There’s a real benefit to the ability to resist temptation... especially in the realm of sin.
For some, it will be easier than others – but if any of us wants to succeed in our spiritual lives – let alone the rest of our lives – we must come to grips with how to overcome temptation.
That’s what we’ll be looking at today. There’s a few verses in 1 Cor 10 that discuss temptation and how we can overcome it. And let me tell you this right up front – the 3 application points in the scripture are quite simple it’s a simple truth, but they are difficult to implement!
TRANS: The first word on overcoming temptation that we’ll find is this:
1. Quit hoping for a miraculous cure for your temptations (v. 1-10)
1 Corinthians 10:1-10 (NIV)
1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
Sometimes we say things like “If only God would show himself, then I’d have faith.” OR “If only God would do a miracle, then I’d have faith.”
Have you read anything from the Old Testament recently? In 1 Cor 10 Paul recounts all the ways they messed up and how God reacted.
When the Israelites were led out of slavery in Egypt, they had all sorts of benefits. God’s presence led them in a cloud by day, and with a pillar of fire at night. They had a leader who actually met with God and talked with him in such a way that they had supernatural revelation from him. God worked all sorts of miracles to free them from slavery, and to feed them every day. Yet all of this was not enough to keep them from falling into temptations of idol worship, sexual immorality, testing God’s goodness, and just simply grumbling.
See – having miracles done in your life will not keep you from being tempted to sin. Having an incredible church, with godly small group leaders, will not do it either. It didn’t work for the Israelites, and it will not work for us today!
So instead of wishing that God would just “show up” and save the day when we’re tempted, we are going to have to take some other tactic for overcoming temptation.
2. Be vigilant in your fight against temptations! (v. 11-12)
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (NIV)
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
“I haven’t had any problems with computer viruses in a while. I don’t need my firewall today. I think I’ll just browse the net and make a bunch of internet purchases without it today.”
“I haven’t felt tempted by sexual images in a while. I think I could watch that R rated movie.”
“You know I haven’t gossiped in a long time – I could probably call that friend and ask just a few questions about our mutual friend – just to pray for her of course!”
Never forget what Peter tells us about the devil:
1Peter 5:8 (NIV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
ILLUS: We’ve all seen those nature movies that show how lions hunt other animals. They are extremely smart. Instead of going for the strongest – they try and get a weak/young/small animal separated from the pack and then they pounce.
The moment you leave your “pack” (translated: small group) you put yourself in danger of attack.
The moment you start thinking you have overcome and have arrived spiritually is the moment you’re asking for trouble.
ILLUS: This is why in 12-step groups such as AA they always introduce themselves by saying “My name is _____, and I am an alcoholic.” These people realize that even though they may have been clean and sober for years – the possibility always exists to fall back into the sin that once held them.
If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
TRANS: So when it comes to overcoming temptation 1 Cor 10 tells us not to expect a miraculous cure for temptation, and to be vigilant in our fight against temptation. But how exactly do we fight and overcome the temptations we face? Let’s read the last verse of this section of scripture.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13No 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.
3. When tempted, there is always a way out. Take it! (v. 13)
“the Devil made me do it” is never an adequate response to falling into sin when tempted. God’s word is very clear – at some point during the process you made a choice to follow the tempting thoughts and sin. You could have chosen otherwise.
ILLUS: Taking money from my mother’s purse and then going to 7-11 to buy candy when I was in elementary school. I had to actually choose to sneak into her room, reach in and take the money, and then lie about where I was going. (I was only 10 years old but I was sure calculating, wasn’t I?)
This reminds me of what James tells us about the process of temptation:
James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
But this progression of temptation giving birth to sin in our lives is NOT something that we have no power over! We are not like “lambs led to the slaughter”. No way! The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is though we USED to be slaves to sin, we have been freed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ! Those who are disciples of Jesus Christ have been given the Holy Spirit – who will alert us to sin and temptation, and who can empower us to say NO to our fleshly desires, and to become the people God wants us to be!
There is always a way out! But the way out costs! It may cost you your pride – because you may need to ask someone to help you in a point of weakness, or call someone to let them know you’re being tempted.
It may cost you money, because the temptation will put money in your pockets, or the way out actually costs money! It may cost you time, because the temptation will save you time.
The point is – you are ALWAYS given a way out, and it is up to you whether or not you’ll take it!
CONCLUSION:
Temptation is inevitable. Your response to it is not.
No matter who we are or how long we have followed Jesus we will deal with temptation - it is inevitable. The type of the temptation might change over time, but it will always be there.
The good news is that our response to temptation is anything but inevitable.
We’ve been offered the power of the Holy Spirit, and we’ve been given the sword of the spirit, the word of God, to combat Satan’s temptations.
But maybe you feel as if you’ve failed too many times. You’ve given in. You’ve taken Satan’s shortcuts so many times they seem even more well worn than the path God would have you take. And you’re ready to give up the fight.
If this is you, I have good news. Help is available if you’re willing to come and ask for it. It’s waiting at a place called the “Throne of Grace”.
Heb. 4:15-16 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus knows our weaknesses - he felt them and lived through them himself - and he stands ready to give you all the mercy and grace you need to get back in the fight to overcome the evil one. And he invites you, whoever you are, no matter what you’ve done, to come to him.
I hope you’ll take him up on his offer.
