notice.
Joseph moves from son of favor to slave of duty. He is in a foreign land, doesn’t know the language, doesn’t know the culture and basically is treated as an object. However what you have to love about Joseph is his attitude. Where others may have completed resented what happened to them, Joseph continues to live in such a way that Potiphar’s takes notice.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
There is a realization going on when others step and notice that God has his hand on your life in such a way that even non-Christians take notice and that is exactly what happened to Joseph.
God will prosper you in His way.
God granted him success. Joseph was a prosperous man in the way that he handled himself in his workplace
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
There have been times on HNIC when Don Cherry would remark about a Christian hockey player and talk about them being the hardest working, competitive players and that is what we need to be all about. Christian should be known for a great work ethic because we know that ultimately whatever we put our hearts and minds too, it is for God’s glory. When we live this out, it takes our work to a whole new level.
I believe God is looking for it to start in the small things. He longs to see faithfulness, perseverance, expectancy and often He rewards that behavior with greater opportunities for influence and impact. How do I know that… look at the parable of the talents…
I have this great quote on my desk by Vince Lombardi…’If you don’t pick up the ball and run with it, somebody else will!’ God is building his team and the green light to step up to the plate is there for you. We need to activate, get set, get ready and be faithful where He has planted us.
It is true that God will bless others because of your involvement, your faithfulness and connection when what is being accomplished is God honoring.
As God entrusts you with places of leadership, He continues to seek our faithfulness, to see us act with God sized confidence, to speak with caution and ultimately to share with love why you are the person you are.
Time magazine did a study in the States at the end of last year and they sought to find out which profession derived the most happiness. You will be interested to know that it is clergy…well, of course, we only work one day a week. It took me some time to absorb it and realize the weight of what it was saying. I think there is the sense of realization that what I did is not a job but a calling and to that degree I serve the Lord. However, no matter what your job is or where you fall on the list when you realize that ultimately it is for God’s honor, it has to change your perspective.
The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line. v6b-19
Let’s look at the distinctive marks of Joseph’s temptation – he was well built and handsome…He had the charm and the arms!
It has been said that sexual attraction is possibly the strongest lure that we face. Whether it can be controlled will either make or break a person.
In a recent Journey devotional by Crawford Loritts titled, ‘One Act’ it states, ‘it’s a shame how some people are only remembered of the mistakes that they have made whether it be Bill Buckner, Marion Jones, Michael Vick…and then there are the pastors as well who have wonderful years of ministry and lose all credibility in one careless moment.
I believe that is the same message God is teaching us today. Pay attention at the intersections of life! It is here that we must keep our eyes open to look at what might be going on and whose path we might be crossing. I can admit that are times that I have gone blazing through the intersections of life focused on my own agenda and missed what I exactly needed to do. The focus for us today is to learn how to see those divine appointments so as that we don’t become so preoccupied and busy that we miss where God is leading us.
Joseph moves through three major intersections very early on in his experience beyond the pit and this morning we will learn about the grace he discovered there.
The 1st Intersection – Potiphar – The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation
The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line.
The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should
The 1st Intersection - The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation v1-6a
Live in such a way that others step up and notice.
Joseph moves from son of favor to slave of duty. He is in a foreign land, doesn’t know the language, doesn’t know the culture and basically is treated as an object. However what you have to love about Joseph is his attitude. Where others may have completed resented what happened to them, Joseph continues to live in such a way that Potiphar’s takes notice.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
There is a realization going on when others step and notice that God has his hand on your life in such a way that even non-Christians take notice and that is exactly what happened to Joseph.
God will prosper you in His way.
God granted him success. Joseph was a prosperous man in the way that he handled himself in his workplace
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
There have been times on HNIC when Don Cherry would remark about a Christian hockey player and talk about them being the hardest working, competitive players and that is what we need to be all about. Christian should be known for a great work ethic because we know that ultimately whatever we put our hearts and minds too, it is for God’s glory. When we live this out, it takes our work to a whole new level.
I believe God is looking for it to start in the small things. He longs to see faithfulness, perseverance, expectancy and often He rewards that behavior with greater opportunities for influence and impact. How do I know that… look at the parable of the talents…
I have this great quote on my desk by Vince Lombardi…’If you don’t pick up the ball and run with it, somebody else will!’ God is building his team and the green light to step up to the plate is there for you. We need to activate, get set, get ready and be faithful where He has planted us.
It is true that God will bless others because of your involvement, your faithfulness and connection when what is being accomplished is God honoring.
As God entrusts you with places of leadership, He continues to seek our faithfulness, to see us act with God sized confidence, to speak with caution and ultimately to share with love why you are the person you are.
Time magazine did a study in the States at the end of last year and they sought to find out which profession derived the most happiness. You will be interested to know that it is clergy…well, of course, we only work one day a week. It took me some time to absorb it and realize the weight of what it was saying. I think there is the sense of realization that what I did is not a job but a calling and to that degree I serve the Lord. However, no matter what your job is or where you fall on the list when you realize that ultimately it is for God’s honor, it has to change your perspective.
