Sermon Tone Analysis

The 38th Chapter

About the line of Judah

Incest, deceit, prostitution, manipulation.

God kills two people.

Jerry Springer/Maury

From Jordan to Joseph

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.

I've lost almost 300 games.

26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.

I've failed over and over and over again in my life.

And that is why I succeed.”

― Michael Jordan

Responses to set backs:

Quit

Blame everybody (become a victim) (Fix the problem, not the blame)

Just keep swimming.

When we last saw Joseph, he had been betrayed, thrown in a pit, sold in to slavery and sold to Potiphar (Captain of the guard of Pharoah.)

Joseph had a good work ethic

Genesis 39:2-

Potiphar’s household prospered.

Genesis

God was blessing Joseph, but understand that God wasn’t blessing him in-spite of his actions, but through them.

Joseph wasn’t a token good luck charm.

He was working.

He had an excellent work ethic.

He was trustworthy and reliable.

“Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”

Vince Lombardi

The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.

Verse 3 tells us that Potiphar recognized that God caused Joseph to be successful.

God is glorified when we, as followers of Christ, work hard.

The Word tells us to work hard and that we will be rewarded.

Colossians 3:23-

Joseph had Integrity

Things were going so well.

He is young, good looking, successful, powerful and now attention.

If he submits, no one would likely ever find out.

She would be in as much trouble as he would.

How would you fare in that situation?

Genesis 39:

Sin against God?

Joseph knew before it was written.

He is working for God, not Potiphar.

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”

Oprah Winfrey

How do we become people of integrity?

The answer is in where you put your focus.

What do you dwell on?

How can I get more stuff?

How can I become famous?

Where is you focus?

Proverbs

It reminds me of the hymn that goes:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

  In the light of His glory and grace.

Joseph was focused on God, so the temptation of the wife was faded.

She didn’t give up.

Verse 10 tells us that she spoke to him day after day.

Genesis

Genesis 39:

Don’t put yourself in Joseph’s position!

I work with two women.

If you come to my house.

Genesis 39:12

He did what he was supposed to do.

tells us to Flee immorality:

pheugo: flee, run away, escape, disappear quickly.

She devised a plan

Genesis 39:

Side Note:

Potiphar and his wife were in a bad marriage: Obviously she is pursuing Joseph.

But I know why:

The only thing he was concerned about in his household was what he ate: Potiphar neglected his wife.

“He has brought that Hebrew.”

She is harboring resentment toward her husband.

-19

Men

Women /men

Potiphar’s wife told her husband.

“This is what your slave did to me.”

Ephesians 4:

Stank on the your

Joseph was perseverant

Genesis 39:

Josephe endured:

My H.S. football coach use to quote Patton all the time: “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Hebrews

When you are tired, focus on Christ.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT THE PROVIDENCE AND GOODNESS OF GOD!

WORK ETHIC

INTEGRITY

PERSEVERANCE