The Greatest Promise about Temptation
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Walking, eating, and communicating—these are three common occurrences in our everyday lives.
We participate in these activities so regularly that we often don’t give them much thought.
It is so easy to become so accustomed to these and other “everyday things,” that we typically don’t consciously think, “I am walking,” “I am eating,” or “I am talking” each time we do them.
Another daily encounter we face is that of temptation.
We confront different types of temptations on a regular basis, and because they are so common, we often don’t even realize we are experiencing them.
As Christians, we need to be aware that today, tomorrow, and every day for the rest of our lives, we will face some type of temptation.
But as we go through these temptations, we are not alone.
God has given us great promises throughout Scripture on this topic. The greatest one is, perhaps, 1 Corinthians 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.
This verse is what many consider to be the greatest promise in the Bible regarding temptation—one that can be claimed and applied for any situation of testing.
For the next several moments, we will study several aspects of temptations and observe the promise of God’s faithfulness as we endure them.
The Meaning of Temptation
The Meaning of Temptation
Part of what makes this verse such a transforming passage comes from understanding what the word temptation means.
Generally when we think of temptation, we think of someone or something making us want to do something wrong.
However, the word temptation is so much broader than that, with both good and bad connotations.
The word is translated different ways
Temptation is peirasmos as a noun and peirazo as the verb
It could mean to test, to prove, to scrutinize, to entice with sin
The verb form is used 39 times in the new testament
The noun form is used 21 times
To fully understand what this word means, it helps to see it mentioned in other contexts in Scripture.
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
The word prove is the same word for temptation in 1 Corinthians 13:10
Jesus knew how He would feed these people, but He wanted to prove Philip.
Jesus was strengthening Philip’s faith by proving him, or rather, tempting him.
Another time this word is used in Scripture can be found in the book of 2 Corinthians
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
The word we’re studying is also in this verse, but it’s not prove this time. In this verse, peirasmos is translated as examine.
With these definitions in mind, we could read 1 Corinthians 10:13 as, “There hath no proving taken you, but such as is common to man,” or “There hath no examination taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, and will not suffer you to be examined above that ye are able; but will with the examination, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
How many of you love taking tests? Tests are never fun (for most people), and they can be extremely challenging.
But imagine this: as hard as some tests are, imagine giving a test from a college Chemistry class to an average first grader, and pressuring that child to make a perfect score on the test. What would that do to the first grader? That would completely overwhelm him! An average first grader would miserably fail a college chemistry test.
God is not going to do that to you! When He allows you to go through a test, that test is on your level, and you can handle it.
While this verse applies to when you’re tempted to do something wrong, it also applies to the tests that the Lord allows you to go through. He promises to not send you through a trial, temptation, or test that you will not be able to handle. What a comforting promise!
This word is amoral
It is neither good nor bad
We typically think of temptation as a bad thing.
To determine if this word is referring to something bad or something not evil one has to look at the context
For example in Matthew 4:1-3.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
When the devil was tempting Jesus in this passage, he obviously had evil intentions.
But in Genesis 22:1, the word tempt refers to something God did.
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
What was the Lord’s intention in tempting Abraham in this passage?
Hebrews 11 tells us
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
This passage states that Abraham was tried when God asked him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.
When God tempted Abraham in Genesis 22, He did it for the purpose of trying Abraham.
God’s motive in allowing you to endure through testings and trials is never to make you fall.
His heart and purpose in these situations is always to draw you closer to Him and to make you stronger as a Christian.
He knows exactly what you are capable of becoming and He works in our lives to bring us to that level of maturity
The Reasons for Temptation
The Reasons for Temptation
God’s heart and Satan’s motives for temptation are completely different
While God desires to help and mature us, Satan will try to convince us that God is not good or not in control of your situation.
So, it is important to clearly understand that any temptation from the Lord is to draw us closer to Him, while any temptation from Satan is to pull us away from Christ.
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.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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.
