## Joseph's Other Coat

## Genesis 39:1-12

The story of Joseph is one of the most loved stories in the Bible. His father loved him, and gave him a special coat, a coat of many colors to express that love. Of course this special attention did not endear him to his other brothers. They eventually sold him off into slavery and used that special coat to deceive their father into thinking Joseph had been killed by some wild beast. Now that is a great story, but it isn't the message for today. I want to talk about Joseph's "other" coat.

Read: 39:1-12

The coat that I want us to consider this morning is the coat he left in the hands of Potiphar's wife. It is the coat of his character. It is the only coat the Egyptians saw.

If you are a believer today, think about this. Only a few people were present at the time you were saved. So how do others know we are Christians? They either know we are Christians because we tell them verbally, or they know it by the way we live. They know it from our testimony. They know because of our Christian character. Joseph's other coat speaks of his character. What coat are we wearing as we live our daily lives before this lost world?

Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

What determines whether we wear the coat of character or shame? It is determined by how we deal with temptation. There are some thoughts on this from our passage today that will help us if we will listen and apply God's Truth.

I. Temptation Comes To Everyone

A. This Was The Perfect Setting For Sin.

1. He was young - youthful desire.

2. He was normal - He knew the power of sexual drive.

3. He was far from home - no one would know.

a. It's easier to sin when we are away from home.

b. I read that 50% of all traveling men take their wedding ring off when they get 25 miles from home.

c. The fundamental flaw with this kind of thinking is this…God doesn't stay home with the wife and kids.

d. If we are truly saved, God is with us 24-7!

4. There was the source of temptation.

a. There will always be a source of temptation.

b. She didn't just come once and then leave him alone.

c. The Bible says that she came day by day. (note verse 10)

d. Temptation will come again and again.

5. Temptation is not sin! But yielding to it is!

B. Notice That Joseph Was Not Exempt Because Of His Spiritual Position.

1. He was righteous.

2. He was faithful to God. Vs. 9, "....how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

3. I have known a few who have had a 'that will never happen to me' attitude…that is just selfish pride!

Pr 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

4. That's when temptation will come with the greatest intensity.

5. We are not exempt…

II. How Did Joseph Handle Temptation?

A. He Left The Scene Of Temptation. Vs. 12, "…He..fled…and got…out."

1. He didn't hang around to prove how tough or how spiritual he was.

2. He left the scene.

3. We are instructed to flee!

a. Flee fornication cf. 1Co. 6:18

b. Flee idolatry 1Co. 10:14

c. Flee lusts 2Ti 2:22

B. He Was Spiritually Prepared.

Ge 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

1. He knew it was sin.

Ge 39:9b "… how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

2. His heart was in tune with God.

3. He knew what sin was.

4. He recognized sin when it came to him.

5. He was more concerned with his relationship with God than his personal desires.

C. Joseph's plan will still work today!

1. Leave the scene - don't dwell around temptation.

a. An alcoholic has no business going to the bars or the liquor stores!

b. A person who is trying to quit smoking, would be foolish to go into a smoke filled room and sit down.

c. If a person is trying to lose weight he stays away from the all-you-can-eat buffets!

d. Too often we want to attempt to defeat sin on our own.

e. We think that we can outsmart the devil.

f. We are no match for Satan!

2. Be spiritually prepared to face temptation.

a. How do we prepare ourselves to deal with temptation?

b. We do it by knowing and applying the principles of this Book!

(1 Cor 10:13) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

(2 Pet 2:9) "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"

3. God will bless us if we will not yield!

a. Joseph went to prison.

b. But God didn't forget him!

c. He brought him out and placed him in the second highest position in all of Egypt.

d. God had a purpose for Joseph…he would become the savior of the nation of Israel.

e. God has a purpose for each of us as well.

f. Don't blow it by yielding to temptation!

(James 1:12) "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

The Bible is filled with examples of people who failed to resist temptation. Each story is one of broken hearts and broken lives. Today is Father's Day. Dad's do you realize that what you do today will have a great impact on your children tomorrow? There is not one person who has failed God who was able to look back and say that it was a good thing that brought wonderful results. Just the opposite is true! What will be our legacy?

Jas 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.