Joseph: Resisting Temptation

*Series: Joseph, Heart of Perseverance

June 12, 2011

Intro: Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.” –Gen. 39:1Listen Now

4 Warnings Against Temptation…

1. Satan will use recognition to set you up.

“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.” -Gen.39:6

“…and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” –Gen.39:7

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” –I Peter 5:8

2. Beware of rationalizations

“And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with

her or even to be with her.” -Gen.39:10

“…My master trusts me with everything in this entire household…How can I

do such a wicked thing as this? It would be a great sin against God!

-Gen.39:8,9 (LB)

Joseph’s Keys for Resisting Temptation…

a. His loyalty to his master

b. His loyalty to his God

3. Run or you’ll get caught!

“One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 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.” –Gen.39:11,12

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he

who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a

temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not

your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

–I Cor. 6:18

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be

tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his

own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived,

it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” –James 1:13-15

Four Stages of Temptation…

1. Desire

2. Deception

3. Disobedience

4. Death

4. Be ready to suffer persecution

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him;” -Gen. 39:21

*All scriptures from the NIV