Red Team Captain Corey Willis led us in a Bible study this evening following supper, encouraging everyone to “Be Strong Enough to Run Away”:
Introduction
- The theme of this week is to “Be Strong”
- Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
- “Be Strong”… enough to run away
- We have to say “No” to a lot of things in order to say “Yes” to the things that are important to you
- Fear from humility: recognizing that you’re not as strong as you think you are
- I Corinthians 10:12: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Learn from Joseph’s Example
- Genesis 39:11,12: “But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.”
Things we are to flee:
1. Persecution
- Matthew 10:23: “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
- The LORD was preparing His people for persecution. For the Christian, death is nothing to be feared, but we don’t need to go looking for it.
2. Being caught up in false gods
- I Corinthians 10:14: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
- “Wherefore” indicates a conclusion, “that’s why”
- What led up to this conclusion?
- I Corinthians 10:6-11: “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil 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 rose up to play.’ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.”
- What does this have to do with false gods?
- The gods of the world are nice gods who wouldn’t be too hard on us if we give into temptation. They’ll overlook all of that.
- Flee from idolatry
3. Wanting to Be Rich
- I Timothy 6:11: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
- Desiring to be rich
- The love of money
4. Fornication and lust
- II Timothy 2:22: “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
- I Corinthians 6:18: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
Our Promise and Benefits
- I 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.”
- God didn’t promise you Herculean strength to stand up to temptation
- …He promised you a trap door just perfect for you in every situation
- James 1:2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
