Leaving Your Coat But Keeping Your Character

Title: Finish Well – Dealing with Temptation

Theme: How to deal with Temptation

Text: Genesis 39:1 – 19; 1 John 2:16; Luke 4:1 – 16; Matthew 6:9 - 13

Joseph’s Plight

Review Genesis 39:1 - 19

Joseph is one of 12 sons of Jacob. He quickly became his favorite son because he was born to his favorite wife Rachel.

This caused tension between him and his brothers which led them to be jealous of him and eventually sale him into slavery. So he is bought by a man named Potiphar. There is one common theme in his life. From the outside it seemed to go unnoticed, it goes like this “the Lord was with Joseph”. He was with Joseph while he was in the pit, he was with Joseph as he rode the caravan to Egypt, he was with Joesph as he is sold on the slavery block to a man named Potiphar.

This must have felt strange to him but the evidence is seen as this man Potiphar puts him, this slave boy, over all his affairs. He ran the house and the Lord blessed Potiphar. His land was a success, his crops fared well, his house was peaceful. Potiphar had found a man he could trust.

But this was not enough for Potiphar’s wife. She found Joseph to be “good looking”. Maybe Potiphar took long trips away and she felt lonely, who knows but she desired Joseph and Joseph would have nothing to do with her. The chase finally culminated into one event. One evening she finally cornered him. No place to go. She tries to coherce him into sleeping with her. Going as far as to grab is coat and pull him. He resists with these words.

(8) But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. (9) There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (10) So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. (11) But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, (12) that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

This was not easy. It was not about the woman or her looks. It was not about the position and favor he would gain by giving into temptation this was about his responsibility. A responsibility to God and to Potiphar.

We will all face temptation.

Greek word for temptation

G3986

- Original: pe??asµ?´?

- Transliteration: Peirasmos

- Phonetic: pi-ras-mos'

- Definition:

1. an experiment, attempt, trial, proving a. trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul (Gal_4:14)

b. the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy

1. an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances

2. an internal temptation to sin 1b

c. of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the messiah from his divine errand

1. of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness

2. adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness

d. temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men

1. rebellion against God, by which his power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves

From Thayers

It is as if we are on trial. Why? Surprisingly to make us stronger.

Jesus’ Temptation

Even Jesus faced temptation.

Luke 4:1-15 NKJV Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into* the wilderness, (2) being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (3) And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (4) But Jesus answered him, saying, [21] "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " [22] (5) Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him [23] all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (6) And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (7) Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." (8) And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! [24] For [25] it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " [26] (9) Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. (10) For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' (11) "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " [27] (12) And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " [28] (13) Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. (14) Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. (15) And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.