WHAT IS TEMTATION? Here’s a helpful definition: Temptation is the state of being enticed to what is displeasing to God (that which is wrong) by a promise of pleasure or gain. There is no better description of how temptation works than that which is found in James 1:14-15:
"But every man is _______________________ when he is drawn away of his ___________________________, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
According to this verse, when you are tempted, who is to blame:
Satan is to blame.
God is to blame (see James 1:13).
Adam is to blame.
My environment is to blame--there are too many tempting things to see and hear all around me.
I am to blame; it’s my own fault.
We now want to consider three stages of temptation:
Our own sinful lust wants to trick us by first making us curious about sin. It wants to get us into the "danger zone" where we can easily fall into sin. A person cannot get burned unless he gets near the fire. This first stage of temptation seeks to get the person near to the fire and at the same time making him think that the fire won’t burn him. Here are two examples of how curiosity can bring us into the danger zone:
LENNY LUSTY PATTY PLUMP
LENNY LUSTY has a problem with dirty books and magazines. He knows where the magazine racks are at the store, and he tells himself, "I’m not going to look at all those books, but I would like to know if there is anything new on the market, to see how bad these kinds of magazines really are!"
PATTY PLUMP is overweight because she overeats, not because she has any kind of physical problem. Today she is on a diet. On her way home from school she passes the local ice cream store. She hears that the store is offering 10 new flavors. "Knowing" she won’t eat any ice cream, she wanders into the store just to find out what new flavors might be there.
LOOK OUT Lenny Lusty! WATCH OUT Patty Plump! You will be "carried away" by your own lust! That curiosity will get you into trouble and will bring you into the next stage of temptation:
Lenny suddenly becomes charmed by the magazines--they seem so interesting and so inviting. Patty becomes charmed by the ice cream--it looks so good. It is at this stage that the pleasure of sin (compare Hebrews 11:25) is offered as something so wonderful and so satisfying that a person will want to pursue it with all of his efforts. There seems to be a "big promise" of delight and pleasure.
Consider the illustration of fishing. The fisherman places on his hook a big, juicy, squirmy worm, and lowers it into the water. The fish sees the temptation, draws near and looks at the worm. It looks so good! It seems so inviting!
The fish is hooked, and the promise of pleasure and satisfaction was a lie! You have allowed your lust to carry you too far. YOU’VE BEEN BURNED by the fire! The temptation has turned into SIN!!!
[NOTE: Much of the above material, including the illustrations, was taken from the Discussion Manual for Student Relationships by Dawson McAllister and Dan Webster, Moody Press, pp. 165-168].
David is an example of a man who at one point in his life failed to overcome sexual temptation. As you read 2 Samuel 11:1-5, can you show how David experienced the three stages of temptation as given above?
The Bible does not teach that it is wrong to look at a woman. The Bible does say that it is wrong to look at a woman TO ____________ AFTER HER (Matthew 5:28). God doesn’t expect man to walk around blindfolded, but He does expect man to look at a woman as a PERSON and not as an object of lust or as a sex object or as a mere body.
Joseph was "beautiful of form" (attractive physical form, well-built, manly, muscular) and "beautiful of appearance" (handsome, attractive physical appearance)--Genesis 39:6. In this respect he took after his mother (Genesis 29:17). It is not surprising, therefore, that Potiphar’s wife was greatly attracted to him. Soon the temptation came, "LIE WITH ME (HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH ME)"-- Genesis 39:7. For Joseph it became a continual temptation because she spoke to him "___________ by ___________" (Genesis 39:10).
As we see how Joseph overcame this temptation, we will be able to formulate some principles which we can then apply to ourselves. Here are five such principles:
Joseph "REFUSED" (Genesis 39:8). He said, "NO!" and would not accept the lustful invitation from this wicked woman!
Is it a sin to be tempted? When does it become sin? How was Joseph‘s response different from his brothers’ response (Reuben--Genesis 35:22; Judah--Genesis 38:15-16)? How was Joseph’s response different from David’s response (2 Samuel 11:2-4)?
Joseph knew that a few moments of sinful pleasure (compare Hebrews 11:25: Moses refused "to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season--short-lived, lasting only for a time, temporary, soon it’s over and then the "let down" and guilt follows) was not worth the trouble that would follow. He knew he would get into trouble with his master (breaking his master’s trust and proving himself unfaithful) but much more he knew he would get into trouble with the Lord (Genesis 39:8-9).
Is there a difference between wants and needs? There are some things that we NEED--air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, etc. Other things, such as the sexual drive, we don’t need in quite the same way. A person can live without sex, but he can’t live (for very long) without food, water and air! God has given the sexual drive to man for the right use, not for the wrong abuse. Until the right time arrives, a boy or girl or man or woman can wait, being busy and occupied with school, work, and other healthy and wholesome activities. You cannot wait to breathe air--that’s a present necessity! NOT waiting for the right time when you are MARRIED brings fears, guilt, doubt, insecurity, etc. and even the judgment of God. Not only your life, but other lives will be troubled and affected and spoiled.
If David had looked ahead to the consequences of his sin of adultery, do you think he would have done it? See 2 Samuel chapter 11 and chapter 12:9-14. See also Nathan’s story in 2 Samuel 12:6. The term "fourfold" could possibly represent the problems David had with his four sons: 1) the child dies-12:18; 2) AMNON-13:28; 3) ABSALOM-18:15; and 4) ADONIJAH-1Kings 2:24-25. Notice the WARNINGS about the serious consequences of sexual sins given in Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:3-13; 6:24-32; 7:6-27.
Joseph considered it an act of "G_______________ W_____________________ (Genesis 39:9) to lie with this lustful woman. It certainly would destroy the good relationship he had established with his master. Most of all it would be a terrible sin against __________ (Genesis 39:9). David, though he committed adultery and murder, realized that his sin was primarily against God (can you find the verse in Psalm 51 in which he admits this?) Verse _____. Joseph’s fear of God was greater than his love for the temporary "pleasures of sin."
Is sex sinful? Can sex be something holy and beautiful and part of God’s perfect plan for a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24-25; Proverbs 5:18-19; 1Corinthians 7:3-5 and see CHAPTER 6 of these notes)? When is sex sinful and subject to the judgment of God (Hebrews 13:4)? Why is premarital sex (sex before marriage) and extramarital sex (sex with someone other than one’s marriage partner; adultery) wrong and sinful?
Day by day Joseph refused to even be "W _______ H _________(Genesis 39:10). He would not even get near or close to her! Joseph knew what would happen if he started to play with fire (Proverbs 6:27-28)!
What then should you do with magazines, books, pictures, TV programs or places which tend to stir up impure thoughts?
Joseph literally did this (Genesis 39:12)!
Does God command us to do likewise (2 Timothy 2:22; I Corinthians 6:15-20)?
Joseph successfully overcame this strong temptation and won the victory! This encourages us and assures us that it is possible for a young man (or a young woman) to resist, to overcome and to be pure, clean and chaste! If Joseph did it (by God’s grace and with God’s help), then you can do it!
Don’t try to overcome LUST (that strong sinful desire which says "I MUST HAVE IT NOW!") in your own strength. You cannot overcome by yourself. The Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example of One who overcame strong temptations (Matthew chapter 4). The Lord Jesus IN YOU can make you able to continue to be an overcomer and a conqueror.
(Consider the words of the great hymn, "YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION")
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