Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 39 02/02/03

Intro: Pastor Jeff Strite tells this story.
 'There was an enthusiastic but somewhat unscrupulous salesman who was waiting to see the purchasing agent of an engineering firm. The salesman was there to submit his company's bid for a particular job. He couldn't help but notice that a competitors bid was on the purchasing agents desk. Unfortunately, the actual figure was covered by a can of juice. The temptation to see the amount quoted became too much, so the salesman lifted the can. His heart sank as he watched thousands of BB's pour from the bottomless can and scatter across the floor. Do you think he ever got business from that company again?'

 Why did the salesman lift the can? Success! He wanted to get the job. He saw an opportunity to get one up on his competition, and he took it.
 
 So what if he had to cheat a little.
 So what if he had to touch something that wasn't his.
 So what if he just took one look.
 No one will find out and no one will get hurt (except the other salesman . But he would have done the same thing if he were in my shoes) He thought.

 Ever been there? A temptation to do something you knew was wrong...but you really wanted to do? No one will know, no one will get hurt, you tell yourself. Giving in to temptation is always just one thought away. And you know what that one  thought is...it's the Nike motto 'Just Do It!'

 This morning I want you to begin to develop a different thought concerning temptation. And it goes deeper than 'Just Say No!'. I want you to be specific.  A different thought for each temptation that is eating away at your integrity as a Believer.  I can't tell you what that thought is because I don't know the temptations that wage war against you. BUT, I can tell you that Joseph knew the foundation for developing new thoughts about temptation.
 
What's the foundation? Make up your mind about what you will do when tempted...before you are tempted. Let me give you an example. Let's say you have been having troubles with grades in school and a really smart person sits next to you. You have been tempted to copy off their paper. Before you are tempted again make this decision and ask God to help you keep it...
 'I will not cheat. I will not copy off of someone's paper even if it means I fail the test. I will not cheat because it is a sin against my God and it eats away at my integrity.'

 Making up your mind not to sin, before you actually are tempted is one way to gain victory over that sin. Let's see what Joseph did.

Read: Genesis 39:1-6a

 Joseph was a testimony to the One True God. He was an honest and faithful worker. He probably got up earlier than everyone else, did more work and did it better than everyone else too. And he worked his way to the top servant in the house. Wasn't Joseph great? No. Joseph was faithful. He was just doing what was expected of him...from his employer and from God. No, Joseph wasn't great...God was great.

 Notice the number of times the Lord is mentioned in these verses. 5 times the Lord is mentioned. Joseph was successful not because of what he had done, but because the Lord was with him.

Read: Genesis 39:6b-20a

 We have heard this story over and over again. Am I right? But I want you to think about something.  Joseph was a slave, he slept alone at night, he had no family, no girlfriends we know of, perhaps not even any close friends. He was a slave, the top slave in the house, but still a slave. And there's Potiphar's wife. She's attractive and offers him affection, acceptance and comfort. She is a powerful woman. Perhaps she could even introduce him to the right people to help  him become free.

 All he had to do was give in, touch what was not his and he could have it all. And no one would know.  BUT, Joseph turns her down. Day after day when she makes her advances, he says NO! Why? I think it is because he already made up his mind. How do I know that?

 We don't read that he had to debate the idea in his head
 We don't read that he told her ..let me think about it
 We don't read that he even let the thought linger in his head.

 He did what he had already made up his mind to do. And Joseph was able to make up his mind about what he would do in times of temptation because he trusted God. And he knew God was with him. It is that one thought, that one perspective that made the difference in Joseph's life, especially in the are of sin. The Lord was with him. Get a hold of that perspective and it will make a difference in your life as well.

 Even if this woman wasn't married, his response would have been the same...'this is a sin against my God and I will not do it'. He had already made up his mind that nothing would stand between him and his God. Not even his robe..As he left it behind when Potiphar's wife grabbed him.

 Well it is said 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' and Potiphar's wife had been repeatedly scorned by Joseph. She had enough. She lied to the other servants and then to her husband. She even tried to place some of the blame on Potiphar...
 'That Hebrew slave you brought us'..sounds a little like Adam in the garden trying to blame God for his sin... 'That woman you gave me'. No one wants to take the blame for their sin. Anyway, Potiphar puts Joseph in prison.

Read: Genesis 39:20b-23

 Because Joseph focused on who God is rather than on where Joseph was. Joseph was successful, as a leader  before his brothers, as a slave in Egypt and now as a prisoner  in the king's dungeon.

Conclusion
 There are a few points of application to be made from this text this morning.

1. Obedience to God does not equal Success.
 Many Christians believe that obedience to God always bring success and prosperity. Joseph's imprisonment should cause us to rethink our ideas of success. God can bless and prosper us in times of affliction and trial, as well as in times of affluence and ease.

2. It is not a sin to be tempted.
 Many Christians feel needless guilt because they have been tempted and they equate temptation with sin. Listen closely. Sin comes when you yield or give in to temptation. It is not in the temptation itself.

3. Know your areas of weakness.
 It is important to know the areas in which we are weak, so we can avoid situations where we know we will be greatly tempted.

4. We need to cultivate a lifestyle of turning.
 Turning from sin to righteousness,
 Turning from slavery to sin to freedom in Christ,
 Turning from self-abuse to self-control,
 Turning from how it will benefit me, to   how it will reflect upon my God.

5. Know your God.
 The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon perhaps has said it best...

'When I regarded God as a tyrant, I though sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I though God was hard, I found sin to be easy; but when I found God kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.'

6. Temptation is ongoing.
 The text tells us that Joseph was tempted day after day. It is a way of life. And the victory you have will be directly related to your pattern of past behavior. Continually give in to temptation and you will probably continually give in to temptation when it comes back. And it will come back.

7. Make up your mind...now about the things that tempt you.
 When temptation comes, don't discuss it, think it over or don't even pray about it. Act, based on what  you have already decided you would do in that situation.
 
 What temptations do you still play with?
 What temptations constantly defeat you and bring your great guilt?
 Make up your mind right now what you will do when temptation strikes
 And remember, the Lord will be with you.