The Great Escape

Today we will be looking at several different passages that pertain to temptation. My hope for today is that we gain a better understanding of what temptation is and how it can be overcome. Have you ever found yourself coming to the Lord to confess the same list of sins? Well I have, and it can be frustrating at times, but we have no one to blame but ourselves. But isn’t temptation to strong for us, isn’t satan to powerful and crafty. We surely cannot stand against his schemes. Well lets see what the Word has to say about that. Today we are going to start in 1 Corinthians 10:13, and this will be the passage we will focus on the most. So, lets dive in, and see what God has for us today.

Tempt

The Greek word peirazo is translated in two ways, one of those being “test” with the sense of “to try, or to make proof of” this is its only meaning when used with God. The second is “to tempt” which means to entice, solicit or provoke to sin.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

The first part of chapter 10 is a history lesson from the nation of Israel, and for the most part a lesson of what not to do, all these things happened for examples for us. He warns not to be idolaters, not to be sexually immoral. Then he starts talking about temptation. We are going to break this verse down by sections.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Here Paul points out that there is no temptation that we face that is not common to everyone. Sometimes we like to compare ourselves to others, our temptations are worse than theirs, we have more temptations than they do (maybe for the spiritually immature). But as we see here all temptations are common to man. Yes, what tempts each of us may be different, but it is nothing new.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

God is faithful, faithful to what, for one to His promises, to His children. God remains steadfast, faithful no matter the circumstances. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We see His faithfulness come to life in the Old Testament, and there is no greater example of God’s faithfulness than Christ. The promise of one to come that was made in Genesis. God remained faithful to His plan of salvation even though we remain unfaithful. Because of His faithfulness we see what he does in our temptations.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

So, because God is faithful he will not let us be tempted beyond our ability, our temptations will not overwhelm us. What does it take to overcome our temptations, do we grit our teeth and push through them, no if we rely on our own strength we will fall prey to our temptations. No matter how big we think our temptations are they are not bigger than we can handle (with Christ).

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

The way of escape, as mentions earlier God is faithful, and He is faithful to provide us a way out, a way of escape. So, if God is faithful to provide a way to escape our temptations then why do we often fall pre to them. It is because we are not searching for the way out, we are not looking for that escape.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

He provides a way of escape that we may endure the temptation. We can get past our temptations with endurance. How does all this work, where do our temptations come from, and how doe they give birth to sin? Well lets look at James for those answers.

James 1:2–4 (LEB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

We looked at the definition of tempt early, and we see that it can mean to test or trial. We will all face tests in our lives, it is how we handle those tests that decides if they become temptations. Remember the way of escape so we can endure the temptation.

James 1:13–15 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Here James breaks it all down. Our temptations do not come from God, He allows us to be tested, but He does not tempt us. Those come from our own desires. It is these desires that give birth to sin. When we internalize a test that we are going through (incorporate it into our lives), we dwell on the test it will then become a temptation. When we hold on to the test it will weigh us down and bring about the temptation, but if we let it go, we can bear the test, because God is faithful to help us endure the test. (Water Glass Example weight)

With all this said what means do we have to help us not to focus on the test.

The Word

Matthew 4:1–4 (ESV)

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Satan tries to use doubt, which is one of his most powerful tools. But how does Jesus answer.

Matthew 4:5–7 (ESV)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Matthew 4:8–10 (ESV)

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Prayer

Matthew 6:13 ESV

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This is a verse from what is called the Lord’s prayer. Here we see Jesus instructing us to pray for help with our temptations. We have a high priest who can sympathize with us because he was tempted just as we are.

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

The Great Escape

When tests, and trials come what are we doing, do we give into them and let them lead us into temptation our are we looking for that great escape, turning to God the author and perfecter of our faith. Putting on the armour of God each and everyday, resting in His faithfulness.

Related Media

Related Sermons