What's your price?

Intro: “Let’s make a deal.”
Illustrate here: Challenge students to do different things even crazy things for a dollar as an opener to the sermon. 

In life—the enemy will continuously try to find out your price.

• What do I mean when I say “Price?”
• The point at which you exchange (or sell out) your destiny for a lesser, more convenient calling or lifestyle.

Bible says: “Count the cost!”

Example of the wedding ring: There’s something more important than monetary value…it’s the purpose
and meaning!!

Genesis 39:2-12 “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused, “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”


4 requirements in Resisting Temptation to sell out in your life’s journey.

1. As a Christian living life’s journey:
You must not be weakened by your situation!

• Joseph had it made!
• Economically, he was secure.
• Vocationally, he was trusted and respected.
• Personally, he was handsome and charming.
• He could have said to himself…”Do I really want to ‘Rock the Boat’ and risk losing all this?”
• You may be popular, influential and everybody’s friend—but one thing I've found out:

“If everyone likes you and you have no enemies –You probably aren't taking a stand for much of anything!”

Even Jesus has enemies!

Problem with most Christians: They never want to “Rock the boat” with their lifestyles or cause any problems in their life’s journey because they love their compromised existence too much.

Joseph said to himself… “I love my life, but my price is much higher!”

2. As a Christian living life’s journey:

• You must not be deceived by the persuasion!
• Your Tempter, temptress or the voice in your mind will say all the right things!
• “Just this once, never, never again.” (Pregnant example-drug example-drinking example-sex example-fight example)
• “All my friends get away with it.”
• “It doesn't really affect me.”
• “I’m so terribly lonely-God understands. That’s why he brought you in to my life.”
• “What’s grace all about if it won’t cover something as meaningless as this.”
• “Look, we’re gonna get married soon, why wait. What does it matter?”
• “Who will ever find out?”
• “I will still be happy.”
• “I will still go to Heaven.”
• “I can still be successful and not pay the price of purity.” 
• WRONG!

The enemy will bait you things, people, or situations that feel very right!

Don’t be deceived by the persuasion, no matter how beautiful and appealing the offer or the words may sound.

Remember that it is all a lie!

• If you believe that somehow temptations, once resisted, will vanish. YOU are deceived!
• Day after day Joseph was tempted!!

The enemy wants influential people to fail he desires our complete annihilation!

• Realize; there is no sin in the bait, the sin is in the bite!
• Sources of bait: TV, Internet, opposite sex, same sex, friends, career, sports, magazines, and coworkers.

3. As a Christian living life’s journey:

• You must not be gentle with your emotions!
• Your inner feelings will plead to take the road of least resistance and self-satisfaction!
• Your emotions are where rationalization resides.

American Heritage Dictionary- “Rationalize” – to devise reasonable, but untrue explanations. To justify one’s weakness or failures.

It is the process of telling yourself “its okay” so many times, that you actually condone or believe a lie!

• What did Joseph do? He ran!!!
• He didn’t linger in her presence!
• He didn’t take time to pray for a sign!!
• HE RAN!!

4. Finally, as a Christian living life’s journey:
You must not be confused with the immediate results!

Genesis 39:16-21 “She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the King’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him.”

Remember: Joseph obeyed God and was thrown into prison!

• “God may not pay on Friday, but He always pays on time.
• Realize; things may not all “line up” immediately after you obey, but in time, the payoff will come.

I Peter 2:20 “Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”


AT WHAT PRICE will you sell out?

• The enemy never offers things that won’t destroy you! 
• He will always lead you down a path of addiction.
• He will leave you in the height of your life.
• He will desert you just when you need him.
• His addictions will never run out.
• He always offers things and promises things but always delivers death.
• His promises and all his earthly things will only last a season.
• The enemy doesn’t care about your future, your family, or your agenda he just cares about your complete annihilation.
• He’s selling and you are bartering with him.
• The only thing he accepts is your surrender and your soul.

You can’t win against him alone.

You have to realize that the battle is not yours but it is the Lord’s and He always wins!


Join us next week for our series final: