Centennial Park Baptist Church – Sunday, May 18th, 2008 – 10:30 am

 

JOE THE JAILBIRD

 

I           CAUSE

 

            What do we know about Joseph’s prison experience?

 

1. Unjust – Genesis 39: 16-20 

                                               

2. Long – Anywhere from 9 – 11 years

                                   

3. Initially painful – Genesis 40:15 calls it a dungeon      

    Psalm 105:18 – they bruised his feet with shackles

    He himself was laid in irons

    God was right there – Genesis 39: 21

    Given some responsibility – Genesis 39: 22

 

4. Lengthened by the forgetfulness of the cupbearer      

 

4 things which could have bred resentment / anger / bitterness

 

We’re not in prison, but here are the things in our lives that can cause resentment / anger / bitterness:

 

1. UNDESERVED treatment from family, friends, church family, colleagues

 

2. UNEXPECTED restriction of circumstances

 

3. UNTRUE accusations

 

4. UNFAIR abandonment

 

 

II          CAUTION

 

            Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no    root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled

 

III        CURE / CONTROL

 

            a. Cut  [ out ] the CANCER

 

            Ephesians 4:31 - Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and     slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

 

-         Nurtured anger is no way to live

-         If only it was easy to take this advice!

-         It involves 2 first steps:   DECISION

 

                                               DEPENDANCE ON GOD

 

b. Cut [ off ] the story of your anger

 

- Ephesians 4:29 - Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

 

- Rehearsed anger is no way to live

 

IV        [Cultivate] grace

 

            Sometimes we wish we could rewind the film of life, but time is irreversible.        BUT -  the Bible offers a better alternative to reversal:  REPLACEMENT

 

How do you replace resentment / anger / bitterness and cultivate grace?

 

            READ God’s Word

 

            – Romans 12:20 - "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND     IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU             WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

           

            REMEMBER what God could have done

 

            – Romans 4:8 - Blessed is the person whose sin the Lord will never count             against them.

 

            RELY on God to help you put into practice

            Ephesians 4:32

 

            32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God      in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

NOTES:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________