God's Provision in our Temptation

Winning The War Within

Defensive Strategy Against Temptation

· Tell Story of first time in the water @ Honeymoon

· The wave smoked us. We knew it was coming, when it was coming, where it was coming from…. But it still got us. Why? Because we weren’t prepared.

· Isn’t that what happens in our lives with temptation? We see it coming, we see what it is, where it is coming from, and when it is coming… but we still get knocked down by it. WHY? Because we don’t prepare for it!

· How do you prepare for temptation in your life? Tell your neighbor “get prepared.”

The biggest thing to remember in preparation for temptation is that God offers provision in temptation.

Read 1st Corinthians 10:12-13

1. God’s Limit on Temptation

· God has set a limit on the intensity of every single temptation we face. – v.13

· “That’s impossible Dennis, you have no idea how harshly the devil tempts me… I cannot over power the devil.”

· As long as you believe that you are at the mercy of the devil, you will never fully experience the victory of God!

· Satan might have power, but Jesus has all authority! Satan has to ask permission!!!

· (my trainer knows I can lift more than what I can think) We are not tempted based on what we think we can handle. We are tempted based on what Jesus in his Authority knows we can handle in him!

2. God’s Loophole in Temptation

· Alongside every temptation, God has a way out!- v.13

· God will be faithful to provide a way out, but we must be faithful to look for it, and to use it!

· The reason we drown in the waves of temptation is because we refuse to use the life boat God gives us.

· Finding the way out requires: faith, prayer, patience, perseverance.

The escape for temptation is NOT sin.

· In the midst of temptation… stop asking God to tell you why and start asking God to show you the way.

“God please end this”

· V. 13 “so that you can endure” – Are you praying for your temptation to end? Or are you praying for strength to endure your temptation.

· The key to fighting temptation is not trying to make it end, but trusting that through God you can endure.

· Do you trust God’s provision in your temptation?

· Do you trust He has control over your temptation?

· Do you trust He has a way out?