1 Corinthians 10:13 says “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.”
“...will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that he may be able to bear it.” That we may be able to bear it: Is a beautiful promise that where the flesh is weak and unable, the Spirit is willing and capable. If we force ourselves to carry the weight upon the flesh, the flesh will fail every time.
Consider: 1 Corinthians 3:2-9
[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it , neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? [5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. [7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. [8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
What does the: you were not able to (bear) the meat ...because you are carnal clearly shows us? Does it not tell us the carnal is in need of milk rather than strong meat. Jesus had so much more to show the disciples but He had not yet risen and breathed the Spirit upon them. The disciples were not yet ready to bear the truth. But once the Spirit of truth come upon them through baptism...The Spirit was more than ready and capable to bear the witness of truth they were to take to others. John 16:12-13 “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
We must examine Paul who was a “chosen vessel” to “bear” the Lord’s name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Carnally this would be too impossible to “bear”. But the Lord was and is very capable and ready even going as far as showing Paul the great things Paul would suffer for the Lord’s name. Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: [16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.”
A misconception I’ve had for the longest time is that Romans 15:1-3 speaks of a physical strength. It must be seen in the outward as a muscular strength and unstoppable health. But this does not speak of physical strength but of Spiritual strength only found in God. “We then that are strong(spiritually) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Hebrews 9:28
[28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Romans 14:19-23
[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. [22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Hebrews 2:17-18
[17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
Succour: Greek: βοηθέω
Transliteration: boētheō
Pronunciation: bo-ay-theh'-o
Definition: From G998; to aid or relieve: - help succour.
“...will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that he may be able to bear it.” That we may be able to bear it: Is a beautiful promise that where the flesh is weak and unable, the Spirit is willing and capable. If we force ourselves to carry the weight upon the flesh, the flesh will fail every time.
Consider: 1 Corinthians 3:2-9
[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it , neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? [5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. [7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. [8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
What does the: you were not able to (bear) the meat ...because you are carnal clearly shows us? Does it not tell us the carnal is in need of milk rather than strong meat. Jesus had so much more to show the disciples but He had not yet risen and breathed the Spirit upon them. The disciples were not yet ready to bear the truth. But once the Spirit of truth come upon them through baptism...The Spirit was more than ready and capable to bear the witness of truth they were to take to others. John 16:12-13 “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
We must examine Paul who was a “chosen vessel” to “bear” the Lord’s name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Carnally this would be too impossible to “bear”. But the Lord was and is very capable and ready even going as far as showing Paul the great things Paul would suffer for the Lord’s name. Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: [16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.”
A misconception I’ve had for the longest time is that Romans 15:1-3 speaks of a physical strength. It must be seen in the outward as a muscular strength and unstoppable health. But this does not speak of physical strength but of Spiritual strength only found in God. “We then that are strong(spiritually) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Hebrews 9:28
[28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Romans 14:19-23
[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. [22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Hebrews 2:17-18
[17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
Succour: Greek: βοηθέω
Transliteration: boētheō
Pronunciation: bo-ay-theh'-o
Definition: From G998; to aid or relieve: - help succour.
