YOU CAN ENDURE! 1 Corinthians 10:13

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church, Sunday, September 20, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Series: Foundations: Lessons On Assurance

Week #3: Assurance of Victory

Focal Verses: 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Tempt – “to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure
or gain” (Webster’s)

Temptation is one of the realities that we have to deal with as Christians. Being a Christian does not mean that we will not face temptations. In fact, we may face even greater temptations. The problem of temptation is real and the struggle sometime is overwhelming. Temptation often plays out like this: We are tempted, enticed, then we fall and give in to the temptation, then we feel the guilt that comes after the fall. We start listening to the enemy who says, “I thought you were a Christian. Christians don’t do that.” Because we listen to the enemy of our soul, we sometimes find ourselves caught up in a cycle of defeat. We wonder will it ever end. Can I endure? The truth of our Scripture this week is that You Can Endure! There is a way of escape. There is assurance of victory!

Our assurance of victory is in three things.
I. THE COMMONNESS OF TEMPTATION
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.” There are no new temptations and all of us experience temptation. As Solomon stated, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9). Whatever temptation you have faced, are facing, and will face, others have faced and endured. One of the challenges of facing temptation is that you often feel as if you are the only one struggling with your particular temptation. You look around and begin to think, “Why am I the only one struggling with this? What’s wrong with me?” The reality is that there’s nothing wrong with you. You are facing what is common to us all. We will see why we face temptation in just a moment, but you would be surprised how many people (in the past and present) are dealing with the same temptation that you are facing right now. This is one reason small groups and biblical fellowship in the church is so valuable. When you interact with other believers you begin to see that we all share similar struggles. As a result, we are able to encourage one another.

Everyone is capable of not only being tempted but falling to temptation as well. The entire passage of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 stands as a warning of the temptations that we face (see, vv. 6, 11). Right before our focal verse, Paul warns his readers against carelessness and pride. “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12). Galatians 6:1 has some timely advice for us. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” The context of our verse on assurance is that special privilege is no guarantee that you will not face temptation and trials.

In this passage, the Bible mentions four areas of common temptations that we all are prone to face.

Four Common Temptations
1. Temptation to Idolatry (10:7)
In this passage Paul relates how the events of the Old Testament serve as examples, not to follow but to avoid. And what are we to avoid? Idolatry! Idolatry is allowing someone or something to come before you and your relationship with God. As your English teacher would remind us, a noun is a person, place, or thing. Well, an idol can be a person, place, or anything that comes first in your life before God. If something causes you to not obey God fully, it could an idol in your life. If something in your life cause your love toward God and the things of God to grow cold, it could be an idol in your life. The temptation to idolatry is not usually presented to us in bold terms. Usually, the temptation comes to you under the guise that this action will fulfill some need that you have. In the Bible, Idolatry was always a sign of relationship trouble. When God’s people fell into idolatry, it was because they ceased getting their ultimate needs met by God.

2. Temptation to Immorality (10:8)
The temptation of sexual immorality is not a new temptation. And yes, the godly struggle with issues of purity. It may even be a greater temptation today because of our sex-crazed culture. Some believers may think that they are not prone to temptations of sexual immorality, but “Be careful” God says (1 Cor. 10:12). As long as you’re in your earthly body, you are capable of not only being tempted to immorality, but falling as well. A godly friend of mine that is approaching 80 years old told me that he still struggles with lust! Is there something wrong with him? No, we should expect to be tempted to immorality. It “is common to man.” If idolatry says, “this will fulfill you,” immorality speaks to us, “this will make you feel good.”

3. Temptation to Test God (10:9)
The people in Moses’ day presumed upon God. They didn’t live very long either. The people acted as if it did not matter how they lived or what they did. They thought that God would simply overlook their sin and disobedience. Now, the truth is, God will always be there for you, but that is not a license to test God. The temptation to test God is the temptation that says, “you have to look out for yourself, you cannot trust God.”

4. Temptation to Grumble (10:10)
Some of you have a problem with grumbling. How do I know that? Have I been listening in on your conversations? No, I know that you have a problem with grumbling because it “is common to man,” and I’m included that number. There is the constant temptation for us to grumble, to be discontent about our situation in life. We grumble about our home life, our jobs, our country, even our church. However, when we grumble we are really saying, “God, you messed up!” If we really believe that God works all things for our good and according to His purposes, then grumbling is telling a sovereign God, He doesn’t know what He’s doing.

If temptation is common to all of us, why do we face temptation? There is an unholy trinity at work in your life and in mine. Here is the source of temptation. Here is why every one of us faces temptations.

Three Sources of Temptation
1. Internal Enemy – The Flesh
No, not the physical body, but your nature, the five-sense part of you that is easily dominated by desire. Now desire is not a bad thing. If God did not give us the desire for hunger, we would eventually shrivel up and die. But our fallen human nature says, “Don’t be content with eating to live, live to eat.” And so, we are tempted to over indulge. Some people say, “You should just follow what comes normal.” Now, if we were not fallen creatures, that philosophy of life would work.

But here’s the problem. Because we are fallen human beings, our nature is out of sorts and our desires unchecked by God’s moral law are going to lead to unhealthy and ungodly behavior. How do we suppress the inner nature that wants to do its own thing? We suppress our sinful desires by filling our lives with Christ. We let God’s Spirit control us, so that we do not fulfill the desires of our flesh (See Gal. 5:16-ff.).

