“Taming Temptation”
1 Corinthians 10: 13
May 16, 2004
Intro: I love to watch baseball and one of the best baseball books is George F. Will’s book, Men at Work. In the book Will takes a close look at four baseball players. One of the players he wrote about was Orel Hershiser, who pitched the Dodgers to a World Series victory in 1988. In his chapter Hershiser discussed his philosophy of pitching.
-He said, “There are two theories of pitching. One is that you try to convince the batter that a particular pitch is coming and you throw something different. The other theory, that you don’t hear as much, but that I use, is that if the batter expects a particular pitch, you throw it, but you throw it in a place where he can’t hit it.” That is: Know what a batter wants or expects and throw the ball almost there.
-If he’s a highball hitter, throw it a bit too high. His eagerness will prevent him from laying off the pitch, but b/c of it’s location it’ll be hard to hit well. Doesn’t that sound like the way the Devil uses temptations against us? Think @ it.
-He knows just what kind of pitch that we’re a sucker for and then throws it our way. But, it’s just a little higher or just a little bit more outside than where we like it, and most likely we’ll bite on it every time b/c it looks so good and it feels so right. But what’s the result? A big swing and a miss. A strike out that ends w/us skulking back to the dugout wondering what went wrong.
Sermon Idea: Today in our passage of Scripture we’re going to see Paul dispelling some myths @ temptation and letting us know it’s possible not to give in to temptation. And what he’s going to do for us is share 3 facts @ temptation. I believe the more we know @ temptation then the better prepared we’ll be to have victory over it.
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 10: 13
Bckgrd: The Corinthian church had a lot of really gifted people in it. Paul wrote to them in 1 Cor. 1: 4-7-“I always thank God for you b/c of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—b/c our testimony @ Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”
-Paul said they weren’t lacking in any gift. But b/c they were so gifted they started getting arrogant. And they got to a point where they were tempted to flirt w/sin b/c they thought they could overcome it. But the result is they ended up giving into temptation.
-So Paul addressed the issue of temptation to help them learn how to deal w/it; how to tame it so they it wouldn’t reek havoc on their lives.
-The 1st fact @ temptation is:
DIV. 1: EVERY ONE IS TEMPTED (v. 13)
Exp: The word “temptation” means “trials of varied character.” And in this instance, the temptation is referred to as tests which Satan puts before us in order to bring out evil in our lives. Have any of you ever been tempted to do bad things before? How many of y’all have been on the Atkins diet? I guarantee you when you were on that diet you were tempted to eat bread and sugar all the time! Now what would happen if you gave in to that temptation?
A. You’d screw up your diet! You’d end up eating too many calories and once you give in to something it’s a lot easier to give in to it a 2nd time. And when that happens then you can kiss good-bye any thoughts of losing some serious weight. Now there are a lot of things that tempt us to do things that are wrong.
1. Some of you have been tempted to lie to your wife @ where you spent your afternoon b/c you didn’t want her to know you played golf. Some you have been tempted to watch things on your computer that you know are morally reprehensible. Others of you have been tempted to cuss a guy out at work b/c he’s been a jerk to you.
a. If you’ve been tempted to do any of these things, let me share something w/you. It’s not sinful to be tempted. Jesus Himself was tempted and yet He did not sin. You might say, “Well, He didn’t go thru the kinds of temptations I went thru!” That’s not what the Bible says. Heb. 4: 15 says of Jesus, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize w/our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was w/o sin.”
b. What I’m getting at here is that we’re all faced w/temptation. The key is to recognize that. B/c if we recognize the temptation then I think we stand a better chance of not giving in to it b/c we’re aware of it.
2. You might wonder, “How in the world would I not be aware of temptation?” Well, in my own life there are times when things are really going well. I feel spiritually in tune w/the Lord, my family life is going well, the church is doing good and I can almost feel like I’m not susceptible to temptation.
a. But you know what? It’s during times like that I have to be alert for temptation b/c it’s easy during those times to let my guard down.
ILLUS: Back in the 1990s a young Frenchman captured the attention of the world by walking a tightrope between the towers of New York’s World Trade Center, which was quite an impressive feat when you consider the towers stood at over 1,350 feet high.
