Hope in Escaping Temptation

Do you ever think that seasoned Christians must not have problems you have?

Or, that if they DO have problems like yours, they must not be as bothered by them as you are?

It's not true, you know.

Every Christian, regardless of how many years they've been walking with the Lord, has difficulties that irritate and annoy them, just like the newest "baby" Christian.

Believe me, they are "tempted to complain, to murmur and despair" just like you are.

The enemy would like to convince us of this:

• that we are alone.
• that no one has ever been tempted the way we are tempted.
• that IF they have been tempted like us, they have never given in to that temptation.
• that we have committed sin that truly "spiritual" people never commit.

These are the biggest lies in Satan's arsenal!

I Corinthians 10:13 assures us:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…

Did you catch that? "NO" temptation that you have experienced is peculiar to you?

It is "common" to all men!

COMMON:
1. Belonging equally to more than one, or to many indefinitely;
2. Belonging to the public;
3. General; serving for the use of all;
4. Universal; belonging to all;
5. Public; general; frequent;
6. Usual; ordinary; as the common operations of nature;

Don't believe the lies of Satan that your life is somehow more difficult than the lives of other Christians around you.

Also, don't neglect to read the rest of the above verse!

I Corinthians 10:13 – …but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;…

God will not allowed you to be tempted more than you can handle!

And the grand finale of this verse:

I Corinthians 10:13 – …but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God will make a way OUT of your temptation!

Whether your temptation is

• to complain – to utter expressions of grief; to utter expressions of censure or resentment; to lament
• to murmur – to grumble; to complain; to utter complaints in a low,half articulated voice; to utter sullen discontent
• to despair – to be without hope; to give up all hope or expectation

God has given you a way to escape! You do not need to be constantly complaining about how bad your life is.

Even when we don't verbalize these complaints out loud, we often have a list of them continually running through our minds.

Draw your strength from the promises of the Scripture that there is a way of escape.

Read and study the Word, spend time on your face before God, and He will show you the way to victory over your temptations!

There is great hope in escaping temptation!