What the Tempter Doesn't Want You to Know
By: Bruce Wilkinson
Introduction
He's been trying to hide it forever. If he can't hide it, then he'll seek to destroy it. If he can't destroy it,
then he'll seek to make you not believe it. Satan hates the Bible. Why? Because it is the supernatural revelation
of the Truth directly from the inspiration of God. The Bible is the light in the midst of a world of darkness.
But, do you know why satan wants you in the dark? To keep you in the dark. To limit your exposure to the truth.
To keep you pushed down. To make you live in defeat - by defeating yourself!
But today, men are finally pulling back the covers of that Book. As the covers are opened and men see the truth
about their personal holiness in times of temptation with their own eyes, the devil is fleeing with is proverbial
tail between his legs.
What the Bible teaches
Ever felt truly trapped? Ever felt boxed in by your enemy? Ever been riding a horse in unknown country and found
yourself in a "box" canyon? Ever felt yourself backing up and backing up and finally felt that unmoveable
wall against your back? The Apostle Paul faced temptation time after time but he learned remarkable truth about
how to overcome those temptations:
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 to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
How wonderful! God never "allows you to be tempted beyond what you are able." The point isn't that
God limits temptations at the same point for everyone, because everyone is different from everyone else. Your thresholds
of "temptability" are different from others - and so the Lord limits your temptations at different points
than He does for someone else.
Not only does God never allow you to be tempted beyound what you are able, but God always does something else
- He Himself makes the way of escape out of that temptation. Now, don;t get confused - God never is the tempter.
The Bible is very clear that God cannot sin - and therefore can't tempt you to sin, because that would be sin!
It's Up To You
God is always there for you when you are tempted. Always. Not passively watching, but actively intervening. you
see, the Bible reveals that God makes something just for you - "the way of escape." God not only limits
the strength of the temptation, but he also provides the escape route out of that temptation. Do you believe that?
The "escape" has one purpose and one purpose only: to enable you to successfully face your temptation
without sinning. What good would an escape be from prison if you were already dead? None. Likewise, the value of
"escape" is only while you are needing that escape. So, God makes the escape when you are most in need
of an escape - when you have been captured in some way by the chains of a temptation and are being pulled in the
direction of sin.
The precise meaning of "escape" in this verse is a secret pass through the mountain, or a trap door out
of a prison, or a tunnel around the danger. The escape is a way to "get free, get out, break loose, etc."
Isn't it amazing that the Lord God Almighty makes an escape route just for you and me! He's the subject of this
action - he makes the way of escape. that same word is used in Mark 10:6 where Christ said, "But from the
beginning of the creation God made them male and female." When God "made" Adam and Eve, He Himself
was directly involved in the "making" of something that was not there before he "made" it.
Likewise, your way of escape was made for you for that very situation.
Now, look more closely at that verse just one more time - did you see that magnificent "three letter"
word? Not "a" way of escape. Not "many" ways of escape. Just "the" way of escape.
You see, the Lord reveals that he makes "the" way of escape for you at that very time, in that very situation,
just for you. It's "the" way of escape for "you" during your time of temptation. I don't know
about you, but this rocks me to my boots. To think that God - the God of the universe - who created everything
and everyone - also created for me the way out. There can be no doubt about it, than, can there? God doesn't want
me to sin - and He Himself has done everything necessary in every temptation to provide for me the escape!
So the next time you feel trapped, just look up to find out the way out. It will be there every time. Maybe
it will be through the high mountain pass, or it will be through the trap door, or perhaps through the tunnel dug
deep beneeth the enemy's attacking forces. How do I know? Jusr because the Bible says "God is faithful - and
will make the way of escape."
And I'll be honest with you. I've still got dirt under my fingernails from the last tunnel - that he dug. Just
for me.
Morning Bible reading:
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 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 way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Morning Prayer
Dear Faithful Father,
Good morning Lord! Your presence has guarded me all the night. Your Glory radiates in the heavens and Your Love
is shed abroad in my heart. How I praise You for working in my heart and for strengthening me as I seek for personal
holiness.
I thank You for Your unending Faithfulness to me. It amazes me that you are so active in every part of my life
including my temptations! Thank You for putting Divine Limits on my temptations so that none are too strong for
me. Thank You for also making "the" way of escape for each temptation so I don;t have to be trapped by
temptations. Thank you for making sure that I can "bear" every temptation without sinning. My heart sings
to you - - How wonderful are all your ways to me.
Afternoon Bible reading
James 1:13 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" 14 But every man is temted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not
err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word
of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Afternoon Prayer
My Pure and Holy God,
You are never tempted! You will never tempt anyone - including me. Instead of tempting me to evil and harm,
You give me every good and perfect gift.
Lord, I confess that at times I have felt that my worse temptations were all Your fault. I have secretly blamed
You. how sobering to realize that my temptations ultimately were from the lusts of my own heart. If I didn't lust,
then I wouldn't be enticed to sin in that area. Lord, I fully accept my responsibility to no longer seek to blame
anyone or anything else.
Oh Holy Father, cleanse my lustful heart! Purify my thoughts and actions. I confess my sins and humble myself
before Your Glorious holiness.
Evening Bible Reading
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus my High Priest,
You are my personal high Priest, Oh Jesus the Son of Glory! You left heaven to die for me and now you actively
intercede in heaven for me!
You understand all of my temptations because you were tempted in all points like me, yet You did not sin. Forgive
me for thinking You did not or could not understand my trials with temptations to sin! Therefore, I pledge I will
come quickly and boldly the next time I face temptations.
Lord, why do I rely on my own strength in temptations? Why do I not flee to your face because you "aid
those who are tempted." Oh Lord, I have sinned because of my weakness, but in my next temptation, I will seek
Your aid.
Thank You for Your death for me and now your life in me! Amen.
