Don't Say You Can't 'Cause You Can
By: Bruce Wilkinson
Introduction
Maybe you've read the stories as well, of amazing feats by mothers when their children get in trouble. I remember
reading of one woman who was hit by a drunk driver and her car flipped wildly into the ditch. When she finally
regained consciousness, she started frantically searching for her 6-year-old daughter. her young daughter was trapped
right under the back wheels of her car and the car wouldn't budge. No one was around. In desperation, she grabbed
the back bumper and lifted up the entire back end of her car to get her child out. No one thought she could. But
it was her baby, and she just had to.
Limits of strength are usually far beyond our greatest dreams. Limits are not really limits until they're pushed
to the limits. Too many men sin simply because they've given up and decided they couldn't stand the temptation
just one more minute.
But, suppose some angel disguised as a wealthy businessman had appeared just at the split moment the person was
going to sin and held out a fistful of $100 bills and said if you could just endure that temptation ten more minutes,
he'd give you ten of those $100 bills. And for every additional moment you didn't give into that particular temptation,
he'd give another $100 bill until he reached a limit of $1,000,000- what do you think you would do? If it were
me, I'm afraid I would quickly discover a whole new limit of my endurance!
What the Bible teaches
There's only one thing better than an angel telling you the truth about your "temptation limit"- that
is to hear it from the Lord. Hear Him once again in 1 Corinthians 10:13
"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 a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it."
God is faithful. To you. To everyone. All of the time. Regardless of your faithfulness or unfaithfulness. His Character
does not change in response to yours- He is faithful because He is faithful! He comes to your aid during temptations
with only one thing in mind: "that you may be able to bear it." His aid is very focused because He is
desirous that you be like Him, holy in all your conduct. Therefore, He does everything necessary for you to be
able to remain holy right in the face of strong and relentless temptations. He never lets the temptation become
too strong. He always makes a way of escape.
It's Up To You
But, do not be deceived, my brothers, the third part of this trilogy about temptation reveals our responsibility.
The Lord limits. The Lord makes the escape. but we bear the temptation. If you think that there is a special formula
by which you can magically dismiss all temptations, you are sadly mistaken. Will you endure after knowing all this
magnificent truth about temptation? God will not do the "bearing" of the temptation- you and I must do
that.
The term "bear" comes from a compound Greek word which means "to bear up under" and includes
the concept of endurance and fortitude under stress and distress. The same word is used by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:11
and in 1 Peter 2:19
"Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured:
but out of them all the Lord delivered me."
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."
As you can see, "bearing" or "enduring" definitely can include suffering and grief. Isn't that
the whole point? If temptations were easy to endure , then we all would be enduring them! It is precisely because
of their inherent difficulty, distress, discouragement, etc., that we are challenged to endure under them.
The words "that you may be able to bear it" also contain another eye opening insight. "That you
may be able" means that regardless of the nature of the temptation, you can always find strength to be able
to endure it! Therefore, at no time, and in any circumstance, is it ever true that you will not be able to endure
the temptation! No matter how long, no matter how difficult, no matter how painful, no matter how disconcerting,
no matter how confusing, no matter how perplexing- no matter- you will always be able to endure it. Or, the Lord
would have ended it right before that threshold in which you were not able to endure it!
I found it most interesting that this same word "be able" also occurs in the related passage about our
struggle with our archenemy, satan: "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil."
Now, let this dynamic truth about your temptations sink down into the depths of your heart. Pause for a moment.
Think deeply. You have just discovered that regardless of anything that life may throw at you, you are fully able
to endure it with-out falling into sin. Wouldn't you agree that the Lord has indeed gone full course in preparing
us for personal holiness?
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.
