Genesis 39:2-10, “As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, and saw that God was working for good in everything he did. He became very fond of Joseph and made him his personal aide. He put him in charge of all his personal affairs, turning everything over to him. From that moment on, God blessed the home of the Egyptian—all because of Joseph. The blessing of God spread over everything he owned, at home and in the fields, and all Potiphar had to concern himself with was eating three meals a day. Joseph was a strikingly handsome man. As time went on, his master’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, “Sleep with me.”He wouldn’t do it. He said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master doesn’t give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he’s put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you. You’re his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?” She pestered him day after day after day, BUT HE STOOD HIS GROUND. HE REFUSED TO GO TO BED WITH HER.” (MSG).
The NIV says verse 10 like this: “And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her OR EVEN BE WITH HER.”
Potiphar’s wife gets an eye on this good-looking young man. And if you don’t believe Joseph looked good, check out his Biblical Description found in verse 6:
“…Joseph was an ATTRACTIVE PERSON AND FINE-LOOKING” (AMP);
“…Joseph was WELL-BUILT AND HANDSOME” (CEB);
“…Joseph was of a BEAUTIFUL FORM AND OF A BEAUTIFUL COUNTENANCE.” (DARBY);
“…Joseph was a VERY HANDSOME, GOOD-LOOKING MAN” (ERV);
“…Joseph was a STRIKINGLY HANDSOME MAN” (MSG);
“…Joseph was STRONG AND GOOD-LOOKING” (NLV);
EVEN IN THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE JOSEPH WAS FINE! “…Yosef was YAFEH TO’AR (WELL BUILT) AND YAFEH MAREH (GOOD LOOKING)” (OJB)
So, now that we’ve established PHYSICALLY why SHE lost her NATURAL mind, the Bible goes on to say, “After a while, his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me.’ But he refused.”
Verse 10 of Genesis 39 says– “And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her.” However, if that wasn’t bad enough notice this, the Bible says, “…or even be with her.”
Now, this has got to be for Joseph a pretty tempting temptation. Think about it: He’s lonely; he’s away from home. I would guess that a powerful man’s wife is probably pretty attractive, and he is totally trusted in the man’s home with all the man’s stuff! And the truth of the matter is…He may very well get away with this and no one even knows that he’s done it!
BUT, he says, “How could I sin against God.” Joseph knows…Ultimately if no one else will know…GOD WILL!
He knows that he and his conscience will know too! And had he said ‘yes’ to this temptation, it would have been a Spiritually Fatal Mistake – probably Disqualifying him from being God’s hero as we know him today!
Temptation is always out to bite you, to discredit you, to scar you. Therefore, do you know what your “Potiphar’s Wife” is right now?
It could be a sexual opportunity; it could be the apparent advantages of compromising your integrity just a little bit; being a little dishonest; maybe it’s the urge to retaliate or a compromise that seems better than losing this person, or that old habit, or going back to the old friends, places or things. Whatever your “Potiphar’s Wife” is…remember this: THE ADVANTAGES OF SINNING ARE ALWAYS SHORT-LIVED, HOWEVER, THE PRICE YOU PAY ALWAYS LASTS A LONG TIME!
Notice that Joseph can recognize that temptation’ under all that mascara and perfume! In other words, he’s smart enough to take evasive action to not go near! Which for him was twice as hard since he was living in the house!
That may be why the pull of temptation is so strong on you! You haven’t burned your bridges to it!
Oh, you may distance yourself a little bit, but you remain connected. Your “Potiphar’s Wife” can still call you, text you, sext you, email you, compliment you, make advances on you, have access to your personal space, and get close enough to even get your clothes off!
Ya, I said it!
So, when do you plan to disconnect from your attachment to ‘Potiphar’s Wife’? When are you going to delete the pictures, block the phone number, and go ghost them on their social media sites?
When are you going to stop allowing ‘Potiphar’s Wife’ to remain so close to you that she can reach out and touch you? Why are you still within arms distance of ‘Potiphar’s Wife’?
Especially, since she hasn’t been at all shy about her motives or intentions!
