Saturday, October 4, 2014

God provides a way of escape from temptation

Pam Padgett - teacher 

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation (desire to do something wrong or unwise) 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.

escape:
- break free of confinement or control
- elude or get free from

Wrong or unwise desires trap us, control us, confine us from doing what is right and best in the sight of God for us.  

A strong desire (temptation) I have had is to be liked, accepted, approved by others.  This caused what I said to be controlled by what I thought they would approve ... confined to that ... restricted from speaking in complete truth. 

However, God makes a way for me to break free, a way of escape.  I need to go in the way of escape God provides. 

I have been given scriptures (which is the way of escape for us), and am keeping these before me and thinking on them day and night so that I may do them.  Going in the way of the escape provided for me in this specific temptation. 

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

friend: 
- on the same side with
- having a common bond of affection with
- one who approves, supports, encourages
- one who is actively interested in and wishes success for

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

hypocrisy:
- lead someone to believe one thing when something else is true
- play a part, act
- pretend to think one way when you actually think something else

Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries (those opposed to God and ways of God) shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.