But God is Faithful
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Having Christ in your heart does not mean that you will no longer have problems. The Lord said it very plainly in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” Christians and non-Christians will both encounter problems in this life.
This morning I want us to consider one verse in particular, namely: 1 Cor. 10:13.
I have yet to hear somebody say, “I have a big TEMPTATION in my life.” We always say, “I have a big PROBLEM in my life.” Your problem could be about your finances (you are in the verge of foreclosing your house), your job (you just got a job termination notice), your family (your son is taking drugs or your daughter is going out with a married man or your spouse is threatening to divorce you), or about other areas of life. You may choose to call it stress, frustrations, mental anguish, crisis, or any other name. The fact is, your problem is potentially a temptation to act against God’s moral standards. It could be that you are tempted to cheat, to lie, to be mean, to hurt someone, and a variety of other unchristian and ungodly reactions.
So lets this morning take a closer look at 1 Cor. 10:13
First Corinthians 10:13 says,
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
This Scripture teaches us a wonderful principle.
If we belong to Him, God will not allow any difficulty to come into our lives that we are not capable of bearing in the power of Christ.
With every temptation and every testing that comes our way, God will remain faithful to us; “But God is FAITHFUL” He will provide a way to endure the test. We do not have to give in to the temptation to sin instead we can obey God in every circumstance.
So, we have divine encouragement in our Christian walk. The prayer “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13) will be answered.
However, these promises do not mean we will never face trouble; on the contrary, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33a).
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The key is found in Jesus’ next words, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
Paul and his companions were sorely tried as they took the gospel into new areas. Listen to his testimony: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death” (2 Corinthians 1:8–9).
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
It sounds like Paul was tempted beyond what he could bear—“far beyond.”
This fact leads us to another truth:
Our strength to endure testing and temptation does not come from ourselves; it comes from God.
That’s exactly what Paul says next:
(2 Corinthians 1:9). “That we should not trust in ourselves but in God”
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
Anything that comes our way, anything that tempts us, any tragedy that comes upon us, we are capable, in God’s power, of overcoming.
In all things we can achieve spiritual victory, through Christ. Life is not easy. The fact is we often need a “way of escape.” Life is hard, but we can face it with confidence in God’s gracious promises. Why, Because of it says “But God is Faithful.”
We are “more than conquerors” in Christ (Romans 8:37).
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
To “overcome” the trials and temptations of the world is to prevail over them, just as David, in God’s strength, prevailed over Goliath.
Evil schemes and disagreeable circumstances will not win the day.
(Psalm 129:2).
2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me.
Our trials are for a purpose, we have the armor of God and the privilege of prayer, and God will see to it that our trials do not overcome our faith. Our position as children of God is secure; we will come through the trials intact.
(Illustration - Personal Testimony about trials are for a purpose - Share the time of job termination)
“I am convinced that . . . [nothing] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whatever trials or testing you are under today, know this,
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.