The story of Joseph tells of a young man in route to destiny. Through various tests and betrayals, Joseph realizes God’s purposes for his life and the life of his nation.

Perhaps the most difficult temptation comes in Genesis 39 when Potiphar’s wife incessantly tempts Joseph. For many men this struggle against sexual temptation represents the consummate battle which will either launch them towards destiny or disqualify them into defeat. Joseph’s story gives keys to breaking through the stronghold of sexual temptation. I cannot say this process will be easy or sudden. For me it was neither. But I can promise that “this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you be free of sexual immorality." (1 Thes. 4:3).

1. Calculate the consequences.
“Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.� -Gen 39:8b

A famous lie of the devil is that our sins will not cost anything. He began with Eve, “You will not surely die,� (Gen. 3:4) but there will be consequences to compromise. One of the most effective cures for sexual temptation is to visualize the consequences our sin will have. When tempted to gaze at a lewd magazine or watch a perverse TV program, consider the effects on your life. We have seen houses ruined, marriages destroyed, ministries toppled, and movements halted due to the failures in sexual purity.

My whole empire depends on the purity of my desires.

Joseph realized exactly how much he had to lose if he compromised with Potiphar’s wife. His master had entrusted his house to him, and if he fell into immoralityâ€"his position, his influence, the well-being of his master’s house would all be lost. For young men of this hour, the loss will be to the entire house of your Master, Jesus Christ.

2. Understand God’s standards.
“How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.� Gen. 39:9

Often men rationalize, “It's all right if I look as long as I don't touch. We aren’t going all the way.� Our society has lost shame by blurring the line of holiness. Jesus made it clear. "Whosoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart…And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out…or if your right hand offends you, cut if off.� (Matt. 5:28, 30) Jesus required perfect holiness. The Bible forbids lasciviousness “arousing desires that cannot be righteously fulfilled.� (2 Cor. 12:21, Gal. 5:19, 1 Pet. 4:3, Jude 4)
This definition puts many simple acts of sexual or playful flirtation in the category of known sin.

The King James also warns against concupiscence--“lewdness of looseness of our passions, a fixation or preoccupation with a certain subject or image.� (Col. 3:5, 1 Thes. 4:5, Rom. 7:8) If we hold some fantasy constantly in our mind, speak and dream about some fulfillment outside of the boundaries of God, we are guilty of sexual sin without the actual act. The Bible sets standards of purity for our eyes, thought life, and our relations with all women. To disobey or compromise in these areas, Joseph recognized is a sin “against God" and God’s standards.

3. Maintain constant vigilance.
“She spoke to Joseph day after day.â€? â€"Gen. 39:10

Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph "day by day, saying 'Lie with me." It was not a one-time event that seeks to compromise the integrity of Joseph. Any man can pass a one time test when he knows the eyes of all are upon him. It is the continual wearing down that falls many a man. You must maintain constant vigilance.
Often after our greatest spiritual victories, the enemy creeps in the garden unnoticed and tempts us with the lust of the eyes. A successful man is just as susceptible as an impoverished. The only answer is to keep our guard continually up, day after day, be vigilant against the slippery slope of compromise and maintain the wall of fire around our eyes, mind, and heart.

One practical way I can gauge my vigilance is my eyes. If I begin compromising what I look upon or taking second and third glances, I have begun to slide down the slope towards immorality. At this pointâ€"no laterâ€"I need to repent to God, ask for His cleansing, and rebuild the standard. Job says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes. Why should I look upon a young woman?â€? (Job 31:1) He understood that purity was a daily commitment.

4. Do not battle alone.
“None of the servants was inside.� Gen. 39:11

When Joseph was cornered by Potiphar's wife, “none of the men were in the house with him.� Tragically, this isolation is true of many men who are struggling against pornography.
More that avoiding solitary situations, the young man of God must avoid a solitary lifestyle that cuts him off from other men. An isolated man has little power to break free of his private sin, because he has the luxury of keeping it just thatâ€"private. Men were created to run together in packs. Like geese flying in formation, one is lifted by the wings of another, and as long as they stay aligned, there is increased power. Against our independent culture mentality, a man will only achieve his true potential as he is related and refined with other men.

