A Way to Escape 1 Cor. 10 :13 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Last week I preached on temptation from 1 Cor 10:13. In this text we see that God will with the temptation make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear the temptation. But we didn’t discuss what that way is. So, today we are going to discuss the “way to escape.” The way to escape is disclosed in the Bible. The Lord has made these ways so that you can see them and follow them in temptation. The way to escape is to:
Watch and Pray – Matt 26:41 – get ahead of the temptation – in the same way that infantry lays down covering fire for an advance, so you need to lay down covering prayer before you start your day – prayer keeps you from being drawn away of your own lust.
Walk in the Spirit – Gal 5:16 – since the Spirit is contrary to the flesh, when you walk in the Spirit you will be walking contrary to the lust of the flesh – the more you grow as a Christian the better you will be able to walk in the Spirit – you’ll be crawling in the Spirit when you first get saved or when you don’t grow.
Think on These Things – Phil 4:8 – there’s real trouble in the thought life – “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” [Prov 23:7] – “commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” [Prov 16:3] – “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’ [2 Cor 10:5] – the things that are true are written in the words of God – the things that are honest concern your proper response to the truth – the things that are honest are the things that line up precisely with the words of God – and so forth.
Humble Yourself – 1 Pet 5:5-9; Jas 4:6-7 – once you see what the Bible says and think about what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, then humble yourself to believe, live by and do those things – the way of humility is contrary to the pride of life.
Set No Wicked Thing Before Your Eyes – Ps 101:3 – Eve saw the tree, David saw Bathsheba – this way of controlling what you see is contrary to the lust of the eyes – Job made a covenant with his eyes – imaginations come from “images.”
Go Forth to Battle – 2 Sam 11:1; Eph 6:10-18 – idleness is what gets you into trouble – wake up and arm yourself for battle – you are in a fight – go outside – work hard – stay involved – garden – serve – fish – hunt – witness – stay active.
Flee Youthful Lusts – 2 Tim 2:22 – hit the road, Jack – Joseph high-tailed it out of Potiphar’s house when his wife seduced him – as quickly as you know you are in a bad situation, get up and run and keep running until you are absolutely free from danger.
Conclusion: Then remember that the ultimate “way to escape ” is Jesus Christ, Jn 14:6, Jn 8:36.