I Would’ve Slept with Potiphar’s Wife

By Sean

I rolled out my script of questions. Prepared to ask each and every one to the guy in blue jeans and plain white shirt. I cleared my throat and was about to speak the first words when he said it.

“I would’ve slept with Potiphar’s wife.” He turned his head towards me looking at me straight in the eyes.

“I would’ve done it, you know?”

I smiled. “Why didn’t you?”

He gave a short laugh “It’s complicated.” He turned his gaze down the floor.

I’m sure it is. That’s exactly what the apostle Paul was feeling when he wrote Romans 7:15 which says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

“We have time,” I rolled back my script. This might be more interesting than my set of questions.

“She was beautiful.” He smiled. He looked at me again. He moves his head a lot. “She was there everyday Sean. Always walking about the house.”

He shifted his weight in his chair and leaned forward as if to whisper something. “She wore this scent that I really like. It smelled good.”

This is getting interesting. I leaned forward so as not to miss a word.

He leaned back and shook his head quickly as if awakening from a trance. “But you know, the story didn’t start there. It started when I was sold as a slave by my own brothers. It was horrible.”

A short frown highlighted the edge of his lips. “Y’know that feeling when you suddenly feel weak to the knees? It only comes when the thing you most fear has come true in your life.” He put a hand to his chin, “That’s how I felt.”

There was a short pause of silence as those words left his mouth. I was starting to think about what I was going to say to break it. When he spoke.

“I was a kid. Sold as a slave for twenty pieces of silver. The Midianites took me to Egypt.” He reached out for his glass of water and sipped a mouthful. He pointed his finger up as he was swallowing the water and putting the glass down. “All the while, there’s this one thought in my mind.”

I’m sure my eyebrows furrowed as I asked “What is it?”

“It’s the question that all people ask when things go terribly wrong.” He smiled. “Why, God?”

I’ve asked that question. Yes. More than once – and things weren’t nearly as wrong for me when I did. I’ve asked that question when I’ve failed in my subjects. When I got so hooked into computer games and felt empty each time I finished one. I’ve asked that question when conflicts with my loved ones arise and I feel wronged.

I nodded. “And what did God tell you?”

Joseph looked at me straight. His face expressionless. “Nothing.”

I was puzzled. “Nothing?”

“Yes. Nothing. I was afraid. Then I was angry.” His eyes hardened and his fists clenched. “Angry at God for letting that horrible thing happen to me. My heart was hard. I wanted to rebel.”

A moment passed. He loosened his fists and his face calmed. “But I knew that God was sovereign and I believed it with all my heart. It didn’t make sense. But somehow, I knew God had a purpose.”

He breathed deeply and put his left hand on his chin as if he was reminiscing. “I was bought by Potiphar. I didn’t know how much he bought me for, nor did I care at that time.”

He looked at his glass of unmoving water. “I worked hard, Sean… Very hard.”

He took the glass of water again, “Then it began. She would wear me out everyday by inviting me to sleep with her.”

I couldn’t help but look at the glass of water in his hands too. “So why didn’t you?”

He played with his glass of water. Toying it in a circular motion so that the water was moving. “I was afraid.”

He looked back at me, “God showed me that He was blessing me. It was obvious. From a slave to a position of power – it was an impossibility apart from the hand of God at work!”

He stopped toying with his glass of water but he looked back at it, “I was afraid of God because I was starting to know Him.”

He stood up from his chair and looked out the window, “I could not have done it y’know.”

This time, I reached for my glass of water, ” Done what?”

“Refused her.”

I took a sip and gulped it down. “But you did.”

He turned back to face me, walking towards me, “Word of advice Sean,” He reached for my script of questions, unrolling it then looked back at me.

“When you’re being invited by Potiphar’s wife, run. Leave your cloak behind or what have you. Let her make her accusations.”

He held my shoulder and looked straight at me. “Run like you’re going to die if you don’t.”

He started walking towards the door – I realize my time to ask my questions from him was over!

“Because the truth is, if you don’t run, you’re probably already dead.”

He turned the doorknob, “Interesting questions by the way.” Then he was gone.

I took another sip from my glass of water.

Without me even asking, he already answered all of ‘em.

What is your name? Jacob Changed my Mind

By Sean

When you meet someone, it is always polite to introduce yourself. Tell the person your name. When you meet God, He already should know. But in the case of Jacob, he asked a simple and intriguing question. He asked “What is your name?”

Do you know me, God?

Names have a very important meaning. It’s significance connects you to an identity that you own and hold. No one else shares that identity but you. It is an identity given to you by God – together with where you’re born, what nationality you have, what color your skin is, and all the other factors that make you… You.

Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” - Genesis 32:26-28

When God asks

God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Meaning He knows everything – every star, every creature, every hair on your head… And every name under heaven. But as you can see, in this short story, God asked Jacob something that He already knows. A simple question of his name. Why did God ask such a trivial thing?

