The Pitfall: Awake, Aware, Avoid

The life of Joseph changed better when Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites. His commitment to live in holiness had brought the presence of God became so intense in his life. The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man! But not long after that we learn how Potiphar’s wife set a trap to destroy the future of Joseph. Joseph kept himself awake so that he aware with that pitfall. The same pitfall also occurs in everyone’s life. Believers must be awake, being aware, and avoid it. Fornication and adultery are very dangerous sins, they will destroy so much things in someone’s life. Sexual abuse had become a very important concern all around the world because its massive impact towards its victims. The devils will always try pushing believers to fall into this deep sin. Christians and churches must be awake and aware, so we can avoid it. It is much better to prevent it rather than cure it.

AWAKE

⁵ So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. Genesis 39:5-6 NKJV

It was happened that Joseph was very successful in everything that he did. The secret is because the Lord was with him so that He made all he did to prosper in his hand. Joseph was a very responsible man so that his master trusted him in everything, he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. And the Bible also told us how Joseph was the handsome one, a goodly person and well favoured. These all were the blessing of God for those who want to live a godly life. The blessing of God will uplift our life high, but we must keep awake and never let ourselves getting slept in the abundance blessing of God. It is very easy for someone to ignore the hazard when he feels everything safe and quiet. Apostle Paul wrote: Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall 1Cor.10:12. The blessing can easily bring someone to feel safe, getting settled in the comfort zone, and then being sleepy while the devil never sleeps! Our adversary, the devil, always walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 1Pet.5:8. Our spirit must be always awake, looking high into our highest calling, we must reach forward to those things are ahead, press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus Phil.3:8. Whenever we put the kingdom of God first in our life, we will get the bonus added for us Mat.6:33. And we need to keep our eyes awake to keep watching the kingdom of God and not bother our life only with all extras that we get.

King David is a good example how blessings and comfort zone were able to create a destructive condition leading to the pitfall. It was in the spring of the year when normally the kings should go out to battle, to expand their territory, to overcome the enemies, to gain the victory. But what happen with King David was the opposite. Instead of going out for battle David chose to stay at the palace because he already had Joab and lots of very good servants. David already had a very big success in that year. Instead of setting his eyes unto the ultimate calling as a king, David chose to enjoy the spring of the year 2Sam.11:1.

The sin of adultery will easily happen in those who are not able to see the highest calling of God in his life. Joseph was able to see his ultimate calling, so that he was able to say: How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God Gen.37:9? Joseph kept himself awake and he was able to see that adultery is a great wickedness and it is a sin against god. Sin is a sin no matter how people would put another label on it. There is no small sin or big sin, there is no excusable sin. Sin is a sin! The definition of sin is declared from the Bible and will never be conformed to the culture in any country in this world. We must be able to see pornography, fornication, and adultery as a sin for all believers, not only for the younger but for everyone! Jesus warned us about the adultery in heart. Jesus said whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart Mat.5:28. God always look deep down into our heart. Fornication and adulteries are already sins from its conception inside the heart Mat.15:19. We must keep our eyes open wide, so we do not be like an ox who goes to slaughter Pr.7:22. The sins of adultery will cost someone’s life. Proverbs told us how adultery had cast down many wounded, even the strong men Pr.7:24-27. If believers able to always see adultery and fornication as a sin, then we will be able to keep awake at all the time. Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin Jn.16:8! It is very important for us to always walk in the Holy Spirit so that we able to keep awake all the time. Holy Spirit will open our eyes so wide that we can always see sin as a sin!

AWARE

Aware means having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact; concerned and well informed about a particular situation or development. Believers must be wise and be aware of any circumstances that can lead to this sin. Joseph always meet Potiphar’s wife in daily basis because he must work in Potiphar’s wife. Our workplace could be a pitfall if we fail to aware! Working relationship could easily changes into dangerous relationship if we are not careful enough. We must walk in holiness and integrity wherever we go, even when our spouse is not with us. We must be honest and upright toward our family and not hide anything from them. We need to be wise as well if we must work as a team or maybe when we need to go for business trip. Normally we will spend more hours, even the prime time of our days in our workplace, rather than spend it with the family! We should keep a good communication with our spouse and our family, maybe during lunch time or whenever we get a break so that people may know that we have a good and strong relationship with our family.

