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"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
(1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Will God restore a fallen saint back to ministry?
I believe in many cases the answer is no, but in other cases, yes. Keep in mind, however, sexual sin is a unique category of sin with much deeper ramifications and consequences. Some may argue, "But is not all sin the same to God?" Yes, sin is sin, but someone who steals a piece of gum from the store will not suffer the consequences of someone who steals a person's spouse. The Apostle Paul singles out how sexual sin is unique and has more ramifications. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
King Solomon also warned of the severity of sexual sin. David Wheaton came and spoke at our church. He played tennis for Stanford University and wrote about how secular education breaks one down morally before breaking them spiritually. (The title of his book is The University of Destruction: Your Game Plan for Spiritual Victory on Campus.) He made the statement if someone falls and commits sexual sin that life will simply not be the same for him or her. He referenced this passage of Scripture: Proverbs 2:19. I will include surrounding verses for context. Solomon writes:
"To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
For her house leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
None who go to her return,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—
So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness."
Solomon knew firsthand the perils of adultery and wrote much about it in Proverbs. Every day I read a chapter in this amazing book of wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs will help you stay on the straight and narrow path of Jesus. To fear God and walk in His ways is a wonderful way to live life. Such a lifestyle helps you to live in freedom with no regrets.
God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. He will always make a way of escape for you and me. The key is taking that escape route in the moment of temptation! Hiding God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11) is critical to victory over every temptation.
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