Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Defeating All Temptations

GENESIS 39:6-10 – So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.”

 

THEME OF THE DAY:  DEFEATING ALL TEMPTATIONS.  This story of Joseph is amazing on many fronts. We see a young man exercising personal restraint against sexual sin, not an easy task for him especially considering the opportunity.  We also see him persevering in his personal restraint even after repeated efforts from Potiphar’s wife to weaken him.  But there is something more amazing which offers to us a great model when we are confronted by any temptation.

 

Let’s enter the scene.  Joseph has obtained great favor with the Egyptian officer, Potiphar.  He was trusted and the Lord made Joseph succeed in all he did.  Then, Potiphar goes on a trip leaving his wife home alone.  Enter his wife. Likely a beautiful woman and an immoral woman.  Seizing the opportunity to commit adultery with this handsome young man, she presses herself upon Joseph.  The ease of her approach makes one think this isn’t her first fling.  What does Joseph do? Well, don’t think this is an easily silenced temptation. He is a young man with young man desires. She is beautiful to look upon. It is a private setting. No one would know.  Humanly speaking, Joseph could have gotten away with this, but divinely speaking, he could not and knew it.  And now we see how he defeated the temptation .  .  .  How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

 

Joseph feared and loved God more than himself and fulfilling the sinful desires of his flesh.  Now this fear he exhibits is not a slavish fear of punishment, but of respect.  He saw the temptation for what it was – the potential to commit an offense against his Creator God and not to be trifled with for one second.  But there is more. Within the fear of offending God was his love for God.  Though not explicitly stated, love for God is always present with the fear of God.  To offer an expanded paraphrase of Joseph’s words to Potiphar’s wife, we may say, “No, I will not commit this sin. I love and respect my God far more than to enjoy this momentary pleasure of sin.  He has been so good to me, and I have no desire to break His command and heart by this wicked act.”

 

Friends, that is how all temptation to sin is defeated – by fearing and loving God more than the selfish and unsatisfying committing of any sin.  And when we do so consistently, we will enjoy the pleasures of obeying God that far, far exceed the temporary pleasure of any sin.

 

PRAYER: “Father, help me have a greater affection for You than the fleeting pleasures of sin.”

 

QUOTE: “The moment we entertain any temptation to sin, the door is wide open to sin.”

 

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Jim