Archive for April 13, 2008

Staying Clean

April 13, 2008 by PastorMark.

Play now#308, Staying Clean, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 04-13-2008

Text: Genesis 39:1-21

Theme: Do we walk in truth or lies?

INTRODUCTION - BLACK ICE:

  1. Joseph was a young man with a dream.
  2. The dream was tested when Joseph was sold as a slave.
  3. By God’s grace, he found himself in Potiphar’s house.
  4. Potiphar’s wife created some “black ice” for Joseph.
    1. She kept pressuring him.
    2. He appealed to her husband’s honor and trust.
    3. He appealed to God.
  5. All America has become a “danger zone”.
    1. The highway of life is dulled with black ice.
    2. How will we respond to the sexual faithfulness?

Do we walk in truth or lies?

TRUE OR FALSE TEST

  1. “Sex is not important” (false)
    1. “male and female He created them” Genesis 1:27
    2. Our bodies and sex were given by God.
    3. How we use our sexuality is a moral issue.
  2. We don’t own our bodies, as Christians.
    1. “God wants people to enjoy sex” (true)
    2. God wants people to enjoy fire.
  3. Fire makes us feel good (heat, cooking food); but the misuse of fire damages and destroys.
    1. The “safe place” of sex is marriage.
    2. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” Hebrews 13:4
  4. “God understands our struggles.” (true)
    1. “for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14
    2. We can go to Him with all our temptations.
    3. Jesus welcomed “sinners.”
    4. The prodigal son wasted His Father’s estate on sin and prostitutes, yet was welcomed home.
  5. “God is fine with our sexual immorality” (false)
    1. He commands sexual purity and faithfulness.
    2. “Flee from sexual immorality” 1 Corinthians 6:18
    3. We are called to mirror the character of God.
    4. God is a giver not a taker.
    5. He is faithful and pure.
    6. He commands us to change.
    7. “He who conceals his sins and does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
  6. “Sex is a need” (false)
    1. Sex is not a need (air, food, water).
    2. Sex is a drive, passion which can be controlled.
    3. Example: a School Board in Bisbee, Arizona gave out condoms in a “prom bag” to its students.
    4. This gives a false sense of security about condoms.
    5. Sends a degrading message about morality and self-control.
    6. Why do we teach and expect self-control in regard to drugs, drinking, anger, but with sex … “here’s a condom.”
  7. “Sex is fine as long as you love the other person.” (false)
    1. Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.”
    2. True love does what is best for the welfare of the other.
    3. If you cause them to sin are you acting in love?
  8. If you truly love your partner you will commit yourself to marriage.
    1. “God forgives sexual sin” (true)
    2. You can be forgiven and start over.
    3. But, don’t deceive yourself to think there are no consequences.
    4. Life gets complicated by sexual sin.
    5. God forgives but people don’t forget.
  9. “God honors faithfulness.” (true)
    1. What if Joseph had just given in?
    2. God exalted him.
    3. Dreams came true.

CONCLUSION:

Above all else Joseph valued the presence of God in his life.

“Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.”  1 Samuel 2:30

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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR MARK

April 13, 2008 by PastorMark.

Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested. King Jehoshaphat, early in his reign, dedicated himself and his kingdom to loving and serving God. Soon after, he was told that a vast army was marching against them. Their faith was shaken but not broken. King Jehoshaphat and the people sought God together, and the Spirit gave a word of the assurance of victory. The next morning as they advanced to meet the enemy, Jehoshaphat declared to the people, “Have faith in the Lord our God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” (2 Chron. 20:20). Faith is sometimes difficult in a world where so many things can go wrong. But God knows our struggles, and He honors simple trust and obedience.

Pastor Mark Boucher

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