Evangelical Free Church of Embarass

I Corinthians 10:1-13 (A warning from Israel’s history.):

“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.’ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did – and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did – and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Last fall, in our family devotions, we read about a lady who was transferring groceries from a cart into her vehicle. When she had put all her bags in her vehicle, she noticed in the bottom of the cart was a greeting card. It was one she had picked out, but hadn’t paid for. The clerk hadn’t seen it there. She made the honest choice, took the card back into the super market, and paid for it. That same afternoon I purchased something at Four Corners. As I was walking to the car with the change still in my hand, I happened to notice that I had been given 15 cents too much. I knew instantly what I needed to do. I went back into Four Corners and gave the 15 cents back to Jared. I am sure you have found out in your Christian life that whenever God teaches you something, very quickly an opportunity will come for you to practice it. I believe that is going to happen today. In fact, I guarantee it. Because of what we are going to talk about and what we are going to learn today, every one of us will be given opportunities to practice it – even before this day is out. So we need to listen.

Do you like the picture on your study sheet? The mother is saying, with a big smile on her face, “No temptations here, our home is spotless.” She couldn’t be more wrong, could she? There is no such thing as a home free of temptations. In fact, every day in every home, every family member experiences temptation. What I want to talk about this morning, as we continue this family series is temptation; specifically temptation experienced by husbands, wives, moms, dads, & children. I am going to remind you of ten common temptations in the home. When we give into those temptations, it has a profound impact on our family. Go with me through this. Then we are going to summarize in a very important way.

1. One temptation that is very common in our home to every one of us as family members is selfishness. Turn to Philippians 2:3&4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We are taught clearly in scripture to do nothing out of selfishness. But every day, every member of every family is tempted to do the selfish thing, to put self first, and to view self as the main character in the story of our family. Ever been tempted to do that? To view yourself as the main character in the story of your family? “I’m first, I’m most important, my interests come ahead of everybody else’s in this house, serve me, do for me, and please me;” It’s a common temptation in every home. It is at the root of so many family problems. We give into the temptation to be selfish and it creates all kinds of problems.

2. A second common temptation in our home is sinful anger. In Ephesians 4:26 we are taught this: “ ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foot hold.” There are three “do nots” there. The first “do not” is do not express your anger in sinful ways. We get angry. Scripture says to not express it in a sinful way, through your speech or actions. The second “do not” is “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”. Promptly deal with your anger. Don’t let the anger stay in you till the next day, because anger has a way of burning and growing. The third “do not” is “do not give the devil a foot hold.” You see our sinful expressions of anger, our unwillingness to deal promptly with our anger, allows the devil to get his foot in the door of our home and do his work. We are setting up a welcome sign outside our home for the devil to come and do his work–we give him a foothold. Every one of us every day is tempted in this area, in the area of sinful anger. At times, in our homes, we can just feel the anger in the air. It’s like a room deodorizer. You can walk into the house and feel anger in the air. We give into the temptation so often. Then we say and do things in our anger that are damaging. I read a story about a man who was bitten by a dog, and taken immediately to the emergency room. The diagnosis was that, yes, he had rabies. Right away he asked for a pen and piece of paper, and began writing and making a list. The doctor said, “Sir, yes you have rabies, but you don’t have to make out a will. It is not that serious. It can be treated. You are not going to die.” The man said, “I’m not making out a will. I’m making a list of the people I’m going to bit.” We get angry in our homes, give into temptation to bite at each other, and express that anger sinfully in what we say and do. It damages our family. Watch out for that temptation.

3. A third temptation that’s common in our home is verbal attacks. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” is so wrong. Words hurt, words damage, and words destroy. Proverbs 15:1 says, “ . . . a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 21:23 tells us to guard our mouth and our tongues, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.” In Galatians 5:15, Paul presents an interesting picture concerning our speech: “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” There is a temptation for this biting and devouring to go on in our homes between husband and wives, between the parents and children, and between the children. Verbal attacks raise havoc in our family.

