Sample Exposition

This is my second exposition for Expository Preaching 110 here at Christ Seminary, Polokwane South Africa. It's just to give you a taste of what I've been up to of late. (NOTE: T/A means: Talking about, U/Q means: Unasked Question)

1 Corinthians 10:13 Exposition                                                              David Harris February 17, 2011

How to deal with Temptation

A.    Dominant Part: Temptation

    T/A? Enduring Temptation.

    U/Q? How to avoid falling into temptation.

B.     Developing Part

How does the text answer the unasked question?

1.      Prepare for the temptation by knowing that it is to be expected.

2.      Look for the way of escape that God provides.

Proposition Statement: Three ways to Endure Temptation

Body:

  Introduction

       Oscar Wilde once said: “The easiest way to deal with temptation is to give into it”. This is quite a contrast from what we find in 1 Corinthians 10:13; “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  Still yet, yielding to temptation is so often one of the most defining issue in the lives of Christians. It is obvious from this passage that God does not want us to yield into temptation (which would be sin), but wants us to instead to place our faith in Him to see us through the temptation. So what ways does God prescribe for us so that we may escape temptation?

      Preparing for Temptation   

    The first antidote given in this passage to keep the Christian from yielding to temptation is to expect it. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” This is an all encompassing statement. It leaves nothing out to its readers. The intent is to communicate that all temptations have been experienced by man, so like the preacher in Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing new under the sun”. While second naturedly analyzing this statement, it may not occur as something all that monumental, but once in the throes of temptation it may be hard to believe that there is no area of temptation that hasn’t been previously experienced, overcome, or given into. It is important to remember that the same God who “does not cause anyone to be tempted” is also the God spoken about here who “provides the way of escape” (which we’ll look at later).

       To know that temptation is to be expected is important to the Christian in the same way it is important for a general controlling an army to know and expect the enemy army to attack him and his army. The threat is the impending doom that a victory by the enemy army will bring imprisonment, tyranny, and death. In the same way, we see in James 1 this displayed in a parallel way: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and when it is fully grown gives birth to death.”  Temptation is the first in a chain reaction that leads to sin, and then eventually leads to death- just as the victory by the enemy army eventually results in death. We see thus that it is extremely critical in dealing with temptation to know that it is to be expected and we can prepare to face it when it comes.

       Motivation to Resist 

     Thinking about Oscar Wilde’s statement, we see the perspective of one who is not in Christ. Without Christ, any motivations to resist yielding into temptation eventually all prove futile. The next sentence in verse 13 gives the motivation for the Christian to resist temptation. “God is faithful”; this motivation comes back to Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross, and His will for us to be sanctified (1 Peter 1:2). Within His faithfulness we find that He “will not allow you (us) to be tempted above your ability”. Knowing that God, in His faithfulness, will never allow any temptation to befall us that we cannot handle, we can also be more aptly prepared to deal with temptation on its arrival.

     The Way of Escape

      While the mid-section of this verse gives us our proper motivation for fighting off temptation, the final section gives us our other antidote to use when we encounter temptation. Just as the first section gave us“foreknowledge” to expect temptation, and therefore be ready for when it comes, the final section of the verse instructs us on what action we are to take once the temptation has come.

