09/17/2017
When you pray the Lord's Prayer and say the words "lead us not into temptation", what do you think that means? Do you think you are asking God to keep you from experiencing temptation? Do you understand it to mean that you are asking God Himself not to tempt you? Do you think it literally means that God should not purposely lead you into tempting situations? Or, do you feel you are asking God to lead you away from your natural inclination to be tempted and sin?
“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.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
In this scripture we read the words of Paul as he says "he will not let you be tempted", this is our key to understanding the Lord's Prayer... God may "let" us be tempted but He doesn't tempt us Himself or cause us to be tempted. Temptation is common to man and is a product of facing sin and, through our faith denying it. Jesus was tempted and so are we. His temptation is detailed in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew 4:1-11 we can read of it in its entirety, but it ends like this...
“And he [Satan] said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
Matthew 4:9-11 ESV
The book of James helps us further understand God's role in dealing with temptation. James tells us that the product of giving into our temptation is more than the instant gratification of self... but death. It is a moment's pleasure followed by everlasting death.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:13-15 ESV
What are the temptations of desire that you face? They are different for each of us and are particular to our personalities, weaknesses, characters, and the realities of our lives. I am not tempted to spend millions of dollars on some frivolous luxury yacht, but if I had millions of dollars perhaps I would be. I am not tempted to betray my wife by having an affair with Jennifer Aniston, but perhaps I would be if she would even give me the time of day. These are ridiculous and humorous examples, but they make my point... we are tempted by those things that are real in our lives, and to abandon those tenets of faith and God's Word that we have not yet mastered; we are lured by lust, coveting, jealousy, gluttony... The list is long isn't it? How long is your personal list; are you whittling it down?
When you have resisted temptation, Angels will minister to you just as they did Jesus. You may not see them but you will feel their presence. Comfort and joy are rewards for persevering in the face of temptation and if you think back on those times when you have successfully resisted temptation you will realize that you not only felt a sense of self satisfaction, but God's comfort and joy as well. So in resisting temptation we receive the promise of eternal life and the rewards we just spoke of, but in giving into our temptations we spiritually face death...
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 ESV
Now we are understanding the nature of temptation better and what role God plays, or rather doesn't play, in it. We understand that He provides us with an avenue by which we can escape our common temptation and sin, while avoiding death, but, how do we find our way to that doorway of escape? We find the key to resistance by doing exactly as Jesus did and what He told His disciples to do...
“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."”
Luke 22:39-40 ESV
We pray. This is how we resist temptation and sin. We call on God to lead us out of our tempting situation... we ask Him to "lead us not into temptation."
Today we have discussed temptation so that we might be encouraged and find our way to life by God's escape route. Paul worried about his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica, and he wrote them out of concern that they had yielded to temptation. We should have the same concern for one another; we should pray for each other corporately (as in the Lord's Prayer) and privately, and secretly, in our prayer closets. Then, we should pray for our own resistance to temptation and ask that God would lead us swiftly to the escape He has provided us.
“For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”
1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your presence in my life and for providing me an escape from the temptations that are common to my everyday world. I thank you for being my strength in the face of personal weakness and the call of righteousness that beckons me to walk away from sin's allure. You shield me Lord, and reward me when I resist the wooing of Satan and the world. You are my strong tower in the face of a relentless enemy, and defend me as I confront the demons of temptation that haunt me. Holy Father I thank you for prayer and my ability to reach out to you when my legs are quivering and my resolve is failing. I thank you Father for those who pray for me as I face temptation, and I thank you for Jesus Christ who taught us to pray that you "lead us not into temptation." You never tempt us Father, but deliver us from temptation just as you deliver us from evil. I am certain in you and your goodness, and my meager faith rests in your great faithfulness. Praised be your name.
Rich Forbes