Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Escaping Temptation

1 CORINTHIANS 10:12–13 – Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

 

THEME OF THE DAY:  ESCAPING TEMPTATION.  The Christian life is the tried and tempted life.  Not a day goes by we are not tried by fire to refine our spiritual life and tempted by the devil and our flesh to trip us up in our spiritual life.  The former comes from our Lord for good.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us of this truth – Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10). The latter is referenced in the wilderness temptation of Jesus – And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matthew 4:3) and by the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonian believers – For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5).

 

In today’s scripture, God promises us help in temptation.  His help is not in preventing temptation but in giving us the way of escape while in temptation.  And it is in following the way of escape we not only endure temptation, but defeat it and spiritually grow through it.

 

When the scriptures tell us God provides the way of escape, it is our responsibility to walk through it, and it will always be identified through scripture and scripture principles.  Here are three “escape routes” when temptation comes upon us, any type of temptation.

 

The first way of escape is by fleeing or abstaining from the evil forms or environments of what and where temptation leads – sin; Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Know our areas of weaknesses and don’t put ourselves in places where temptations thrive.

 

A second way of escape is to pray through it.  We are told to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  When we pray in the heat of temptation, we are acknowledging the battle, our weaknesses, and need of God’s help.  Being in those postures brings us nearer to the Lord and the fellowship with Him that defeats temptation.

 

The third way of escape is theological and that is reminding ourselves of God’s omnipresence.  He is always present, in all situations, including times of tempting.  David’s proclamation of this truth is to be our constant reminder – Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you (Psalm 139:7-12).  Knowing God is present with us is a strong deterrent against sin and an immediate help when temptation comes calling.   It is simply illogical for a child of God to toy with temptation to sin in the presence of the One who died for their sins.

 

Trials and temptations.  They are significant parts of the Christian experience, and God in His wisdom and ways will use both for our good as we endure trials and defeat temptations by walking through the means of escape God provides.

 

PRAYER: “Father, thank You for providing me ways to escape all temptations.”

 

QUOTE: “God provides the way of escape. It is up to us to use it.”

 

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Jim