Pastor Mark Ducusin preached Deal or No Deal: Dealing with Temptation this week. The sermon focused on Paul's letter to the Corinthians and discussed some ways to avoid sinful temptation.
Temptation is a routine part of life. Our desire to sin can sometimes feel so much more powerful than our desire to do what is right before God. What if we cannot resist? Is there no hope of resisting the temptation? And the answer is no, we can resist; overcoming any given temptation is entirely possible.
Temptation is common and ordinary, especially for a believer. The experience of human temptation is part of what makes Christ's relationship to us one of trust and hope. Our God is not waiting for us to fail; He is ready to help us. But first, we must make the choice to choose God's way. The enemy will encourage us to see some temptations as irresistible. God promises that we can resist, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and respond to any given temptation by resisting it. He will always make a way of escape from whatever temptation stands before us. God is actively working to help those who are in Christ, who want to do what is right, to be successful.
Let us never forget that God is faithful and has promised that He will not allow the temptation to be more than we can bear, but in His grace will provide a way out of it so that we can endure it. So choose God's way even if it is difficult.