The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line. v6b-19
Let’s look at the distinctive marks of Joseph’s temptation – he was well built and handsome…He had the charm and the arms!
It has been said that sexual attraction is possibly the strongest lure that we face. Whether it can be controlled will either make or break a person.
In a recent Journey devotional by Crawford Loritts titled, ‘One Act’ it states, ‘it’s a shame how some people are only remembered of the mistakes that they have made whether it be Bill Buckner, Marion Jones, Michael Vick…and then there are the pastors as well who have wonderful years of ministry and lose all credibility in one careless moment.
Learning from temptation:
It can happen totally unexpected. For Joseph things were going well, the source may or may not have been anticipated, but there is no time in that moment to be strengthened against it. The resolve has to already been built up.
It is not always predictable. It can strike like lightening and it is better to have safeguards up at all times. Ephesians 6:11-13
It doesn’t always let up. You start to play with fire and you will get burned. She constantly was at him and there was a continual alluring. We don’t leave temptation a forwarding address. They say opportunity knocks once, but temptation bangs on your door for years! 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 FLEE – run, get away!
I Corinthians 10:13
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life
Joseph took a strong stand from the start. He recognized the sin as a great wickedness and a sin against God. We must say no by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Satan will always choose the most advantageous times to throw the darts!
In our age of loose morals we need to continue to set high standards for ourselves for purity…that God gets the glory in this body.
We can’t depend on God’s help if we deliberately walk into the area of temptation time and time again.
The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should v20-23
Joseph moves from an attack on his body to an attack on his mind and he is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Again, he must be troubled by the thoughts…does godliness really pay? Here lies the test now of his mind, emotions and will because everything is going against what he knows to be right
1 Peter 2:19,20
Stay the course and see it through
Dennis DeHaan gives the following reasons on why suffering:
- it enables us to glorify God
- it makes us more like Christ
- it makes us more appreciative of what we do have
- it teaches us dependence on God
- it strengthens faith
- it makes us more sympathetic
- it teaches us patience
- it ultimately brings reward
- it makes and keeps us humble
- it silences Satan – we show we are His!
The Takeaway
Joshua 24:14-26
Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods you worship and serve the Lord!
You say well Jack I don’t have any idols in my home, but we all have things in our lives that can turn to idols…money, sports, materialism, the affection and applause of others.
We must keep it all in check and recognize the green, amber and red lights in our lives and obey them
Questions for Discussion and Small Groups
What quality or intersection in Joseph’s life do you most admire?
What are the reasons you don’t ‘see’ the people around you?
3. List some of the circumstances or people that have had an impact on your life intersections.
4. What one intersection had God specifically brought into your life in which you have the ability to influence someone else’s story?
It can happen totally unexpected. For Joseph things were going well, the source may or may not have been anticipated, but there is no time in that moment to be strengthened against it. The resolve has to already been built up.
It is not always predictable. It can strike like lightening and it is better to have safeguards up at all times. Ephesians 6:11-13
It doesn’t always let up. You start to play with fire and you will get burned. She constantly was at him and there was a continual alluring. We don’t leave temptation a forwarding address. They say opportunity knocks once, but temptation bangs on your door for years! 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 FLEE – run, get away!
I Corinthians 10:13
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life
Joseph took a strong stand from the start. He recognized the sin as a great wickedness and a sin against God. We must say no by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Satan will always choose the most advantageous times to throw the darts!
In our age of loose morals we need to continue to set high standards for ourselves for purity…that God gets the glory in this body.
We can’t depend on God’s help if we deliberately walk into the area of temptation time and time again.
The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should v20-23
Joseph moves from an attack on his body to an attack on his mind and he is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Again, he must be troubled by the thoughts…does godliness really pay? Here lies the test now of his mind, emotions and will because everything is going against what he knows to be right
1 Peter 2:19,20
Stay the course and see it through
Dennis DeHaan gives the following reasons on why suffering:
- it enables us to glorify God
- it makes us more like Christ
- it makes us more appreciative of what we do have
- it teaches us dependence on God
- it strengthens faith
- it makes us more sympathetic
- it teaches us patience
- it ultimately brings reward
- it makes and keeps us humble
- it silences Satan – we show we are His!
The Takeaway
Joshua 24:14-26
Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods you worship and serve the Lord!
You say well Jack I don’t have any idols in my home, but we all have things in our lives that can turn to idols…money, sports, materialism, the affection and applause of others.
We must keep it all in check and recognize the green, amber and red lights in our lives and obey them
Questions for Discussion and Small Groups
What quality or intersection in Joseph’s life do you most admire?
What are the reasons you don’t ‘see’ the people around you?
3. List some of the circumstances or people that have had an impact on your life intersections.
4. What one intersection had God specifically brought into your life in which you have the ability to influence someone else’s story?
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