He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.” - Gensis 27:18-19

You see Jacob had another identity that he once claimed. He claimed to be Esau. He took on the name of his brother about whom God said:

Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” – Romans 9:13

Jacob’s name means deceiver. And we can see it unfolding its meaning in his deception of his earthly dad, Isaac in order to get his blessing. Now that Jacob wanted God’s blessing, God had to ask Jacob his name. Why? Because God wanted to let Jacob know that he doesn’t have to assume another man’s identity to receive His blessing. He can be Jacob and he can be blessed.

A New Identity

God gave Jacob a new name. He named him Israel because he overcame his struggles with God and men. This new identity became Jacob’s takeaway from his encounter with God. He remembered that God gave him a new name, a new identity together with his blessings.

And isn’t that true for all of us? When we decide to take on the new identity given to us by God is when we experience His blessings in our lives?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

God has given all of us new identities in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have to understand that we cannot live in the old identity or any other identity which we once claimed to be our own if we want to be blessed by Him.

Bear your new identity in Christ and live a life blessed by God so you can bless other people and glorify His name.

Ahia Dennis Sy changed my mind

By Sean

If you knew me before, I was a very shy person. I didn’t want to mingle much. I wasn’t too good with talk, in fact I’m a man of few words – until now in some matters. I wasn’t this deep into my relationship with God before. I didn’t care much about my influence with people. So what happened? Someone showed me the way.

My brother, ahia Den and Me. Don't laugh, I know I don't look like myself and my eyes were closed.

His name’s Dennis Sy. He’s my first mentor and will always be my ahia (big brother). I call him ahia Dennis because in many ways, he became a big brother to me. I didn’t always know how to teach people. I used to have no clue about discipleship. I didn’t have any idea what serving in ministry was like – until I met ahia Den. He changed my mind. I praise God for him.

It wasn’t an overnight thing

We get to meet every week in my highschool, Makati Hope Christian School (MHCS). He would teach me about Christianity and Jesus every lunch time. I listened and learned – I gained wisdom. Then there came a time when he invited me to their youth service (it was called Youth on Fire then) I had no idea what it was. But I did go because I had complete trust in him. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Discipleship is essential

Ahia Den discipled me for about 5 years. He changed my life. He would let me sleep over their house and I would see how he lived his life. How he was disciplined in his ways, how his relationship with God went. How he was a son to his parents, etc.

I saw his life and I was influenced big time. The Sean you see and know now is largely influenced by the life of a lot of people. Ahia Den is one of my biggest influencers in life. How you see me teaching and handling my disciples in fellowship and in the Word is how ahia Den handled and taught me when I was his disciple.

2 Timothy 2:2

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

And that’s exactly how it went from ahia Den to me. I followed him as he followed the example of Christ. I praise God for him. He changed my mind.

I highly encourage you guys to visit his blog on http://dennissy.com

Is it about “Getting there”? Being rich and powerful, famous and wise? Solomon changed my mind

By Sean

Gold wealth

When I was younger I dreamed of being rich and powerful. I wanted to be a person who can have anything and everything he wanted in the world – be it material possessions, physical gratification, emotional pleasure, in other words, I wanted to have all the world has to offer. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t?

I grew older and wisdom seemed better. I wanted to be wise in everything I do. I loved wisdom – a precious gift from God. But I found out that even wisdom can seem worthless without God.

Ever wonder if there was a person who has “been there”? Who’s seen it all, done it all, a person who could say he’s lived life to the fullest extent of the word? Well we know there are people who’ve “been there” and I must say, most of the ones I know who have “been there” died unhappy or committed suicide. So what happened?

Solomon has “been there”

Solomon was king of Israel. During his time, he was the most renowned king not lacking in anything and exceedingly rich in the things that are necessary, not quite necessary and not necessary at all. He was the wisest person who have ever lived, most powerful in word and speech during his time. In short, if anyone has “been there” it’s Solomon.

In the proceedings of his life, Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes – a book that seems so frustrated and unhappy. Solomon wrote out how he felt about “being there” and its effects on him as a person. Now remember, Solomon is the wisest man who has ever lived but what does he have to say after all the pleasure of 700 wives, 300 concubines, gold too many to weigh (he made shields out of ‘em – for fun), a name too famous to be oblivious to. What does Solomon have to say?

Ecclesiastes 2:11

“Then I thought about everything I had done, including the hard work, and it was simply chasing the wind. Nothing on Earth is worth the trouble.”

Ecclesiastes 2:13

“Finally, I said to myself “being wise got me nowhere! The same thing will happen to me that happens to fools. Nothing makes sense. Wise or foolish, we all die and are soon forgotten.”

Imagine the wisest man saying “Nothing makes sense” is there any hope for humanity if the wisest man already admits that NOTHING makes sense?

I believe you get my point about “Being there” but what I really want to say is how Solomon changed my mind about our life here.

We were made for something bigger than life

If Solomon was content and Ecclesiastes was never written because Solomon had found that everything makes complete sense and everything on Earth is worth the trouble, then I can say that indeed we were made for this life. BUT NO! He WAS NEVER SATISFIED. He wanted more BECAUSE WE WERE MADE FOR MORE!

There is something bigger than life and you know it. You feel it. You sense it. Why? Because it exists! We were created for something more, something this life can never compare to and that is God Himself. You don’t believe me? Just listen to your nudging self, telling you that if you “Get there” WHAT NEXT?

