God Promises Escape

## Introduction

A.  Are you happy? What would have to change in order for you to be happy? Those questions are asked with great regularity but not necessarily in those words. But the core of advertising is to make you aware of some presumed deficiency and then present something that will deal with what is lacking. A recent study from the University of Michigan has shown that those who spend more time on Facebook report being more unhappy than those who do not spend much time on Facebook. The reasoning has to do with social comparison. Reading and looking at what others are doing produces the thought "others have a better life than I do" and the emotional result is to become sadder and less satisfied with life.

B.  The study also found that the remedy was not only to leave Facebook behind but to engage in more face to face and phone communication. Interesting. But the point has to do with happiness. When we believe ourselves to be unhappy or lacking in some way then temptation is real. John Piper has said that the power of all temptation is the belief that it will make me happier. Think about what temptations you face. What makes the temptation so powerful? Is the temptation about making you feel better; more empowered; more alive; more fulfilled; feel different — all synonyms for happiness. The power of sin is about making us feel something different from the way we currently feel.

C.  And with the temptation there is a feeling that joins in — helplessness. We are lured by the thing that tempts us and we aren't sure how to say "no" to it. There is such a forceful appeal from the temptation. It may be lust, it may be spending money we don't have, it may be saying something that hurts someone else but makes you feel superior, it may be a job that makes us feel powerful. On and on we could go, but the point is all the same — whatever the temptation we are being pulled to make a choice that dishonors God while temporarily making us feel better.

D.  God promises that he will always provide a way to say "no" to sin. Such a promise from God who cannot lie brings confidence and courage. It allows us to walk in this life with greater resolve as we live for God. Let's be encouraged today.

## Learning From Israel

A.  One of the dilemmas for the believers in Corinth was that much of life was tied to pagan celebrations. These celebrations were the social fabric of the community as well as the conduit for business. So the question is asked in 8:1 is important — what about eating food offered to an idol. Should believers eat meat offered at a pagan temple? Paul answers this question in the latter part of chapter 10 that the Lord's Supper is communion with Christ and eating meat offered to an idol is participation with demons. But then he answers in a practical way as well. If you are invited to a meal then eat with thanksgiving but quit participating in pagan celebrations. Our text is in this context. Paul recounts Israel's history to make his point that idolatry is not anything to play with. Or to put this another way — the temptation to fit in with your surroundings comes with a great cost.

B.  Israel was God's chosen ones. Their exodus through the Red Sea was their baptism and their eating of manna and drinking of water was their Lord's Supper. All symbolic but given to demonstrate that Israel's spiritual connection with God is the same as the believers in Corinth. Although they were spiritually connected to God through the power of God, they disobeyed God and they did not reach the promised land. What kept them from God's promise?

    1.  Idolatry — Shortly after their exodus they returned to idolatry.

    2.  Sexual immorality — In Numbers 25, men were tempted to engage in sexual relations with women from Moab as part of their worship of Baal.

    3.  Tested God — questioned his motives and ability to provide (Num. 21)

    4.  Grumbling — a summary of what Israel did throughout the wilderness wandering.

C.  Paul's summary point — Don't presume upon God's mercy. Don't assume that because you belong to God that you cannot fall. Paul knows that some of these believers are participating in idolatry and they think nothing about it. They are no longer questioning their actions. The point is not to have the believers question their salvation but to confirm that walking with God means making changes and remaining committed to those changes. So what's the promise?

## The Promise

A.  Verse 13. This verse is often misquoted and misunderstood. The context is in dealing with temptation to sin. The context is found in not giving up a former way of living. God's promise is that when the temptation to sin or to remain in a way of life that doesn't honor him, God's promise is to provide a way of escape. God will not allow you to be tempted more than you can withstand. He will always provide a means to say "no" to the temptation. And by saying no, God promises to provide strength for the resulting consequence. The promise isn't to allow you to avoid suffering for saying "no" but to provide strength for the suffering that comes when we say "no."

B.  The believers in Corinth found that saying no to idolatry could result in loss of social connection, loss of business leading to poverty, and loss of family support. God's promise is a means to escape the temptation not a means to escape difficulties. Faith is challenged in such situations. We expect that in resisting temptation that life should be easier.

    1.  We express our desire to honor God and we make financial decisions that honor him including giving 10% of our income so the expectation is that God will provide more money. But that isn't the promise.

    2.  We are tempted to use sexual means to alleviate our loneliness and isolation and we expect God to remove our sexual feelings. But that isn't the promise.

    3.  We resist the temptation to say something to hurt another but we expect God to do something to change that person's heart. But that isn't the promise.

    4.  We grumble and complain because we don't like our life and we expect God to do something to change it. But that isn't the promise.

C.  The promise is God will provide a way to say "no" to sin and when you do say "no" the promise is that he will provide the strength you need to endure. Endure the hardship; the difficulty; the inconvenience; the evil. God wants you to be faithful and because he is faithful he promises to provide what you need to endure. We do not presume upon God's grace; but we live in confidence knowing that making the hard decision to honor him and to say "no" to sin will bring needed strength even if the "no" is costly. But the temporary cost of saying "no" to sin is nothing compared to missing the promised land.

D.  How easy it is to seek our own happiness and to casually say "yes" to what will temporarily alter the way we feel. It is only human strength to say "yes." But divine strength allows us to say "no." God's promise is that we do not have to have inner strength but when tempted we know God provides the strength we need. Polycarp was a 2nd century believer. It is believed that he was taught by the apostle John and appointed by John as an elder in the ancient city of Smyrna. He was burned at the stake for his refusal to burn incense to the Roman Emperor. At his trial, he uttered these words: "Eighty and six years I have served him and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my Lord and Savior. Bring forth what you will." It doesn't matter your age or you length of trying to walk with God. We are tempted to choose to do those things that will make us feel better and in the process dishonor Father. Father promises to provide strength. Trust him. Invitation.

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