Joseph – Overcoming Temptation

Joseph – Overcoming Temptation

On Sunday, 4^th November 2007, we were privileged at CDC to have our own Chairman and Elder Quah Poh Keat give us the message on “Joseph – Overcoming Temptation” as we continued our series into the life of the great Joseph.

This week’s sermon brought us to the famous episode of how Joseph resisted the advances of Potiphar’s wife because of his loyalty and commitment to God but suffered greatly for it when she turned on him with vengeance and got him thrown into prison because of her lies.

In a very wise message, elder Quah taught us 4 R’s that we would do well to remember to overcome the temptations of our lives.

Firstly, we were exhorted to Rationalize Not. Joseph was well-built, handsome and successful-the man in charge of the whole household. He was a performer, a worthwhile target. In these circumstances, it was so easy for Joseph to rationalize and say “Why not?” Other slaves were probably doing it with Potiphar’s wife. He could easily blame her like Adam did eve by saying “She started it”, or “I had no choice, she’s the bosses wife” or “If I don’t do it, she’ll make life hard for me”. He could rationalize, “since God has been so unfair to me, why should I follow his laws?” He could even say “It’s in my genes”, referring to the episode of Reuben and his father’s concubine. Judah also had a habit of cavorting with prostitutes. Adam was the first to rationalize but God did not accept his excuse. Daniel and his friends did not rationalize when taken as slaves to a foreign land. They would not touch defiled food, and were prepared to pay the price for it. Joseph chose not to rationalize, but to stand firm. We too should do the same.

Secondly, we were taught to Reject it now. Joseph rejected Potiphar’s wife’s advances from the very beginning and kept away from her. He did not linger near her and let the temptation grow stronger. Sin always starts small, and then grows and grows and grows, leading to more and more sin. Finally, the sinner will be completely in bondage, a slave. Drug addiction always needs another fix. Are we in sin now or slipping down towards more sin? Reject it now and start over! Tomorrow may be too late. God will punish the sinner. We need to remember that only he who does the will of the Father will make it to heaven. We who are responsible for driving away people from the Lord will be punished even more severely. Because of Osama bin Laden, anyone named Osama is immediately stigmatized. Have we caused the name of Christ to be stigmatized because of our actions? Sin also saps our anointing, as happened to Samson. Some think they can ruin their own life while still serving, but they will gradually lose it. It is our sacred duty not to squander God’s anointing. Sin will find us out one way or another, and God will bring every deed to judgment. We need to heed Jesus’ warning that it is better to have an eye or a hand thrown into hell than to have the whole body burning there. We have to be ruthless with sin, regarding what we see or do or speak. Like Balaam’s donkey, sometimes God sends roadblocks along our paths to stop us from sinning. We need to heed the warning. Joseph was prepared to forego his cloak. Sometimes, we just have to flee from the place of temptation. David chose to stay, to look at Bathsheba, and his sin eventually brought misfortune on many his whole family members.

Thirdly, we were told to Regret Not. Poor Joseph ended up being thrown in prison. He may have been disappointed with Potiphar, disappointed with God. It is interesting to note that although Potiphar burned with anger, it is not written that he was angry with Joseph. He might quite easily have killed him, but perhaps Potiphar knew his wife better but had no choice regarding the matter to save his own face. God understands the true motives behind our hearts. Later, Joseph did not take revenge on Potiphar or his wife. He realized that it was all part of God’s plan.

Finally, we were exhorted to Repent Now. When we repent, God forgives us and purifies us from our sins, and there is no longer any condemnation when we receive the Spirit of life! Even Ted Haggard, the leader of 40 million Evangelical Christians fell because of sin. We must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought but always check ourselves in humility and repent before God. We can’t stop a bird from flying over our heads but we can stop it from building a nest on our heads. We must set our boundaries and recognize our weaknesses. David repented and Saul rationalized. Peter repented, but Judas hung himself. We need to have some fear, to learn to fear God.

May God help us take these lessons to heart, to rationalize not, reject sin immediately, regret not for standing up for righteousness and repent earnestly that we may walk rightly with God.

God bless,

Jason