Want your prayers answered? Daniel changed my mind. God and humility

By Sean

Daniel is usually renowned for his faith in God with his story about him and the lion’s den. I really enjoyed that story when I was a kid. Now that I’ve grown up I’ve come to appreciate and understand it a whole lot more. But what really got into my mind was his story about his cry for help from God.

This passage from Daniel 10 really intrigued me.

10Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

11He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you ” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

12Then he said to me, ” Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

13“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold,  Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

Verse 11 says that Daniel was a man of high esteem. This really intrigued me because the next verse says that his words were heard and the angel has come in response to his words. Isn’t a response what we long for these days? A response to our prayers and requests?

Daniel, being a man highly esteemed by God was sent a response immediately after he prayed. The angel was only delayed by the prince (an fallen angel) of Persia. I desire God’s response in my life. What made Daniel a man highly esteemed? He set his heart on understanding what God wanted to reveal to him and he humbled himself before God.

By understanding the things God wanted to reveal to him, he was obeying what God purposed for him. By humbling himself before God, he was giving God all the glory that came with understanding these revelations.

Having a big responsibility as Daniel’s, we sometimes get carried away with our pride and we fail to remember God and His sovereignty in our lives. Daniel kept his eyes on God and even when he has done so many things in God’s favour, still he is humble (and that is coming from an angel of the Lord, not from himself).

Do you want God to respond to your prayers? Follow Daniel’s example. He changed me.

David changed my mind: God and His heart

By Sean

David was the most powerful king in his time. He was a conqueror, a warrior with 300 vicious, capable men. Their lives were tainted with blood – they were all killing and fighting men. David was also the most poetic king, a man who revels in his maker’s majesty, who trusts and rejoices in the goodness of God in his life. He loved God so much and it was so evident in his poems and songs. He had everything he wanted. God blessed him so much.

His greatest moment: When he was confronted by the prophet Nathan

David had it all – power, wealth, fame, love for God, love for people. But he sinned when he fell into lust for Bathsheba. He had a lot of wives and concubines who bore him sons and daughters. He could’ve had any woman he wished – unmarried virgins. But at that point in time, he lusted after Bathsheba – a married woman, wife to one of his most trusted fighting men, Uriah.

David committed one of the most heinous crimes I’ve ever read from the Bible. He lusted after Bathsheba, stole her from Uriah, all the while Uriah had no idea of what was happening – then he sent Uriah to die in the front lines of battle. All the while, Uriah in good faith to David obeyed.

David tried to cover it up by marrying Bathsheba and closing up the scandal with murder. But God saw it all. God sent Nathan the prophet to David to tell him of his crimes. And Nathan told David his parable:

“There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

And David, having good judgment replied:

“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

And then Nathan, in God’s wisdom and courage rebuked the greatest king of that time:

“You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.’ “

And then what David said changed me:

“I have sinned against the LORD.”

So simple and yet, that sentence is deeply weighty. For a king to confess and repent in that certain instant takes a HUGE amount of humility. And it was a Godly sorrow – he never placed the blame on anyone, he didn’t say it because he feared the consequences or that he was caught, his repentance came from his heart. David repented immediately when he was scorched with the awareness of the evil of the sin he has committed against God.

I was amazed at this king’s humility! Look at yourself, we KNOW it when we sin! We know it when we have done wrong because there is a law that makes us aware of it. DO WE REPENT in Godly sorrow when we are made aware of our sins – just like David?

When the time comes that my heart is hardened and I am blessed with a great relationship with God and material blessings, I pray when I fall and have done wrong in the sight of God, that I can still bend my knees and say: “I have sinned against the Lord.” and repent.

Every night I pray: “Lord, may I be a man after your own heart – just like David.”
Because he knew true humility and repentance. David changed me. I praise God for his story.

Job changed my mind. God and reason

By Sean
  • Had everything in life – wife, a lot of children, riches, servants, land/ property, power, God
  • Had every reason to be content and believe in his own ability and power
  • One of the most powerful men in his time
  • A great relationship with God – remembering his place, humble in heart

His greatest moment: When God took it all away

I can never fathom how Job had the ability and attitude to say: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

It breaks my heart how Job had the humility, attitude, faith and trust in the Lord in order for him to say that through all of the loss. And it wasn’t just any loss – It was a GREAT LOSS! In fact, there came a point in his suffering that he wanted to die already than to remain alive and suffer. And to top it all off, everything that happened seemed to be without reason! WHY OH WHY GOD???

Put yourself in Job’s shoes.

God gives and God takes away. When God will take away from me in my life, I pray that I will have Job’s attitude. I’m deciding on that now and will keep deciding on that everyday so that when the day comes that something precious is taken away from me, I will be able to say: “God has given and God has taken away. Praise be to His name.”

How about you? Have you ever thought about Job’s case? REAL TROUBLES can SHATTER and SHAKE you. Unless you have Job’s trust in God and his humility in knowing his own place, you are in risk of putting the blame on God and asking “Why?” instead of responding like Job.