A Way Out
God at Work • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Today’s Reading from God’s Word
Today’s Reading from God’s Word
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
Introduction
Introduction
During January we’re taking a look at the activity of God in securing our hope.
In December, we examined how He worked on our behalf:
We looked at His promises and blessings with Abraham.
We talked about His incarnation… God with us…God in the flesh…
We also talked about the culmination of it all — his work on the cross — in Romans 3.
Jesus was the sin offering for the sins of the world.
2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
And now, in January we’re looking at his work on our behalf in the present.
Last week we talked about how God helps us grow in our desire to obey.
We need to be praying that God strengthen our will so that we will come to hate sin and want to be rid of it.
And we also talked about how God helps us change our motives for the obedience of faith.
As we are transformed, we grow in love. And…
18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.
As we allow the reality of what has been done on our behalf sink in, we cannot help but do all we do in the name of Christ out of a spirit of love and appreciation:
19 We love because he first loved us.
Now, today, I want us to examine another great passage that shows us we are not alone as we journey to heaven.
And that is how our God helps us through temptation.
I want you to focus on what happened in communion a few moments ago. That part of our worship is so important. It is a time for a spiritual reset.
We come before the Lord in a spirit of self examination.
It reminds us of how much we have to deal with sin and temptation.
But it also challenges us to resolve to deal with it.
We know we have fallen to sin in the past and it should be in our heart to resolve to know victory over it in the future.
Our time in communion each week is to review the covenant of obedience we made (remember upon your baptism you confessed Jesus as Lord) and resolve to live according to holiness.
It is my prayer that that is where you mind was focused today.
So how do we do this when temptation seems so constant? Overwhelming?
Some times we wonder if victory is even possible.
Satan is real. His is cunning. He is a powerful spiritual being.
He hits us with temptations that sometimes are hard to realize they are actually temptations.
Our flesh is weak. We let our guards down.
So how do we get through?
I think the answer is found in our text for today.
It’s a familiar passage.
It serves as a tremendous encouragement for us.
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
The promise is amazing.
Satan is not as powerful as we often perceive him to be.
We can resist and find success.
And so what we have here are some principles that will help us on the pathway of our spiritual life.
What does 1 Corinthians 10.13 teach us?
How Temptation Works
How Temptation Works
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.
Temptation comes up on you.
It wants to overtake you or dominate you.
It wants to take control.
Defining “temptation.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.
The word means “a test.” And not just any test.
“An examination, with an express purpose of producing (or proving) a fault in the examinee.”
Another person says it this way:
a temptation is an inward solicitation resulting from an outward test.
Financial setback - temptation comes to steal, not report your taxes, or whatever.
Personal setback - temptation comes in the form of holding a grudge or feeling animosity or bitterness
The lists of tests are limitless … and the opportunity to choose to sin is everywhere…
Let’s turn to James.
James 1:12 (CSB)
12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
The word used for trials here is the same word in 1 Corinthians 10.
The operative word here is when not if. Trials will come.
And also the key here … is that success is possible…
We can withstand the test.
We will receive the crown of life.
So there’s hope right there.
Now, 1.13:
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
God may bring a test, but He does not bring the temptation.
He gives you the test to lead you to greater patience & endurance, and produce spiritual maturity.
1 Peter 5:10 (CSB)
10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.
God brings the tests to us for the purpose of making us strong.
But invariably, with the tests come moments of temptation.
1.14:
James 1:14 (CSB)
14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
It is our own lusts that produce the temptation to do evil.
It is our lusts that lead us in to sin.
15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Now, connect that to 1.16-17:
James 1:16–17 (CSB)
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God only brings that which is good.
He uses tests to move us toward perfection.
It is our human lusts that produce the invitation to engage in sin.
So when the tests come, we need to remember how they come.
trials, tests, life’s disappointments, times when things just aren’t going our way, these are all openings for temptation to present itself.
So we must learn how to respond to them when they come.
The Nature of Temptation
The Nature of Temptation
Let’s go back to our main verse.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.
