Winning Over Temptation
I Corinthians 10:13
Pastor Cecil Lovelace
"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."
Introduction
A. Why does temptation trouble all of us?
(1) We are all targets of the tempter... ole Lucifer... the Devil.
(2) All of us feel the lure of the world.
(3) All of us experience the appetites of the flesh.
[a] Physical appetites.
[b] Sexual appetites.
B. Paul gives us a promise in this text that can bring victory to the tempted. I believe we can win over temptation. Look at this verse and some various others together.
I. NOTICE THE TEMPTER WE ALL FACE.
A. We all have an adversary. I Pet. 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
(1) Satan is compared to a roaring lion. A lion roars when it's hungry.
(2) He continues to see victims... those he "..may devour." He preys on the weak.
B. Satan is the source of temptation.
(1) He was there to tempt in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3
(2) He was there to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. Matt. 4
C. The tempter is a deceiver. II Cor. 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
D. The tempter is a liar. John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
E. The tempter is a thief. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
F. But we are equipped to win over this powerful enemy. I John 4:4
(1) The Holy Spirit is within every believer.
(2) The Holy Spirit is greater in power than our foe.
II. NOTICE THE LORD, WHO IS FAITHFUL.
A. God is always faithful never to forsake us.
B. God limits temptation to such as is common to man.
(1) Satan is allowed no untried enticements.
(2) The world is allowed no unknown allurements.
(3) The flesh is allowed no un-experienced cravings.
C. Others have been tempted as you are today. Don’t think Satan picked you out special.
(1) Some have lost the battle.
(2) Others have won.
(3) You can win too.
D. God limits temptation to what we can resist.
(1) Temptation cannot be "above what we are able.." -
(2) Don’t say resisting is impossible for you. That’s usually a cop out. One man said, "I just can’t help it, I am in love with another woman and have actually prayed for God to take my wife."
(3) God promises here that you are up to the occasion. You can handle it.
(4) God’s grace is sufficient for today’s test. It was for Paul in II 12 also.
III. NOTICE THE WAY OF ESCAPE WE MUST FIND.
"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."A. Every temptation is required to have a way of escape. According to Paul here, it just has to be!
B. This is a divinely prepared escape route.
Note: "but will with the temptation also make a way to escape...,"(1) God will always "make a way of escape."
(2) This is His way of showing his love for us.
C. Let’s think of some "escape routes" God has provided for others who were tempted:
(1) A timely phone call.
(2) A scripture verse brought to mind.
(3) The appearance of a helpful person.
D. On the darkest day, God makes a way.
CONCLUSION
(1) Are you enduring temptation today?
(2) Are you near defeat?
(3) Are you about to yield to the tempter?
(4) Can you triumph over this temptation.
(5) Jesus faced the tempter and defeated him. He will give us strength to defeat him too!
V-13 "..but God is faithful.."