Temptation can either satisfy our flesh or strengthen our faith
Two types of temptation: the kind your flesh uses against you or the kind God uses for you
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
God doesn’t allow these temptations just to make life more difficult
He allows them because He loves you and He wants to make you stronger
Temptations that test us can either cause us to become bitter or better Christians
Temptations also cause to either crash or conform to Christ
When Jesus was tempted by Satan, it was for no other purpose than to cause Jesus to fail
And he still attempts and succeeds many times to use the same temptations on us. He wants to see us crash and fail
Satan caused a series of temptations in the life of Job of the Old Testament with the intention of causing him to quit.
But while Job lost almost everything he had, he recognized the trials would make him better if he allowed God to accomplish his purposes.
So, Job chose to trust God and to conform to Him rather than to crash in defeat.
But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job was strengthened as he trusted God in time of trial
Trials come to develop our patience
We do not enjoy waiting or enduring, yet waiting can ultimately work in us to perfect the work God is accomplishing in our lives.
Because of this, we should strive to be thankful for and during these periods.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Rather than be discouraged when you go through divers temptations, thank the Lord for giving you the opportunity for growth.
Reveal a wrapped or bagged gift and inside put a paper with the words “Divers Temptations” on it. Have someone come open the present to see what’s inside of it.
We generally don’t think of temptations as gifts, but in reality, that’s exactly what they are!
These tests are opportunities to strengthen our patience, and they should be treated just as we would steward any other gift from God.
Friends, don’t let a temptation in your life be wasted.
Ultimately, both have the potential to strengthen and develop as you respond biblically.
The Escape from Temptation
The Escape from Temptation
This verse not only gives us assurance that we can handle the temptations we face, but is also gives us a promise of escape from each temptation
When an architect is laying down the blueprints for a building, what are some things that should be included in the designs? Windows, a ceiling, a floor, walls, and many other things including—doors. Have you ever been in a building that didn’t have any doors or entry and exit points? Have you ever been stuck in a building that had absolutely no way of escape?
When an architect designs a building, he incorporates his door locations and structural components into his plans. Just as that architect designs these doors, our Almighty Designer perfectly designs each trial with a door of escape.
He doesn’t just leave us in the temptation with no way of survival. He purposefully places the door where He knows it is needed the most.
Our escape for any trial we face is 1 Corinthians 10:13, our text verse.
First Corinthians 10:13 can be our source of comfort when we go through trials! What does this verse specifically provide?
This verse is a weapon during battle
As Christians we are constantly in as spiritual war against sin
any time you’re tempted, meditate on this verse.
Find hope in the promise that God will not allow you to go through something greater that you can handle
Whatever you may be struggling with-whether it’s worry, anger, pride, selfishness, or other spiritual disciplines—claim God’s promise to protect you from anything you can’t handle
Claim this promise as a weapon against temptation
This verse is a shelter during a storm
When enduring a storm, it’s not uncommon to think you’re the only person who has endured a storm of similar magnitude and severity.
You may feel as though no one has ever dealt with this particular situation or that no one could understand the hurt of your pain.
Yet, this verse speaks to the contrary.
It is a reminder that there is no testing but “such as is common to man.”
You will not face a storm that others have not also faced and emerged victoriously.
This verse assures you of that! So, go to this verse as a shelter when you feel that you are facing your storm alone
This verse is a friend during crisis
Aren’t you thankful for good friends who are always there for you?
You can all appreciate those friends that you feel comfortable turning to through any hardship.
First Corinthians 10:13 is a verse you can always turn to as you face crises.
This verse is a timeless promise, a faithful friend, a timely comfort, and a constant reminder.
You can count on its words to not fail you during your times of hurt and need.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Ultimately, as you go through temptations, this single fact gives comfort: Jesus knows how I feel.
Christ can relate to my temptation.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
When you come to Christ to share with Him the temptation you’re facing, you aren’t talking to a counselor who can’t relate with what you’re going through.
If you were to get counsel from the wisest, godliest counselor in the world, that counselor would be able to pray with you, to give you biblical advice, and to even attempt to hurt with you.
But that counselor can’t guarantee that he’ll understand exactly how you feel.
But how wonderful to know that Christ can!
He not only understands your infirmities, but He’s been touched by them.
He feels your pain as if it were His own.
With this in mind, you can have confidence that you can always come to Christ with any form of temptation you may face.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.