The Awesome Power of a Simple Solution
Gen 39:7-9 & Various
7 And it came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and
she said, "Lie with me."
8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me {here,} my master does not
concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.
9 "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except
you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?" (NAS)
Introduction
I am tired of having some people say your answer is too simple. Sometimes I have heard or read
someone say " well what would you expect from a preacher".
I have a simple solution I know will work. It will save millions and perhaps billions of tax payers dollars. It may save the medical insurance system as we know it.
You see I have a solution that will cut in half the new cases of the disease called AIDS. It may even be more effective than that.
Interested in hearing about this cure? It is a simple solution!
My solution is: Stop Promiscuous Sex. You ask how? I say return to a moral standard and believe there are moral absolutes. We should stop paying for the results of promiscuous sex. Tell people sexual experiences can be blessed or cursed by God.
The world system says "Oh my that's to simple. I say there can be an awesome power in a
simple solution.
A. Joseph Planned to . . Run.
B. Joseph Planned to . . Reverence God.
1. Look at what Paul told Timothy. 2 Tim 2:22
22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love {and} peace, with those
who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (NAS)
Illustration
Yesterday my computer locked up. It said I had a problem in the high memory system. I called
Becky Thomason. She told me to type in 2 different commands and then increase the number of
files my computer recognizes. I did those very simple things and put the finishing touches on this
sermon. A simple solution worked.
Application
We need to plan to flee and plan to reverence our God.
2. The Awesome Power of the Simple Solution . .
to the Trappings of Luxury.
Heb. 11:23-26
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they
saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin;
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was
looking to the reward. (NAS)
A. The . . Rejection of Luxury Considered. v 24-25
B. The . . Reproach of Christ Considered. v 26
Illustration
Luxury, wealth, fame and power have caused many people to sell their soul. Luxury has a way of
making one complacent.
On one occasion my banker gave me 6 tickets to the Stadium club to see a Cardinal baseball
game. The tickets included free entrance and free meal. As we sat there feasting before the ball
game our minister of music sat back in his chair looked around and said I could get use to this real
easy.
Application
We need to be careful we do not allow the claims of Christ to grow dim as we enjoy some of the
luxuries of this life. Some of we man have joked about taking a remote vacation. Meaning we
sit in our recliner holding our remote control and tune out the rest of the world.
A. Vashti set an example for . . Christian Ladies.
1. Ladies can receive . . Courage.
B. Vashti set an example for . . Christian Men.
1. Men can receive . . Counsel.
Illustration
When my daughter Teri Lynn was just a teenager I would go with her to buy a swim suit. I
would walk up to the sales lady and ask "do you have a swim suit a father would buy for his
daughter? Many times the lady would say no I don't. Eventually we found a lovely swim suit.
Teri would be pleased and she usually got compliments from the other girls.
Application
Christians should be concerned about there appearance. They should never dress worldly or
reduce themselves to the worlds standards.
13 Then Mordecai told {them} to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace
can escape any more than all the Jews.
14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from
another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not
attained royalty for such a time as this?"
15 Then Esther told {them} to reply to Mordecai,
16 "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for
three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to
the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish."
17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him. (NAS)
Illustration
A man living in London was converted to Christ. He became pastor of a church in the slums of
London. He formed a little group of people called the Hallelujah Band, and he would stand on
street corners and preach the Gospel. Many of the clergy who knew him were embarrassed by it
all. When he was called before a conference of religious leaders, they said, "William Booth, will
you go where we tell you to go? If not, you will be defrocked."
In the balcony a woman stood. She was William Booth's wife, Catherine. She said, "William, say,
'No, never!'" And he said "No." That "No" changed history in Great Britain and in many other
parts of the world. Wherever The Salvation Army has gone, it has given help for the body and for
the soul. I want to ask you a question: What is the most difficult word for young people to
Application Leadership is Character standing for right.
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food
or with the wine which he drank; so he sought {permission} from the commander of the officials
that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the
officials, (NAS)
Illustration
I have heard testimonies from persons representing the teen challenge program. They got victory
over drugs or booze through Christ. The rehab hospitals could get them off drugs or booze but gave them no power to stay off. Christ gave them the power to have victory.
Application
The awesome power of a God given conviction to say NO is a simple solution to booze and drugs.
God will give the power to overcome.
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he
confesses, resulting in salvation. (NAS)
A. Confess Jesus is Lord with your mouth.
B. Believe Jesus In your heart.
1. Salvation Results
Illustration
Billy Graham tells this story In his book Approaching Hoofbeats. Years ago in the mountains of North Carolina people made a type of cradle in which to wash there clothes. The cradle had slats in the side so the water could run thru. They placed the cradle in the stream and the water running through the clothes washed them. An automatic washing machine before electricity.
Application
We sing a song titled "What can wash away my sin". The refrain is "nothing but the blood of
Jesus.
The Bible says in I Jn 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NAS)
The word "cleanses" is continuous action. Oh precious is the flow that washes white as snow;
no other fount I know nothing but the blood of Jesus.
There is a simple solution