A Way of Escape
I Corinthians 10:12–14
There is at least one thing that is common to every human being who has lived regardless of race, age, or culture: temptation.
Unfortunately, victory over temptation is far less universal. There is a key to unlocking the secret of victory—a key called the “way of escape.”
A way of escape because : Oscar Wilde the 19th century Irish wit confessed what many have thought over the years: “I can resist anything but temptation.”
No one can resist smiling knowingly not only at the irony in that statement—but also at the reality of it.
I. Temptation is certain our forebears Adam and Eve down to the present day, the failure to resist temptation has been the source of countless tears of regret.
The giant of temptation has captured the lives of many people. We must learn to defeat temptation if we are to walk victoriously in the spiritual life.
Fortunately, God has provided a way of escape from the giant of temptation. The apostle Paul wrote about that way in the passage of Scripture
I Corinthians 10:12–14
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
II. Temptation is a powerful tool (Eph. 6:11, 16).
Basically temptation is an enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience.
1. We would like to think that after becoming a Christian temptations will cease.
2. However many scriptures teach us that the Christian life will be full of warfare.
3. Actually, temptations seem to increase in strength when we seek a deeper Christian life.
a) Temptations may be bold, or subtle
b) Temptations may be good things to stand in the way of Devotion
c) Temptations are for one purpose to destroy us
Illustration
“In a survey on temptation among readers of the “Discipleship Journal”, the respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent.)”
[Discipleship Journal, November / December, 1992.]
How then do we resist the temptations?
1st First of all, remember the words of Christ to his disciples that evening in the Garden on the night of His betrayal.
“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ (Matthew 26:41).
Most Christians would not openly want to jump into sin, yet we cannot resist falling into it because our flesh is not strong enough to resist.
We place ourselves in situations or fill our minds with lustful passions, and that lead us into sin.
2nd Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
We need to renew our thinking as we are told in Romans 12:1-2. We need to no longer think as the world thinks, or walk in the same way that the world walks.
Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by; Turn away from it and pass on.”
We need to avoid the path of the world that leads us into temptation because “our flesh is weak.” We are easily carried away by our own lusts.
3rd Matthew 5:29 has some excellent advice. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw if from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
That sounds pretty severe! Sin is severe! Jesus is not saying that we literally need to be removing body parts.
Cutting out the eye is a drastic measure, and Jesus is teaching us that if necessary, a drastic measure should be taken to avoid sin.
4th The Bible is our offensive weapon against Satan, the sword of the Spirit.
Jesus was in all ways was tempted just like us, though without sin.
He responded to Satan three times, saying: It is written, It is written, It is written.
He had committed God’s Word to memory, and in the face of temptation He responded with Scripture.
We need to be filled with the Scripture and with the Spirit day by day, moment by moment.
5th Flee from sin - The Flesh
Have you read the story of David and Bathesheba lately?
(2 Samuel 11 and Genesis 39).
What did Joseph do? He ran for his life!
What did David do? He lingered and watched Bathsheba.
Then, he entertained his lustful thoughts that led him to commit two heinous sins in the flesh – adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah.
What is the application for you and me?
If there is a magazine, a movie, a television program, or even a person that arouses thoughts in you that you know are wrong, then, we are to flee. Just get away.
6th How do you and I overcome the world?
The key word is faith. First John 5:4 says, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." We are not told to fight the world, we are told to have faith in God instead. What does faith do? Faith makes God real to you. Let’s return to First John: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). When we say that someone is "wordly," we are saying that this person loves the world and the things in this world more than God. The love of the Father is not in them.
Suppose you’re driving and you notice the oil light blinks red on your dashboard. What do you do? Take a hammer and break the light? No! The light is a warning that your engine is out of oil. To solve the problem, you pour oil into the crank case. Right? Of course.
Now, if you are worldly, warning signs will illuminate that you have fallen in love with the world (which means you have fallen out of love with the Lord Jesus Christ). Don’t fight the warning light
7th Prayer & Praise is a way of Escape.
Even in our modern age of technology, we’ll never face any temptation that isn’t addressed in the Bible.
There are verses for every challenge we’ll ever face, and we need to find and memorize the verses we’re apt to need along the way.
In this way, God provides the resources we need to counter temptation. He doesn’t abandon us.
He always provides a divinely-planned exit (1 Cor. 10:13). And if God provides a way of escape, we don’t have to give in to sin.
Strengthened by His Word and filled with His Spirit, we have the ability to remain self-controlled, and to say “No,” to the devil’s allurement (Titus 2:11–14).
Think about the area of temptation with which you are struggling.
Talk to God about it, and yield that area to the control of the Spirit.
Ask Him to help you, through His Spirit, to take the way of escape.
You’re going to be tempted by the flesh. Run away. You’re going to be tempted by the devil. Stand up and fight with the Word of God in your hand, the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). And as to the world round about you, be not conformed, but day by day, ask God to pour you into the mold of Christ.
