Victory Over Temptation

For years I have been fascinated with Bible verses that have one word repeated three times. It usually turns out that this particular verse is a key verse when it comes to understanding that word or concept.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is one such verse:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;

but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will also make a way of escape,

that you may be able to bear it.

The word "temptation" or "tempted" is mentioned 3 times in this verse. There are seven monumental statements concerning temptation found right here - keys of wisdom that will help you to understand and overcome any and all temptation:

1. No Temptation has overtaken you - Temptation so often feels as though it overwhelms and overtakes us. We feel as though we have no control over it - or over ourselves. This is not true - Jesus was tempted but He never sinned (Heb. 4:15). Temptation may lead to sin, but it doesn't have to. Temptation is not the same as sin. Temptation asks us a question - sin says, "Yes" to the question.

2. Common to man - Every one of us get tempted. It may seem like we are in some special place where the temptations and trials of our lives are extraordinary...that is not the case. As it turns out...our temptations are very common. All people of all ages, all types, and all cultures are tempted just like we are. Maybe that is why Jesus teaches us to pray: "Lead us not into temptation" (Matt. 6:13).

3. God is faithful - GOD IS FAITHFUL! This statement standouts out as a banner in the midst of the verse. 

• He is faithful to be with us. The Lord is not ashamed of us - no matter what the temptation is, He is there in the midst of it - He stands with us. Temptation might make you feel isolated and alone, but His presence is assured. He never abandons us - especially in the midst of trials and temptations (Heb. 13:5).

• He is faithful to understand our trials...The Lord knows us completely and understands the unique makeup of our lives and what we can bear. He knows us and he knows the trials.

• He is faithful to not allow temptation to come upon us if we cannot bear it - He is our Guard who stands watch over every detail of our lives. He will thwart every temptation and attack that is too much for us to bear. He is our Priest and intercessor who cheers us on in the midst of temptation.

• He is faithful to make a way of escape...He is faithful to carry the burden with us. If we keep our eyes on Him, we will find a way through the darkness, a door to freedom when temptation threatens to overwhelm.

4. God...will not allow - The Lord will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able. He is not the author of the temptation in our lives (James 1:13)...We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us (1Pet. 5:8) but God is the One who watches over us and blocks the attacks of the devil. It is He who says, "Enough!"

5. With the temptation - God never says He will take away the temptation - only that He will make a way for our escape with the temptation. So...even as the battle rages on inside our hearts, God is working on our behalf. Turn your eyes and heart to the Lord during times of struggle. Even while the temptation tugs on our hearts, there is the Lord with His way of escape right through the heat of the battle. The Greek word for the preposition "with" is syn, meaning union, companionship, completeness, possession. I believe that the Lord weaves our way of escape into our union and relationship with Him. The temptation doesn't stand alone to isolate us from God. With the temptation we uncover sonship - with  sonship we find companionship - with companionship is our escape route. When we are with the Lord and possessed by Him, we will find our way to victory.

6. A way of escape - Our escape route may not look the same each time. Sometimes we might escape through prayer (Matt. 26:41). At other times we will need to run from it like Joseph did in Potiphar's house (Gen. 39:12). Jesus used the Word of God to overcome temptation (Matt. 4:5-7); and Paul gave no harbor in his mind for temptation to latch onto - he filled his thoughts with things that are true, noble, pure, excellent, etc. (Phil. 4:8). James instructs us to resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7), so actively standing up to the enemy can be a powerful tactic. We might also have a friend who will faithfully carry our burdens and hold us accountable (Gal. 6:2). Jesus gave us His body and blood so that we might abide in Him and be safe (John 6:56-57). The pathway out of temptation might be unfamiliar at times, but our escape is assured and total victory is always within our grasp.