Listen, Joseph got away from his temptation, however, not before his temptation was able to take something from him! She didn’t get what she wanted, but she did get something! The Bible Says: “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out [of the house]. And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled away, She called to the men of her household and said to them, Behold, he [your master] has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock and insult us; he came in where I was to lie with me, and I screamed at the top of my voice. And when he heard me screaming and crying, he left his garment with me and fled and got out of the house. And she laid up his garment by her until his master came home.” (Genesis 39:12-16 AMP)
The Message Bible Says It Like This: “On one of these days he came to the house to do his work and none of the household servants happened to be there. SHE GRABBED HIM BY HIS CLOAK…” (MSG)
The danger of even entertaining temptation is that you’re still close enough for it to take something from you! For Joseph, it was his cloak, however, for many, it grabbed their character, integrity, dignity, testimony, witness, and influence. For some, it grabbed their family, their marriage, their ministry, and even their mind! Being Too Close Is Still Too Much Of A Compromise!
Don’t let your temptation take the very thing that your Father Gave You to Distinguish You in the First Place!
Think about it: Isn’t it amazing that Joseph’s brothers were angry and jealous and abused and banished him because of a coat, and yet he was still so close to temptation that another coat was snatched off him?!
Joseph was well known for his coat of many colors that was given to him by his father, because of his great love for him.
When you get too close to temptation, it will likewise attempt to take from you all that the Father gave you to distinguish you as His Favored Child!
Joseph had two coats taken from him, his coat of many colors by his brothers who Hated Him; and his Cloak by Potiphar’s wife, a woman who was Hot for Him But Couldn’t Have Him!
A Temper Took His First Coat, Temptation Took His Second! And He Never Got Either of Them Back! Temptation Will Take From You and Never Return! In fact, the loss of his cloak stayed with Potiphar’s wife and was used against him in a lie and false imprisonment!
Make Sure You’re Not Being Too Close For Comfort!
Truthfully, the Things and People that Can Grab a Hold of Us, Is Only Because We Keep Ourselves Within Their Reach! Think about it: It’s hard for them to touch you when they can’t text you, call you, write you, or visit you. Not to mention taking the extra measures and precautions to evict them out of your heart and mind (by the way: if you do that, keeping them off, out of, and away from your body will be that much easier…
So, have you made up your mind yet? Do you want to avoid being bitten? THEN YOU HAVE TO AVOID THE PLACES WHERE IT IS, THE PEOPLE WHO DRAW YOU INTO IT, and THE PROPS THAT GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT IT…
Truth Is: YOU CAN’T FLIRT WITH SIN; IT’S A VICIOUS DOG! NO MATTER HOW FINE JOSEPH LOOKS OR HOW AVAILABLE POTIPHAR’S WIFE IS…YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET BITTEN BY “CUJO” IF YOU DON’T GET OFF THAT CORNER OF COMPROMISE!
Therefore, TODAY, USE YOUR BIBLE AND YOUR WORKING HOLY GHOST LIKE YOU WOULD A MAP APP FOR YOUR PHONE! “FIND ME THE QUICKEST AND SAFEST WAY OUT OF HERE…NOW!”
Seriously, think about it, our phone maps not only give us directions, but some of them also let you know in advance that there’s an accident ahead of you on the same road you’re on.
And what does it do? It gives you another route to take!
Truth is, sometimes that new route is a lot longer and sometimes even unfamiliar. You may not like it, but at least you get to bypass the accident that could delay and detour you from your God-Intended destination! Likewise, you have to strengthen your relationship with the Holy Spirit! He’s not just your comforter but He’s your counselor! He lives on the inside of you! When it comes to communicating with someone in an emergency, how much closer can a person get than to talking to the person living inside them?! The Holy Spirit is there to lead you, guide you, direct, and redirect you when necessary! But just like your GPS doesn’t work without being activated, neither does the Holy Spirit! You build a relationship with Him and give Him permission to change your route when you’re heading for danger!
And you know what strengthens this relationship? Prayer! And what’s prayer? Communication!
Keep it simple or you will complicate something that can help you! Prayer is communication! And the more you do it, the more consistent you are at it, and the more you’ll stay out of dangerous places and away from dangerous people!
Here’s an example. ~HUSBAND AND WIFE. Imagine if you stayed in touch with the Holy Spirit like that throughout the day, how many temptations would you be able to be rerouted away from without ever falling?!
People of God, your prayer life and relationship with the Holy Spirit will save you from the attacks of ‘Potiphar’s Wife’! You’ll begin discerning what people, places, and things you have to avoid for your own mental; emotional; physical; spiritual, and even financial well-being!
However, this will require you to run from the temptation and retreat in prayer with the Holy Spirit! And how long should you retreat in prayer with the Holy Spirit?
