Joseph Part 5 Bible Study

The Defeat of Temptation

Reading Genesis Chapter 39

We have here the story of a young man's battle against temptation and how he met head-on the hail of darts aimed at his heart, but shield them off with steadfast resolution.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Stage one – outright refusal v8

This must start in the mind. You cannot even permit the thought to remain there.

No – Never

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

The sex instinct in all of us is a very powerful drive.

Stage two – loyalty to his master

Joseph was a normal person. He was deprived of normal family affection. He was far from home. To many he may have looked as a sitting target but he had loyalty to his master.

Look at verse 8, 9

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The 7th commandment is.......

Gen 2:24

The love for and loyalty to Potiphar grew from the love of God. The love of God is the fountain head of love for our neighbour.

Sexual sin demonstrates a love of self – lust

Stage three – consequence of sin

3rd line of defence.

Some may think that they can hide there sin. Example – David & Bathsheba
I am not causing anyone any harm – they might say

There has been 9,000,000 terminations since abortion was legalized in the UK since 1967

Stage 4 – 2 sides to the coin

Gen 39:9 ….......how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Great wickedness
Sin against

The woman spoke of love – but Joseph called it right.
I am sure the woman promised discretion and privacy – but Joseph called it right.

Do we call sin – sin. We need to call it right. Do we allow the media to laugh at sin and blur our thinking.

Joseph was building a defence of Christ before, behind, above, beneath, beside, within him.

Stage 5 – he ran away

Genesis 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

The other lines of defence needed something else – run

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.


Conclusion
1. Temptation and sin will remain with us
2. It is possible to remain pure – Job 31:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
3. God needs to have us all – mind, soul and heart.