The hazard become more dangerous for Joseph when Potiphar’s wife made an arrangement so that none of the men of the house was inside Gen.39:11! The absence of social control is another pitfall that could lead to the sin. Amnon, David’s son, also set a trap for Tamar by sending everyone in the house out from them 2Sam.13:9. Social control, specially the body of Christ, is an important yet effective tool to help keep our feet in the right track. We must be aware if we need to be in a place where social control is lack. Our parents, our spouse, our family, they are good social control to help us. Within marriage, apostle Paul warned husband and wife how important not to stay away from each other. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control 1Cor.7:5.

Another hazard that we must aware is about what we see. Jesus said: If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell Mat.5:29. In this modern days we are flooded with so many things to watch. People may gain access to sins without any limit anymore. Gadget could be a pitfall so that someone may come short from his heavenly calling. We must aware with this pitfall that we always have in our pocket. If our right eye causes to sin, it is better to pluck it out and cast it from you. If our smart gadget causes to sin, it is better to change it to conventional way. If our unlimited internet, our TV, our entertainment cause to sin, it is better to pluck it out!

AVOID

¹¹ But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, ¹² that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside. Genesis 39:11-12 NKJV

The best strategy to overcome this pitfall is RUN AWAY! Proverbs said: A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished Pr.22:3. We must not give place to the devil, not even a tiny place Eph.4:27. We must do our best to avoid all potential hazards that can lead us to sin. We are called to be holy. The blood of Jesus was shed for us so that we can live in holiness. We were washed, we were sanctified, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. We must be wise not to allow all things comes inside our life. Paul said that all things are lawful for him but not all things helpful. All things are lawful for him, but he will not be brought under the power of any 1Cor.6:11-12!

The pitfall of sexual sins will definitely destroy lots of things. This is a great wickedness, very sticky, very complicated, the destructions are so massive. Those who is joined to a harlot is one body with her 1Cor.6:16. Adultery is not an unforgiven sin, but the impact is just too big and will waste lots of time, lots of energy, lots of feeling. The best way to be save from this pitfall is just run away from it. The falling of David with Bathsheba just brought a very massive destruction for David, his family, also his kingdom! Then David acknowledged his sins and repented seriously with all of his heart so that God forgiven him, but it is far better to avoid it rather than spend lots of times fixing all the damages.

This world may call it as foolishness when we try to avoid sins. The message of the cross, the message of holiness, is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the POWER of God 1Cor.1:18! Do not feel sorry when this world call us a fool for the sake of Jesus because we believe that is what we should do as the sons of God.

CONCLUSION & CHALLENGE

What it’s all about?

The devil keeps using the same pitfall from the beginning of this world until now. Believers must be wise and careful, learn to understand the common yet very dangerous pitfall that can occurs in everyone’s life. We must AWAKE, AWARE, and AVOID it! Holy Spirit will help us so that we can always keep awake and see sin as sin, no matter how this world will try to put another label on it. Holy Spirit will remind us about the power of the Words so that we can aware with any hazard that will potentially lead to sin. And Holy Spirit will encourage and strengthen us to avoid all of it even though this world may call it foolishness. While this world will be getting used to sins more and more, specially in this end times, we must choose to be holy and keep walking in holiness.

Insights and impressions:

Revelation chapter 17 told us a prophecy about a scarlet beast with the scarlet woman who is the great harlot and how the kings of the earth committed fornication with her also the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. While this is about the prophecy of great sins in the last days, it also tells us about the massive wave of fornications and harlotry at the end times. Believers must be very careful not to fall in this deep pitfall. The Bible told us everything not to scare us but to warn us and teach us! The woman and the beast then will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful Rev.17:14!

Next steps:

Let’s open our eyes and be brave to declare sin as sins. The wave of sins will be getting bigger and we definitely need the power of the Holy Spirit to protect us, guide us, even bring us flying high! Let’s have a better quiet time with God, worship Him more, as we ask for His divine protection. With our physical eyes we may fail to recognise the pitfall, but the eyes of God will never fail. He is able to protect us and hold our hands walking in His divine and glorious plan for us. AMEN.

Comments are closed.