Overview:
Of all the different categories of temptation, the most aggressive and the most scandalous is sexual temptation. Such temptation presented itself to Joseph when he was most vulnerable, but his upright response made him one of greatest examples in Scripture of how to overcome it. How did he do so? Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll as he offers us four essential “Must Nots” from Genesis 39 to help us maintain the integrity of moral purity.
Message Summary:
In this candid and deeply personal message, Chuck Swindoll addresses the pervasive challenge of sexual temptation through the lens of Joseph’s life in Egypt. Chuck establishes that while God created sex to be a beautiful gift within marriage, outside of that context, it becomes a “wicked thing” that compromises a believer’s integrity. The sermon emphasizes that the secret to sustaining moral purity is not found in one’s own strength or reasoning, but in an acute, healthy fear of God—realizing that He is an all-seeing witness even in our most private moments.
Drawing from Genesis 39, the message explores how Joseph, a young and prosperous man with significant privacy and authority, successfully resisted the relentless advances of Potiphar’s wife. Chuck utilizes the insights of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to describe temptation as a “slumbering inclination” that seeks to make God feel unreal while making the object of desire feel like the only reality. The sermon concludes with a powerful call to “run” from temptation rather than arguing with it, offering hope and forgiveness to those who have fallen and a strategic “must-not” list for those seeking to stand firm.
Message Key Facts:
- The “Slumbering Inclination”: Chuck shares a vivid description of temptation from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s booklet Temptation, not.ing that Satan wins not by making us hate God, but by making us forget Him.
- The Success of Joseph: Despite being sold into slavery and being “handsome and well-built,” Joseph rose to become the head of Potiphar’s household. Chuck notes that Joseph’s success was rooted in the fact that “the Lord was with him.”
- The Relentless Pursuit: Chuck highlights that Potiphar’s wife was not subtle; she was a predator who pressured Joseph “day after day.” Joseph’s victory was not a one-time event but a series of repeated refusals.
- The Tactical Retreat: When cornered alone, Joseph didn’t stay to pray or talk; he “tore himself away” and ran, leaving his cloak behind. Chuck underscores the biblical mandate to flee youthful lusts.
- The Consequences List: Chuck shares a sobering list of consequences compiled by Randy Alcorn, which includes grieving the Lord, dragging His name through the mud, and destroying one’s credibility with spouse and children
Message References:
- Genesis 39:1–23: The primary narrative of Joseph’s service in Potiphar’s house, his resistance to temptation, the false accusation, and his subsequent imprisonment.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18–20: The command to “flee from sexual immorality,” noting that sexual sins are uniquely against one’s own body.
- James 1:13–15: The progression of temptation, from being “drawn away by one’s own lust” to the birth of sin and death.
- 1 Peter 5:8: The warning to be sober and vigilant because the devil prowls like a “roaring lion” seeking someone to devour.
- Psalm 103:12: A reminder of God’s grace, removing our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west.”