4. A fourth common temptation in our home is what I call “disregard.” We disregard one another. We are tempted to neglect each other, to view each other as unimportant, and to disrespect each other. Proverbs 23:22 says to the children, “Listen to your father, . . . do not despise your mother. . . ” Among young people and children there is so much disregard in our homes today. You are tempted every day to disregard your parents: to disrespect them, to view them as unimportant and irrelevant, and having nothing to offer to your “cool” life. They don’t know what they are talking about–they have no clue. So, we role our eyes at mom and dad when they say something, as though it is the stupidest thing we ever heard. When Ronald Reagan was president, he was holding a town hall meeting in a community. A teenager stood up and said, “You’re from a different world, Mr. President. Today we have television, jet planes, space travel, nuclear energy, and computers.” President Reagan calmly replied, “You’re right, young man, my generation didn’t have those things when we were young. So, we just invented them.” Your mom and dad often know what they are talking about. They have been around. But there is this temptation to disregard them, to despise them, to view them as unimportant, and irrelevant. That violates scripture. Be careful about that temptation. Parents the same thing applies to us. We are tempted to disregard our children as though they have nothing to offer, as though nothing wise or intelligent would come out of their mouths, and view them as unimportant. We disrespect our children. Husbands and wives disregard each other and role their eyes at each other. Be careful of the temptation to “disregard.”

5. A fifth common temptation in our home is blaming. Need I say any more? Every day we are tempted in our homes to blame someone. A tee shirt idea that would never sell is one with the logo “It’s my fault.” Because we lose, so often, to the temptation of blame, it would never sell. It goes on in your home and it goes on in my home. It’s damaging to the family.

6. A sixth common temptation in our home is dishonesty. In Ephesians 4:25 we have this teaching, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” We belong to each other. Because of that, we are to be truthful to each other. Now in the home, for sure, we belong to each other. We need to be truthful; but there is a temptation, even in the home with the people we love, to be dishonest. A lot of lying and dishonesty goes on in homes, even in Christian homes. That really is damaging. Because a pattern of dishonesty in the home, usually ends up with the loss of trust. Trust is the very foundation piece of healthy relationships. We need to be very careful about this common temptation.

7. The seventh common temptation in our home is sexual immorality. I Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee, from sexual immorality.” There are so many temptations in the family in that direction. There’s the adultery and affairs. The premarital sexual activity kids are tempted to get involved in, which sometimes leads to pregnancy or abortion and the pain that they bring. There is the temptation towards pornography with the magazines, movies, and the internet; even kids getting tempted in that area. It’s common in our homes. When we lose to these temptations, the amount of pain that it brings to a family is phenomenal. It doesn’t matter what kind of sexual immorality it is: if it’s mom and dad committing adultery, if it’s the older kids involved sexually with someone, or if it’s pornography. The pain those things bring to a family is amazing. Watch out for that common temptation.

8. The eighth common temptation in our home is addictions. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling, or anything else. What’s addiction? It’s giving up control to something. The bible says, “the fruit of the Spirit . . . is self control.” God is to be controlling our lives. We are to be filled with the Spirit–not these other things. Many of us know the impact on families when family members lose to the temptation of addiction. It hurts everybody. It changes life for everyone in the home. There is a Proverb that says the person without self control is like a city whose walls are broken down. When a city’s walls were broken down in that day, the city became vulnerable and defenseless. Solomon is saying a person who does not have self control is vulnerable and defenseless. I want to go a step further and say, “When you give into the temptation of addiction, not only are you vulnerable and defenseless, but you cause your family to be vulnerable.”

9. A ninth common temptation in our home is the temptation to “call it quits.” There are many forms this temptation takes; it can be divorce, running away, shutting down emotionally, stopping communication with other family members, or taking your life. There is temptation often in the family to deal with things by “calling it quits.” All of those things are selfish options. We see them as our way of escaping. They are selfish; and we need to be careful about the temptation to “call it quits.”