7. You are able to bear it - The way of escape is given to us so that we can bear the temptation...it does not say that we have a way of escape so that the temptation no longer presents itself. This is a super important distinction. The temptation may continue for a time, but the escape robs it of its power and it's incessant voice dims in the light of God's presence. When we accept His ways and bring Him into the battle we will find the source and birthplace of complete victory. The Greek word for "bear" is hypophérō  which means to undergo hardship and bear it patiently, also - to bear from underneath. it is as if God's strength and power over the temptation rises from deep within us - out of relationship and abiding in Him. It is a patient assurance of our ultimate triumph.

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. 

Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life

that the Lord has promised to those who love Him

James 1:12

The Potter and the Clay - Part 2

Just going back to the posting about the Potter and the clay – it is interesting to note this about the Greed word dokimos, which was stamped on the bottom of pots that had gone through the fire without cracking and were now “approved” for use by the master potters.

"Proved" ("approved," NKJV) comes from the Greek word dokimos, meaning "stood the test; tested to be trustworthy; of sterling worth, like metal which is cleansed of all alloy." Dokimos or one of its forms describes the successful testing of precious metals and coins, as well as the approval of the tested objects as genuine.

…and this from Donald Grey Barnhouse:

"In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no papermoney. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft, and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens to stop the practice of whittling down the coins then in circulation. But some money-changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money; they were men of honour who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. Such men were called dokimos, and this word is used here for the Christian as he is to be seen by the world." (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Romans: God's Glory, p. 18.)

This word dokimos is used 7 times in the New Testament:

Romans 14:18 He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men. (Amp.)

Paul is speaking about Believers who truly live by following Kingdom pronciples of righteousness, peace and joy.

Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, that one tried and approved in Christ (the Messiah)…(Amp.)

We don’t know much about Apelles – just that His faith was tested and proved. Some say that he was the bishop of Smyrna or Heraclea. (A.D. 55.) There is no better statement you can make of a Believer’s life than this.

1 Corinthians 11:19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! (NLT)

Paul is correcting the behavior of the Corinthian church. In doing so, he points out that divisions within the Church will allow those of genuine faith to rise to the top – those who are pure will be recognized in the mist of strife.

2 Corinthians 10:18 It isn’t the person who promotes himself or herself who is approved but the person whom the Lord commends. (CEB)

This is a great verse to follow the previous use of the word dokimos. We cannot proclaim dokimos over ourselves – it is the Lord who must approve of us.

2 Corinthians 13:7 You should be looking at yourselves to make sure that you are really Christ’s. It is yourselves that you should be testing, not me. You ought to know by this time that Christ is in you, unless you are not real Christians at all. And when you have applied your test, I am confident that you will soon find that I myself am a genuine Christian. I pray God that you may find the right answer to your test, not because I have any need of your approval, but because I earnestly want you to find the right answer, even if that should make me no real Christian. For, after all, we can make no progress against the truth; we can only work for the truth. (J. B. Phillips)

This is the best translation of this verse I could find. I included the context – verses 5-8. Again there were things in the Corinthian Church that were out of order. Paul is calling in the Church to test themselves and test the truth of their faith – he was very confident that the truth would prevail and stand up to any test and true faith would finally be approved.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. (Amp)

What a great challenge Paul issues to all of us – to be students of the Word – allowing the truth to purify and refine our lives.

James 1:12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial {and} stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test {and} been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

the apostle is saying that the man who overcomes trials becomes a man of sterling worth and emerges strong and pure spiritually.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving to all friends and family.

I thank God for all of you today.

The real test of thankfulness is whether we can give thanks

from the heart for what we do have, despite the trials,

sickness disappointments and struggles of the past. Ours is

not some fleeting faith, but a resilient trust in in the

midst of every suffering and difficulty.

Psalm 105:1 (Message)

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name!

Tell everyone you meet what he has done!

Sing him songs, belt out hymns,

translate his wonders into music!

Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,

you who seek God. Live a happy life!

Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;

be alert for signs of his presence.

Remember the world of wonders he has made,

his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered—

O seed of Abraham, his servant,

O child of Jacob, his chosen.