Temptation

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 that 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 and one of the greatest ones is 1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

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. For the next few minutes, we will look at several aspects of temptations and observe the promise of God’s faithfulness as we endure them.

1. 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.

A) This word is translated in different ways

The Greek word for temptation is 1 Corinthians 10:13 is peirasmos. To fully understand what this word means, it helps to see it mentioned in other contexts in Scripture.

In John 6, for instance, we see that a great multitude of people had followed Jesus close to the time of the passover feast. Jesus looked at these people, and then asked one of his disciples this question:

John 6:5–6 KJV 1900

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.

Look again at verse six: “And this he said to prove him”. The greek word for prove is peirasmos, the same word translated as “temptation” in 1 Corinthians 10:13. In John 6, Jesus knew how He would feed these people, but He wanted to prove Philip. Jesus was strengthening Philip’s faith by proving him, or testing him.

Another time this word is used in Scripture is in 2 Corinthians 13:5

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

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 is here again in this verse, but this time it is translated as “Examine”.

With these definitions in mind, we could read 1 Corinthians 10:13 as “There hath no testing taken you, but such as is common to man”, or “there hath no examination taken you, but such as is common to man”.

How many of you hate taking tests? I remember the first time I took a standardized test, it was in Kindergarten and it was called the Terranova. I was terrified! (*Describe)

But imagine this, as difficult as some tests are, imagine giving a test from a college Chemistry class to an average kindergartener and pressuring him to make a perfect score. What would that do to the kindergartener? It would completely overwhelm him! An average kindergartener would miserably fail a college Chemistry test.

God is not going to do that to you. He will allow you to go through some tests. And the tests will be difficult, I’m not saying they’re gonna be easy. But this verse tells us that through His power, you will be able to bear it and overcome it.

So 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 that He is there to help you every step of the way and if you cling to Him and trust Him, He will give you the victory over it.

B) This word is amoral

Meaning, this word is not a bad thing in and of itself as we mentioned earlier. It does not necessarily refer to something evil. That connotation has to do with the person doing the tempting. Let’s compare Scripture with Scripture and look at Matthew 4 for more context.

Matthew 4:1–3 KJV 1900

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 that God did.

Genesis 22:1–2 KJV 1900

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. 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.

So what was the Lord’s intention in tempting Abraham in this passage? Hebrews 11 provides the answer.

Hebrews 11:17–19 KJV 1900

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, or testing Abraham.

God’s motive in allowing you to endure 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 more Christ-like.

As the all-knowing, all-powerful God, He sees what you are capable of becoming, and He works in our lives to bring us to that level of maturity. This thought leads us to our next point.

2. The Reasons for Temptation

God’s heart and Satan’s motives for temptation are completely different. It is obvious to stat that God and Satan approach everything with different motives and intentions; While God desires to help and mature us, Satan tries 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 meant to draw us closer to Him, while any temptation from Satan is meant to pull us away from the Lord.

James 1:12–15 KJV 1900

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.

So as we consider these truths, let’s explore different reasons why God may allow us to go through testing.

A) To fulfill our flesh or fortify our faith

There is the obvious type of temptation, and that is the one your flesh uses against you. The world, the flesh, and the devil each fight against you in an attempt to hinder you from becoming Christ-like. When faced with these temptations to sin, resist the urge and submit to God.

James 4:7 KJV 1900

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

God will use tests to fortify your faith. He doesn’t allow these temptings just to make life more difficult. He allows them because He loves you and He wants to make you stronger. Think about Paul for a moment. After spending time in a Roman prison, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the words “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. When the Lord allowed Paul to go to prison, the Lord did it knowing that it would make Paul stronger. The same is true for you. When you go through trials, rest assured that the Lord has allowed them for the purpose of fortifying your faith.

So the first reason you are tempted is either to fulfill the flesh or fortify your faith. When faced with temptation, you must assess the situation to determine whether it is of the flesh and of the devil, or if it’s from God, given as an opportunity to increase our faith.

James 1:13 KJV 1900

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:

If a temptation you face is contrary to the nature of God or if it is pleasing to your flesh, then it is not of God. Seek to discern attacks of the devil from the tests of the Lord.

B) To cause us to crash or conform us to Christ

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, it was for no other reason than trying to get Jesus to fail. While Satan was unsuccessful in tempting Jesus, he effectively uses the same temptations and motives to tempt us. He wants to see us crash and fail.

Satan caused a series of temptations in the life of Job in the Old Testament with the intention of causing Job to forsake God. 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. Listen to Job’s own words during his intense trial:

Job 23:10 KJV 1900

But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job made this statement before the Lord restored everything that was lost. Job, who was already a great man, was made even stronger as he trusted God during the trial, rather than turning his back on Him.

C) To destroy our pride and develop our patience

Every person struggles with pride. It is evidenced in different ways in different people, yet it is a universal struggle. But while we each struggle with pride, it is often one of the hardest sins to identify in our lives. Somehow we often overlook or excuse it, and because we do, the Lord will sometimes give us an exam to reveal this sin in our hearts. He did this to David. After David had sinned with Bathsheba and had arranged for her husband to be killed, David was too proud to repent of his sins. The Lord then sent the prophet Nathan to make the pointed accusation.

This test for David exposed his pride, and once he finally recognized it, he responded with humility and repentance. Psalm 51 records how david’s heart changed after Nathan confronted him.

Psalm 51:3 KJV 1900

For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me.

While temptations expose our pride, they can also simultaneously help us develop 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 those periods.

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

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 temptations, thank the Lord for giving you the opportunity for growth.

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 the same as any other gift from God.

Don’t let temptation in your life be wasted. God knows what He’s doing as He allows you to face them, and He can give you the strength to resist when Satan sends them. Ultimately, both have the potential to strengthen and develop as you respond biblically.

3. The Escape from Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 doesn’t just give you assurance that you can handle the temptations you face, but it gives you a promise of escape from each temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

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.

The same that an architect puts doors and exit points in the perfect places of his building, 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.

1 Corinthians 10:13 needs to be a verse that you memorize and hide in your heart. It can be a source of comfort when we go through these tests and trials. But what specifically does it provide.

A) A weapon during battle

As Christians we are constantly in a spiritual war against sin.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 1900

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 will not allow you to go through something that you can’t handle with His help. Whatever you may be struggling with- whether its worry, anger, pride, selfishness, or other spiritual problems, claim God’s promise to protect you from anything you can’t handle. Claim this promise as your weapon against temptation. This promise is sure. This weapon is effective. And God is faithful.

B) 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 this 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.

C) A friend during crisis

Aren’t you thankful for good friends who are always there for you? You can appreciate those friends that you feel comfortable turning to during any hardship. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a verse you can always turn to as you face a 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

Ultimately, as you go through temptations, this single fact gives comfort: Jesus knows how I feel. Christ can relate to my temptation.

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

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 or test you’re facing, you are talking to the Great Counselor who knows exactly what you are going through. Christ understands your infirmities, but not only that, he has felt 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 an form of temptation you may face.

Hebrews 4:16 KJV 1900

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

No matter what you’re going through, don’t lost heart. You’ve never gone through a trial or test the Lord doesn’t understand. He sees your struggle and He wants to help you in a way that only He can. He will be faithful to fulfill His promise to You.