Temptations (Eng to german)(15.9.1983) Om Conf — George Verwer

But it's well worth seeing if you're not in that American meeting, it's called Explosion. It's about population explosion and world evangelism at 9 .30 for non-North Americans. I'd like you to turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

Temptation and the History of Israel

Temptation. I feel that I have credentials to speak on this subject. My own Christian life for 29 years has been one endless series of temptations. When I was a young Christian, I never thought I would make it.

And the more I learned about the Christian life, at times the more impossible and at times, I thought, the more ridiculous it seemed. Now this is a very heavy chapter, a very strong chapter. It tells about the history of Israel.

Not only how they were tempted, but how they fell. Not a very encouraging chapter. In fact, I don't think I'll read it now. You can read it on your own if you want something discouraging. You can read this chapter.

On the other hand, this chapter is written as a warning. You'll notice that in verse 11. Why are we told about all these people falling into fornication? Must we have this in the middle of the New Testament?

Thousands of people in one day falling into sexual immorality, verse 8. But notice verse 11. These things happen to them as examples. And are written down as warnings for us. Very appropriate. This is written for us.

That's why we're here in the tent. If this is written for us, then we ought to read it. We ought to study it. And we ought to see what it means. Because if you can get to grip with this great reality in the Christian life, dealing with temptation, well, it's hard to think of anything more important.

Taking Heed Against Falling

Notice what it says in verse 12. So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. Now, some of you perhaps feel that you're really standing firm. You're a leader in your youth group.

You've been standing firm. You haven't fallen into any fornication or some other terrible sin, murder or whatever. But the Word of God says... Thank you, Lord. I appreciate that. What does the Word of God say?

Let's see here. Take heed lest you fall. Then there's this wonderful verse, verse 13. One of the first verses I learned as a young Christian. And this is our key verse for tonight. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

God’s Faithfulness and the Way of Escape

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. Isn't that a great verse? Let me read it to you.

Let me read it in the old King James Authorized Version. By the way, in England you talk about the King James Version. They don't know what you're talking about. That's not an acceptable term in the British Isles.

It's the Authorized Version. It took me 20 years to learn that. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful who will not permit you to be tempted above that you are able.

But will with the temptation also make the way to escape that ye may be able to bear it. Now there's a verse we need to stand upon. And I've read Acts Chapter 2. There was a mighty rushing wind. And the tent went over to France.

I hope you'll memorize this verse. And you'll stand on it. Now let's look at it a little more carefully. For a while I thought that God would not allow me to be tempted in a way that I could not always win.

Choosing the Way of Escape

But after losing a number of battles I decided to re-study the verse. My theology was not coming up to my practice. And as I studied it again this was my conclusion. God does always provide a way of escape.

But you have to choose it. He doesn't force you. Victory is not automatic. When you are seriously tempted there is a way of escape. But at that moment though it is a mystery you are a free agent. You can sin or you can refuse sin.

The way of escape is here. In this tent there is a door. But I can't force you to go through that door. And you have to choose to go through that door each time you leave here. And this has really helped me.

When I am tempted and I get a lot of temptation I know God is faithful. I know God's word is faithful. And therefore there is a way of escape. So when I am under temptation I try to look for the escape route.

Fleeing Youthful Lusts

Paul wrote to Timothy and he said flee youthful lusts. So sometimes the escape route is running. You have to run away from certain temptations. And I have been learning to run. Not just physical jogging which I do but spiritual jogging.

Temptation Is Not Sin

I think it is important to understand that temptation is not sin. How many have ever been surprised by the unbelievable ugly thoughts that come into your little semi-sanctified head? Ever get surprised by your thought life?

Any of you? Well, I tell you my thoughts you know, there are some things I just rather not repeat. And at the strangest times you are in a prayer meeting you are really getting through to God and you are praising the Lord and you are quoting scriptures and you are singing choruses bless the Lord, oh my... and you are just caught up with the Lord.

And somehow in God's mysterious providential way some chick comes floating through the prayer meeting door not very modestly dressed you are just praising the Lord and suddenly you are and all kinds of thoughts and you immediately want to say to the guy next to you Hey man, did you see that came in the door?

Then you realize you can't do that in a prayer meeting. And so she sits down and you are just really struggling. Wow! So you decide you better go sit opposite to her so you go around the other side of the prayer meeting and you are agonizing in prayer with your hands over your face crying out to God Oh Lord, send our workers to Egypt and then suddenly you just say.

And then all of a sudden you start to feel this is not really the main purpose of this prayer meeting. Can that happen to a dedicated soldier of Jesus Christ? I think it can. Now I don't want to project my problems on you.

But temptation is not sin. If when that temptation even to have a little lust trip in your mind and just looking at a woman is not sin but if you entertain wrong, unclean thoughts about a woman you entertain that, you run it through again it's sin.

So don't be surprised by strange thoughts some of them are actually very very normal don't be so surprised. But realize that if you just then replay it and just start going down the road thinking the wrong thing then you are moving into that which is sinful.

You're yielding to the temptation. Stage one, thoughts. And of course a lot of Christians most of their battles are in stage one they're in their thought life. And there are many other temptations. Some have had a struggle with hostility.

Hostility, Human Fallenness, and Common Temptations

Don't be surprised by that. When man fell it was an awesome, awesome terrible thing that has affected the whole human race. And our fallen nature or whatever you want to call it, it's there. And we've got to deal with it.

So don't be surprised if hostility comes out. At times you get a feeling have you ever had that feeling you just once and for all would like to punch this guy right smack in the nose. Just once, you know, not you.

It's not that you hate him you just don't like him. It's not that you want to have any permanent hate trip that would be terrible. You'd like to just give him one good whop and then forget the whole thing.

Now I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about different temptations. You know the area where you get tempted. I get tempted a lot to be discouraged. Just go back lay on my bed and say blah. And you know even here in this wonderful spiritual environment you can get some pretty negative thoughts.

It's normal. And we need to understand every temptation we have according to this scripture, it's common. You're no big special person. Boy, I got really special temptations nobody else has. Stop flattering yourself.

Don't give yourself too much credit. These temptations that you have had and that you will continue to have they are common. And the bible says Jesus was tempted in every point and yet without sin. And I just pray that people will not allow themselves to come into tremendous bondage simply because they have a lot of temptation.

Rejecting Super-Spiritual Expectations

As Christians we need at times to come down to earth. We have often too much super spirituality in our thinking. If I am a victorious crucified spirit filled Christian then I will never think that thought.

I will never have that particular temptation. And I think it's just so important. Now what do we do when these temptations come? I don't believe there is any one simple little answer. Somebody says quote a verse that's the answer, quote a verse.

I believe in that. Use the word of God. But the word of God is not a magic wand. It may not instantly bring all the victory you are hoping.