2. External Enemy – The World
We’re not talking about the physical creation because creation is good, God says. What we are talking about here is the philosophy or system of thought in the world that leaves God out. It is anti-Christ. The world says hate your enemies, not love your enemies. The world says look out for yourself, don’t place others before you and your needs. The world says let’s settle our differences with war, not peace. The world says take what you want out of life, not wait in patience. The world says acquire, accumulate, for a man’s possessions and achievements are the evaluation of a successful life, not giving to others and serving in some obscure place giving your life away to others. The world appeals to our sense of pride, lust for power, and desire for pleasure.

How do we resist our external enemy? Let me illustrate. I’ve noticed that when Rhonda and I go grocery shopping, if we eat before we go, we spend less money and we make better purchasing choices. Why is that? Because all the goodies and junk doesn’t look nearly as good on a full stomach. But if you go the grocery store hungry, your buggy will be filled up with all kinds of stuff you would not normally buy. When it comes to spiritual matters, we have to change our appetite. If we are full of Christ and His Word, our appetite for the world will be lessened. If we are not full of Christ, we will be empty and prone to being tempted by the attitudes and things of this world.

3. Infernal Enemy – The Devil
Among his many names, our enemy is called the “Devil” (Matt. 4:1), the “Tempter” (1 Th. 3:5), the “Father of Lies” (Jn. 8:44), and the “Deceiver” (Rev. 20:10). He hurls his “fiery darts” (Eph. 6:16) at us tempting us to disobey God, to grumble, to do that which is wrong. I don’t want to give the Devil too much credit but I don’t want to neglect him either. I don’t want you to think that you can fall back and say, “The Devil made me do it.” He can’t make you do anything against your will. But you can give him place in your life, but you have to do that of your own free will. The Devil doesn’t make you do it, but he does make sin attractive. He whispers to you, “You have right to be angry and bitter. You deserve this, you need this because you’re special and no one appreciates you, even God Himself. This will solve all your problems. This will make you feel better.” The Devil whispers and sometimes he shouts, “go ahead” when God says “stop!” He tells us we have a green light when the light is really red.

II. THE CONSTANCY OF GOD
“And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” When we are tempted we need to remember that God is not the one who tempts us. “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (Jas. 1:13-14).

We do know that God allows temptation. He’s God and I suppose He could stop all temptation from entering my mind, but He does not. There is a purpose to temptation even though we don’t always understand it at the time. We do know that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. He knows our limits (see Job). And God will use our times of testing for His glory and our good. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God makes everything beautiful or appropriate in its time. God takes even the dark times, the chaotic times, the times that don’t make sense, and He will work those for our good and His glory (see Rom. 8:28).

God does all of this because He has a plan for your life and for mine. And God has determined that the work that He started He is going to finish (Phil. 1:6). That’s the constancy of God at work. No matter what I am going through, “God is faithful.”

III. THE CERTAINTY OF ESCAPE
“But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” With every temptation God provides a way of escape, a way out, an exit, so that we can stand.

There are three words to summarize our escape strategy when facing temptations.

1. Faith
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4). We overcome temptation by trusting (that’s what faith is) in our faithful God who gives us the victory. This is why in times of temptation we need to stay close to God. In your difficulties and temptations don’t run from God, run to Him! Let this be a time in your life when your faith grows even stronger. See Hebrews 4:14-16.

2. Flee
“Flee idolatry” Paul said (1 Cor. 10:14). “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18). For an example of fleeing temptation, see Joseph in the Old Testament as he dealt with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was not cowardly in fleeing, but wise (Gen. 39:12). Fleeing means putting up boundaries for your protection. What area of temptation do you face? Those are the areas that you need to put up some healthy boundaries. I knew a man who traveled quite a bit. He disconnected his TV in his motel room to avoid the temptations he might face after a long day and night. If the internet tempts you, move your computer into the living room. If you spending too much is a temptation for you, take someone with you when you go to the mall. Do whatever is necessary for you to flee temptation.

3. Fight
Paul said I have fought the good fight of faith. Being a real Christian is not lightweight stuff. It’s serious business and it requires that you stay spiritually fit and in the battle. Don’t give in and don’t give up! Resist the Devil and he will flee from you (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pe. 5:9). We overcome Him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). We overcome Him the way Jesus did, through the word (Matt. 4). Jesus fought temptation with the sword of the Word of God! You and I have a powerful weapon for defeating temptation at our disposal. Are we using it? Are we going into spiritual battle without our offensive equipment? If we are, we’re losing! We win with the Word!

I am glad that we have the assurance of victory. You Can Endure! Remember, temptation is common to us all. You’re not alone. Remember, God is faithful, He’s not forgotten you, He’s right there with you. And remember, you have the assurance that God will provide a way of escape for you. Avail yourself to God’s escape plan.

Prayer: Lord, we don’t always understand why we have to face temptations in our lives. But we confess that you are going to do take all things in our lives and work them for our good and for Your glory. We also confess that you are faithful and you are not going to allow us to experience more temptation than we can endure. Thank you for providing a way out and a way up. Thank you in advance for the power that you are going to give us to have great faith in you, to flee temptation, and to fight the spiritual warfare of temptation that we encounter. Father, we praise you that our victory is in Jesus, Your Son and our Savior, and it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe