Yesterday, I shared with you about Samson. But today, there are many that have fallen like Samson because they relied on their strength in the natural rather than to be led by the Spirit, and exercising the Fruit of the Spirit-Self-Control.
Here is just a small list:
- Jason Kidd basketball star admitted to beating his wife.
- Shawn Kemp has 7 children by 5 different women.
- Warren Moon football great admitted to beating his wife, later divorced.
- Ray Lewis all star linebacker involved in triple homicide.
- Charles Barkley throws a man out of a bar room window.
- Randy Moss, drove his car at a police officer dragging her a hundred feet.
Today, as in the days gone by the battle is real and extremely costly. It is not enough to start out well, we must finish well.
Here is just a small list:
- Jason Kidd basketball star admitted to beating his wife.
- Shawn Kemp has 7 children by 5 different women.
- Warren Moon football great admitted to beating his wife, later divorced.
- Ray Lewis all star linebacker involved in triple homicide.
- Charles Barkley throws a man out of a bar room window.
- Randy Moss, drove his car at a police officer dragging her a hundred feet.
Today, as in the days gone by the battle is real and extremely costly. It is not enough to start out well, we must finish well.
However, we can also find those that finish well. They deny the flesh because they love God. Let's look at Joseph.
Joseph who has something different, self-control. The son of Jacob, the father of the Israelite nation, he lived long before Sampson. He was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers.
Once there, things turned out okay for Joseph, because God blessed him. His master, Potiphar, noticed that everything Joseph was in charge of prospered under his diligent care. So, Potiphar put him in charge of everything, and turning the administration of his entire household over to Joseph. All Potiphar had to worry about was eating three meals a day, Joseph did everything else.
Now, Joseph is noted in the Bible as a strikingly handsome man. Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph. She became infatuated with him. So, she found a moment when they could be alone and she says, "come to bed with me!"
She just bypasses the coy approach and goes for direct approach. The Bible summarized Joseph’s response in three words---"But he refused."
That’s it. He said, "No." He has this woman throw herself at him and he said,
"No, I won’t do it. I won’t sin against God, and I won’t violate my master’s trust."
Eventually the seduction increased in intensity, she physically grabbed him and he fled.
Now, compare this response to Sampson’s and ask yourself about the difference character makes. Sampson’s body was so in control of his spirit that he went looking for sexual trouble. Sexual trouble comes knocking uninvited at Joseph’s door, and yet he resists. God blesses him for it, though in the short term, it hurts him and lnds him in jail.
Joseph is a man of self control in the little things, he controlled his anger at being sold into slavery, he disciplined his life into a controlled regimen so he could be perfectly trusted, and when the real test comes, you know he’s going to pass because he’s brought his passions under control in the little things.
With Sampson, you know he’s going to fail the test because his given is passions free reign in the little things. He meets a prostitute, you know he’s going to sleep with her. He meets a treacherous woman, you know he’s going to spill the beans.
And at the end of the day, Sampson has some short term pleasures and some long term pain. He died with his eye’s gouged out in disgrace. Joseph became 2nd in command of all of Egypt.
Joseph who has something different, self-control. The son of Jacob, the father of the Israelite nation, he lived long before Sampson. He was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers.
Once there, things turned out okay for Joseph, because God blessed him. His master, Potiphar, noticed that everything Joseph was in charge of prospered under his diligent care. So, Potiphar put him in charge of everything, and turning the administration of his entire household over to Joseph. All Potiphar had to worry about was eating three meals a day, Joseph did everything else.
Now, Joseph is noted in the Bible as a strikingly handsome man. Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph. She became infatuated with him. So, she found a moment when they could be alone and she says, "come to bed with me!"
She just bypasses the coy approach and goes for direct approach. The Bible summarized Joseph’s response in three words---"But he refused."
That’s it. He said, "No." He has this woman throw herself at him and he said,
"No, I won’t do it. I won’t sin against God, and I won’t violate my master’s trust."
Eventually the seduction increased in intensity, she physically grabbed him and he fled.
Now, compare this response to Sampson’s and ask yourself about the difference character makes. Sampson’s body was so in control of his spirit that he went looking for sexual trouble. Sexual trouble comes knocking uninvited at Joseph’s door, and yet he resists. God blesses him for it, though in the short term, it hurts him and lnds him in jail.
Joseph is a man of self control in the little things, he controlled his anger at being sold into slavery, he disciplined his life into a controlled regimen so he could be perfectly trusted, and when the real test comes, you know he’s going to pass because he’s brought his passions under control in the little things.
With Sampson, you know he’s going to fail the test because his given is passions free reign in the little things. He meets a prostitute, you know he’s going to sleep with her. He meets a treacherous woman, you know he’s going to spill the beans.
And at the end of the day, Sampson has some short term pleasures and some long term pain. He died with his eye’s gouged out in disgrace. Joseph became 2nd in command of all of Egypt.
ACTION STEP: Finish well. Regardless, of what satan tempts you with, there is a way of escape in Christ Jesus and the Fruit of the Spirit. Practice self-denial in the little things. Build the strength of character through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our brothers and sisters may need us in the future. Will we be in position to help? We will if we obey God fully.
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