FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS (1)
Everyone gets tempted; that is, we come under pressure to do the wrong thing. The issue is: how do we respond to temptations? Sometimes we give in, and sometimes we don’t.
There Bible based ways of overcoming temptations. In the next few messages, I will (under God) share some insights with you. This is the first part of these messages.
Today I want you to take a close look at one of the most crucial scriptures that deal with this subject. This is 1 Cor. 10:12-13. It reads thus:
If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
A number of salient instructions can be seen in this scripture. The passage is hereby broken into pieces so that we can see the instructions clearly:
1. If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. This means you should never assume that you have matured spiritually to the extent that you cannot sin again. Always be maximally careful, watchful and prayerful. It’s safer to live cautiously and depend on God for grace.
2. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. Don’t allow the devil to persuade you that your trials are particularly or peculiarly hard. When people try to encourage you not to yield to evil, don’t tell them “you don’t know what I’m going through”. I want you to know that other people have gone through the test and passed. Others are going through it now, and many will still go through it. Those who faced your kind of situation and came out with their faith intact do not have two heads.
3. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; If you are a child of God, God watches over you. He is aware of your situation. He knows you have what it takes to face the temptation and win. If not, he will not allow the situation to come. If you end up falling, it is your choice! Do I sound hard and insensitive? Well, that is Bible stuff!
4. … at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. Hey! There is already a way out of that spot between the rock and the hard place. God made sure of that before letting you go down that road. You will see the Godly way out. Choose it!
There Bible based ways of overcoming temptations. In the next few messages, I will (under God) share some insights with you. This is the first part of these messages.
Today I want you to take a close look at one of the most crucial scriptures that deal with this subject. This is 1 Cor. 10:12-13. It reads thus:
If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
A number of salient instructions can be seen in this scripture. The passage is hereby broken into pieces so that we can see the instructions clearly:
1. If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. This means you should never assume that you have matured spiritually to the extent that you cannot sin again. Always be maximally careful, watchful and prayerful. It’s safer to live cautiously and depend on God for grace.
2. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. Don’t allow the devil to persuade you that your trials are particularly or peculiarly hard. When people try to encourage you not to yield to evil, don’t tell them “you don’t know what I’m going through”. I want you to know that other people have gone through the test and passed. Others are going through it now, and many will still go through it. Those who faced your kind of situation and came out with their faith intact do not have two heads.
3. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; If you are a child of God, God watches over you. He is aware of your situation. He knows you have what it takes to face the temptation and win. If not, he will not allow the situation to come. If you end up falling, it is your choice! Do I sound hard and insensitive? Well, that is Bible stuff!
4. … at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. Hey! There is already a way out of that spot between the rock and the hard place. God made sure of that before letting you go down that road. You will see the Godly way out. Choose it!
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