SANCTIFICATION 2: JOSEPH'S
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Sanctification
a) Sanctification takes a lifetime. We will never be completely perfected until that day of His return. We must resist temptation, flee from sin, press on, take hold, have a goal, strain toward, and read the Word of God. These allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, with us, and through us by cooperating and being proactive to avoid sinning against God.
b) We are told to be a living sacrifice. The only problem with being a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. Paul gives us a fitting conclusion: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
2. Joseph’s Sanctification
a) Joseph is an excellent example of the process of sanctification. Joseph was treated unfairly when his brothers sold him into slavery. He would later end up in prison through no fault of his own. His character was revealed when he refused to blame God and turn bitter while languishing in prison for many years. Joseph was in charge of Potiphar’s house. Potiphar was the Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard. Next to the Pharaoh, this was probably the greatest position of power in all of Egypt.
b) Potiphar trusted Joseph enough to leave him in charge of his entire household (Genesis 39:5) and when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused. Potiphar must have had a beautiful wife and this lady had to have had great riches. When she tried to grab Joseph to lie with her, he not only ran but he ran so fast he left his cloak. He left his cloak but kept his character. '
c) When fighting temptations to sin, the Christian can do one of two things; fight or flight. That is, we can resist temptation and fight it through prayer or we can take flight. James said when we are tempted we must resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7) but Paul said we must flee from sexual temptation, indicating we shouldn’t just resist but run (1 Corinthians 6:18)!
d) Can you imagine how hard it was for Joseph to resist this urge, day after day? This temptation must have gone on for many days, remember, Potiphar‘s wife had to be one of the most beautiful women of Egypt.
e) At times like these, the work of the Holy Spirit is indispensable, able to convict us of things that we know are clearly wrong. Not only did Joseph not want to violate God’s law but he said, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9)?
f) Joseph thought about God when he was tempted and that is sanctification at work. When Joseph refused to give into temptation, he sanctified God’s Name by his doing what was right.
g) When we glorify God in our bodies, we are being sanctified and we glorify God by our decisions to not sin against Him. In this case, Joseph sanctified the name of God, even in private, where there would have been no eyewitnesses. Joseph’s refusal to sin and his fleeing temptation is the perfect model of holiness and it is how we can also avoid sin. This is the process of sanctification.
h) That is exactly the way the Holy Spirit works in us today in sanctifying us. He tells us when something is wrong, and if we are in a compromising situation we should run, just like Joseph did. God the Holy Spirit tells us when something isn’t quite right. He tells us when we are not in a good situation and it is often that quiet, still small voice much like the human conscience.
i) Life is not fair and during such times our growing in holiness or sanctification can be increased. Even when we are in the will of God, there will be times of injustice, like when Joseph was unfairly thrown into prison. We can justify our sin more easily in times like these and in times of prosperity. What is really pleasing to God is when we do justly when no one is watching and still do so when we are suffering unjustly.
The End ...
1. Sanctification a) Sanctification takes a lifetime. We will never be completely perfected until that day of His return. We must resist temptation, flee from sin, press on, take hold, have a goal, strain toward, and read the Word of God. These allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, with us, and through us by cooperating and being proactive to avoid sinning against God.
b) We are told to be a living sacrifice. The only problem with being a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. Paul gives us a fitting conclusion: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
2. Joseph’s Sanctification
a) Joseph is an excellent example of the process of sanctification. Joseph was treated unfairly when his brothers sold him into slavery. He would later end up in prison through no fault of his own. His character was revealed when he refused to blame God and turn bitter while languishing in prison for many years. Joseph was in charge of Potiphar’s house. Potiphar was the Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard. Next to the Pharaoh, this was probably the greatest position of power in all of Egypt.
b) Potiphar trusted Joseph enough to leave him in charge of his entire household (Genesis 39:5) and when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused. Potiphar must have had a beautiful wife and this lady had to have had great riches. When she tried to grab Joseph to lie with her, he not only ran but he ran so fast he left his cloak. He left his cloak but kept his character. '
c) When fighting temptations to sin, the Christian can do one of two things; fight or flight. That is, we can resist temptation and fight it through prayer or we can take flight. James said when we are tempted we must resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7) but Paul said we must flee from sexual temptation, indicating we shouldn’t just resist but run (1 Corinthians 6:18)!
d) Can you imagine how hard it was for Joseph to resist this urge, day after day? This temptation must have gone on for many days, remember, Potiphar‘s wife had to be one of the most beautiful women of Egypt.
e) At times like these, the work of the Holy Spirit is indispensable, able to convict us of things that we know are clearly wrong. Not only did Joseph not want to violate God’s law but he said, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9)?
f) Joseph thought about God when he was tempted and that is sanctification at work. When Joseph refused to give into temptation, he sanctified God’s Name by his doing what was right.
g) When we glorify God in our bodies, we are being sanctified and we glorify God by our decisions to not sin against Him. In this case, Joseph sanctified the name of God, even in private, where there would have been no eyewitnesses. Joseph’s refusal to sin and his fleeing temptation is the perfect model of holiness and it is how we can also avoid sin. This is the process of sanctification.
h) That is exactly the way the Holy Spirit works in us today in sanctifying us. He tells us when something is wrong, and if we are in a compromising situation we should run, just like Joseph did. God the Holy Spirit tells us when something isn’t quite right. He tells us when we are not in a good situation and it is often that quiet, still small voice much like the human conscience.
i) Life is not fair and during such times our growing in holiness or sanctification can be increased. Even when we are in the will of God, there will be times of injustice, like when Joseph was unfairly thrown into prison. We can justify our sin more easily in times like these and in times of prosperity. What is really pleasing to God is when we do justly when no one is watching and still do so when we are suffering unjustly.
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