      Throughout history, people in other in pagan worldviews have arrived at countless ways to combat temptation to sin (or what their worldview deems as sin). Some even have gone to constructing towers where they would reside “away” from earthly desires, and thus become more holy. However, the Christian worldview acknowledges that man in and of himself cannot achieve anything close to the holiness of God (“All our righteous deeds are as filthy rags before Him”, Jeremiah 64:4), and even if one only errs at one point of the law, he is still guilty of breaking the whole of the law (James 2:10). Also, we know from 1 John 1:8 that if “We say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. Thus we see that a Christian will never totally be rid of sin in his earthy life. With this in mind, we do not need to sink into the “slough of despond” when we sin, but confess our sins because “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Since we are to live in expectation of temptation, and also that we will stumble, then we need a surefire plan of action once we are “looking in the eye” of temptation. We find the plan of action presented in 1 Corinthians 10:13 to be one of profound simplicity. “But with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” So far we see that according to His faithfulness, God will not allow any temptation to befall us that we cannot handle. Here we see that God also provides a way out of every temptation that comes upon us. So often Christians think of themselves as “super Christians” that can handle any temptation that comes and still not fall. However, here we see that it is God’s will that we not remain “in the same zip code” as the temptation, but escape it altogether. We see this principle in action in 1 Timothy 6:11: “But as for you man of God, flee these things (false doctrines, the love of money, etc.)” and 2 Timothy 2:22: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” The only battle plan presented here is a retreat, because the man of God knows where he is most likely to be tempted, and most likely to fall. God wills not that we attempt to “tough out” temptation, but we escape the temptation without once looking back (as the wife of Lot did in Genesis 19).: Proverbs 1:10-17 is a father giving wisdom to his son concerning the temptation to sin with others: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.”(KJV) Notice there is no confrontation between the tempters and the tempted; instead the tempted is advised to simply “refrain thy foot from their path”. Consider Eve in the Garden of Eden who fell to the tempting of the Serpent. Instead of simply fleeing, she conversed with the Serpent until he convinced her that God had withheld some good from her husband and herself. She gave in, and then Adam, following in her footsteps, also gave into the temptation and neglected to flee. We now live with the consequences of the first human temptation to be given into. We should think of temptation as a deadly and terribly contagious disease that will bring almost instantaneous death if contracted.

    Conclusion

       Since we have so clear a battle plan for fighting temptation laid out for us in 1 Corinthians 10, we ought to use it! By utilizing the foreknowledge shown to us that temptation will come, and thus prepare for it, and by looking for the way of escape once the temptation is present. Whatever the temptation to sin may be, it is included in these verses- lust for money, sexual desire, temptation to steal, covet, murder, lie, or even bow down to false gods. To the tempted, it may be hard to believe that their temptation can even be overcome, but we see clearly in this text that God is faithful to those who trust in Him. I therefore challenge you to trust in your Savior and Redeemer by utilizing the tools he lays out for you in 1 Corinthians 10:13 by preparing for temptation, and fleeing away toward the way of escape as if your life depended on it, because it does.  

Africa Update: Into the Bush

Today marks the end of my second week here in Africa. A week ago today, things took an interesting turn of events that I didn't foresee at all. I had been looking forward to going into Mozambique on Monday for the whole previous week- excitement, adventure, purpose! However, a week ago today, I went alone to the Savannah mall (about a kilo and a half away from where I stay), and decided to jog there- hadn't done any since I had arrived. I was having a lovely jog- beautiful day, perfect temp..., just lovely. When all of a sudden, it happened. I tripped over myself in a pothole. My foot practically when perpendicular to my leg, and a unbearable stinging, sharp pain filled my ankle for a few seconds, as I started to hobble, stumble, and trip along the road. Eish. I thought for a second. "This is NOT good". I made my way back to CBC (for "Burger Bash") and stumbled in to tune up my mandolin for the music practice. "This ISN'T good" I kept thinking. My biggest fear was not going into Mozambique on monday. The music and youth group went by, and I jammed with some others after it, and then Phil (a student) drove me back to the Plodinecs. I was trying to remain positive as I drifted off to sleep, hopeing and praying that everything would work out and I could still go. Then the morning came.
     Slowly I lifted myself out of bed and put my feet on the ground. I gradually rose to put weight on my left foot, praying that it would be better. Nope. The pain made me lose balance and fall back onto the bed. Eish. Mr. Plodinec drove me to a sports store to get a brace for my foot. That day we were supposed to clean up the yard area, but I sat in bed... and tried not to mope.
    The pain was rather fierce that day, but Sunday I saw Doctor Mark-a doctor for the missionaries. He asked me: "Do you want to be a football (soccer) player?
"No, not really", I returned;
"OK, then go to Mozambique."