The Bible admonishes:
“Pray Without Ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Let’s see this verse in a few translations:
“be unceasing and persistent in prayer.” (AMP);
“Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]” (AMPC);
“Pray continually.” (CEB);
“and never stop praying.” (CEV);
“pray at all times” (GNT);
“Always keep on praying.” (TLB);
“…pray all the time…” (MSG)
Imagine how protected you would be, especially from the temptation of sin, if you’re in communication with the Holy Spirit: “UNCEASINGLY; PERSISTENTLY; NEVER STOP; and AT ALL TIMES”?!
The truth is, the temptation will NEVER CEASE, which is why your prayer life can NEVER CEASE!
And remember, there is absolutely no temptation powerful enough to FORCE you to surrender!
1 Corinthians 10:13, “NO TEMPTATION [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His Word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”
(AMP) You will never as a child of God be able to say that temptation was so strong it overtook you and you had no way out because your Father loves you so much that the Bible says, “…He [has in the PAST and is NOW and] WILL [ALWAYS] provide the way out as well so that you will be ABLE to ENDURE it [WITHOUT YIELDING, and will OVERCOME TEMPTATION with joy].”
Your Father has in the past, is now and will always provide the way out of temptation, YOU just have to add an addendum to your daily prayers that I keep in mine: “Father, help me to be mindful that in the midst of every temptation presented to me today, You’ve ALREADY provided me a way of escape. Now, grant me the discernment to see it and the wisdom to take it.”
Because let’s be honest, you are NEVER forced to surrender to temptation! James 1:13-15, “Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil and puts evil in no one’s way.
The temptation to give in to evil COMES FROM US AND ONLY US. WE HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THE LEERING, SEDUCING FLARE-UP OF OUR OWN LUST.
Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.”
(MSG). If You Give In, You Wanted to. If You Give In, You Decided to. If you allow the temptation to sin, to be conceived in your life, and then you nourish it so it grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer of your marriage; integrity; family; character; calling; anointing; dignity…
It Was Your Choice!
You Don’t Get to Complain About What You’ve Condoned! Remember, Your Choice…Your Consequence!
This is why it’s so important to remember Joseph’s example: “…The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you. You’re his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?”
She pestered him day after day after day, BUT HE STOOD HIS GROUND. HE REFUSED TO GO TO BED WITH HER.” (MSG). “
And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her OR EVEN BE WITH HER.”
Listen: Temptation doesn’t knock once and then walk away from the door! Potiphar’s Wife “PESTERED HIM DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY! She spoke to Joseph DAY AFTER DAY!” Every day you will be faced with the opportunity to accept temptation, which is why every day you have to remain praying without ceasing so you can receive clear directions on how to get away from Potiphar’s Wife.
The Bible says, “FLEE FROM IT” Which is your admonishment to take a route that’s nowhere near the opportunity to sin!
1 Timothy 6:11, “But as for you, O man of God, FLEE FROM THESE THINGS; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.”
(AMP) The Message Bible reads like this: “But you, Timothy, man of God: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE FROM ALL THIS. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, and courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.” (MSG) REMEMBER TIMOTHY AND FLEE, REMEMBER JOSEPH AND RUN! AND DON’T JUST RUN, BUT RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! LIKE JOSEPH, USE COMMON SENSE! NO MATTER HOW CUTE AND FRIENDLY HOWEVER, IF YOU’RE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO IT…IT’S NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO BITE YOU! THEREFORE, AVOID BEING BITTEN BY AVOIDING BEING TOO CLOSE! DON’T LET POTIPHAR’S WIFE CATCH YOU!
“Don’t just run from temptation, look it in the eye and defeat it.” (Baylor Barbee)
“With every temptation there will be a way of escape.” (F.B. Meyer)
“Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory.” (Frederick W. Faber)
“If you don’t want temptation to follow you, stop acting as if you’re interested.” (Author Unknown)
“Satan would have you believe that happiness comes only as you surrender to his enticements, but one only needs to look at the shattered lives of those who violate God’s laws to know why Satan is called the Father of Lies.” (Ezra Taft Benson)
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” (Deepak Chopra)
“Every time you defeat temptation you become more like Jesus.” (Rick Warren)
“Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.” (Author Unknown)
“When temptation knocks, imagination usually answers.” (Dan Bennett)
“Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall.” (William Shakespeare)
“When fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address.” (Jeffrey R. Holland)
“Temptation will knock at your door; don’t ask them to stay for dinner.” (Author Unknown)
“Be alert. The devil never sleeps. As we come closer to perfection, his temptations are more cunning.” (Author Unknown)
“Nothing sexier than someone who can face temptation and say, ‘Nah, this ain’t worth losing what I have.” (Author Unknown)
“Temptation is the feeling we get when encountered by an opportunity to do what we innately know we shouldn’t.” (Dr. Steve Maraboli)
“Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down.” (C.S. Lewis)
“The Devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery; he tempted them to live independent of God.” (Bob Jones, Sr.)
