There's A Way Out...

"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."

1 Corinthians 10:13

Everybody faces temptations; the only thing that varies from person to person is how we handle them… Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as if common to man…” This passage shines light on the fact that the enemy knows your common weaknesses; however, it also provides encouragement to the believer as you are told that the adversary is using the same old tired tricks that our Lord has already conquered… This is why, despite the temptations that are common snares in our lives that Paul goes on to say that “God is faithful…”This means that the things we face in life are things that have been here before; God knows your limitations… Everything that you endure is never going to overtake you if you remain focused and stay attentive to the will of God… The things you are dealing with God already knows and the reason you are subject to them is simply because He knows that you can handle it… Temptations display the true character and heart an individual… It is when we are tempted that we showcase the faith we have in Christ or the lack thereof… It is necessary for us to endure such temptations as we profess our faith and allow God’s faithfulness to work in and through us… Remember that the first portion of this scripture speaks about the common temptations that man faces; with that being said we can look to Jesus and know how to handle tempting situations…  When Jesus was led into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, the word of God tells us that He was tempted of the enemy…  Through all the temptations that were hurled His way, by standing upon the word He was able to resist the enemy and eventually make him retreat… Understand today, that through the word of God you have the ability to overcome the obstacles in front of you… You can resist the enemy just as Jesus did and he will flee… The 4^th chapter of Matthew; verses 1-11 record the events of the tempting and how the word trumps the enemy…

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”

Jesus could have given in, but at His weakest point the word was His source of strength… When you encounter temptations, know that the word is your source of strength… You can defeat the enemy (not in your own power but with the sword that is the word of God)… This is what Jesus demonstrates in Matthew and how it is that we can rest assured amidst temptations knowing that God has us in the palm of His loving hand… When you face temptations and you be at peace knowing that it will not defeat you because “God is faithful…” He knows your limits and will never put more on you than you can bear… What I love about this passage is the fact that Paul says not only will God not allow this temptation to overtake us, but he goes on to say that the Lord will “make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it…” Jesus was attended to by the angels after His temptations… God will provide the things that you need in the midst of the temptations that you face…  Whether strength or a door; know that God will provide it and you will overcome it…

BE BLESSED!!!