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When Tempted To Sin Gen. 39:1-4, 6b-15, 19-20 April 13, 2008

Introduction
A mother told her son, when tempted, to put Satan behind him. The boy was told not to go swimming but came home all wet. His mother asked, "did you put Satan behind you?" Her son said, "yes mam, and he pushed me into the pool." I am afraid many people, even Christians, yield to Satan's temptations without really depending on the Lord's help When Tempted To Sin.

1. When Tempted To Sin Be Aware Of God's . . Providence. 39:1-4

A. Providence To . . Provide For Us. 39:1-2
1 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

B. Providence To . . Place Us. 39:3-4
3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, 4 Joseph found favor in his master's sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

As Christians we need to grow to the point we expect God will provide for us in every situation. In this foreign land the text states "the Lord was with Joseph." I believe as Joseph looked back over his life he cold see how the providence of God provided for him in every situation. Did it just happen that he found himself being bought by Potiphar; Or did God place him there? I think God placed him there and then Potiphar placed everything under his authority. Would there be temptations with this kind of authority? Obviously, Yes!

2. When Tempted To Sin Be Aware Of God's . . Positioning Us. 39:6b-9

A. Positioning Us For . . Advancement. 39:6b
6 He left all that he owned under Joseph's authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.

B. Positioning Us For . . Allurement. 39:7-9
7 After some time his master's wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, "Sleep with me." 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority. 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?"

Advancements in authority came for Joseph as God positioned him in places of responsibility. In every new position Joseph related well and received promotions. Does going higher in the work force produce additional temptations? It certainly may! Today in your employment do you face temptations to take advantages of your authority time-wise, financially, or sexually? The Lord positioned Joseph where he did and he advanced because he possessed ability, honesty, and loyalty. With his position and physical attractiveness Joseph faced an allurement from Potiphar's wife. It is very interesting that Joseph did not say how can I yield to you and sin against your husband; But how can I, "sin against God?" All of us need to remember, When Tempted To Sin, if we yield it is against God.

3. When Tempted To Sin Be Aware Of God's . . Pleasure. 39:10-15

A. Pleasure From His Children's Actions When . . Enticed. 39:10-12a
10 Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her.
11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household
servants was there. 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, "Sleep with me!"

B. Pleasure From His Children Actions When . . Ensnared. 39:12b-13
". . . But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. 13 When she realized that he had left his garment with her and had run outside,

C. Pleasure From His Children's Actions When . . Entangled. 39:14-15
14 she called the household servants. "Look," she said to them, "my husband brought a Hebrew man to us to make fun of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, and I screamed as loud as I could.
15 When he heard me screaming for help, he left his garment with me and ran outside."

Could God receive pleasure watching a child being enticed to sin? It seems to me there would be joy in watching your child refuse the enticement. What about when the child refuses and the enticement turns to being ensnared because of temptation, and then further innocently entangled? I believe God through it all could receive pleasure because He knows of His child's faithfulness.

4. When Tempted To Sin Be Aware Of God's . . Protection. 39:19-20

A. Protection In The Midst Of False . . Incrimination. 39:19
19 When his master heard the story his wife told him--"These are the things your slave did to me"--he was furious.

B. Protection In The Midst Of False . . Imprisonment. 39:20
20 and had him thrown into prison, where the king's prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison. HCSB

We do not have any record of Joseph questioning God because he was innocently and falsely incriminated and imprisoned. Would you and I register complete trust and peace in this kind of situation? I believe I would complain, and ask questions; even though I might eventually get busy trying to serve God in this undeserved and difficult position. Could we learn to trust God for His protection even while in prison? Hopefully every Christian would trust God in all of these times When Tempted To Sin. Amen? Amen!