TAMING THE TIGER OF TEMPTATION
Genesis 39: 1-13
1 Now Joseph had been taken down
to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of
Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites,
who had taken him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a
successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his
master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did
to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became
his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he
owned he put in his charge. 5 It came about that from the time he made him
overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the
Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all
that he owned, in the house and in the field. 6 So he left everything he owned
in Joseph's charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything
except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7
It came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at
Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But
he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master
does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he
owns in my charge. 9 "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he
has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then
could I do this great evil and sin against God?" 10 As
she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her
or be with her. 11 Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do
his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside. 12 She caught
him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!"
And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside. 13 When she saw
that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside,
A. WHAT MADE THIS AN OVERWHELMINGLY STRONG TEMPTATION FOR JOSEPH TO RESIST?
I His ISOLATION - vs. 1
II His INSTANT Success vs. 2-6a
III His IMMATURITY - vs. 6b
IV His IMMUNITY - vs. 7-9
V Her INSISTENCE - vs. 10-13
B. HOW DID JOSEPH, AND HOW CAN WE, TAME THE TIGER OF TEMPTATION?
I Corinthians 10: 12-14
12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation
has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1. RECOGNISE the reality of temptation
- To think you are immune to temptation is a sin of pride
2. REFOCUS
- Temptation can spring without warning unless we start each day asking God help us be aware of , and resist the devils ploys.
3. RESIST
- James 4:7 is a PROMISE, not just a POSSIBILITY
4. RETREAT
- FLEE IDOLATRY - I Corinthians 10:14
- FLEE IMMORALITY - I Corinthians 6:18; II Timothy 2:22
- FLEE GREED - I Timothy 6: 10-11
- FLEE BITTERNESS - Hebrews 12:15
- FLEE ANGER - Proverbs 29: 22
5. REFUSE to make provision for the flesh Romans 13:14
6. REPLACE bad influences with good ones
He who wants to keep his gardens tidy does not reserve a plot for weeds. Dag Hammarskjold
Matthew
4:10
10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.
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