Popular sayings 1 Cor 10:13

We are looking at some of the most popular verses in the Bible.

Why?

Because they are encouraging and inspiring and we can all do with that, especially as we come to the end of the year.

But remember:

• All of the Bible is important whether popular or not
• Focusing on the positive is great as long as we understand that the negative is just as important in understanding Biblical truth clearly
• Unfortunately, many of the most popular verses have been misunderstood and when correctly understood they are still positive but in a fresh (normally more realistic) way

Last week we looked at Jeremiah 29: 11, this week we look at 1 Corinthians 10: 13.

Pray

We all want to be able to handle the temptations, struggles and suffering we face in life.

It is frightening to think that we may not be able to do so.

As Christians it is almost instinctual to think that God our Father would never allow anything to come our way that we could not handle.

And that is what many Christians believe that 1 Corinthians 10: 13 is saying.

But, if that is true, why did the same Paul say this in 2 Corinthians 1: 8 – 9, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.”

Either this is a contradiction in the Bible or there is something else that we need to understand.

So, let’s go and look at 1 Corinthians 10: 13 a bit more closely and in context.

Without looking at all the details, in 1 Corinthians 8 – 10 Paul is dealing with the freedom that Christians have in Christ.

• Freedom so amazing they could do some things that previously would have been forbidden by OT law
• But also, the freedom to restrict that freedom if it causes someone else to sin or if it is a stumbling block to someone hearing the gospel.
• And then in chapter 10 Paul addresses some in the Corinthian church who have taken this idea of freedom too far. They presume on God’s grace and think that their freedom will allow them to do whatever they want (even sin) and God will be ok with that.
• And so, in 10: 1 – 11, Paul says, “Let me give you an example from the history of Israel of how God dealt with people who think like that.”
  • The Israelites had all the blessing of God’s salvation in the Exodus – 1 – 4.
  • But they didn’t live like it. They were happy to receive the blessings but weren’t willing to live in a way that pleased the One who blessed them 5 – 11.
    • 7 – ate and drank before an idol they called God
    • 8 – Israelite men had unmarried sex with Midianite women
    • 9 – 10 testing (putting on trial) the Lord for what he was doing and grumbling against the circumstances he had allowed
    • So, a mixture of temptation and dealing with struggles and hardship
    • They were doing whatever they wanted to and probably saying, “We are recipients of the blessings of God through the Exodus, we are his chosen special people and can do what we want, and God will be ok with it or overlook this sin.”

• The Corinthians needed to take this warning seriously in their own dealing with hardship, temptation and sin. For if they do what the Israelites did, they will face the consequences as the Israelites did (6 + 11). And the Corinthians could also not say “But I am saved, God’s chosen special people we can do what we want, and God will be ok with that or just overlook it.”

• And obviously Paul wants them to take this warning very seriously and evaluate themselves. He doesn’t want them to presume they are ok (12). He wants them to evaluate, fight, resist, live with trust in God.
• And Paul also has some great encouragement in verse 13 as they do this.
  • The trials, temptations and testing they are going through are not unique, it is common to mankind. Lots of God’s people have had to face them (and have endured) (13a).
  • But how have they endured? God helped them to endure! God is faithful (13b+c) … and literally in the Greek … “God will not leave (not “let”) you to be tempted or tested above what you can bear, he will provide a way out (or a way) for you to endure”.
    • Paul is not saying the Corinthians will only ever get trials they can handle.
    • He is saying is that when they face trials God will not leave them to face those trials alone.
    • And when the trials are beyond their ability to handle (and that will happen), God will make a way (with his supernatural power and guidance) for them to endure.
    • They will endure because God is faithfully helping them to endure. He has done this before, and he will do it again. That is the only way they can stand and not fall. By trusting in God … not by trusting themselves or trusting God to give them easy to handle stuff.

And that fits in beautifully with what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1: 8 – 11 (unpack). Our relationship with him grows and he gets the glory.

And if you are a Christian, this applies to you too

You will face trials and temptations. Some of them way beyond your ability to handle.

When that happens know this:

• These are not unique struggles
• Many have faced them and are facing them and are and have endured through them
• Why?
• God is still in control
• He still loves you
• He will not leave you to face these things on your own
• On the contrary, he will provide a way for you to bear and endure it
• Continue to trust in him
• Do what you can, what is possible and then watch him do the impossible for and with you.

And your intimacy with him will grow as it always does when you go through tough times with someone who is for you.

Actually, one day, we will discover that our whole life is a testimony of God, with us, helping us to endure.

Endure what, by the way?

Yes, the trial and temptation in a way that God is pleased … but sometimes we will fail and sin.

And so, what is ultra-important is that we also endure through to heaven. Not falling away from our salvation.

That is the ultra-important thing for God to ensure we endure to. And he will.

I love the Lord; His strength is mine;

He is my God; I trust His grace;

My Fortress high, my Shield divine,

My Saviour and my Hiding Place.

My prayer to God shall still be raised

When troubles thick around me close;

The Lord, most worthy to be praised,

Will rescue me from all my foes.

When, floods of evil raging near,

Down nigh to death my soul was brought,

I cried to God in all my fear;

He heard and great deliverance wrought.

He took me from the whelming waves

Of bitter hate and sore distress;

The Lord, my stay and helper, saves,

Though mighty foes around me press.

From direful straits He set me free,

He saved the man of His delight,

For good the Lord rewarded me,

Because I kept His ways aright.

Since with my God with perfect heart

I walk and make His Word my guide,

And from iniquity depart,

The Lord His blessing will provide.

Questions:

1. A Christian friend is struggling to overcome sin. How would you use 1 Corinthians 10: 13 (and context) to warn and encourage them?
2. A Christians friend is facing suffering they cannot handle. How would you use 1 Corinthians 10: 13 (and context) to encourage them?
3. Quite a few people expressed on Sunday that this message was very timely for them.
   1. Was that true for you too?
   2. Who could you encourage with this passage this week?