Man of God, do not get left in the house alone. Bring other men your age, older and younger, into your life to experience the battles you are fighting and win them together with you. Joseph was vulnerable when he was alone, as are we. Friendships and accountability are irreplaceable in your fight to be sexually free from sin.
You cannot, I repeat, cannot fight this battle alone.

5. Do not get “caught.�
“She caught him by his garment.� --Gen. 39:12

Potiphar’s wife grabbed onto Joseph’s clothing to bring him into her trap. This grasping out of sin to capture a young man of God is a perfect picture of the clutches of pornography. Lust starts very subtly, but if allowed the least amount of room to continue, it will grab a man’s soul and inevitably ensnare him.
The eyes are the gate of the soul. Jesus says, “If your eyes are good than your whole body is full of light.� (Matt. 6:23) The battle for men begins with the eyes; which is why the practice of immediately turning our eyes from seductive women, shows, internet, sites, magazines, etc. is such a powerful practice. Maintain the purity of your eyes and you will see the transformation of your desires.
By guarding our eyes, we develop a habit of purity. Like any habit, this is difficult at first and requires discipline, but after a couple weeks of practice, we find great freedom and control.

6. Leave your garments.“He left his garment in her hand.� --Gen. 39:12 a

Many men are wearing garments that prevent God from dealing with them on the issue of sexual purity. Most addictions, including lust and pornography, stem from a deep desire to be loved or a need for comfort inappropriately pursued. We may ask ourselves what it is we really hope to gain from such behavior. As we allow God to search our heart, we will often find holes in our own soul. They are inevitable and come with walking this earth. Just as our soles become worn and ragged, the soul of a man's heart is quickly worn and tattered by life on earth, and he looks for ways to patch the holes. As I began to confront some of the painful issues of my past, God clarified to me how sinful lust, masturbation, and pornography were simply patches to try to cover a wounded soul. The sooner a man realizes the underlying scars he is trying to cover, the quicker the battle against immorality will be won.

Joseph left his garments in the hand of the sinful adulterous, but in this act of utter humility, he was delivered from the temptation. Jesus hung naked on the cross and had nothing in his life hidden from the Father’s stare. Such transparency is the need of the hour. It lends credibility to our leadership, authority to our message, accountability to our private walk, and wonderful fellowship with a Living God who dwells in approachable light.

7. Flee!“And fled and ran outside.â€? â€"Gen. 39:12b

Joseph knew that he could not get caught in the house alone, and the moment the tempter came, he ran. “Flee fornication,� (1 Cor. 6:18) for any rationalization, any hesitation, or flirtation with this enemy, and the battle is already lost. Many men put themselves in vulnerable positions, resist for a period of time, but ultimately fall from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you are a young man struggling with internet pornography, turn off the system! Put blocks on the browsers! Do not expose yourself to unnecessary temptations. If magazines or soft pornography ads are in your house, dispose of them completely. Remove any remnant of temptation out your grasps.

The reason we must flee sexual immorality is that God will allow no compromise with the enemy in this area. He knows the slightest bend in our will, the smallest crack in our armor is like a leak in the levy. When pressure comes, when tiredness and spiritual fatigue set in, unless we have removed any remnant of the temptation far from our grasp, our flesh will fail. Joseph realized that his only hope of deliverance from Potiphar’s wife was to run with all of his might out of the house. With lustful persuasions, the rule must be always flight rather than fight.

Young man, make no bargains with the enemy in your sexual purity. Understand like Joseph that conquering lust is a pre-requisite towards fulfilling God’s dream for your life. Make a quality decision to honor God’s standards of sexual purity, avoid isolation, and allow other men in your life to overcome patterns of the past. Once this decision is made, you are on your path to victory and to your destiny.

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