Part 3 - The Truth About Temptation
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Paul offers the Corinthians an encouraging word on how to deal with temptation that is going to come their way. In our text today we will discuss the reality of temptation and the help that God offers us to overcome it.
Now, just a second ago, I said the temptation that is going to come...
It’s important to understand that salvation doesn’t protect you from being tempted!
Quite the opposite, Satan is more likely to attack the Christian that the unbeliever. After all, he already has the lost person!
He loves nothing better than causing one of God’s children to fall into sin. However, temptation, while it cannot be avoided, can be overcome! While it is hard to endure temptation can be used to help us grow in Jesus. I believer every believer needs and wants to know how to turn temptation into triumph...
Our text verse tonight is considered by many as the greatest promise in the Bible concerning temptation. This is because someone can claim and apply this verse in any situation of testing!
Let’s look at a few things concerning temptation tonight...
FIRST—THE EXPERIENCE OF TEMPTATION
FIRST—THE EXPERIENCE OF TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV 1900)
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:...
Temptation is very common and all Christians need to come to grips with the idea of dealing with it.
The word “temptation” means “to test or to prove” and contrary to what we usually think; it really does not have any negativity in its meaning.
Our response to temptation will determine if our temptation is good or bad. If we pass the test then we prove ourselves to be faithful, but if we fail, the temptation becomes a solicitation to sin. The fact of the matter is that temptation is common and all of us will experience it.
The fact that temptations are common means that the same temptation that comes to you has also came to many others. The issue is that we must be willing to fight our selfish desires. If we look at temptation as a test to prove ourselves, then we can escape and pass the test. If we allow the temptation to cause us to do evil, then we will fail the test.
Let’s think about a couple characters from the Bible here:
Joseph was placed in a very common situation with his master’s wife. He could have yielded to his flesh and committed the sin of immorality but he chose to flee and to run away. The test that Joseph faced was no different than the test that millions of others face each day, it was a common temptation.
Samson was placed in a very common situation of tempting and he miserably failed the test. He was a Nazarite and he had specific stipulations to live by and nearly every incident, he yielded to the temptation and failed. In the end this led to his demise and his death.
Jesus was tempted by Satan over and over in the wilderness and as we know he clearly passed the test. The Devil did not just throw up his hands because Jesus told him no, he just reloaded and kept coming back. He will do the same thing in our lives.
God’s motive in allowing you to endure through testings and trials is never to make you fail. His heart and purpose in these situations is always to draw you closer to Him and to make you stronger as a Christian.
The all-knowing, all-powerful God sees what you are capable of becoming, and He works in our lives to bring us to that level of maturity...
SECOND—THE EXTENT OF TEMPTATION
SECOND—THE EXTENT OF TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV 1900)
13 ...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able...
We need to realize that God has not left us alone on our Christian journey and he is faithful and he is there to help us along the way.
A little boy named Bobby desperately wanted a new bicycle. His plan was to save his nickels, dimes and quarters until he finally had enough to buy a new 10-speed. Each night, he asked God to help him save his money. Kneeling beside his bed, he prayed, “Dear Lord, please help me save my money for a new bike; and please, Lord, don’t let the ice cream man come down the street again tomorrow.”
God loves each one of us and is fully aware of our many temptations. In this divine awareness He will not allow any temptation to come our way that we are not able to handle.
Now, don’t confuse what I’m saying with the old saying that’s not found anywhere in the Bible…That’s “God won’t put more on you than you can bear...”
I’m talking about temptation - nothing else.
There is a limit on what temptation the Lord will allow to come our way. He knows our breaking point and our capabilities and will not allows us to go through more temptation than we can handle.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Jesus teaches us to pray about our temptations and to ask him to provide us a way of escape. He will always provide us an escape route.
This is a truth that will transform you if you grasp the idea that He won’t allow temptation to crush us.
Probably the greatest example of someone’s testing would be that of Abraham and Isaac. The young man was the promised seed of Abraham that would soon form a mighty nation. Abraham loved this boy more than life itself, but God wanted to see if he loved the boy more than he loved God. The Lord told him to go and offer up his son, not just a son, but his only son.
1 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.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
God did not allow Abraham to go through with this request, which was not his intent, the intent was to see if Abraham would and God was pleased to see him pass this gigantic test.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
This seems like a test that nobody could have passed but that was not the case, God knew that Abraham loved him more than he did his son and the moment Abraham picked up that knife to slay Isaac God stopped him and provided him a lamb to sacrifice in his son’s place.
THIRD—THE ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION
THIRD—THE ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV 1900)
13 ...will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The third thing we see pertaining to temptation is that there will always be a door of escape and the strength to handle it. The moment the temptation begins there is an avenue of escape.
Our escape for any temptation we face is 1 Corinthians 10:13…This verse can be our source of comfort when we go through trials…
We know that, as Christians, we are in a spiritual war...
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Any time you are tempted to sin, meditate on 1 Corinthians 10:13...
Find hope in the promise that God isn’t going to let you go through a temptation that you cannot handle.
Claim God’s promise as your weapon against temptation!
The promise is sure! The weapon is effective! God is faithful!
We all know that Jesus Christ is the way. He tells us that he is the way, the truth, and the life.
We should focus upon him and try to honor him and in doing so; he will always afford us the proper way of escape.
The way out of temptation is not just being taken out of the situation, but being able to endure and pass through the situation.
Jesus is our escape route, he is our mountain pass when the enemy has surrounded us and it looks like there is not venue of escape:
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
That word succour is an old word; we don’t really us it anymore, but it means “to bring aid to someone that has made a cry for help.”
Because of His full humanity and because of His suffering, Jesus is in a special position to help those who are tempted!
15 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.
We not only have been extended a venue of escape, but we have been offered the perfect place to escape to:
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
One last verse I want to give you and I’ll be finished...
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
We can bear and endure our temptations if we earnestly pray, if we fully place our trust in the Lord, and we stay focused upon him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I don’t have a clue what temptations you may be dealing with in your life. However, I do know that if you are breathing, you are battling!
Our greatest resource in the face of temptation is a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
Why don’t you bring your need to Him?
Whatever the need, the trial, or the temptation…Come lay it down before the Lord and expect Him to help.
He has promised us grace during temptation. Why not take Him up on the offer today?
