Joseph's Victory Over Temptation

But, before anyone can become one of the rare ones that has their name entered, what they do has to be documented.

Other books that have fascinating stories to tell us about some amazing people are History books.

But again, before any event can go into these history books, it must be documented. For example...

Illus: Here is a story that is not a myth. Did you know that Lady Godiva really rode down the streets of Coventry completely unclothed?

It happened during the 11th century, in England, when her husband was a strict tax collector. She felt sorry for the many poor people, and she pleaded with him to lighten their tax burdens.

Knowing his wife to be a very modest lady, the husband responded to a group of citizens, that the chances of his lowering the poor people's taxes were about as likely as Lady Godiva riding through the streets unclothed in broad daylight.

Presumably, he didn't think there was any chance of that ever happening. However, she was determined to help the poor people of Coventry, and she told them what she must do in order to get their taxes lowered, and so she requested that every one of them stay inside and not peek while she did what she had to do to help them. She actually rode down the streets of Coventry, completely unclothed.

Her husband was shocked to hear what she had done, so knowing that it meant that much to her to have their taxes lowered, he lowered them.

Now, someone is perhaps asking, “IF EVERYONE HAD THEIR EYES COVERED, HOW COULD WE DOCUMENT THIS AND KNOW THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED?”

We know it actually happened, because there was one man who did not close his eyes. He saw her ride down the street completely unclothed. His name was Tom. And to this day, because of what he did, we refer to people who peek on others as "Peeping Toms."

Not only do…

• THE GUINNESS WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS and

• THE HISTORY BOOKS tell us of some phenomenal things that people have done-

SO DOES THE BIBLE!

For example, consider Joseph in the Old Testament! He was remarkable as a TEEN, and he was remarkable as a MAN.

The one thing that made him the great man of God he was, WAS HIS FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD.

We live in a world today that wherever we look we see men and women being disgracefully defeated by Satan. It has become a way of life for many INDIVIDUALS and CHURCHES. God never intended things to be that way.

Joseph recognized that, and he found a secret to overcoming the temptations that Satan puts before us. Let’s look at three things that Joseph shows us. First, Joseph shows us something he did (that we can do) to be victorious over temptation.

I. HE REMEMBERED

That is, HE REMEMBERED SOME THINGS we need to remember when we face temptations.

He had been employed by Potiphar as overseer of his house. Did you know that one of the places where many people face temptations are on their jobs?

Illus: Today, many women are no longer staying home to be housewives, but daily they have to leave their homes to work beside men on their jobs.

WHAT TAKES PLACE MANY TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS?

• They often have to work with a man, and out of politeness, the two soon begin to strike up a conversation.

• As the days and weeks go by, they have to find something to talk about, so they start telling each other about their problems.

• They soon get to know each other so well that they start talking about their marital problems.

• They soon develop an intimacy, and no longer are they just coming to work, they are coming to see each other.

• And soon another marriage is broken up.

Joseph had not been on the job long when he faced a problem with Potiphar’s wife.

WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS JOSEPH?

The Bible tells us. Look at Genesis 39:1-6, we read, "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."