Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Whatever You Do Don’t Fall Apart

Scripture Reference:
1Corinthians 10:12-13

12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.(NIV)

In the referenced scripture the Apostle Paul makes it clear that sins and temptations are common to all of us. However there a way out, and the way out is not the way of surrender, and not the way of retreat, but the way of conquest in the power of the grace of God.

Pastor Collins’ message Sunday, January 10, 2010 explained that temptation has terrible power . . . and effects. That the people of Israel saw God's divine glory, but temptation still seized them. Throughout history, people with great spiritual privilege have fallen to temptation.

God is faithful, He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Fighting temptation often means fleeing it: If it's a problem for you, stay away! Apart from grace, we cannot fight sin.

1Corinthians is a letter Paul had written to the church in Corinth, after receiving unfavorable news about their congregation. They were having divisions and much sin. There was gross immorality and many practical problems in living the Christian life. Marriage problems, difficulties concerning meat offered to idols and matters of conscience, abuses in taking the Lord’s Supper, disorderly conduct in the formal assemblies for worship, confusion about the role of women in the church, and false teachings about the afterlife, which produced a tremendous response from Paul to teach the truth about the resurrection.

If we would only listen to God's word which requires submitting our will to that of Jesus Christ, and transcribe His word to our hearts and minds, the tempests in our lives, will not wash away the sand upon which we stand.

When we stand firmly and obediently upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ, the temptations begin to quiet down. When we find ourselves in trouble, resolve to put Jesus first in our lives. For He is all power, knows everything. He is not a God to be figured out or understood; He is to be believed; God is everywhere (omnipresent). Remember that He is our relief, comfort and consolation.

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