“Will Not Be Tested Beyond Your Strength”
Third Lenten Sunday; 3-7-10; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Introduction: I want you to turn to the outline with me, and in the introduction of the outline you will see a paragraph. This will be a test to see how well you can read this paragraph, even though the words are misspelled. Let’s read it together…
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer
in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that
the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses
and you can sitll raed it wouthit any porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos
not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
How did you do on this test? It is interesting how this is true. Even though the words are misspelled, we can still read what is written.
In regards to the tests we face in life, this is quite easy. But life is full of tests, and how we handle the tests of life is important. This morning, we are going to look at how God doesn’t allow us to be tested beyond our strength, beyond what we are capable of handling with God’s help. And how we do in these tests, show the commitment we have in our relationship with God.
I. The Testing of Idolatry- (1 Cor. 10:1, 6-7; Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:10)
a. The Corinthians- In this chapter we see that the Corinthians were
allowing themselves to continue to worship the idols of the pagans. Part of the challenge for the apostle Paul, was that he converted the Corinthians to Christ, but they brought in their pagan worship into their Christian thinking.
So Paul tells them in verse 6- “Now these things occurred (referring to the challenges the Israelites faced in the desert, and how they themselves worshiped the golden calf) they occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” So with this in mind, Paul next writes to them in verse 7- “Do not be idolaters…” Paul was trying to help them see that their behavior was not according to what Christ would have for them; that their pagan practices were evil, specifically the practice of eating a meal to a pagan idol.
They were also participating in the eating of food at the pagan sacrifices. They didn’t think it wrong to go to these feasts. Because it was something they had done before they came to Christ, it was natural for them to continue this behavior after they had become Christians. They didn’t understand that this would send a wrong message to those who were not of Christ. They believed that they could combine the two practices, their Christian practice with their old pagan practice.
That is why Paul starts the chapter with the words: “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud…” The Israelites had started out on the right path, following God. But then they lost their focus, and they brought in the practice of idol worship that they had learned in Egypt. In doing so, they were no longer giving themselves over to God fully, but were dividing their thinking, their hearts; their commitment to other gods. That is what idol worship does, it divides our obedience.
b. Us- As I have mentioned before, Lent is a time to examine our
heart to see if we have anything that is keeping us from God. We too have practiced idol worship, although it doesn’t seem to be that to us. We practice idol worship when anything becomes more important to us than God. We practice idol worship when we are guided in our lives by anything other than God’s word. We practice idol worship when our focus is on anything other than what God would have us to do.
EX. I’m not sure how this came about, but when I was a teenager, I purchased a little Buddha statue, and some incense, and I would burn it in my room. I didn’t worship the Buddha, but this statue was in my room.
I mention this, because often times when we think about idols, we think about something physical that is seen that we worship. But our idols are not always visible. For many, money is an idol, because we worship it. We seek after jobs that can pay us the most money. We work extra hours so that we can have enough money to pay for all the things we want. But Jesus warned us about money, when He said in Matthew 6:24- “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
The apostle Paul took up this idea of money, when he said in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Some other things that can become idols to us are: sex (which Paul speaks about in this chapter), power, position, and possessions, just to name a few. The point is, and idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives; anything we worship instead of God. And Satan is so deceptive in how he gets us to make these things important in our lives in a way that we don’t even realize we are doing it.
II. The Testing of Trying God- (Eph. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 10:9; Num. 21:4-9; Rom. 12:1-2)
a. Our kids- Any of you who are parents, or who have been parents,
know that many times in your life, your kids will try your patience. It usually happens when they want to do something, or want to get something, and you say “no.” Now understanding that God gives us the ten commandments, and one of the commandments is “Honor your father and your mother,” and understanding that Paul affirmed this commandment when he said in Ephesians 6:1-2, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise,” should lead us to believe that the conversation is over at this point. Right? WRONG.
The truth is, when dealing with children, the conversation is never over at the first “no.” After the first no, they usually ask again. So we give them a second “no,” and the matter is done. Right? STILL WRONG. They continue on and on and on. This probably comes back at us because when they were babies, they would cry and cry until they got what they wanted. Have you ever seen that happen? A baby starts to cry, the parents ignore it at first, but in time the annoyance of the cry leads them to usually give in and give the baby what he or she wants.
