5/22/02
PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN YOUR WALK IV
DEALING WITH TEMPTATION
GENESIS 39:1-5
BY PASTOR RUSS WITKOWSKI
“Excellent” - to throw beyond the usual mark, to surpass, a throwing beyond others, beyond (out of) measure; “Way” -journey, high-way.
Definition of Spiritual Excellence: To live the journey that requires you to go beyond the usual mark of your contemporaries.
Genesis 39:1-5 - Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers – first to the Ishmaelites, then to Potiphar’s household. Potiphar was the Captain of the guard (vs. 1) of the chief of the military force which guarded the Palace. He is the member of a proud aristocracy, high in the office and among the court of the Pharaoh the highest ranking in the court.
Notice: The Lord was with Joseph (vs. 2); His master saw that the Lord was with him (vs. 3); Joseph found grace in his sight (Vs. 4); The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s home for Joseph’s sake (vs. 5); and Joseph was well favored (vs. 6).
I. LEARN TO SEE PROSPERITY FOR WHAT IT IS:
A. It can be a fleeting experience:
1. Learn to be content in every situation.
Php 4:11-13 - …. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
a. Joseph was content in this situation.
b. He held his faith in God’s ability to provide for him even when it seemed impossible.
c. He trusted God that there was a plan laid out for him.
2. He excelled in difficult circumstances.
a. His honesty and integrity earned him the respect of his master.
b. His work was marked by success.
c. He was promoted because he was found trustworthy.
d. Potiphar’s household was blessed because of Joseph’s diligence and sound character.
II. JOSEPH’S TEMPTATION:
Genesis 39:7-12 - and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" 8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
A. Three strikes and you’re out:
1. The woman’s invitation – “Lie with me” vs. 7
2. She spoke with Joseph day by day – yet he refused to fall prey to her seduction – vs. 10
3. She caught him by his garment, and he left his garment and ran out!
B. Note some facts concerning the temptation:
1. Unexpected – Came during a time when Joseph was prospering, well respected, and known for being a man of sound character.
2. From an unexpected source – Joseph was going about his business in the daily duty of caring for Potiphar’s house.
3. Persistence – day by day – vs 10
4. Temptation was offered in secret – There was none of the men within the house – vs. 11
C. Now see Joseph’s desire to excel in his walk before God!
1. “How can I do this sin against God?” vs 9
a. For Joseph, sin was always against God and was far more serious than a crime committed against man.
2. He was shocked by sin – “This great wickedness” vs. 9
a. Many would have viewed this affair with Potiphar’s wife as a fling, but Joseph saw it as an awful wickedness before God.
3. Joseph was continually prepared because he excelled privately as well in public to serve God with integrity:
Genesis 41:38 - So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"
a. When temptation came, Joseph was already walking in an excellent walk with God –
III. UNDERSTANDING TEMPTATION:
A. Falling due to temptation will ruin our excellence in our walk with God.
James 1:13-15 - When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
1. Steps to falling due to temptation….
a. A wrong view of the purposes of God – vs. 13
b. A evil seed thought enters the mind from our own human desires – vs. 14
c. The imagination is aroused and compromise is sought for – vs. 14
d. The evil thought is allowed to remain in the mind for a period of time – vs. 15
e. Sin occurs when we yield to the temptation – a choice is made to accomplish what our mind has conceived – vs. 15
f. Spiritual death occurs – vs. 15
Summary: Yes, there is forgiveness, but if we choose to live in willful sin often enough, we can forfeit our walk with the Lord, and then choose to live a nominal, compromising Christian life!
1 Jn 1:8-10 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
B. But we can live above falling due to temptation:
Galatians 5:16-18 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
1. We must learn that our human nature doesn’t naturally accomplish the acts of the Spirit!
a. But if we walk (excelling in our desire) in the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the sinful flesh!
b. We can actually live above falling due to temptation!
c. We are not YET able to live above temptation! It is a part of our fallen nature.
d. But we can choose everyday to walk in the Spirit.
2. How to walk in the Spirit:
a. Read, study, meditate and memorize the Word.
b. Learn how to pray throughout the day.
c. Learn to pray regularly in your prayer language.
d. Use your time wisely – Break time is a good time to read the Word, or a good Christian book.
e. Steer clear of environments that can tempt you to the point of no return.
CONCLUSION:
Remember temptations do not come from God - However, they are born in our human nature. But we can live above succumbing to temptation.