10. Then the tenth common temptation in all families is spiritual neglect or rebellion. This is a common temptation in every Christian home; for all members of the family, whether it’s children, teenagers, men or women. First of all, to neglect the spiritual walk: to get caught up in life and the things of life, to neglect your relationship with Jesus Christ, to stop tending to your soul, and to forsake the things that produce growth and intimacy with God in your life. Then there is the temptation for members of the family toward spiritual rebellion. It’s not just neglect, but out right rebellion against the things of God for what ever reason. Either of these, if we lose to either of these temptations, the impact is borne by every member of the family. It’s not just you. You can’t say, “It’s just between me and God. Things aren’t right between God and me right now.” That may be true, but it’s impacting every other person in the home. When things aren’t right between God and me, it has effects on my wife and it affects my children. When things aren’t right between God and a teenage son, it affects mom and it affects dad. We have to be careful of the temptation toward spiritual neglect or even rebellion.

There you have ten common temptations in our home. They are always there. We have to deal with all ten at least every week; maybe even every day. It doesn’t matter which member of the family you maybe; you will be faced with these temptations. When we lose to these temptations, any of the ten, it affects the entire family whether we want to believe it or not. Do these temptations visit your home a lot? Are these ten temptations roaming around your house? How are you doing? Are you struggling with some of these? Are some harder than others? Maybe you have already lost to some of these, and it’s already hurting and damaging your family.

Turn with me to I Corinthians 10:12. As you heard when Al was reading, Paul goes back to the history of the Israelites, he talks about some of the sins the Israelites were involved in, and how seriously God took those sins. Then he says in verse 11, that these things happened to those people as an example for you; first of all as a warning, and then as an encouragement. He says in verse 12 (here’s the warning), “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” Don’t look at the Israelites and what they did and say, “That will never happen to me. I’ll never be tempted to do that. And if I am, I’ll never give in.” Paul says, “Don’t think that way; because, if you start thinking that way, you are going to fall.” That’s the warning. Don’t be like little Betty Crocker, trying to paint a picture of your home that is spotless, with no temptations

Then go in verse 13, we have an encouragement. It says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.” The same things that tempted the people of Israel tempt us today. The temptations that are common in your home are not unique to your home. They are happening in all the rest of our homes too. They are common. Here’s the good news, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” God has set the limits. “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” He knows what you can bear. No temptation will ever go beyond His limits. “But when you are tempted, (This faithful God.) he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” There is always a way out. There is always a choice. God has seen to it. If I say, “There’s no way out, I have to do it.” Then I’m saying the Word of God is wrong; because it says God always provides a way out. If I say, “This temptation is beyond what I can bear.” I am saying the Word of God is wrong, because the Word of God says He is faithful, He sets the limits, and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. The issue is our choice. Everything is in place, set in place by God, for you and me to resist temptation. He’s faithful; He set the limits, it will never go beyond what you can bear; and He has provided a way out for every temptation. He set the table. It is all there. The issue is our choice. So often we make the losing choice and give in to the temptation; not taking the way out that has been provided. We don’t turn to Him for that strength to stand. We make the losing choice; and we get involved in the sin that the temptation is enticing us toward. Then our whole family is affected. At the bottom of your study sheet there’s some thoughts by Steve Arturburn from a book he has written. They are quite challenging. I want you to hear this. This is for people who have made the losing choice with temptation; and as a result, it is affecting their family. Here’s his challenge, “How long are you planning to stay as you are—ten years? Why not five? If you could decide to change at the end of five years, why not after one? And if after one, why not today? Now is the best time for you and for your family.” There is something else he throws in, “Why make them wait (referring to the family) for you to change? Why do they have to keep paying the price?” That is powerful. Those are important questions. I make the losing choices when it comes to these temptations; I get involved in the sins that they are enticing me toward; and it begins affecting my family right away. Then there’s hurt and pain in my family. And I don’t do anything about it; I remain in those sins; I continue to make the losing choices with those temptations; and my family continues to pay the price. Arturburn’s question is simply, “How long are you going to let that happen?” How long are you going to make your family wait? How long do they have to pay the price? Those questions are for you boys and girls, they are for you teenagers, they are for you men and women, and they are for me. God has set the table for us. He has put everything in place to stand against temptation, to resist, and to take the way out. The issue is our choice. I want to close with Proverbs 28. Here’ a Word for those of us who perhaps have made the losing choice and gotten involved in those sins that those temptations have enticed us toward. It says Proverbs 28:13,14: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” Let me add this: “and his family has to go along for the ride.” If I keep giving into these temptations, then I’m asking for trouble and I’m taking my family along for the ride.