More Than You Can Bear All Temptations are Common

More Than You Can Bear

All Temptations are Common

  

“Common to man” 1 Corinthians 10:13

As humans, we have a lot in common

Some of us differ in liking sweet or salty

But we all have a common craving for food

All of us have a craving to be loved

Whether we are rich or poor, we all have a craving for more

Temptations are common to all of us

We all have sensors that trigger our actions or reactions

When you came to Christ, you died to the sinful nature 

The leading of the Spirit in our life will help you keep a lid on your casket 

Remember…  Temptation is Common

At the Church in Corinth, the members and leaders gave into temptations

What was common in society was common in the church

Keep it simple, crave only one thing the Fruit of the Spirit

It is the best offer

Because the Fruit of the Spirit brings true freedom 

All Temptations are Common

“Common to man”

1 Corinthians 10:13

As humans, we have a lot in common.

Some of us differ in liking sweet or salty.

 But we all have a common craving for food.

All of us have a craving to be loved.

Whether we are rich or poor,

 we all have a craving for more.

All of us have cravings for things

in our life to be different.

We all look in the mirror and

crave certain images of ourselves.

We may be an introvert or extravert,

 but we all have cravings for our space.

Temptations are common to all of us.

We all have sensors that trigger

our actions or reactions.

Temptations are also commonly found.

Like bugs on a summer evening,

 they are everywhere.

You and I face temptations

all around us and at all times.

So Paul is saying you and I

live with temptations all the time.

In Corinth at that time, people

 were yielding to temptation…

It was a life style of Eat, Drink and

be Merry for tomorrow you die.

If this life is all there is…

 Then get it while the getting is good.

What was common in the society in

Corinth was also common in the church.

   

So if temptations are so common what

keeps us from yielding to temptation?

Galatians 5 speaks to the issue of “Freedom”.

There is a common craving or desire

to be free to do what we want to do.

Because our desires for these temptations

infringe on others, society passes laws.

It is the enforcement of these laws that

bring some control and social order.

Paul’s cry in Galatians 5 is not for more

laws to control our common temptations…

Nor, is he advocating freedom

to do whatever feels good.

 

 Just because we call ourselves a Christian

and God has set us free from sin…

 Does not mean we are free

from the common temptations.

It is our sinful nature that gives into the cravings of…

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,

 fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,

factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Galatians 5:19-21

We need to be careful that we do not read over

these things and think they are not common to us.

On the internet I saw someone made a

list of all the sins listed in the Bible, 667.

 (I think they must have miscounted it should

have added up to 666 the mark of the beast).

1 John 2:16 reduces the list to 3…

The lust or cravings of the flesh

The lust or cravings of the eyes

The boasting or pride of what one has or does

If temptation is so common,

how do we navigate through it?

Number one is…

 Recognize you are tempted.

But every man is tempted, when he is

drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:14 KJV

I am the one who has to deal

with it, I can’t blame others.

I can’t remove all temptation

because temptation is too common.

Number two is…

Be led by the Spirit.

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit

and there He was tempted by the Devil three times.

You can’t hide in the wilderness to escape

temptation, it is common everywhere.

Jesus compared God’s Word to Satan’s offer.

In life we know to take the better offer.

So if you do not know God has a

better offer, you will settle for less.

Jesus’ instruction on prayer is very short,

 but every part is impacted with power…

 …and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:13

The evil one is out to destroy you and

his bate is whatever tempts you.

The only way not to be lead into temptation

is to be led by the Spirit of God.

So another way to praying this verse

is to pray for the Holy Spirit to lead us.

Galatians 5 22-23 says…

  

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

When we choose to change our

cravings, our temptations change.

Crave the Fruit of the Spirit.

You will not need laws, barriers, and hideaways

to escape your temptations…

 If you change your diet to crave the Fruit of the Spirit.

  

 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified

the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24

You and I are crucified with Christ.

The dead do not crave food or drink.

The dead do not want more money.

The dead do not lust for pleasure.

You are freer dead than alive.

The Apostle Paul said…

 I have been crucified with Christ and

I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by

faith in the Son of God, who loved

me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:19-20

When you came to Christ,

 you died to the sinful nature.

 

The leading of the Spirit in our life will

help you keep a lid on your casket.

  

Remember…

 Temptation is Common

At the Church in Corinth, the members

and leaders gave into temptations.

What was common in society

was common in the church.

Keep it simple…

 Crave only one thing,

the Fruit of the Spirit.

It is the best offer.

Because the Fruit of the Spirit

brings true freedom.  

  

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 NIV

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No 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.

Galatians 5:19-26 NIV

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.