Thoughts on the "cougar" the "stud" and prayer

 Thank you so much for the comments and response to the whole service yesterday. Sharing communion together was powerful.

Yesterday's message on Joseph was an unusual one. It is not often that one hears a message on handling false accusations.  Yet from your comments I was reminded that it is a very appropriate topic.   I was touched too by the many stories of people who felt that their reputations and relationships were broken because of what people had falsely said about them.

The Bible references Satan as a roaring lion.  Yesterday we looked at how the "Cougar", Mrs Potiphar, tempted the "stud" Joseph.  In many ways this is how Satan tempts us. 

There is the full on attack where suddenly a temptation occurs that may catch us off guard. That didn't work in Joseph's life.  From Joseph's life we were reminded to continually practice the presence of God.

Then there is the slow, continual beckoning towards sin.  Every day she would come and tempt him. Satan sometimes does that. There is the continual wearing down of our selves. The enemy wants us to think we are unique, special and no one is like us.  That didn't work in Joseph's life. Joseph avoided temptation as much as he could.

Then there is the false accusation. When Joseph wouldn't give in to temptation, then he was falsely accused. The Bible speaks of Satan as an accuser.  When he can't get us to sin, he falsely accuses us. We are no good, we will never amount to anything. God could never love us.

I encourage you this week to be on guard...not against the cougar...but against the roaring lion.

I also wanted to mention that on May 8, we are having a day of Prayer. Calvary is joining with other churches for a season of prayer for our county.  You can sign up online to pray for a few minutes of that day.  There is a prayer gathering at Calvary on the Saturday morning from 9:10:30.  There are prayer journals you can pick up.  Join us as we pray together.

Not by Might...Not by power...but by my Spirit says the Lord.

Comments

[Kathleen]

Dear Pastor Terry,
thank you for this series. I have read this story in the Bible but you gave me so much more to understand and I can put it right into my life. You gave such a clear explanation to 'temptation'. We all need to be wise knowing this because we are tempted on a daily basis.

[Terry Sanderson]

Thanks Kathleen! I'm so glad it was helpful and practical. I think we can all identify with Joseph.