This is the fourth message in my series on Creating New Strongholds. We are continuing our look at ways of thinking the Apostle Paul describes as “strongholds” in 2 Corinthians 10:4. However, instead of examining strongholds from the viewpoint of tearing them down, like the previous three teachings, we're going to look at strongholds Christians need to affirm, confirm and walk out in their daily lives.
When we make the decision to change what we think and what we believe to agree with God’s Word and then make that our daily confession, we will create strongholds in our minds that will impose truth on areas of untruth.
What I have just described is a deliberate process. It's something we must do on purpose. It goes hand in hand with what we read in Ephesians and Colossians about putting on the new man. It also dovetails nicely with the instruction we receive in Romans 12:2 about renewing our minds.
If I were to give this message a subtitle, it would be "If I commit sin, I am committing sin against God." And for those of you who know this record, you should have just had an "Ah ha" moment :-)
We’re going to identify Godly strongholds in the life of Joseph, the son of Abraham who was sold into slavery by his brothers. The value Joseph placed on his relationship with God formed the foundation for how he responded to both Potiphar and to his wife. Let’s look at the definition of Godly strongholds once again.
"Godly strongholds are ways of thinking about God, based on His Word, that have been so engrained in our minds and belief systems that we know and confess that they are true."
Now, let's look at the record about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39.
(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
(2) And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
As I thought about the definition of strongholds, the first part of verse 2 leaped off of the page. It says “And the Lord was with Joseph.” Immediately my mind went to Amos 3:3, which says “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Scripture doesn’t say much about Joseph’s upbringing other than the two prophetic dreams the Lord gave him when he was 17 years old. But you have to know that his reverence for God was at the heart of the things he did.
The first godly stronghold that we see in Joseph's life: "A heart that beats with the Lord’s heart produces godly strongholds."
The interesting thing about the first part of this verse, "And the Lord was with Joseph," is that it’s repeated in verses 3, 21 and 23. Could the Lord have been with Joseph if Joseph did not want to be with the Lord? Let me bring it home. Can the Lord be with us if we don’t want to be with Him? Of course not.
A heart that beats with the Lord’s heart will produce godly strongholds. And most of the time, you’ll see the person’s heart long before you see the strongholds.
(3) And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
The word “saw” in this verse means “to inspect.” Potiphar observed Joseph, I’m sure, to the point of “having him under a microscope” so that he could determine his trustworthiness. Now let me ask you a question. Do you believe that when it comes to serving God, that He will not also “inspect” the motivations of a person’s heart?
Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to more and more of the kingdom of God at your disposal, trust me when I say this, your inspection is coming. And it's not a one-time thing. The motivations of your heart will always be under "God's microscope."
(4) And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Before moving on, I want to point something out that’s critical. Joseph found grace, or favor, in Potiphar’s sight after he passed the inspection. And when he did pass Potiphar's inspection, Joseph was “given the keys” to his master’s house. Today, we would say Joseph was promoted.
I hope you are seeing here the type and shadow of "promotion" in the kingdom of God. Now think about that for a moment. Do you not think God deals with us in a similar fashion? Do you not think we have to prove ourselves – pass an “inspection” – before He will “put all that He has into our hands?
The answer is “Yes” and Jesus shows us this in Matthew 25:14-30, when He compares the kingdom of heaven to the man who gives talents to his servants before leaving for a far country. Three servants were given an opportunity to prove themselves by what they did with the talents. You know the record. Two were praised for increasing their talents and given greater responsibility, while the third was not and the talent he was given was taken from him.
(5) And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
(6) And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and wellfavoured.
Ladies and gentlemen, your character is always on display.
When you read these verses, you see Joseph’s character. Character, ladies and gentlemen, is not something you can put on when you need it. Your character is who you are when you think no one is watching! It’s the set of qualities that makes a person distinctive – that makes a person easily remembered.
