The Power of Promise

“My friend is married to a woman with Alzheimer’s. She doesn’t even recognize him anymore. And as a result, he has decided to start seeing another woman on the side. I’m not sure what to tell him. Do you have an advice?”

That was the question asked a few months ago to well-known televangelist on his TV program. He replied, “That is a hard thing and I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again. Just make sure someone is still looking after her.”

A little shocked at his response, his co-host replied, “Isn’t the vow we take when we marry ‘for better of for worse, till death do us part’?” To which the televangelist said, “well, Alzheimer’s is ‘a kind of death.” She is, after all, “not there anymore.”

Now think for a moment what’s behind that answer (besides a horrifying misrepresentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ). He is, in essence, saying, if you find yourself in a situation were someone doesn’t benefit you anymore; it’s to your advantage to get out, if you find yourself in a situation that is difficult the right thing to do to start all over.

To be fair, most of us want that kind of advice; the kind of advice that encourages the easy road. Most of us have been faced with a situation that was difficult, one were you thought, “It’s too hard. I can’t do this.” It may have been struggling with a particular addiction, dealing with a hard marriage, caring for someone with an illness, working your way through school, but it seems to be more than you can handle. Is the best advice “get out and start over” or is there a better promise than that?

Israel, the Corinthians, and enduring trials

In 1 Cor 10:12-13, we find one of the greatest promises in all of Scripture. It is a promise that no matter what happens to you, you can hold on to. It instructs us on how we are to think and act during times of temptation, trials and difficulty.

The Context: Paul is writing to a group of Christians who, like all Christians, had experienced great spiritual blessings (salvation, Spirit, LS). However, they had given in to the pressures around them (philosophy, sexual immorality, fighting, etc.). So, in the first 11 verses Paul refers them back to the nation of Israel in order to show them they’re not unlike others before them.

Israel also had received great spiritual blessings; cloudy by day, passed through the sea, baptized into Moses, etc. [10:1-5]. But past blessings didn’t guarantee future obedience (vs. 5)! For as soon as they faced a trial in the wilderness they gave in, gave up, and wanted to go home, forsaking the promises of God! As a result, Israel fell into great sin: idolatry (vs. 7), sexual immorality (vs. 8), putting the Lord to the test (vs. 9), and grumbling (vs. 10). These “just so happen to be the same things the Corinthians were doing, which is why Israel served as an example for them to heed (vs. 6 & 11). Therefore, the issue for the Corinthians, as it was for Israel, was forsaking the promise of God during times of difficulty, which led to serious sin.

We are no different! (1) We have been blessed with so much. (2) The Bible commands sacrificial giving and promises to bless. (3) The economy is hard and times are difficult. (4) The easy thing is to forsake the promise and live in disobedience.

Or…(1) God has blessed us with a relationship with Him. (2) The Bible calls us to pray and promises to bless us when we do. (3) Our schedules are way too busy this week, we’ve got to much to do. (4) The easy thing is to forsake prayer and live in disobedience.

With that as a background, we know come to verses 12-14. Paul, here, addresses how we/they are to respond when faced with temptations and trials. How, unlike Israel, who forgot God’s promises when difficulty came, we can remain faithful.

A Perspective to Have

1. Don’t overestimate your abilities (10:12)

When faced with temptation or difficulty, one of the lies we believe is that we can handle it. “I’ve been a Christian for 20 years, taken a Christian Theology class, been in church all my life, graduated from school of hard knocks.” Our past victories/blessings make us feel safe. The Corinthians felt safe (we’re a sprit-filled church). Israel felt safe (we’re the people of God). And yet the same group that walked across dry land, walked around in a dry dessert for 40 years because of their rebellion. Self-confidence in the Christian life will result in carelessness in the Christian life!

I remember at youth camp hearing about a girl named Amy. Amy was college girl who had committed to sexual purity. Amy decided to go to Cancun on spring break with her friends. She heard stories about what happened in Cancun, but figured she’d never do stuff like that. While she was there she met a guy on the beach. They hung out all week and on the last night he invited her back to his place and they slept together. He took her to the airport the next day, told her how much he loved her and couldn’t wait to see her again, handed her a letter telling her not to read it until she got on the plane. As she was flying home, she opened the letter to read 6 words, “Welcome to the world of AIDS.”

