There are many things that people who follow Jesus, go to church and even claim to believe the Bible who believe things that are completely unbiblical. This happens because some things are said that sound good, spiritual and biblical and they gain traction because people actually believe they are in the Bible.
“God will not give you more than you can handle!”
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) (13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP) (13) For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
The Good News – There are three main points of this verse that are hugely important to us:
✓ You are not the only one that has ever faced this temptation.
In other words, even though you may think that no one else has been tempted in this manner, the temptation is something that is common to mankind and others have faced it.
✓ God will always make a way of escape for you with the temptation.
(Matthew 26:41 NKJV) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus said for us to pray so that we will not enter into temptation.
The implication is that there are two doors facing us when we are tempted. One is the entrance to sin and the other is the entrance to victory.
✓ In Him, you can resist and maintain consistency over the temptation.
(James 1:2-4 NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Amplified – “…so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking nothing.”
Trial or Temptation: (peirasmos) A putting to proof of what you believe by the experience of adversity.
The enemy is desiring to generate pressure to get you off of what you believe through the adversity.
Adversity = pressure in our lives.
(James 1:12 NKJV) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Endures = patience (same word in Greek)
“…that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
The first step to overcoming adversity and passing the test is found in verse 13.
✓ Do not say that the temptation or trial is coming from God.
(James 1:13 NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
God does test us, but never with adversity. His tests are always tests of obedience.
Passing the test does require consistency but there is more to it.
How to develop endurance:
- You must train before the competition begins.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT) (24) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (25) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
- You cannot be entangled with the affairs of this life. (taking the cares).
If you are worried, you are contemplating how you can solve your own problems.
(2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV) No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
(1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- Make the Word of God first place in your life by spending time in it.
(Psalms 1:1-3 NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. (2) But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (3) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
- If you won’t quit because of weariness, you will win.
(Galatians 6:9 TLB) And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.
- Count it all joy when the test shows up.
(James 1:2 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV) Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”