-A few months later he was in St. Petersburg, Florida practicing his tightrope walk. The wire was only 30 feet off the ground (compared to 1,350 feet doesn’t seem too high). But amazingly he lost his balance and fell to the ground and ended up getting injured.
-People around him said that as he was lying on the ground waiting for help he was beating his fist into the ground yelling out, “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! I never fall!”
b. It’s so easy to let your guard down when you think you’ve got everything under control. But it’s during those times that Satan can catch you off guard and the next thing you know is you’ve fallen into temptation.
B. Prov. 11: 2-“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but w/humility comes wisdom.” It’s important to recognize that all of us have been and will be tempted.
1. And if we keep that in mind then it’ll make it a lot easier for us not to be caught off guard by temptations that come our way. We’ll be prepared for them. And when you’re prepared for something it’s easier to fend it off.
Reit: The 1st fact @ temptation is every one is tempted. The 2nd fact @ temptation is:
DIV. 2: TEMPTATIONS ARE NOT ALL-POWERFUL (v. 13)
Exp: Does God tempt us? Does God put things before us to try to get us to do evil things? Absolutely not! James 1: 13-14-“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.”
A. The devil is the one who tempts us b/c he knows that it’s in our nature to have a propensity to go after things that are contrary to God’s leadership. And when you think of it like that it seems like we don’t stand a chance from falling into temptation.
1. But let me share w/you some good news. While God doesn’t tempt us, He does have the ability to limit the power of temptations! Just b/c it’s in our nature to give in to the various temptations our world puts before us doesn’t mean we have to give in to them.
a. Now as you look at that verse, let me ask you a question. Who is the one who gives the power to overcome the temptation? Is it you? No! Remember, it’s in our nature to give in to temptation. Why? B/c when we’re left to our own devices, we’re all evil!
b. Jer. 17: 9-“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Rom. 3: 10 says there is no one righteous, not even one! But here’s the good news. Paul writes that God has the ability to keep you from being tempted beyond what you can bear. The word “bear” is from the Greek word “dunamis” which means “power.” In other words, God can give us the power to w/stand temptation.
2. But for us to receive that power we have to be plugged in to the power source itself. We have to be plugged into Jesus in order to receive His power. Now some of us feel pretty confident in our own abilities. You may be very self-disciplined. You may be one of those people who’s able to turn down a piece of Godiva chocolate cake after dinner.
a. Or you may even call yourself a Xian. You read your Bible and pray daily. You come to church on Sundays. But the key to overcoming temptation is what you’re plugged in to for power. I’m discovering more and more that when I’m plugged in to myself I get into trouble.
ILLUS: A few years ago on New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade before the Rose Bowl, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. The reason why was b/c it had run out of gas. The result is the whole parade was held up b/c the float was right in the middle of the road. So for several minutes every one waited until someone could go get a can of gas for the float.
-The thing that makes the story so amusing is that the float represented the Standard Oil Company. Even though the float represented a company w/vast oil resources, it didn’t make a difference b/c its own tank was empty.
b. Jesus has vast resources that He wants to share w/us. But those resources and His power won’t make a bit of difference in our lives if we’re not willing to tap in to them.
B. You might say, “Well, how do I tap in to His power?” First of all, seek after Him! If you need gas for your car what do you do? You go to the gas station to get filled up. Maybe you’re running on spiritual fumes right now. Seek God out! James 4: 7-8-“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near you.”
1. You also tap into His power by filling up; by being obedient to what He says! James 1: 21-22-“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Reit: The 1st fact @ temptation is every one is tempted. The 2nd fact is temptations are not all-powerful. And the final fact @ temptation is:
DIV. 3: THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY OUT (v. 13)
Exp: I don’t care what temptation you’re facing today. I don’t care what temptation you’ve already given in to. I want you to know that there is a way out of it. Now if you’ve already given in to a temptation I’m not saying there’s a way out of paying the consequences for what you’ve done. I’m saying there’s hope offered to you that you don’t have to be enslaved by that temptation.
A. The phrase “a way out” can also be translated “escape.” God will provide a way of escape for you if you’re struggling w/a particular temptation. He will provide a way out so you can keep from giving in to it.
