Text:
1Corinthians 10:13:
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.
Theme:
I’m Going Through
Introduction:
- The First Letter of Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth.
- Paul’s focus in this letter was Christian Conduct.
- This 10th chapter of First Corinthians focuses on the example of the Israelites and their succumbing to the evil of idolatry.
- Paul warns the first century church by saying in the first verse of this chapter
- 1Corinthians 10:1, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;”.
- The first commandment says in Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
- Paul warns the first century church by saying in the first verse of this chapter
- The 13th verse of this 10th chapter, our text, outlines the claim and resolution to the most common gripe known to mankind à Temptation!
- What is Temptation?
- Any time that we are faced with an opportunity to do what is contrary to the Will of God.
- Big or Small
- Our very makeup lends itself to temptation every minute that we live this life within the flesh
- From the beginning à Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
- Along the way à James 4:1, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
- There is always temptation. What identifies each is how easily it can “beset” us?
- Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
- The “little” temptations sometimes go unnoticed or are taken from granted.
- If you don’t do drugs, you might not see drugs as a temptation, but it is. It is just that it does not bother you.
- If you don’t drink, you might not see alcohol as a temptation, but it is. It is just that it does not bother you.
- If you don’t think that a man or woman is attractive, you might not see that man or woman as a temptation, but they are. They just don’t bother you.
- The “Big” temptations are what surface our GRIPE!
- “Lord, I don’t know if I can make it through this!”
- “This is too much for me to bear!”
- “Lord, hold my hand while I run this race. I don’t want to run this race in vain.”
- “Father, I stretch my hands to Thee. No other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thy Self from me. Whether shall I go?”
- The problem with the “big” temptations is that we get worried about whether we will make it through them!
- The Church in Corinth was probably explaining that they are going through a lot and needed all the help that they could get…why they looked to idols.
- Paul responded with out text to tell them that times may be rough but God will see you through.
- WE also need this comfort. We need to be confident to say … I’M GOING THROUGH!
- The Church in Corinth was probably explaining that they are going through a lot and needed all the help that they could get…why they looked to idols.
- This text and theme come from the experience that I had with my daughter, Alisabeth. One time in 2005 I asked all of them to take their time and give me what they believe is their favorite scripture. The Spirit gave me this request to give them. Around the third week in December of 2005, Alisabeth left a piece of paper at my apartment that had her name, “1Cor. 10:13”, and the words, “I found a way out. When I hurt God, I hurt myself.” I was so happy to see that she had written down her favorite verse for me and the words written with it were so profound! I actually still have the piece of paper and will always cherish it. However, I did not think to read the scripture until today, January 3, 2006. I read the scripture which is our text and was floored! It was the Word that I needed. I was tired and hurting and fearful of all that I faced in my life, but the words of this verse gave me my comfort and confidence to say, I’M GOING THROUGH! Thank you, Alisabeth, for being the special God-fearing, loving, spiritual, and connected child that you are! I will always love you and who you are!!!!!!!!!!!
- Because of the points in this scripture, I can truly say I’M GOING THROUGH!!!!!!!!
- What is Temptation?
Body:
- Let’s look at the incredible points in this scripture:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:”
-
- God said that it would be…
- Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
- God said that it would need to be…
- Romans 5:3-4, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”
- God said that it would be…
“but God is faithful,”
- Thank God for His Faithfulness!!
- Lamentations 3:23, “They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
- He will do what He said He would do!!
- As the old hymn says…
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
“who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;”
- God gives every resource and reason for us to GO THROUGH our temptations or troubles
- The right armour à Ephesians 6:13, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
- The right help à Psalms 121:1-2, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
- The right hope à Jeremiah 17:17, “Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.”
- Different folks can take different amounts temptation, but God won’t give you more than YOU can take!
- He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”!!!!
- He won’t give me more than what I can handle!!
- He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”!!!!
“but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,”
- When He allows us to be tempted, He, at the same time, makes a way out for us!
- The prime example is in Job.
- God ALLOWS us to be tempted
- Job 2:6a, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand…”
- God allowed Job to be in the hands of Satan
- Job 2:6a, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand…”
- God MAKES A WAY OUT for us
- Job 2:6b, “…but save his life.”
- God would NOT allow Satan to take Job’s life.
- Job’s life was in his spirit…not in his flesh!!!
- God would NOT allow Satan to take Job’s life.
- Job 2:6b, “…but save his life.”
- The important thing to remember about HOW God does it is in 4 words
—AT THE SAME TIME!!
- AT THE SAME TIME that God allowed Satan to have Job, He made a way for Job.
- God gave up Job’s carnal life but Ensured the safety of Job’s Spiritual Life!!!
- We don’t need Him to MAKE A WAY.
- We need Him to SHOW US THE WAY that He has already made.
- John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
- We need Him to SHOW US THE WAY that He has already made.
Conclusion:
- The scripture concludes with God’s intention for us in the time of trouble…
“that ye may be able to bear it”
- è God wants us to make it through our temptations!
- With God on our side, why should we ever worry?
- Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
- I’M GOING THOUGH not because of me or my abilities. I’M GOING THROUGH because I have JESUS, THE ONLY WAY!
- I’m not scared à I’m Going Through!
- 2Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
- I’m not distracted à I’m Going Through!
- Psalms 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
- I’m not misguided à I’m Going Through!
- Proverbs 3:6, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
- I’m not worried à I’m Going Through!
- Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
- I’m not scared à I’m Going Through!
- With God on our side, why should we ever worry?
“Being confident of this very thing” >>>>> I’M GOING THROUGH!
I know the Lord will make a way.
Oh yes He will.
I know the Lord will make a way.
Oh yes He will.
He’ll make a way for me and for you.
Jesus will see you safely through.
I know the Lord will make a way.
Yes He will!
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