Triumph Over Temptation Series

TRIUMPH OVER TEMPTATION (#3)

Genesis 39:1-23

When we toy with temptation, we put ourselves in a position to drift into serious danger: A woman was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. She was enjoying the comfort of relaxing on an inflated cushion that kept her afloat. When she realized that she had been swept far from the beach, she began to scream, but no one could hear her. Later, the coast guard found her five miles from the place where she first entered the water. She did not see her danger until she was beyond her own strength and ability to return.

The remedy for the battle with temptation is found in Romans 13:14 "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."

Our text speaks of a young man who faced a terrible time of temptation. Instead of falling, like so many do, Joseph weathered the storm of temptation and won a great victory in his spiritual life. He stayed clean in a situation where many would have fallen.

Every person in this room faces temptation in one form or another. I believe most of us want to live clean lives; we want to please the Lord; we want to win over sin!

To do this, we need to know how to win the war over temptation. Our text gives us some insight into how to do this. I want to preach on this thought – “How to Triumph over Temptation.”

#1. JOSEPH’S TESTIMONY– v 1-6.

• He had a Personal Relationship – v 2a. “The Lord was with Joseph,…” He was a prosperous man in the house of his Egyptian master.

The Bible is very clear that Joseph had a personal relationship with God. He knew the Lord and was walking with God by faith.

That is why it is so important for each of us to search our hearts to be sure we are in a personal, faith relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 “Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;…”

• He had a Powerful Testimony – v 3. “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

Joseph’s faith was lived out before those around him. Everyone saw that something was different about the life of Joseph.

Men Saw God In His Walk. The way Joseph lived among the Egyptians marked him as different. Can men see the difference in us?

Matt 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Men Saw God In His Work. The Lord blessed Joseph and all he did. When our walk with the Lord is as it should be, men will see the hand of the Lord and His activity on our lives.

Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

• He had a Prosperous Occupation – v 4-6. “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. 5 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. 6 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. Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.”

Here was a young man with a righteous precedence. He loved God and he walked with Him faithfully.

While this is the right way to live, we also need to understand that this makes you a prime target for attack. The devil likes nothing better than to defeat, destroy and devastate true men and women of God.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Our adversary isn’t concerned about nominal Christians. He hates those who live holy lives. He wants those who are in the fight!

A life lived for Jesus is a life that will be attacked (2 Timothy 3:12).

#2. JOSEPH’S TEMPTATION – v 7-19.

• The Caricature of the Temptation. Despite Joseph’s walk with the Lord and holy lifestyle, temptation still stalked him. His temptation was…