Whispers from God -15a

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.”

Listening this week to Dr. David Jeremiah, impressed by his sermon, temptation is a subject that is close to home. Does temptation bother you? How many of you think that temptation is a sin? According to Dr. David Jeremiah, temptation is not evil or a sin. The sin occurs when we yield to the temptation, this is the evil. Dr. Jeremiah stated when we are walking and are the closest to God, Satan does his utmost work to derail us with temptation.  Jesus had his day with Satan after he was in the desert for forty days and he fought Satan with the word of God.

God never tempts us. God tests us but he does not tempt us. Temptation is from Satan. We are never without the delivering power to resist the temptation. God sees the temptation and provides a way out. We can’t be passive we have to take the way out of temptation.

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Beloved, no one is immune to temptation. Proverbs 6:18 says, “a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong.” In the Lord’s prayer, we pray lead us not into temptation in Matthew 26:41. So we need to pray and ask for help daily not to give into temptation. We need to stay away from temptation, if you love Ben and Jerry’s Cherry’s Garcia then maybe you should not buy the ice cream if you are trying to lose weight. God hates and tells us to run from immortality, greed and idols.

We have trained our little dog Tory to wait for her food. When it is placed in her bowl we tell her “Wait” she looks at the food, but then she looks at my husband waiting for his mouth to say “OK” but if the word is “Wait” she will continue to watch him. This is what we need to do with temptation. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He provides the way out.

Beloved, prayer is the vehicle to drive the path until you here the word OK you found the way out of the temptation. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Always refocus your affection on Jesus.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13