Tim Donaghy : NBA Referee, bribery scandal

What is common in all these names?

They all are famous celebrities; all have fallen into some kind of addiction, which is a result of temptation.

The famous writer Oscar Wilde once said: “I can resist anything except temptation.”

Mark Twain said, “I deal with temptation by yielding to it.”

How about us? We are not VIP’s. We are not celebrities; we are not rich and famous. Can temptation become our problem?

Paul warned the Corinthians about idols, about immoral sexual behaviors, about testing God, and about grumbling. Then he moved on to this important topic: TEMPTATION. In fact, all the above sins are coming from our heart, from our inner being. Temptation is the way evil attacks our heart, our soul, our mind, and our inner being. Therefore, Paul is warning them and us today to be ready to face temptations.

Let me define two important words here. There is a difference between temptation and trial, or test.

A trial may be sent by God to strengthen us. A test is sent by God to deepen our walk with Him; the purpose of a trial or test is to sanctify our spiritual character.

A temptation is never directed by God. Temptation is from evil, from Satan. Its aim is to destroy us, to weaken our character.

Read James 1:12-14

^“12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

We read KJV translation: ¹²Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, (KJV)

¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire,(HEART) he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

God tested Abraham’s faith. His intention was never to trap Abraham. On the other hand, God allowed to Satan to tempt Job. Although Satan intended to destroy Job nevertheless temptation was used to strengthen Job.

When we read Luke chapter 4:1-2, we find that “Jesus was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the Devil.” Once again, temptation is not from God or the Spirit of the Lord. Temptation is from Satan to distract Jesus from his mission. But the Spirit led Jesus to face the temptation prepared by Satan.

Jesus taught us how to pray. He taught us to pray to not to be led into temptation and to be delivered from evil. Jesus knew that we all would face temptation. Jesus knew that God would allow temptations to face us. Therefore, we would need the Father to protect us…

Paul also brings the concept of temptation. He knows that God will help us to go through these tough times. But the problem is when we know that there is temptation, and that temptation will lead us to sin, we don’t do anything about it. As Mark Twain says: “I deal with temptation by yielding to it.”

Let me give you some common attitudes towards temptation:

A- “It couldn’t happen to me.”

Read verse 12. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”

Often we are most vulnerable when we believe we are standing strongest.

Billy Graham said, “None of us should deliberately place ourselves in a position to be tempted. Satan will always attack where we are most vulnerable.” Satan knows where your weak point or strongest point is. He can attack you on either side.

B- “I’m the only one.”

Verse 13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.” Do not worry, you are not alone. All of us, including Jesus here on earth, are tempted. Stop grumbling and saying that these things happen only to you.

C- “Where are you, God?”

When we face temptation, we think God has left us.

Verse 13b: “...but God is faithful.” When God promises, He keeps that promise. In Psalm 46, He promised to be our shield and fortress. In Romans 8:28, He promised that all things will work for our good.

In Psalm 121, we see another promise that our foot will not slip, that He will watch over us and will not slumber or sleep.

God is faithful. PERIOD. We are the ones who think He is not there when trials and temptations come our way. We think He is not there. He IS there.

D- “I cannot take this; this is too much.”

Verse 13b says, “…who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able…” We have the choice to face it or to yield to it. There is no promise that it will be easy. There is a promise that it will not knock you down. Hang in there and resist. Why?

E- “I cannot take it, I do not have any solutions.”

Bad choice. There is a promise in 13b. “… but with temptation will also make the way of escape.” Please notice “the” article in the text before the word “way to escape” God will provide a specific means to escape from temptation. It can be costly and painful; yet, there is a way to escape. It is a promise.

Once Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.” God keeps His promises. Just tune in to Him.

How do we overcome temptation?

1. Flee from it. Joseph, who was a man of God, fled from Portiphar’s wife’s seduction. Gen. 39:12

Ask yourself, what do you see in your life that leads you into temptations?

Friends, places, Computer, TV…. Flee from them.

2. As I said before, temptation starts from our “heart” or “MIND. We should take our thoughts and make them obedient to God. (Read James 4:7; Phil 4:8)

3. Submit your will to God. Most sins start from selfish desires. Daily confession to God and the submission of your will to His will is very important.

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

4. Be ready, prepare yourself. This is not a joke. Temptations are unavoidable phenomena; you cannot say, “They will not come to me.” Put on “the armor of God”, as we read in the book of Galatians.

Paul is warning us from our “idols”. They start from our “hearts”. Satan is clever to attack our desires, our heart, our mind. Be ready, face it with the Lord.

I would like to finish with a few words from the Lord’s Prayer as paraphrased by Johnson Darrrell.

“Father, as you lead us into the test, do not let the test become a temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”¹

1 Johnson Darrell “Fifty-seven words that changed the world” p. 93