Potiphar had watched Joseph, and I’m sure he had others watching him also. They saw a man with impeccable character, serving his master humbly and without complaint. For this, Potiphar gave Joseph complete authority over all that he owned. Potiphar gave Joseph the “keys to his kingdom.” Are you following me?
There is something we must understand when we read this record. Joseph was submitted to God long before he was abused by his brothers, sold to the Ishmeelites, and then sold to Potiphar. Do you honestly believe God would give two “history-defining” dreams to a rebellious 17 year old? Hardly. And He's not going to give life altering revelation either if our motives are not right and if our hearts don't beat with His heart. It's not going to happen.
The Lord knew Joseph’s heart. He saw something in him that He could use and, more importantly, that He would be allowed to use. The Lord looks for obedience and a willing heart in His stewards. When He sees that, God knows that in us, he knows that we're pursuing His will and not our own. Submission to God is what Potiphar saw in Joseph. Submission to God is what people will see in us.
The second godly stronghold that we see in Joseph's life: "Submission to God and His Word produces godly strongholds."
(7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
(8) But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not (doesn’t know) what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
We know the record. Potiphar’s wife pursues Joseph and tempts him to commit adultery with her. The Bible says Joseph was “goodly” and “wellfavoured.” Allow me to translate: he was handsome and well built. Potiphar’s wife liked what she saw, but Joseph was not interested in her advances. In fact, he flat out rejected them. Ladies and gentlemen, Joseph had a sin nature and the only reason he didn’t give in to the lust of the flesh – the sheer power of his will not too!
That kind of puts a damper on what we often hear in the Body of Christ doesn't it? So many believe they are still sinners and therefore they are going to sin. I believe Joseph just proved them wrong!
The third stronghold we see in Joseph's life: "Saying 'no' to temptations is a godly strongholds that indicates
submission to God and His Word.
(9) There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
(10) And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that He hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Now there’s a couple of things we should pay attention to in these verses. Joseph knew that as overseer, (steward) over Potiphar’s house he was in charge. He knew that no other servant could not overrule any of his decisions. That's the first thing. And let me repeat that in a different way: all the servants were under his authority.
Let's bring this home for us, God's sons and daughters. In our Father’s creation, in this world, we have dominion and authority. Everything of the enemy’s is under our authority. Everything of the enemy’s is a “servant” to us! There is nothing he can do to stop us from doing our Father’s will when we exercise our authority on behalf of the kingdom. Nothing!
Joseph’s nature prevented him from fellow-shipping with God on a spiritual level. We are not like him. First John 1:3 says “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Joseph was not born again, and yet, he made a purposeful and willful decision not to sin and we understand why when see the stronghold in his life in verse 9. “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the only sin that matters.
You see, sinning against Potiphar wasn’t Joseph’s concern. Sinning by being intimate with Potiphar’s wife wasn’t Joseph’s concern either. Knowing that he would be in “great wickedness” and “sin against God” was Joseph’s only concern. I hope you see this.
The fourth stronghold we see engrained in Joseph’s mind and belief system: “I love my true Master too much to purposefully sin against Him.”
As I thought about this record, the Lord reminded me of something He had given to me regarding this passage.
“Deliberate disobedience truly is ‘great wickedness.’ The magnitude of disobedience in the realm of the spirit is huge. When you disobey Me, things in the realm of the spirit come to a complete stop. Whatever is working toward fulfilling My will in your life comes to a grinding stop. And when things stop moving, Satan is waiting to move in and take advantage of you.”
Ladies and gentlemen, now that we have God’s life and nature – now that we have our Father’s sinless nature – there will never be a time when we are disobedient and not know it. Never. Never again allow disobedience to describe any moment of your walk with your Heavenly Father.
Let's close with this New stronghold declaration: “The power of my new born again nature gives me the ability to never ever disobey the word and will of my Father. And because of this, I will always choose to follow and obey the leading of my new nature. No one, and no situation, will be able to move me from living this way. God’s life in me is more powerful than any temptation to disobey Him! I will not commit such wickedness against my Father!”
Praise God! Amen!
