1Corinthians 10:1-13
Before We Sin
Paul uses the people of Israel in Moses day to illustrate the danger of sin.
\\#1-4\\ Paul points out that all of the people had opportunities to draw
close to God.
\\#5\\ He says of many of them that God was not pleased! Although they had
opportunities, they choose sin!
\\#6-10\\ He warns present day believers not to succumb to such temptations.
\\#7\\ Do not succumb to the temptation of idolatry.
\\#8\\ Do not succumb to the temptation of fornication.
\\#9\\ Do not succumb to the temptation of tempting Christ.
\\#10\\ Do not succumb to the temptation of murmuring.
\\#11-12\\ Paul gives counsel and warning.
1. The counsel is let’s learn from those who have gone before.
2. The warning is don’t let pride cause us to repeat their sins.
\\#13\\ Three Great Truths
1. We are all tempted.
2. God will be faithful.
3. God will make a way of escape and endurance.
These are the promises of God. Every child of God should memorize these verses
and trust God in their days of temptation. For a few moments, I would like to
share with some thoughts about enduring the temptation.
I. Let me add to those Biblical truths, two truths that I have learned.
A. Temptation is like a spider’s web - it’s easier to avoid than to
get out of once you are entangled in it.
B. We can only think one thing at a time. Because the brain can do so
many things at once, it appears that we can think several thoughts
at a time, but we can not.
II. Based on these truths, I have learned that the more spiritual activity we
are involved in, the less temptation can pull at us.
A. Why do I say that we need to become spiritually active to overcome
temptation?
1. The promise of 1Co 10:13 is not to deliver us from sin but from
the temptation before sin.
a. Temptation is the lure to commit sin.
b. Everyone is lured toward sin the Bible says; however, being
lured is not sinning.
c. Sinning is yielding to the temptation and doing wrong.
d. We can learn to overcome every temptation - drugs, liquor,
cigarettes, worry, lusts, anger, gossip, laziness, foul
language, and all the rest!
2. We are tempted when we are drawn away from God.
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed.
a. If temptation gets strong when we are drawn away from God, it
makes sense that it gets weak when we are drawn to God.
b. Spiritual activity is drawing nearer to God.
3. Here is what I have found out.
a. Most Christians do not know either the power of the purpose
for what they are taught to do.
(1) We know we are supposed to read the Bible, go to church,
and so forth, but why?
(2) Not knowing the why makes these activities work without
reward.
(3) These are the activities that draw us closer to God.
(4) When we are closer to God, temptation has less pull over
us.
b. The power to stay clean, to stay revived, to stay right with
God is in drawing closer to God.
B. Let’s note that spiritual activity itself is no end, but it is the
means.
1. We don’t want to do spiritual things as an end to themselves.
2. I am about to mention several acts of "worship."
3. Do these things is of themselves little if they do not get you to
end.
4. What is the end? The presence of God.
5. It is getting into God’s presence that revives us, encourages us,
comforts us, energizes us, convicts us—and does for us what we
need to have done that we might walk around temptations instead of
being pulled into them.
C. Even though the end is to get into the presence of God, we may not
always accomplish that goal.
1. I do not know why, but sometimes it seems that God is difficult to
find.
(a) Perhaps that is a sign that we ourselves are becoming cold
toward Him.
(b) Perhaps it is just God’s way from time to time.
2. However, it has been experience, that when one act of worship does
not get me into God’s presence, another just might.
3. For that reason, I will give you several suggestions of worship
that you might attempt.
4. However, even if we do not get into God’s presence, there is a
power that comes even by our trying.
(a) Now, I do not think that power will last for long without
God’s presence.
(b) We NEED to get into God’s presence.
(c) God’s presence is what feeds our soul, not just the attempt.
(d) It is my belief that the desire and the attempt will
eventually carry us into the presence of God.
D. What kind of spiritual activities should we engage in?
1. Love and worship God.
Deuteronomy 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his
charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently
unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God,
and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which
I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways,
and to cleave unto him;
a. As I have said, sometimes, it is difficult for us to sense the
presence of God.
(1) However, whether God shows us or not, we can love on God.
(2) Loving on God is not dependent upon you feeling anything
from Him.
(3) It is dependent upon you loving Him.
(4) I wonder if the reason God does not always make His
presence know to us might be because He wants to see what
we will give Him when we get nothing in return.
(5) Sit down and tell God you love, tell Him why you love,
brag on Him, just love on God.
b. At the same time, worship is not dependent upon God showing up.
