Dream Suicide Genesis 39:7-10TM
Have you ever wondered why opportunity knocks once – yet temptation bangs on the door constantly?
Philip Yancey, in his book "Reaching for the Invisible God" describes the way God get’s blamed for things in this way.
"When Princess Diana died in an automobile accident, a minister was interviewed and was asked the question “How can God allow such a terrible tragedy?” He said, “Could it have had something to do with a drunk driver going ninety miles an hour in a narrow tunnel? Just How, exactly, was God involved.”
Years ago, boxer, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, killed a Korean opponent with a hard right hand to the head. At the press conference after the Korean’s death, Mancini said, “sometimes I wonder why God does the things he does.”
In a letter to Dr. Dobson, a young woman asked this anguished question, “Four years ago, I was dating a man and became pregnant. I was devastated. I asked God, “Why have you allowed this to happen to me?”
Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother several years ago she pushed her two sons into a lake to drown and then blamed a fictional car-jacker for the deed, wrote in her confession: “I dropped to the lowest point when I allowed my children to go down that ramp into the water without me. I took off running and screaming, ‘Oh God! Oh God, no! What have I done? Why did you let this happen?”
Now the question remains, exactly what role did God play in a boxer beating his opponent to death, a teenage couple giving into temptation in the back seat of a car, or a mother drowning her children?
Is God responsible for these acts? To the contrary, they are examples of incredible human free-will-being exercised on a fallen planet. And yet it’s in our nature as mortal, frail, fallen people to lash out at one who is not, that being God."
Joseph was a strikingly handsome man. As time went on, his master’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, “Sleep with me.” 8-9 He wouldn’t do it. He said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master doesn’t give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he’s put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you. You’re his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?” 10 She pestered him day after day after day, but he stood his ground. He refused to go to bed with her.
R.A.Torrey once wrote, The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”
Remember this nugget. “One of the most regrettable and greatest pains, is the pain of what could have been, but never was.”
Listen again to Proverbs 29:19TM this week. 19. If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
Do you know what God’s doing in you? Not a trick question. Do you?
Ephesians 3:14-19NLT When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Several things I want you to learn this morning about Joseph and yourself.
#1. Like Joseph, You must refuse to allow wounds of the past to sabotage the promise of the future.
Suicide comes from the Latin words SUI, meaning “Of oneself,” and cide, meaning “death.” Combined, the word suicide means to kill oneself intentionally. Dream suicide is very similar to suicide; however, the dreamer still lives while the dream is dead. Great ministry, great potential, great influence, great relationships, great opportunities are lost forever!
Remember this, “Never commit dream suicide by giving your wounds the power to make you quit.” P.H.
Before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, He found Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:38-39NLT He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Place your dream in Jesus’ hand.
#2. Joseph had a slave reality, but never had a slave mentality.
Joseph had suffered the hatred from his brothers and faced the ditch of despair and the road of rejection.
However, Joseph was a dreamer; His mentality raised him above his reality. (He knew His God reigns!)
1 Peter 2:9-10NKJ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
In the middle of your test don’t forget who you are and whose you are! “The moment you forget who you are is the day you will commit dream suicide.”
Testimony: The hardest funeral to official is suicide. It kills the families, friends and dreams!
#3. Remember, nothing changes your reality as will victorious thinking.
Paul said, Philippians 4:8NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
#4. As you stay faithful, God’s blessings on you will ooze upon others.
Jesus said in Luke 6:38NLT Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
#5. Don’t derail your dream!
I Corinthians 10:13NLT The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Satan derailed Adam and Eve’s dream, and he knows how to derail yours. Don’t allow it.
James 4:8NLT Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
What kept Joseph? His commitment to God. What will keep you? Your commitment to God.
Benediction.
