1. James 4:7-8 – "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

2. What is involved in resisting (withstanding) the devil?

3. Consider Genesis 39:1-20.

4. Joseph’s conduct is demonstrative of characteristics necessary in resisting temptation.

I. Deserving of others’ trust.

A. Joseph realized that Potiphar had placed his confidence in him.

1. Genesis 39:8 - "Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand."

B. We need to be deserving of the confidence others have placed in us.

1. Before we give in to temptation, we ought to consider the effect our sin will have on others (our spouses, children, other family members, friends, etc.).

II. Denied himself of that which was not his.

A. Joseph remembered there were some things that did not belong to him

1. Genesis 39:9 - "Neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife."

B. To take another person’s companion is to take that which belongs to someone else.

1. Mark 6:18 - "For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife."

III. Devoted to God.

A. Joseph remembered that all sin is against God.

1. Genesis 39:9 – "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

B. Joseph remembered what immorality is – sin!

1. Isaiah 5:20 – "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

IV. Determined to overcome temptation.

A. Joseph said no and meant it!

1. Genesis 39:10 – "And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her."

B. Joseph did not "flirt" with sin.

1. Genesis 39:10 – ""And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."

1. It is possible to overcome sin, but we must prepare our hearts to do so.

a) Deserving of other’s trust.

b) Deny ourselves of that which is not ours.

c) Devoted to God.

d) Determined to overcome temptation.