(1) I don’t enjoy worship unless God shows up, but worship is
not JUST what I get out of it. It is what God gets out
of it.
(2) So what is worship?
(a) Worship is us praising Him.
(b) Worship is us adoring Him.
(c) Worship is us exalting Him.
2. Praise and sing spiritual songs
Psalms 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God
of Jacob.
Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall
walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
a. Again, these are things that far more enjoyable when God is
with us and I believe most of the time, He will come be with
as we do these things.
b. However, I sing and praise God’s name whether I ever feel any-
thing or not.
c. And just me engaging in these activities, helps to focus my
mind and spirit on God.
d. It will help me resist temptation.
3. Pray
James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
a. Prayer lists are to help you pray not to hinder you.
(1) I have a prayer list.
(2) To me, it gives me things to talk to God about.
(3) I am not a big talker. Even to talk with my children, I
pretty much have to work at things to say.
b. I would encourage everyone to have a prayer list to remind you
of things to talk to God about, but when praying through your
list gets to be the objective, it is time to set it aside for
awhile.
c. The objective is not to get through a prayer list. The list
is a means to get into God’s presence!
(1) I am not big at conversation; but typically, once you
start talking to someone, the conversation just flows.
(2) Prayer time is like that.
(a) Maybe you need something to get the ball rolling…
(b) Maybe you need a reminder of things you want to talk
to God about…a burdern that draws you into
conversation with Him.
(c) But when you get into God’s presence, let God direct
the conversation.
4. Study and obey the Word
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that
thy profiting may appear to all.
a. Typically, one of my most enjoyable activities is studying the
Bible.
b. I feel like God shows things when I start studying it.
c. However, sometimes I have to force myself to get started.
d. However, if you can get past the "having to read" or the
"having to get a lesson" or the "having to study" part of
getting started, once God starts showing you things, it gets
really good.
5. Bible Memorization
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.
a. Bible memorization is another thing that we usually dread.
b. One of the reasons I struggle with it is because my brain does
not keep them for long after I quit reviewing them.
(1) Get what I am about to tell you.
(2) That is all right.
(3) If you will put the verses into your brain and spirit, it
is up to God to keep them there.
(4) What I have learned is that when I need them, God will
help me to remember at least part of them.
c. Bible memorization is good for every element of you being.
(1) Bible memorization is a mental exercise that will help
fend off Alzheimer’s and dementia.
(2) Bible memorization is a spiritual exercise that will bring
you into God’s presence and fend off temptation.
(3) Bible memorization is an inner man exercise that will make
you a stronger Christian as you hide God’s Word in your
heart.
6. Christian Fellowship
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one…and a threefold cord is not
quickly broken.
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin.
a. John says that fellowship with one another keeps us in the
light.
b. Light in the Bible is a direct reference to the powerful, clean
Christian life.
c. Maybe every service is not a bang, boom blast; but if you will
work at worshipping during the worship hour, you will enter
into God’s presence far more than you will not and it will
aid you in being victorious over temptation.
7. Get involved in ministry.
2Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we
faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace
of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
a. I have shared my testimony many times.
b. Getting involved is what it took for me to learn faithfulness.
c. Learning to be faithful was required for me to learn God’s
will for my life.
d. Learning God’s will for my life was required for me to desire
victory over sin and temptation.
e. Desiring victory over sin and temptation was required for me
to start getting victory over sin and temptation.
8. Set high standards for yourself.
2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not
blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
a. A great part in the battle of overcoming temptation is to keep
yourself out of temptations snares.
b. That is where you convictions and standards come in.
c. The harder you make it for Satan to get to you and for your
flesh to lead you astray, the more apt you are to stay on the
straight and narrow.
III. What if I still fail? What if I still yield to temptation?
A. Humble yourself.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1. When you fail, don’t let pride and anger drive you away from God.
2. Satan will use your flesh to compound your mistake if you let him.
B. Remember God’s love!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1. If you fail a thousand times, God will still love you!
2. You are His child for all eternity and one day, He will perfect
you.
3. You keep letting Him try today and one tomorrow, you will have the
victory.
C. Seek God’s forgiveness.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1. Forgiveness is only a request away.
2. Ask for it.
D. Resist to blood.
Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
1. Let every failure fortify you intensity to overcome sin.
2. Get help. Find a partner that you can confide in and who will hold
you accountable.
There is victory for the Christian not just after sin but before sin. To have
it, we must stay close to God. I believe we can. Let’s purpose to do so.
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