Temptation: Sexual Sin

Temptation

Define temptation - in the Bible: 3 words

1. Seduction/akit/tukso

2. Enticement/hikayat

3. Invitation/anyaya

Anything that can/may cause us to act in a way that offends God. 

• Person 
• Object
• Situation

Processed by the Senses > Goes into the mind - judgement/discernment > decision

> action > offends God/does not offend God 

Clarification

1. The experience of temptation/to be tempted is not a sin. 

2. To give in into temptation is sin. 

3. To expose ourselves to temptation is sin. James 4:17 sin of pride: trusting the strength of our flesh

4. Why do we still give in into temptation. There is a war raging inside us. 

Romans 7:19-23

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the [a]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [b]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [c]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [d]of the law of sin which is in my members.

Joseph and Potiphar's wife 

Genesis 39

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Joseph’s Success in Egypt

39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him [a]from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a[b]successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and [c]became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his [d]charge. 5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. 6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s [e]charge; and with him there he did not[f]concern himself with anything except the [g]food which he[h]ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife [i]looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master [j]does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my [k]charge. 9 [l]There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” 10 As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 11 Now it happened [m]one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside. 12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside. 13 [n]When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a [o]Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I [p]screamed. 15 When he heard that I raised my voice and [q]screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.” 16 So she [r]left his garment beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him [s]with these words, “[t]The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me; 18 and as I raised my voice and [u]screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.”

Joseph Imprisoned

19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “[v]This is what your slave did to me,” his anger burned. 20 So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. 22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s[w]charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was [x]responsible for it. 23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under [y]Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.

We are tempted everyday 

To be victorious is to be victories everyday. 

1. We must be mindful for God's hatred for sin. V8-9

Be mindful of the pain incurred by Jesus when he was crucified. 

2. Be mindful there is a way out of temptation. V12-14 
Run away/flee from temptation. Do not test the strength. 

3. We must be mindful that God is pleased when we overcome temptation. V20-22 
Even if it means personal sacrifice. 

What is the best way that we bless God?