You are not as strong as you think! And past victories do not guarantee future obedience! Some of you think, "I would never cheat on my taxes, engage in unethical practices, stop coming to church, do this or that.” Paul says, take heed lest you fall! The danger for most of us is not religious persecution or falling into heresy, it’s slipping into laziness, mediocrity, and self-confidence whereby we become foolish enough to think it could never happen to me. When the Bible describes Satan as a “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” it’s not trying to be cute.

2. Don’t overstate your situation (10:13)

Read 10:13. Paul says, “you’re not facing anything unique.” At first this sounds insensitive. Like, “get over it sissy, it’s just cancer.” But this is not meant to belittle anyone’s situation, after all people are dying in this church because of their sin. Paul is making sure, by referring to Israel, that the Corinthians do not justify their behavior by saying “our situation is different.”

“If you understood how big those giants were, you’d understand why we wanted to go back to Egypt.” “If you had to live in Corinth, were married to my husband, had to face the loneliness I face, knew the addiction I’m dealing with, you’d understand.” The more unique you think your situation is the more likely you are to rationalize it. When it comes to struggle, you’re not special but you’re also not alone. You’re hurt is real, but it is not uncommon to man! This should give you hope that others have gone through it too.

3. Don’t underestimate God (10:13)

God is faithful. This was the problem with Israel, the Corinthians, and us. Theological we know God is big; practically we live as though our situation is bigger! Israel, God parted a sea! Don’t you think he can kill giants? Corinthians, God saved you from your sin! Don’t you think he can save you from your culture?

Their formula was: Easy life = Faithful God. But, if you want to see the faithfulness of God, look at the cross and the last word I would use for the cross is comfortable! The longer the enemy can convince you that God is weak or that He really isn’t for you (garden of Eden) the more likely you are to rationalize your failure.

A Promise to Hold

1. God permits the extent of your situation (10:13)

How many of you have seen load-limit signs on a bridge or elevator? The sign is there because engineers have determined the amount of stress it can handle. Paul promises that God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tested or tempted beyond what you are able. Now some of you would say, as Mother Theresa did, “I know God won’t give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” We know this is true from the book of Job. God told Satan, “you can have his health, but you can’t kill him.” God controls the limits.

Remember, also, this promise comes under the context of “God is faithful” meaning no trial/temptation is stronger than our spiritual resources. So if you have ever though, “I can’t handle this on my own” you’re exactly right but God’s grace is sufficient.

2. God provides the escape of your situation (10:13)

The GK word is the idea is of an army surrounded and then suddenly seeing an escape route to safety. Now, escape doesn’t always mean physically removed, it might be that God provides peace in your heart while still physically in the situation. In some cases, when not violating Scripture, it will mean leaving the situation.

The issue is never is there a way of escape, but do we like the way of escape? Example: “My boss said if I didn’t lie he would fire me. I had to do it.” No. God provided a way of escape to not work in that kind of situation; you simply wanted your job more than the escape. The Bible doesn’t promise to provide a way of escape you will like, or won’t be costly, or will come immediately, but a way that you no doubt need!

3. God promises the endurance of your situation (10:13)

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matt 6:34)

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam 3)

Notice the correspondence between “Each day” in Matt 6 and “every morning” in Lam 3. Meaning, there is a relationship between what you will face in a given day and the amount of mercy you will be given for that day. Don’t fight tomorrow’s troubles with today’s portion of mercy because there is not enough. You have to trust that when the day gets here, abundant mercy will come with it.

A Pattern to Heed

Read 10:14. God will provide a way of escape; will you take it? God has promised power to endure, will you use it? The responsibility for sin is never on God, He controlled the extent, provided the escape, and gave the power. He has been faithful, will you be?

Conclusion

Who knows what challenges we will have to face in 2012? There may be times when you will say “I can’t handle this” or “I can’t get through this.” You may be like the man married to the woman with Alzheimers thinking, “it would be a lot easier to walk away.”

When that happens, I hope you’ll remember another man who is married to a woman with Alzheimers. A woman who, one night in a garden when soldiers gathered around…ran away. One night in a courtyard when a peasant girl started asking too many questions, tried to play dumb. One day in the city of Corinth, fell in love with the surrounding culture. One day in the city of Decatur, lived a life thinking it will never happen to me.

She’s a woman who has on many occasions acted like she didn’t even know who He was. But He has not left her side; He’s never even wanted to. And for the joy set before Him endured a cross, so no matter what she faces, He promises to be right beside her every step of the way.

Pastor Wes