I got various warnings from others, but Monday morning, I was riding in a buggy to the Mozambique border (loaded up on pain meds). I talked most of the way with William Vaughn, the director of Samaria Mission. We arrived in Xicambane (after dropping off another team in Umbuzi). Xicambane is 90 kilos into Mozambique- a three hour drive with the condition of the roads. About 40 kilos from Xicambane, we made a quick stop in Matselali- the village I spent two weeks in back in 2009. I wondered if anyone would remecocnice member me.
We pulled up and saw chief Robert, a kindly middle aged man who was also the pastor of Matselali Baptist Church. Then we saw Daniel- and Uncle William said: "EY!!" (sorry, inside joke for those who there there in 2009)
Then I saw them. The NINOS. There were a group of about four or five who followed me around everywhere back in '09. They didn't remember me- but I sure remembered them. I had a Tsonga/English dictionary in my hands, and I was trying out different phrases and words on them- then I "guitarra"; Portaguesee for: guitar. Then I thought it, and the the word came out of my mouth: "banjo". I made a strumming motion with my hands. Suddenly, one of the kids (Ave, I remembered his name because it was easy, and he's the one on the left in the picture) rose to his feet; his eyes became large, and he shouted out: "DaVEED!" then several more chimed in, they remembered. I was beaming.
We arrived at Chicambane at a quarter of six- the electric well pump was broken, so we'd have to pump it ourselves manually- my job. We (myself and an Afrikaaner boy named Joel) about half full when it happend again. I was carrying a bucket of water to the drum, and I tripped yet again on my bad ankle. Pain shot through my foot and I grimaced, but kept on working. I wasn't too happy that night. The day had been good, but my thoughts were on the increasing pain in my ankle, and the possibility of malaria. Nevertheless, I slept well, and awoke the next morning to the sound of Afrikaans and Tsonga. It came upon me that for the first time in my life, I was among people of another continent- and I was the ONLY American. It was frustrating at times over the next few days because at certain points, all the whites would be speaking Afrikaans, and the blacks speaking Tsonga- and me... well, I know Spanish, and that's similar to Portaguesee- which the speak in Mozambique... so lost basically. Tuesday was an interesting day. I spent most all the day as an observer- studying and taking note of how everything worked. There were 7 of us; two translators, Joseph and Kenneth, Uncle William, and three Afrikaners who were along for the ride (oh, and me). Our purpose for being in Mozambique was to train pastors- specifically from the book of Acts. I sat in on the teaching; it was very hot in the church, and it was in Tsonga- so I didn't pickup much. We shared a traditional Mozambican meal with the deacons and pastors (pop with a curry sauce, eaten by hand), then there was more teaching, but I spent the next segment getting to know my Afrikaner companions (we discussed South Africa, America, theology, and Mandela mostly). My ankle was feeling surprisingly better that evening- so I decided to accompany some of the men on a 10 kilo walk (remember, 1 kilo is 2.2 miles). I was thinking as I walked away from camp: "eish, this probably isn't such a good idea". It was very nice. Mozambique is beautiful in the summertime, especially during sunset. We walked to the flooded Limpopo river, and then returned for some chow, took some very quick showers, and went off to bed.
Wednesday came. And an awkward situation with it. It turned out during the night, a man in the village had died... and now was being buried. The deacons/pastors said that they could no longer commit to the training session, and needed to to take the day off, which meant we could go home if we wanted to- but there was a problem: we were already outsiders coming in to "put" our own beliefs on them. How would it look if we simply took off and left after a death? Kenneth traveled to the burial sight to see if we could help with anything- he had already been buried. We packed up and left at about 1, hoping to make the border before 4 (when it closes down). We made it to Umbuzi where the other team was, but they hadn't packed up, so we had to make camp there and wait until morning to get back to SA. We had a great evening though- we braied (that's barbecue to my American friends) and swapped jokes and theological thoughts.
Thursday morning we all packed up and headed out back to SA. We experienced some minor car trouble, but it appeared to be only some mud caked around the tire that was causing undo friction upon the vehicle. We arrived back in Pietersburg at 2:30, and my ankle (as it is as I write this) was feeling miraculously better.

Several things I've learned:
1. I already knew this, but: "Man plans his way, God directs his steps"
2. If you ever need to kill time waiting for a burial, collecting over one hundred 4 inch crickets (or, demon bugs, because they bite) is a great way to do it.
3. Humanitarian work without the Gospel is in vain and useless.
4. Someone outside the culture of a particular group will always be an outsider- which is why godly men from WITHIN the culture are so important to have in this type of ministry.

5. You can overcome language barriers- you have to.


We head in again in 6 weeks, and I am excited to see what unforeseen plans God will have for us. I was bit by mosquitoes 7 or 8 times- I was taking some medication, but it only reduces the chances of getting malaria; I really hope I don't, one of the guys on our team has gotten it 4 times, and apparently it's not too nice.