The Way of Escape

1 Corinthians 10:13
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Temptation is an every day battle. It doesn’t matter how spiritual or unspiritual you are; you will face temptation. The reason the believer faces temptation is because they still live in the flesh. As long as the believer lives in the flesh, they will battle the temptation. However, it is completely possible for the believer to overcome temptation. The verse above gives several observations about overcoming temptation that I would like to share with you.

First, your temptation is nothing new. The verse above says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…” It is important that I point out to you that there are two types of temptation the believer faces. First, they will face the temptation of sin. The verse above is not talking about this type of temptation. James 1:13 proves this when it says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” Therefore, any temptation of sin is a believer’s own fault. James 1:14 proves this when it says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” The only reason you are tempted with sin is because you have allowed yourself to be in places or situations where sin can tempt you. You will never be tempted with sin if you don’t allow yourself to be in places where you can be exposed to it.

The second type of temptation that the verse above is talking about is when the believer is being tested in trials. You will go through testings in life which will tempt or test you. Just like steel is tested or strengthened, so the believer is strengthened through their testings of trials. The purpose of this temptation is to reveal your weaknesses, show you God’s power in your life, and to strengthen your faith so that you can grow in grace.

Second, God never places more on you than you can bear. You may think that what you are going through is too hard, but God reveals that whatever He places on you is something you can overcome. The verse above says, “…who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…” Whatever you face today, God has enough trust in you that you can overcome it. Therefore, your testings in life don’t have to overcome you because God knows what you can handle.

Third, God is faithful to help you. The verse above reminds the believer, “…but God is faithful…” My friend, you serve a faithful God who will always be there for you no matter what you face. God is faithful to be with you through the temptations of trials. God is faithful to help you in your times of testing. You that you are not going through your testing alone because God is faithful to be with you as you go through it.

Fourth, your way of escape is to go through it. The verse above says, “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” You don’t escape your temptation of testing by running from it, but you escape it by bearing it. Let me encourage you not to quit. Whatever testing you are facing, God is faithful to help you if you will just continue serving God until you overcome it.

Author: Allen Domelle