Elder Dorai Manikam
22-04-2018
Romans 13:1-4 Living Bible (TLB)
13 Obey the government, for God is
the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not
placed in power. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are
refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the policeman does not
frighten people who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear him.
So if you don’t want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. 4
The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong,
of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by
God for that very purpose.
Genesis 39 New King James Version (NKJV)
Joseph a Slave in Egypt
39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an
officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the
Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he
was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And
his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to
prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then
he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his
authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his
house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for
Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house
and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did
not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”
16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,[a] because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
1) Responsibility
Genesis
39:1-6
"Be faithful"
Work hard.
Proverbs 14:23-24 New King James Version (NKJV)
23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter[a] leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
Hard work is good work.
2) Resistance
Genesis
39:7-18
Proverbs 16:6 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
"Fear God."
Stay clean.
Immorality begins with the heart.
3) Resilience
Genesis
39:19-23
"Do not give up!"
Stay strong.
No matter what happens, we remain doing what is good and what is right.
Hebrews 12:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one
will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of
God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many
become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau,
who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Grace is unmerited favour.
Grace is the desire and the ability to do God's will.
Bitterness and dissentment can rob us the ability and the desire to do God's will.
Galatians 6:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we
shall reap if we do not lose heart.
4) Reference
Genesis
39:2,3,21,23
The Lord was with Joseph.
"Draw near to God"
Stay close.
James 4:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your
hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God is with you.
You are sent by God.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
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