1. Notice that God doesn’t necessarily show us the way out. He provides it. What does that mean? It means we have to look for the way out. So when you find yourself in a situation that’s tempting you to do something wrong, look for the way out.
a. You know what you’ll discover when you look for the way out? First, your focus will be taken off of the temptation b/c you’re looking elsewhere. But 2nd, you’ll discover God will provide a way to escape…when you look.
b. If you’ve got a drinking problem you can’t walk into a bar and order a drink and then say, “Well, God’s going to have to provide a way of escape for me!” At that point it’s too late. The way of escape is when you’re driving by a bar and you’re tempted to go in, you just keep on driving! You figure out where you’re going to go next.
2. Ps. 119: 37-“Turn my eyes away from worthless things.” We typically gravitate towards things we focus our attention on. How many of you have watched a commercial @ food and gotten hungry? How many of you have seen an attractive person and allowed your eyes to linger on that person a little too long?
a. We’ve all done things like that. So how can we avoid being tempted to give in? Redirect your thoughts. Look for the way out. Realize God has the power to give you victory!
b. One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph. You may recall Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he ended up in Egypt working in Potiphar’s household. Unfortunately for Joseph, Potiphar’s wife took a real interest in him.
B. And day after day she’d try to get Joseph to sleep w/her. One day she became very bold and reached out and grabbed Joseph and told him to lie w/her. How did Joseph respond? Gen. 39: 11-12-“One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed w/me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”
1. How’d he respond? He high-tailed it out of there! Notice Joseph didn’t stick around and pray @ it. He just left! You see, Joseph had made the decision a long time ago that he was going to pure in his life and that he was going to honor God.
a. So when the temptation arose, Joseph knew what he was going to do. He was going to escape! He was going to run. Sometimes the best thing we can do in life is run! If you know something is particularly tempting for you, run away from it! Don’t get near it!
b. If pornography is a problem for you, then don’t get on the internet where you’re alone. If drinking’s a problem w/you, then stay away from bars and situations where people are drinking.
2. Start praying now that God will give you strength to escape from temptation before you face it. You might think, a little glance here and there on the internet’s not going to be a problem. A little drink here and there isn’t going to get me hooked again. If you get to that point, you’re in trouble.
ILLUS: “Leadership” magazine had an article on how an Eskimo kills a wolf. First, the Eskimo coats his knife in animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by the frozen blood.
-Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground w/the blade up. When a wolf follows his nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He gets so excited he begins to lick faster, lapping the blade until the edge is bare.
-B/c he’s so caught up in licking the blood and b/c it’s so cold, he doesn’t notice the sting of the knife on his tongue. Nor does he notice that the blood he’s now drinking is his own blood. His appetite just craves more until the Eskimo comes the next morning to find the wolf dead in the snow.
a. God always provides a way of escape for us. When we’re tempted we don’t have to give in. But if we do, realize what that temptations going to do for you. It might satisfy your carnal pleasures for a while, but eventually it’s going to sap the life out of you and leave you for dead.
b. I’ve seen great people totally destroyed by temptation b/c they didn’t run from it. I’ve seen their marriages fall a part; I’ve seen the relationship w/their children totally severed; I’ve seen them lose respect in the community.
B. But it doesn’t have to be that way. God provides a way out. The question is, “Are you looking for it?” B/c if you are, God will reveal the way of escape to you.
Conclusion: We all face temptation. And I believe the more we know @ it, the better chance we have to defend ourselves against it. Today we’ve seen 3 facts @ temptation: 1st, every one is tempted. 2nd, temptations are not all-powerful. And finally, there is always a way out.
-Maybe you’re dealing w/some temptations in your life right now. Take this time to ask God for His help. Ask Him to give you strength to w/stand the pressure the temptation is putting on your life. And then make the decision you’re going to run from it.
-Others of you need to know that victory over temptation begins w/plugging in to the ultimate power source, Jesus Christ. If you’d like to do that, pray this prayer after me: Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I know you died and rose from the grave. Save me.
-If you prayed that prayer, take your bulletin insert and check the line where it says you asked Jesus to be your Savior. Then put it in the offering basket in a minute and we’ll get you some information in the mail on how you can grow in your new walk w/Christ.