Temptations are common to humanity.
They are part of the reality of living in the flesh.
They are human in origin and we possess the power to resist and win. We are not helpless victims.
It is normal to deal with temptation.
And yes, we each may have our unique weaknesses that make us more susceptible to particular sins compared to others.
But we’re all dealing with something. It’s part of human life.
Jesus experienced this.
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
He suffered the temptations that are common to man.
This is why He is so merciful. He gets us.
And we need to remember this when we’re helping others who have falling into sin.
What they’re dealing with, could have easily have happened to us, because we’re all susceptible to temptation.
And Galatians 6.1-2 reminds us how to restore a brother or sister when they are overtaken or deceived by sin.
The Extent of Testing
The Extent of Testing
God is Faithful
God is Faithful
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, …
God knows you personally.
He will not allow a test to come upon you that you are too weak to deal with.
There is a limit on what God will allow to happen in the life of His own.
He is faithful.
A Great Example
A Great Example
In John 18, the moment of Jesus’ betrayal is at hand.
v. 3 - Judas has led a group of temple police out to Jesus’ location.
4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them.
6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
7 Then he asked them again, “Who is it that you’re seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 “I told you I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for me, let these men go.”
What’s the purpose of this dialogue?
Jesus is making them admit that they had no right to take any person but Him.
Why?
9 This was to fulfill the words he had said: “I have not lost one of those you have given me.”
From this we might imply that not one of the disciples would have been strong enough at that point to have successfully withstand the test that that would have brought upon them had they been taken in for trial and convicted.
That would have broken their faith.
So God was protecting them from that.
I believe it is safe to say there are many things that God is protecting us from all the time … because he is working for our sanctification … not our destruction…
The Way Out
The Way Out
Now, maybe the most important point:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 ……but with the temptation he will also provide the way out …
God will always provide the way out.
And I think this is very, very important for us to understand:
The way out is through.
Leon Morris says that the imagery associated with this word is that of an army trapped in rugged country — which means to escape from an impossible situation through a mountain pass — the way out is through.
The way out is to endure the temptation as a trial and never allow it to become a solicitation for sin.
So… the test comes…
You’ve been wronged. How will you choose to respond?
You’ve been treated unjustly.
So you choose to bear it. That’s the way of escape.
Someone promised you something — didn’t come through — you choose to accept that, acknowledge it as a trial/test, and never allow it to be turned into a temptation.
10.13: that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
13 he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
to get under something & carry it.
The way out is not always quick & easy.
The way out is through it.
We stay under it but we view it from the perspective of a test with the view that God will use it as an opportunity to lead us to maturity.
As We Close…
As We Close…
What tests are you currently facing? What tests might come up this week?
What will you do when it comes?
Turn to the Word
Turn to the Word
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
When the test comes, don’t listen to the lusts of your flesh.
Don’t listen to the deceptions of your own heart.
12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
Your gut reaction is not always driven by the desire for godly motives or actions.
Pray
Pray
In the model prayer, Jesus established this principle:
13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
We pray to God for help in making sure the test doesn’t lead to temptation.
Grab Up Your Shield
Grab Up Your Shield
What is your shield?
16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Faith.
Dependence upon God.
Trusting him now matter how intense the battle becomes.
Remembering that this is temporary and that God has a purpose for it all.
Focus on Christ
Focus on Christ
Jesus endured to the maximum.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
We need to be appealing to Him for strength.
He can personally relate to us. He will nurture us through whatever we’re facing.
Be Led by the Spirit
Be Led by the Spirit
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Finally:
Finally:
When tests come & we fail … you are not a victim… you made a bad decision.
You may not have chosen to turn to the word — and chose instead to follow your heart —
You may not have prayed like you should have.
You may not have trusted God fully..
You may have taken your attention off of Christ and chose to focus on something else.
But know this… nothing is going to happen to you between now and the next test that is so powerful that you can’t possibly deal with it…
You can.
Through your salvation and ongoing sanctification, God has made it where sin no longer has dominion over you.
Do you need Him?