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10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES:
1.   To show that God cares for His children.
2.   To stress the importance of living a holy life before God and man.
3.   To Illustrate the ways in which Joseph is a figure of the Lord Jesus in his sufferings.
4.   To mention how easily human promises are forgotten, but divine promises are always fulfilled.
5.   To teach that God frees the sinner from future eternal condemnation and gives the ability to resist temptations in the present.

SCENE No. 1. PLACE : Potiphar’s house.
DEVELOPMENT of the Lesson: - Because of his correct behavior and sense of responsibility,   Joseph is given a position of trust by Potiphar.
- No responsibility was given to anyone else. “All that he had … put he into his hand”.
Apl. Good behaviour based on faithfulness is rewarded in the end.
Lsn. God was with Joseph because Joseph was with God.  Therefore, “the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand”.
- Potiphar was an officer of Pharoah, Captain of the Guard.  This would be equivalent to being the head of the police force.
- What came about afterwards was due to the sin of others, not any evil in Joseph.
Apl. The attitudes of people opposed to the Lord Jesus were not due to any evil in HIM but rather for the sin that was found in them.
- The fear of God was always present in Joseph’s heart.
- Joseph´s actions always showed reverence and  fear of God in his service.
Apl. We should always have respectful attitudes towards those who are over us in our work or in our studies.
Lsn. Service carried out conscientiously will be recompensed in Heaven.
Cns. Joseph’s master looked at Joseph’s behavior while God looked at Joseph’s heart.
- Although Joseph had been sold and used as a slave, he never stopped trusting that God’s promises, revealed in his dreams, would be fulfilled.
- At this point, Joseph did not realize that he had to be tested in order to reach the position God had spoken about in his dream.

Apl. Christ learned obedience through the things that He suffered.  See Heb. 5:8 with reference to the Lord Jesus.
- Joseph was persecuted because he was faithful.  He suffered on account of lies and deception practised by others.
Cns. Joseph was not able to free himself;  he did not have the power to do so.
Lsn. The Lord Jesus did not want to free Himself, even though He could have done so.   Rather, he willingly submitted Himself to the will of the Father.

SCENE No. 2. PLACE:   An elegant room in Potiphar’s house.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson: - Potiphar’s wife asks Joseph to do something which is contrary to the holiness of God and human laws touching the sanctity of marriage.
Prc. Although the sin would have been committed against Potiphar on the human level, any sin committed is a transgression of the divine law.
- The woman tried to take advantage of the total confidence Potiphar had in Joseph to tempt him to sin and ruin the level of regard in which he was held.
Sug. With older students, it is advisable to explain the sinfulness of adultery and fornication.  With the younger student, reference can be made to something bad which the woman wanted Joseph to do.
- Joseph showed courage and confidence in God in order to say NO to sin.
Lsn. To flee from sin is not being a coward.
- Joseph’s refusal of Potiphar’s wife shows he had knowledge of the character of God.
Cns. A person  thwarted in his attempt to trap another often retaliates by despising the other person who resists or ruining his reputation.
- Finding herself frustrated in her wicked intentions. Potiphar’s  wife takes   vengeance on  Joseph by using  a lie.
- Potiphar’s wife was able to have Joseph removed from his place of confidence, and from her home.
Cns. Joseph’s removal from his position of trust did not mean he had been permanently vanquished.
- Joseph’s conduct shines against the dark background created by a wicked woman.
Apl. The conduct of the Lord Jesus throughout all He endured at His crucifixion shines brilliantly against the dark background of an unjust judge, envious religious leaders, and the deceived crowd.
Lsn. Joseph paid a price on account of the wickedness of another.

Cns. Many times in life, people who have acted correctly, suffer on account of misbehaviour on the part of others.
Cns. Students with a sense of justice may have difficulty in understanding why wrongs go unpunished.  They should be made to see that righteousness is usually recognized in the long term and not in the short.
Ex.  Honest students who see others cheat on an exam and perhaps obtain a better mark can be encouraged that a good conscience is to be prized above a good mark.
- Joseph suffered first of all on account of his envious brothers.  Now he suffers on account of deceitful woman.
Lsn. Resisting temptation can be costly.  Maintaining a level of holiness is costly.   Yielding to temptation brings about a bad conscience and eternal loss.
Cmt. The false report of Joseph’s cloak in his wife’s possession is enough to convince Potiphar that Joseph is guilty, despite his long record of faithfulness.
Apl. Potiphar is seen as an unjust judge of character, as were many at the time of the Lord Jesus’ crucifixion.
Sug. It is helpful to interact with students on how they would have felt had they been in Joseph’s place.  Lead the conversation into considering the behaviour of the Lord Jesus who opened not his mouth when false accusations were launched against him.

SCENE No. 3.  In the jail.
DEVELOPMENT:  - Joseph's character is quickly seen in his new setting in the jail.
- Joseph's behaviour is different from others. He is seen as one who knows Jehovah God.
Cns. Ask the students if they know Christians at school whose behaviour makes them different from others.
- Joseph served God because he loved him.
- Despite being young, approximately 19 years of age, Joseph impressed the other prisoners to the point where they felt free to tell him their dreams.
- With the wisdom given him by God, Joseph interprets accurately the dreams he is told.   He realizes that God gave spiritual help to accomplish this.
Cns. One of the aims of the teachers is to manifest spiritual maturity so that the students will feel free to speak with them about problems in their lives.
Cmt. Giving helpful advice based on Biblical principles will go a long way to influence the students positively.
- Proof that God was with Joseph is seen in the fulfillment of his predictions when he interpreted the dreams.
- Having suffered unjustly, Joseph's request to the cupbearer to remember him when released is understandable.
- Joseph's request indicates his confidence in the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Cns. Perhaps Joseph thought the by gaining his freedom, he could return to his father's house.
- Joseph did not know that during the two years that went by before the cupbearer remembered him, God was working in the preparation of conditions which would bring about his elevation to prominence.
Cns. In what other way might Joseph have had access to the palace of Pharoah except through the cupbearer who waited on the king's table?
- The baker wouldn't have close contact with Pharoah, since his activities would be in the kitchen.
- The cupbearer was required to taste the wine given to the Pharoah to avoid possible poisoning
Lsn. The cup bearer's memory lapse might be seen as a lack of gratitude, but God eventually brought Joseph to mind at the right moment.
Apl. Although we can understand from the historical perspective why there was a delay, the point is made in Scripture that the cupbearer did forget and this point can be used to encourage students to fulfill promises made.

SCENE No. 4.  Summarize the lesson.
DEVELOPMENT: - Show that God does indeed care for his own.
The will of God is not only to take the sinner to Heaven, but also to care for him day by day. The Lord not only saves the sinner from eternal condemnation, but also gives power to free him from yielding to temptation in time.

Cns. Through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross, we possess life eternal. Along with this life comes protection and the power to overcome temptation.
Cmt. The Bible is the source of strength to know God and live victoriously in fellowship with Him. Joseph was an excellent example of fidelity and holiness to those who knew him. The Lord Jesus Christ is our example today.