In doing this, however, we have created the issue of “testing.” Our kids will test us to see how far they can go. No, is not a strong enough word to stop them from asking again and again. And watch out if you have ever said no, and then given in and said yes. They will remember that as long as they live. They will be relentless in their pursuit of testing your will. It is not until I threaten to punish them (take away something from them) that they stop this “testing.”
b. Us- We chuckle at this because we know it to be true, not realizing
that we do the same thing with God. That is why Paul, here in 1 Corinthians 10, says in verse 9: “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.”
This verse is again referring back to the Israelites in the desert. This is found in the book of Numbers, 21:4-9, “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”
What happened here? Well, it started with all the traveling they were doing; they grew tired. Then there was impatience, because they didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. On top of this, they were questioning what God was doing as they weren’t seeing any results (forget the fact that God had gotten them out of Egypt, and they had witnessed all the plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea, and God destroying the Egyptian army in the Red Sea).
In this context, they were testing the Lord, thinking that they were just going to die. They didn’t trust God; they didn’t believe God had a plan and a purpose for them. Actually, we can test the Lord in a way; listen to Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” When we have given ourselves over to God, offered our lives to God, and seek God instead of this world, then we can catch a glimpse of God’s plan, and test it to see if it is indeed God’s plan. But the Israelites hadn’t given themselves fully over to God; they weren’t testing God’s plan. They were asking God for their own plan, and God was saying no. Too often we are seeking our own plan, to which God is saying no, but we try Him anyway!
III. The Testing of Complaints- (1 Corinthians 10:10)
Grumbling- Paul next talks about grumbling. He says in verse 10- “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” Why shouldn’t we grumble? Isn’t grumbling a way to make our voice heard? Actually, no. Grumbling is our complaining that things aren’t the way we want them to be.
Going back to children, children grumble when they don’t get their way. Children grumble when they are bored because they have to be with their parents, doing “adult” things. My daughter grumbles when she has to go to Tyler’s baseball game. She doesn’t want to watch the game, and feels she is just wasting her time. Tyler grumbles when he has to go to Tiffany’s Girl Scout events, because there isn’t anything there to do that he wants to do.
We grumble when we are lost in our sin and aren’t looking for what God is trying to teach us. We grumble when we don’t get our way in church, forgetting that it is not our way that is important, but God’s. We grumble when we feel like life isn’t fair; that somebody else has a better situation than we do.
Let me give you another test. It is just 3 questions: 1. What do you put in a toaster? Answer: "bread." If you said "toast." 2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink? Answer: Cows drink water. You wanted to say "milk," didn’t you? 3. If a red house is made from red bricks, and a blue house is made from blue bricks, and a pink house is made from pink bricks, and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from? Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. Did you think green bricks? HOW DID YOU DO?
These questions are designed to trip us up. By saying silk three times, and then thinking about a cow, our mind goes to the idea of milk. This is the same strategy that Satan uses in our lives. Like with Eve, Satan tries to trip us up into thinking that life isn’t fair, or that God’s way will be boring, or that God is trying to keep us from all that we could really have. Because of this we grumble and complain.
IV. A Way Out- (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:13-15)
But finally, Paul gives us the good news. In the midst of all the struggles, and
trials, and testing, and temptation to do wrong, there is hope. Paul gives us the good news in 1 Corinthians 10:13- “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.” First of all, whatever trials and temptations we encounter, there are not new; others experience them as well. This is good news, because so often we feel alone in our struggles, forgetting that others can empathize with us, and that we can get advice and encouragement from those who have experienced what we experience.
Second, God doesn’t let anything into our lives that we can’t bear. Now this doesn’t mean what we can bear alone, but what we can bear with God’s help. We should always seek the Lord whatever is going on, and the Lord will give us strength when we need strength, peace when we need peace, perseverance when we need to persevere. God will help us to get through the temptation. Lastly, God gives us a way out. If you make yourself aware of what is going on in your life, when you are tempted with something, God will actually help you overcome the temptation. Maybe the phone rings and diverts your attention, or something catches your eye and helps you to change your focus. The truth is, to sin, we have to work at it. That is why we are told in James 1:13-15, “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has con-ceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Do you hear the verbs? Dragged away. Enticed. Conceived. Birthed. And the sin leads to our undoing.
Conclusion: Lent is a time to put our faith into perspective, understanding that this world around us, this life we live, can easily distract us and lead us away from God. We fall into the trap of worshiping things other than God, questioning God’s plan for our lives, complaining when we don’t like how things are, and giving in to our temptations, that we could easily avoid. Let us give ourselves over to God, knowing that God has what is best for us in mind, and let God strengthen us to serve Him faithfully. Amen.
