Introduction: Humans have many things in common. We each have two legs, two arms, two eyes, and two ears. We each have a brain, a heart, and a nervous system. Though we vary in size, shape, and colour, we all have red blood. Humans typically have 23 pairs of chromosomes, or 46 chromosomes in total. Besides these and countless other similarities, we all face the same type of temptations – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Transition: Here in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, the Holy Spirit reveals to us three important facts about temptation that if heeded will keep us from sin.
1. The Bible is bulging with examples of temptations.
Every OT story or event is for our learning (Ro 15:4). In this passage, Paul lists five examples from Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness (v.6-10).
a. Do not lust after evil things (v.6).
1) (Numbers 11:4) “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.“
2) (Psalms 106:14) “But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.“
b. Do not worship anything but God (v.7).
1) Exodus 32:1-6 (turn and read)
2) (Matthew 6:24) “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.“
c. Do not be immoral (v.8).
1) Numbers 25:1-8 (turn and read)
2) In 1 Corinthians 6:18, God says, “Flee fornication.”
d. Do not put Christ’s ability to the test (v.9).
1) Numbers 21:5-9 (turn and read)
2) (Psalms 78:18-20) “And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?“
e. Do not murmur or complain (v.10).
1) (Exodus 17:3) “And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (cf., Ex 15:24; 16:7-8).
2) (Numbers 16:41) “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.“
These are only a small sample of sins that God included in the Bible for our learning. Others include sins of Adam and Eve, Noah’s world, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph’s brothers, Saul, David, Jonah, the many kings, etc.
2. God included all these examples for our benefit.
a. Each one teaches a lesson (v.11).
1) They are examples from which we must learn.
2) They admonish or rebuke us when we do similar wrong.
3) Each warns of serious consequences for sin.
4) They persuade us to flee error and begin right action.
b. We dare not trust our self-confidence (v.12).
1) When we think we are strong, we are in great danger. Many a careless Christian has overestimated his or her spiritual strength and ventured into dangerous waters of temptation, only to be swept off their feet and pulled under by the mighty currents.
2) For this reason, we must take heed to the many Bible examples and contemporary examples of those who were swept under by temptation. This means to perceive, to discern, or to be able to see.
3) If we fail to take heed, we may be the next cocky Christian to be defeated and disgraced by the devil.
3. Our faithful God offers help during our temptations.
a. He assures that every temptation is common.
1) The word “common” literally means human. This first phrase literally states, “You have taken in no temptation that is not human.”
2) He assures us that we have never received a temptation that was beyond human. Every temptation has been human. Your struggles are human struggles.
b. He faithfully limits the devil’s ability to tempt.
1) Yes, every temptation is human, but God is faithful.
2) Being faithful, God always limits the devil’s abilities so that we are always humanly able to resist with God’s help.
3) No human can justly claim that he or she had no choice but to yield to the temptation. If you think of some of the most powerful temptations you have faced, you may think that you just could not possibly resist. I admit, temptation can become irresistible! So, was God wrong? No! Read on.
c. He lovingly provides an escape to every temptation.
1) Praise God, the Holy Spirit used the strong contrasting BUT (alla) here. God will not allow you to be tempted above your ability to resist, BUT He will with the temptation also make a way to escape. Do not miss this!
2) Together with every temptation you and I face, God provides an exit.
3) “In July of 1960, James Honeycutt took 7-year-old Roger Woodward and his sister, Deanne, for a boat ride on the upper Niagara River [above the Niagara Falls]. According to one account, he had gone past the point of no return. He tried to turn his 14-foot aluminium motorboat around, but a shear-pin failure disabled the motor, leaving the boat and those in it at the mercy of the current. || The boat quickly flipped over, and its three former passengers were headed for the falls. Luckily Deanne floated close enough to Goat Island that some tourists were able to pull her to safety. Her brother Roger and James Honeycutt were not so fortunate and were swept over Horseshoe Falls, [falling 57 m] over which 3,000 tons of water crash every second. Miraculously, Roger survived. Sadly, James Honeycutt was battered and drowned.” https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/going-too-far
4) During a temptation, if you pass the exit God provides, you may have passed the point of no return. You cannot blame God. At that point, temptation may get so powerful that you cannot possibly resist.
5) The solution ought to be obvious. When tempted, always take the first exit, and run for your life. (2 Timothy 2:22) “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.“
6) Your exit may be to pray for help, bounce your eyes, shut off the computer, stop watching the movie, leave the party, leave those you are with, get around good people, quote Bible verses, sing a hymn, say “No!”, ask a godly friend to hold you accountable, etc.
7) Ponder the times you have fallen into sin. What was the exit that you bypassed? Be prepared to take the exit the next time Satan tempts you with that sin.
Conclusion: In this passage, the Holy Spirit has revealed to us three important facts about temptation. If we heed His warnings, they will keep us from sin.
Meditate on the Bible examples of those who have fallen and on those who stood firm during temptation. Learn from them. Let them be sober examples to follow. Never overestimate your spiritual strength against the devil. Know that our faithful God will not allow you to face a temptation greater than you can resist. When tempted, immediately find the exit, and run as if your life depended on it. It actually may!
If you have missed the exit and have been pulled into sin, go back to 1 John 1:9 and confess your sin to God. Then with God’s help forsake that sin.
