Temptation Are Not From God

 Have you heard the expression:  “God won’t give you more than you can bear?”  The truth is, God won’t, but it does not have anything to do with trials or hardships or loss of job or sickness or bad relationships. 

 

The misquoted expression comes from 1^st Corinthians 10:13 which says, “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.”

 

The truth is; God will not allow us to be so overwhelmed by any temptation that we will ultimately destroy our relationship with him due to no alleyway to escape temptation’s grip.

 

Temptation is real and we must never think we have it conquered it.  The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear that arrogance about “spiritually arrived” is dangerous when he said, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1^st Corinthians 10:12.   Satan is always looking for the backdoor entrance into our soul.  He scouts out our weaknesses and works overtime to infiltrate the vulnerabilities that are exposed.  Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” John 10:10  And, the Apostle Peter warned us to “Be self-controlled and alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like an roaring lion looking for someone to devour….”1^st Peter 5:8

 

God doesn’t leave us stranded on “temptation island” to fend for ourselves while Satan is attacking us from every angle. God provides the most powerful arsenal to intercept the attacks.  God equips us with his Spirit to squelch any “gratifying desire that is sinful.” Galatians 5:16 and the Sprit will instill “self-control” over desires that has the potential to lead us to sin.

 

There are three important factors to know when dealing with temptation: 

 

#1.  Temptations do not come from God; rather, they come from Satan – “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone….”  James 1:13

 

#2.  God gives us his Spirit as a gift to lead us spiritually –  “…You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

 

#3.  If you stifle the Spirit, it loses its power to be effective in protecting us from Satan’s attacks – “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.” 1^st Thessalonians 5:19

 

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

 

Brian