“Temptation can be defined as an inducement to do evil. Three powerful forces work together to ruin a believer’s character and witness; Satan, the world system, and our own lustful ‘flesh’ tendencies.” (Charles Stanley)
“The first time temptation comes, meet it in such a decided manner that it will never be repeated.” (Ellen G. White)
“Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest.” (Rick Warren)
“I have one good reason why you should walk away from temptation right now. One reason. God is Better.” (Francis Chan)
“In all temptations let us consider not what he offers, but what we shall lose.” (Author Unknown)
“Temptation exercises our faith and teaches us to pray.” (A.B. Simpson)
“Temptation is not a sin, but playing with temptation invites sin.” (Fulton J. Sheen)
“Temptation is not a sin; it is a call to battle.” (Erwin W. Lutzer)
“Sexual temptations are lurking around every corner in our lives today. Resisting the temptation to gratify the flesh is a full-time job.” (Gary Rohrmayer)
“Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.” (Billy Sunday)
“Temptation usually comes in through a door that has been deliberately left open.” (Author Unknown)
“Temptation is a hard battle to fight and it’s a struggle. But that’s not an excuse to give in.” (Author Unknown)
“Nothing is hotter than a man that can face temptation and say ‘nothing is worth turning my back on God and losing what I have.” (Jonni Nicole)
“The Bible never says to manage temptation, it says to flee it.” (Author Unknown)
“Strengthen your commitment to Christ – now. Don’t wait until the storms of temptation, or sickness, or old age threaten to blow you off-course; now is the time to strengthen your faith.” (Billy Graham)
“The reason why many fail in battle is that they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is that they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” (R. A. Torrey)
“In the last analysis, it is not the temptations that meet us on the streets that determine our conduct; it is the heart of the man who faces them. Two men may face the same conditions; one falls, and the other stands. The difference is not in the temptation but in the heart of the man.” (D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones)
“Satan’s chief device of temptation is to attack the truth of God.” (R.C. Sproul)
“I once faced a temptation that was so persistent and so overwhelming that I literally believed my whole world would go dark if I refused to give in to it,” he said. “All I could do was scream to the Holy Spirit to keep me from it.” (Wesley Hill)
“You don’t have to face temptation alone, and you never have. Just remember that He is with you, and when a temptation comes, imagine Him being right by your side, and you’ll immediately feel added strength and power.” (John Bytheway)
“Every Christian is endued with a power whereby he is enabled to resist temptation.” (Author Unknown)
“The greatest temptations are not those that solicit our consent to obvious sin, but those that offer us great evils masking as the greatest goods.” (Thomas Merton)
“Why does one of God’s ministers preach the Gospel powerfully? Because God gives him assistance. Why does Joseph stand against temptation? Because God gives him aid. The strength of a Christian is divine strength.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
“The best thing to do when there is temptation is run.” (Johnny Hunt)
“The idle man tempts the devil to tempt him.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
“If evil were not made to appear attractive, there would be no such thing as temptation. It is in the close similarity between good and evil, right and wrong, that the danger lies.” (Billy Graham)
“A great help during temptation is to remember that to sin is more than just breaking a rule; it is to grieve the person who loves us beyond measure.” (Paul Washer)
“What makes resisting temptation difficult for many people is they don’t want to discourage it completely.” (Franklin P. Jones)
“The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.” (Matthew Henry)
“Satan rejoices when old habits overwhelm us and we cave into the pressure of the crowd, perhaps temptation lures us into sin. A backsliding Christian compromises their faith and causes unbelievers to mock the Gospel.” (Billy Graham)
“Anticipate your battles. Fight them on your knees before temptation comes and you will always have victory.” (Stacey Hitch)
“Temptation is a push or a pull intended to take us away from the will of God.” (Christian Michael)
Matthew 26:40-41, “When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, and ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” (MSG)
Luke 22:39-40, “Leaving there, he went, as he so often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed him. When they arrived at the place, he said, “Pray that you don’t give in to temptation.” (MSG)
Galatians 6:1-3, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way, you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.” (AMP)
Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which response impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].” (AMP)
Matthew 6:13, “‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’” (AMP)
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