Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:13

     No 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.

Insight: In 1 Corinthians 10:13 God has promised a way out of every temptation. When I read this verse it reminds me how powerful and faithful God is to us. I picture a huge exit sign and God is directing us towards it, so that we can escape any temptation. But what does the way out usually look like in our everyday lives?

A Story: I had a man come up to me and tell me that he is really struggling with computer pornography. He was not sure how to handle this temptation in his life. Is there any way out? There is a key principle when it comes to sexual temptation…Run! Don’t go near it, don’t see how much you can handle, don’t come up with excuses, just quickly run away from it.

When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he literally ran out of the house (Genesis 39:12-13). This same advice is repeated by Paul to Timothy, he says to flee from lustful situations. When it comes to sexual temptations, it is best to avoid it. That might mean that you need to get rid of your computer. Or it could mean that you only use the computer when other people are in the room. That was the solution for this guy, he set up a new boundary: now he only uses his computer before 9pm and when other people are in the room with him. Avoid the situations that are most tempting to you.

Practical Application: What else helps when you are in the heat of the temptation?

1) Prayer: In Matthew 6:13 Jesus says that we should ask God to help lead us away from temptation and to deliver us from the evil one. This is an important prayer.

2) Use The Word: In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus is tempted three times. Each time He is tempted, he quotes a Bible Verse. He is doing this to show us that the Word of God is powerful. It is a weapon we can use to fight off temptations and lies. It is great to memorize some verses and to know the Scripture, but it is even more vital to do what it says.

3) Seek God: With all of your heart, begin to seek God. James tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. And if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:7-8). Don’t just try to handle temptations in your own strength alone.

Final Thoughts: It is not wrong to be tempted. Temptation is the enticement. Even Jesus was tempted. But when we are tempted, God has given us a way out, so that we can be free from it. You don’t have to stay in a sin pattern. God has power for you to break out of it.

Questions:

What temptations are you facing?

What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 say about your situation?

What is your new strategy now to handle temptation?

Will you start using God’s power to overcome these traps?

Deeper: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 119:9-11, Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:14-16.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:13

     No 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.

Insight: In 1 Corinthians 10:13 God has promised a way out of every temptation. When I read this verse it reminds me how powerful and faithful God is to us. I picture a huge exit sign and God is directing us towards it, so that we can escape any temptation. But what does the way out usually look like in our everyday lives?

A Story: I had a man come up to me and tell me that he is really struggling with computer pornography. He was not sure how to handle this temptation in his life. Is there any way out? There is a key principle when it comes to sexual temptation…Run! Don’t go near it, don’t see how much you can handle, don’t come up with excuses, just quickly run away from it.

When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he literally ran out of the house (Genesis 39:12-13). This same advice is repeated by Paul to Timothy, he says to flee from lustful situations. When it comes to sexual temptations, it is best to avoid it. That might mean that you need to get rid of your computer. Or it could mean that you only use the computer when other people are in the room. That was the solution for this guy, he set up a new boundary: now he only uses his computer before 9pm and when other people are in the room with him. Avoid the situations that are most tempting to you.

Practical Application: What else helps when you are in the heat of the temptation?

1) Prayer: In Matthew 6:13 Jesus says that we should ask God to help lead us away from temptation and to deliver us from the evil one. This is an important prayer.

2) Use The Word: In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus is tempted three times. Each time He is tempted, he quotes a Bible Verse. He is doing this to show us that the Word of God is powerful. It is a weapon we can use to fight off temptations and lies. It is great to memorize some verses and to know the Scripture, but it is even more vital to do what it says.

3) Seek God: With all of your heart, begin to seek God. James tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. And if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:7-8). Don’t just try to handle temptations in your own strength alone.

Final Thoughts: It is not wrong to be tempted. Temptation is the enticement. Even Jesus was tempted. But when we are tempted, God has given us a way out, so that we can be free from it. You don’t have to stay in a sin pattern. God has power for you to break out of it.

Questions:

What temptations are you facing?

What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 say about your situation?

What is your new strategy now to handle temptation?

Will you start using God’s power to overcome these traps?

Deeper: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 119:9-11, Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:14-16.