Lead Us Not Into Temptation
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
Matthew 6:13-6:13April 1, 2012
A Study of the Lord’s Prayer: Lesson # 6
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,”
The Small Catechism: The Sixth Petition:
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
This petition is primarily for protection. It accepts the danger of temptation, acknowledges our deficiency in dealing with it, and asks for deliverance from it.
First, we need to establish what “lead us into temptation” means. It cannot mean that God is the prime mover behind all temptations. Nor can it mean that Christians can pray this prayer and be delivered from all temptation. God does not lead us into a life that is free from temptations. Rather, He teaches us how to look to Him for the necessary strength with which to deal with temptation appropriately.
The key to understanding what this phrase means is to understand that the word “temptation” has two meanings. It can mean to tempt with the goal of causing one to sin or it can mean a test or trial to prove the validity of one’s faith.
Obviously God never tempts anyone with the goal of causing them to sin. James 1:13 tells us that, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” (NKJV)
God never tempts any one to evil, but he does test us. James had already explained earlier in the same passage (1:3-4) “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (NKJV)
Others have already faced the same temptations we encounter. Paul explains, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;” (1 Cor. 10:13a). Paul also explains that God places limits on the test that we face, “ … 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” (NKJV)
There are four things we must come to grips with as we pray through this petition.
I. We must face the reality of Spiritual Warfare.
1. Know the enemy. We cannot be victorious over that which we do not understand. Being ignorant of the fact that there is a great spiritual battle being fought in our world does not erase that fact that it is true. Scripture portrays the devil, as an “adversary” like a lion in 1 Peter 5:8: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Paul the Apostle planted a church in the town of Thesslonica. There was persecution of Christians at the time and he was concerned that under persecution they might be tempted to deny the Lord and give homage to Ceasar. In 1 Thessalonians 3:5 he writes to them, “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”
Who is “the tempter” Paul talks about. The demons of Satan who use the trials and/or good times of this world to lead us away from God. Yes, Satan is slick. He will use either one, trials, or good times. Whatever is your weakness.
2. Know your weapons. Spiritual warfare needs spiritual weapons. Temptation is not to be fought with human willpower. The way to resist temptation is to lean heavily upon God’s grace to strengthen and enable us to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4, tells us “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” (NKJV)
Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (NKJV)
3. Know your enemy’s weapons.
As we said above, sometimes the enemy uses trials, hardships, and persecutions; and sometimes he uses good times as his weapons.
The apostle John says that the world is a trap that is made up of three things.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
1 John 2:15-16 (KJV)
There is the “lust of the flesh” - which means the desires of the flesh
There is the “lust of the eyes” – desiring the things that are not ours
There is the “pride of life” – involves putting self on the throne of our lives.
Application: Practical Question? What do you think is the biggest source of temptation that you face in life today? Trials, hardships, persecution, or, the good times.
II. The Progression in Temptation
The following is the progression of temptation that the devil used on the first humans on the planet in the garden of Eden.
1. False impression given by Satan that whatever wrong we are contemplating really is not that serious.
2. Appealing Mind Picture.The temptation presents a picture of some action that in some way appeals to our inner needs. Satan makes us see something, or someone, or some situation which he is sure will appeal to our lives.
3. A desire is actively aroused.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:13- 14 (NKJV)
4. Mental Fantasizing. We begin to toy with this idea. We play with it. We fantasize about it. It this point we have already begun to fall for Satan’s deception.
5. Action. We proceed to act on that what was presented to us. But the moment we give in we are dismayed and disgusted by our own defeat.
6. We try to hide our sin. We attempt to excuse or to conceal this matter from God and others. [principles drawn from W. Phillip Keller. A Layman Looks at the Lord’s Prayer. Chicago: Moody Press, 1976.) pp. 132-133.]
III. We Need to Acknowledge our Weakness in Dealing with Temptation.
Jesus said: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38
Peter personally experienced how easily and quickly one could be tempted and fall into sin and denial. We think he learned his lesson. Many years later he wrote a letter to Christians enduring persecution in Asia. In 1 Peter 5:8-9 he writes, “Be self-controlled and alert. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
We need to remember, everyone is vulnerable to temptation, no one is above falling. No matter how old we are or how mature in the faith we are. Although the strength of certain temptations may diminish somewhat with age, we are never free from temptation as long as we live in this world, whether we are experiencing persecution or the good times.
Ill:There is a story that I believe perfectly illustrates this principle. “History records the fate of two men who were condemned to die in the burning days of Queen Mary. One of them boasted very loudly to his companions of his confidence that he would stand firm at the stake. He did not mind the suffering; he was so grounded in the gospel that he knew he would never deny it. He said that he longed for the fatal morning even as a bride for the wedding.
His companion in prison in the same chamber was a poor trembling soul who could not and would not deny his Master; but he told his companions that he was very much afraid of the fire. He said he had always been very sensitive to suffering, and he was in a great deal of dread that when he began to burn, the pain might cause him to deny the truth. He besought his friend to pray for him, and he spent his time in very much weeping over his weakness and in crying to God for strength. The other continually rebuked him and chided him for being so unbelieving and weak.
When they both came to the stake, he who had been so bold recanted at the sight of the fire and went back ignominiously to an apostate’s life, while the poor trembling man whose prayer had been “lead me not into temptation” stood firm as a rock, praising and magnifying God as he was burnt to a cinder.”
[as quoted by R. Kent Hughes. Abba Father; The Lord’s Pattern for Prayer. (Wheaton, ILL: Crossway Books, 1986.) pp. 92-93]
We must acknowledge that we are but human, we are flesh. And because of that, we are vulnerable. Paul writes these words of warning in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted!”
IV. We Need to Ask for Protection
We need to know how to pray for spiritual protection for ourselves.
Example of the hedge God places around Job. Read Job 1:6-12
The Apostle Peter was a powerful illustration of the danger of trying to stand against temptation in your own power. Jesus at the Last Supper taught the disciples that greatness was to be found through service. Right in the middle of this discourse, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32 Peter objected, “… Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” (22:33) Jesus response was, “…I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”22:34 . So much for victory in our own strength.
Jesusin the Garden prayed for the strength to be able to with stand the suffering that the cross would bring. Returning, to his disciples, he found them asleep. He awakened them and said to them, “…Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:46. Jesus told his disciples that their prayers were to play a part in how well they were able to face testing.
When we pray for God’s protection from temptation we are agreeing with the High priestly prayer of Jesus. He prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15
Summary:
1. We are in a spiritual battle, we must know the enemy & his weapons, and know our weapons and practice using them.
2. We need to understand the process of temptation so that we can stop it!
3. We need to face up to our own weaknesses, and practice self-control & alertness.
4. We need to always be asking God for protection.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, make us more aware of the Spiritual battle and teach us how to fight it and win. We pray for all those caught in the lies of the devil that Your Spirit of truth would deliver them. Take away all fear by Your perfect love and gird us with Your Spiritual armor that we would be victors in Christ over the temptations of the enemy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.