Third Lenten Sunday; 3-7-10; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Introduction: I want you to turn to the outline with me, and in the introduction of the outline you will see a paragraph. This will be a test to see how well you can read this paragraph, even though the words are misspelled. Let’s read it together…
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer
in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that
the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses
and you can sitll raed it wouthit any porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos
not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
How did you do on this test? It is interesting how this is true. Even though the words are misspelled, we can still read what is written.
In regards to the tests we face in life, this is quite easy. But life is full of tests, and how we handle the tests of life is important. This morning, we are going to look at how God doesn’t allow us to be tested beyond our strength, beyond what we are capable of handling with God’s help. And how we do in these tests, show the commitment we have in our relationship with God.
I. The Testing of Idolatry- (1 Cor. 10:1, 6-7; Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:10)
a. The Corinthians- In this chapter we see that the Corinthians were
allowing themselves to continue to worship the idols of the pagans. Part of the challenge for the apostle Paul, was that he converted the Corinthians to Christ, but they brought in their pagan worship into their Christian thinking.
So Paul tells them in verse 6- “Now these things occurred (referring to the challenges the Israelites faced in the desert, and how they themselves worshiped the golden calf) they occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” So with this in mind, Paul next writes to them in verse 7- “Do not be idolaters…” Paul was trying to help them see that their behavior was not according to what Christ would have for them; that their pagan practices were evil, specifically the practice of eating a meal to a pagan idol.
They were also participating in the eating of food at the pagan sacrifices. They didn’t think it wrong to go to these feasts. Because it was something they had done before they came to Christ, it was natural for them to continue this behavior after they had become Christians. They didn’t understand that this would send a wrong message to those who were not of Christ. They believed that they could combine the two practices, their Christian practice with their old pagan practice.
That is why Paul starts the chapter with the words: “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud…” The Israelites had started out on the right path, following God. But then they lost their focus, and they brought in the practice of idol worship that they had learned in Egypt. In doing so, they were no longer giving themselves over to God fully, but were dividing their thinking, their hearts; their commitment to other gods. That is what idol worship does, it divides our obedience.
b. Us- As I have mentioned before, Lent is a time to examine our
heart to see if we have anything that is keeping us from God. We too have practiced idol worship, although it doesn’t seem to be that to us. We practice idol worship when anything becomes more important to us than God. We practice idol worship when we are guided in our lives by anything other than God’s word. We practice idol worship when our focus is on anything other than what God would have us to do.
EX. I’m not sure how this came about, but when I was a teenager, I purchased a little Buddha statue, and some incense, and I would burn it in my room. I didn’t worship the Buddha, but this statue was in my room.
I mention this, because often times when we think about idols, we think about something physical that is seen that we worship. But our idols are not always visible. For many, money is an idol, because we worship it. We seek after jobs that can pay us the most money. We work extra hours so that we can have enough money to pay for all the things we want. But Jesus warned us about money, when He said in Matthew 6:24- “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
The apostle Paul took up this idea of money, when he said in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Some other things that can become idols to us are: sex (which Paul speaks about in this chapter), power, position, and possessions, just to name a few. The point is, and idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives; anything we worship instead of God. And Satan is so deceptive in how he gets us to make these things important in our lives in a way that we don’t even realize we are doing it.
II. The Testing of Trying God- (Eph. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 10:9; Num. 21:4-9; Rom. 12:1-2)
a. Our kids- Any of you who are parents, or who have been parents,
know that many times in your life, your kids will try your patience. It usually happens when they want to do something, or want to get something, and you say “no.” Now understanding that God gives us the ten commandments, and one of the commandments is “Honor your father and your mother,” and understanding that Paul affirmed this commandment when he said in Ephesians 6:1-2, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise,” should lead us to believe that the conversation is over at this point. Right? WRONG.
The truth is, when dealing with children, the conversation is never over at the first “no.” After the first no, they usually ask again. So we give them a second “no,” and the matter is done. Right? STILL WRONG. They continue on and on and on. This probably comes back at us because when they were babies, they would cry and cry until they got what they wanted. Have you ever seen that happen? A baby starts to cry, the parents ignore it at first, but in time the annoyance of the cry leads them to usually give in and give the baby what he or she wants.
