GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SANCTION
God is faithful to safeguard us, because He is faithful to sanction what He permits to occur. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13).
Temptation is a persistent enemy to every believer. It never quits. It continually attacks morning, noon and night. It surrounds us, allures us, and tries to trip us day after day, month after month, year after year. When it comes to temptation, let us give careful consideration to the facts:
* God does not tempt us
The temptation we face never comes from God. James 1:13 warns us, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man." The author of all good cannot be the author of sin, nor can He tempt any of His creatures to sin. We cannot blame God for the temptation we face. The buck stops with us. James continues, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (1:14). When we fall into sin from temptation is it no one's fault but our own.
* God does limit temptation
God will "not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able" (1 Cor. 10:13). The word suffer is the Greek word eao meaning to permit or allow. God will not allow us to be tempted above what we can handle. God controls the amount of temptation Satan may bring upon us. Our all knowing God will not allow us to be overloaded. Each of us has a maximum capacity that we are able to handle, with His help. He knows our maximum capacity and will not allow more than that. At the point of maximum capacity He will say "no more" Job 38:11). It is important to notice that this is based upon God's knowledge, not upon what we think we can handle. He knows our limits even when we do not.
* God always makes an escape from temptation
God promises to provide a way of escape. It does not matter what the temptation is (drink, drunks, depravity, whatever), all have a way of escape. Thank God that is always true. The words "way of escape" is one word in the Greek, ekbasis, meaning a way out. We do not need to be victims of our weaknesses, environment or circumstances. God is faithful! He has appointed a way out of any and every temptation we face.
It should be pointed out that the way of escape may not mean a doing away with the temptation, but enduring the temptation. Otherwise, the last phrase - "that ye may be able to bear it" - has little meaning. The phrase clearly refers to enduring the temptation without faltering because Christ is "able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb. 2:18). The word succour means to help, aid. God is faithful to aid us in temptation. Making us able to ride it out, to go through it, and to bear it while we're enduring, thus coming out victorious. We can have victory over any temptation.
Notice also that the temptation and the way out come at the same time. When the temptation begins, the way out or the means to endure is available. The way of escape is always present with the temptation. The two cannot be separated. God is faithful to sanction or limit the temptation we face and to provide a way out. It is up to us to take the way out. In reality, whatever way of escape God is faithful to provide in a particular trial, it will include dependence upon the sustaining power of God.
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GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS SOLEMN WORD
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)" (Heb. 10:23). God is reliable. He will do what He promised. His is faithful to His word. Because He is faithful to His word, we ought to be faithful to Him. We may prove to be unfaithful to our word, but God never fails to perform what He promised in His solemn word. It is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:16-18).
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO PERFORM
"But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay .... For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (II Cor. 1:18,20). The translation of verse 18 is not the best. For one thing, the word as is not in the Greek text. Also, the word true is the same Greek adjective which in the other references is translated faithful. Therefore it is better translated, "God is faithful."
The context shows that God is faithful to perform His Word. God not only promises, He performs what He promises. God's promise is always crowned by His performance. God will do what He says He will do. God is faithful!
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila
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God is faithful
Posted - Oct 22 2008 : 9:31:01 PM
