When Temptation Takes You - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
When Temptation Takes You
1 Corinthians 10
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 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.
Intro: Paul writes these words in the context of Israel’s failures in the wilderness (verses 1–11).
They were God’s People, and they had:
God’s Presence – the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of cloud by night;
God’s Provision – the manna and the water and the quail
God’s Promises – too many to list
Yet many of them fell.
Verse 5 says “with many of them God was not well pleased.”
Verse 5 says they were “overthrown.”
Verse 8 says they “fell in one day 23,000.”
Verse 9 says they “were destroyed of serpents.”
The nation of Israel was an example of what NOT to do.
Vs. 6 – that we should not lust…as they also lusted.
Vs. 7 – neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them…
Vs. 8 – nether let us commit fornication, as some of them committed.
Vs. 9 – neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted
Vs. 10 – neither murmur, as some of them also murmured.
I. A Cautious Admonition – “…let him that thinketh he standeth…”
This warning is aimed not at the weak—but at the confident.
Paul does not say:
“Let him that is falling take heed”
“Let him that is struggling take heed”
He says: “Let him that thinketh he standeth…”
The greatest danger in temptation is overconfidence.
Spiritual pride sounds like:
“I’d never do that.”
“That could never happen to me.”
“I’m stronger than that.”
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Confidence in yourself leads to calamity; confidence in God leads to caution.
Standing is not proven by confidence; it is proven by continued dependence.
II. A Common Assault – “…but such is common to man…”
TEMPTATION:
an experiment, attempt, trial, proving
1a) trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul (Gal. 4:14)
1b) the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy
1b1) an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances
1b2) an internal temptation to sin
TAKETH YOU:
to take
1a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1b) to take in order to carry away
1c) to take what is one’s own, to take to one’s self, to make one’s own
1c1) to claim, procure, for one’s self
1c2) of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend
1c3) to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud
Make no mistake – temptation will TAKE YOU.
It will grab you; seize you; apprehend you; trap you.
But it is not just you – it takes all of us.
It grabs at us; lays claim to us; takes by craftiness and trickery.
God says: “It is common to man.”
Temptation is universal.
Notice verse 11 – “…all these things happened unto them…”
The following warning is with the knowledge that they can also happen to us.
The first 11 verses were given to us to prove just how “common to man” these temptations really are!
Ecclesiastes 1:9 “…there is no new thing under the sun.”
The same tactics Satan used in the Garden of Eden, and against David, Peter and Jesus, he still uses today.
Feeling alone makes temptation stronger.
Telling yourself it’s just you makes it harder to resist.
Recognizing just how “common to man” it is restores clarity and perspective.
You are not uniquely weak; you are human.
We all deal with it – every single day.
Temptation thrives in secrecy, but weakens in truth and realization.
III. A Comforting Assurance – “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…”
This is the pivot point of the passage.
Paul moves from man’s weakness to God’s faithfulness
Temptation is not the focus. God is.
God’s faithfulness means:
He is aware of the temptation.
He is active in the situation.
He is limiting the pressure.
Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed… great is thy faithfulness.”
“…who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”
God sets boundaries.
Satan operates on a leash.
The test is measured by divine wisdom and supervision.
Job 1:12 “…Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.”
God is never surprised by temptation.
God never abandons His people in temptation.
God never allows temptation without provision.
The strength of the believer is not in resisting—but in trusting a faithful God.
IV. A Certain Avoidance – “…make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
God does not promise the removal of temptation; He promises a route out.
The phrase “way to escape” does not mean a miracle deliverance
It means:
A God-provided option
A path of obedience
A moment of choice
The escape can be:
A decision to walk away
A refusal to defile yourself (Daniel 1:8)
A submission to accountability
A reminder of truth
A yielding upon the Holy Spirit
Genesis 39:12 “…and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”
Joseph did not argue; he ran.
“…that ye may be able to bear it”
NOTE: God does not say you won’t feel it, or be conflicted, but He said you can bear it.
Victory is not always dramatic; it is often just a quiet, humble submission and obedience to God.
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The escape is often present before the temptation peaks.
The longer you linger, the harder it is to leave.
That’s why so many Scripture verses tell us not to look at sin.
ILLUSTRATION: Eve looked at the forbidden fruit and it looked better the longer she looked at it.
Obedience delayed is often obedience denied.
God always provides an exit—but you must choose to take it.
Conclusion:
When temptation comes, pride makes you careless and vulnerable.
Isolation makes the temptation heavier and more irresistible.
Failing to remember what happens to those that give in to their lusts will cause you to make the same mistake.
BUT!...
God’s faithfulness makes endurance possible.
God’s escape makes victory attainable
Look for the exit!
Head for the escape hatch!
God gave it to you – so use it!
Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”