In doing this, however, we have created the issue of “testing.” Our kids will test us to see how far they can go. No, is not a strong enough word to stop them from asking again and again. And watch out if you have ever said no, and then given in and said yes. They will remember that as long as they live. They will be relentless in their pursuit of testing your will. It is not until I threaten to punish them (take away something from them) that they stop this “testing.”
b. Us- We chuckle at this because we know it to be true, not realizing
that we do the same thing with God. That is why Paul, here in 1 Corinthians 10, says in verse 9: “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.”
This verse is again referring back to the Israelites in the desert. This is found in the book of Numbers, 21:4-9, “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”
What happened here? Well, it started with all the traveling they were doing; they grew tired. Then there was impatience, because they didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. On top of this, they were questioning what God was doing as they weren’t seeing any results (forget the fact that God had gotten them out of Egypt, and they had witnessed all the plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea, and God destroying the Egyptian army in the Red Sea).
In this context, they were testing the Lord, thinking that they were just going to die. They didn’t trust God; they didn’t believe God had a plan and a purpose for them. Actually, we can test the Lord in a way; listen to Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” When we have given ourselves over to God, offered our lives to God, and seek God instead of this world, then we can catch a glimpse of God’s plan, and test it to see if it is indeed God’s plan. But the Israelites hadn’t given themselves fully over to God; they weren’t testing God’s plan. They were asking God for their own plan, and God was saying no. Too often we are seeking our own plan, to which God is saying no, but we try Him anyway!
III. The Testing of Complaints- (1 Corinthians 10:10)
Grumbling- Paul next talks about grumbling. He says in verse 10- “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” Why shouldn’t we grumble? Isn’t grumbling a way to make our voice heard? Actually, no. Grumbling is our complaining that things aren’t the way we want them to be.
Going back to children, children grumble when they don’t get their way. Children grumble when they are bored because they have to be with their parents, doing “adult” things. My daughter grumbles when she has to go to Tyler’s baseball game. She doesn’t want to watch the game, and feels she is just wasting her time. Tyler grumbles when he has to go to Tiffany’s Girl Scout events, because there isn’t anything there to do that he wants to do.
We grumble when we are lost in our sin and aren’t looking for what God is trying to teach us. We grumble when we don’t get our way in church, forgetting that it is not our way that is important, but God’s. We grumble when we feel like life isn’t fair; that somebody else has a better situation than we do.
Let me give you another test. It is just 3 questions: 1. What do you put in a toaster? Answer: "bread." If you said "toast." 2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink? Answer: Cows drink water. You wanted to say "milk," didn’t you? 3. If a red house is made from red bricks, and a blue house is made from blue bricks, and a pink house is made from pink bricks, and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from? Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. Did you think green bricks? HOW DID YOU DO?
These questions are designed to trip us up. By saying silk three times, and then thinking about a cow, our mind goes to the idea of milk. This is the same strategy that Satan uses in our lives. Like with Eve, Satan tries to trip us up into thinking that life isn’t fair, or that God’s way will be boring, or that God is trying to keep us from all that we could really have. Because of this we grumble and complain.
IV. A Way Out- (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:13-15)
But finally, Paul gives us the good news. In the midst of all the struggles, and
trials, and testing, and temptation to do wrong, there is hope. Paul gives us the good news in 1 Corinthians 10:13- “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.” First of all, whatever trials and temptations we encounter, there are not new; others experience them as well. This is good news, because so often we feel alone in our struggles, forgetting that others can empathize with us, and that we can get advice and encouragement from those who have experienced what we experience.
Second, God doesn’t let anything into our lives that we can’t bear. Now this doesn’t mean what we can bear alone, but what we can bear with God’s help. We should always seek the Lord whatever is going on, and the Lord will give us strength when we need strength, peace when we need peace, perseverance when we need to persevere. God will help us to get through the temptation. Lastly, God gives us a way out. If you make yourself aware of what is going on in your life, when you are tempted with something, God will actually help you overcome the temptation. Maybe the phone rings and diverts your attention, or something catches your eye and helps you to change your focus. The truth is, to sin, we have to work at it. That is why we are told in James 1:13-15, “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has con-ceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Do you hear the verbs? Dragged away. Enticed. Conceived. Birthed. And the sin leads to our undoing.
Conclusion: Lent is a time to put our faith into perspective, understanding that this world around us, this life we live, can easily distract us and lead us away from God. We fall into the trap of worshiping things other than God, questioning God’s plan for our lives, complaining when we don’t like how things are, and giving in to our temptations, that we could easily avoid. Let us give ourselves over to God, knowing that God has what is best for us in mind, and let God strengthen us to serve Him faithfully. Amen.
posted by Logan's Blog at 7:54 PM
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