05/14/2024
This morning I would like for us to concentrate on praying against Temptation. My morning reading touched on this topic today when Pastor E.M. Bounds said: "Temptation is really evil arising from the Devil or born in the human nature.", and as I thought on it I realized that Jesus spoke specifically to temptation when he gave us the Lord's Prayer. He didn't talk about Trouble or Trials, yet He certainly dealt with Evil and Temptation specifically.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:13 KJV
Jesus was no stranger to temptation... After all he was fully human as well as fully God. Yet he resisted temptation and we can see this clearly in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan...
“And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”
Luke 4:12-13 KJV
We often say that Jesus was perfect and that we are not so that explains why we succumb to temptation so often. It is true that Jesus was perfect, but His body and humanity was just like ours, and Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians that God will not allow temptation beyond our ability to deny it. So shouldn’t we be able to resist temptation as Jesus did?
“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.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
If we are tempted, and we can resist temptation, then how do we go about combating it? Jesus demonstrated the solution to us in the Lord's Prayer... He told us to resist by praying, and then he told us again in his instruction to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when He told them:
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 KJV
Jesus knew temptation but He also knew that through the power of prayer it could be resisted. I am so reassured to know that Jesus felt the same temptations that I do; and yet overcame them. But, I am also convicted by my failures to overcome them so often in my life. He was more than a perfect being that couldn't possibly relate to my struggles... He was just like me in every way, and yet temptation didn’t overcome His ability to resist it. Listen…
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15 KJV
So in the humanity of Christ I have hope, and through His instruction regarding prayer I am told that I can realize victory over my own temptation just as He did His. God is not our tempter, but Christ is most certainly our help, and example, in the face of temptation...
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”
James 1:13 KJV
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
Hebrews 2:18 KJV
I know that each of us is experiencing temptation daily in some fashion, so when we wake up each day and begin our daily routine, let's begin by praying that we remain free from temptation. And when facing those unavoidable temptations that confront us let’s pray that we can overcome them with the strength and help of God, and Jesus Christ. Let's also pray for our loved ones and those around us by asking that they too will not be lead into temptation. Our children leave home and venture out into a world that is filled with the evil, and the temptation that goes along with it, so whether they are small and young, or grown adults, let’s pray for them as Jesus instructed us to... Let’s ask in prayer… “Lead them not into temptation but deliver them from evil.” This is intercession of the highest order, and don’t we think that this is part and parcel of how Jesus is interceding for us before our Father right now?
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for showing us how Jesus was able to resist temptation by combating it with scripture. Thank you for His instruction regarding prayer in which we are taught to pray against evil and its allure. Holy Father hear our voices now, and give us the strength of faith to resist, but if we prove to be faltering at any given moment, then provide us an escape from the clutches of evil and its deadly draw. Help us Lord in these ways as we struggle against the world in our battle to remain free of sin. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who desires that we all be perfect against sin, and thus be saved through Christ who teaches us how this is possible. Transform us by our faith in Jesus, and show us your true power and help as we call out to you in unending prayer. Hear our prayers when we say “Lead us not in temptation, and deliver us from evil”, and hear our plea for forgiveness as we say “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” You are Loving, Merciful, Good, and full of grace Father, and we pray for your hand to be upon us today, and for eternity. We pray for your provision, protection, and salvation, as we go through our lives because who can then come against us if we remain with you in unceasing prayer, and ask of you as we should. Lift us up with Christ from all temptation, and let no evil, nor evil one, triumph over us, for you are our God and the victor over all our enemies. You are our shield and strong tower when the world mounts up on its horses and Satan and his minions rise up on evil wings against us. In you and our faith in Jesus, we will fear not, and know that your strength will be ours, and that we will be victorious. On the day when every spiritual and earthly battle has been won, and we are at eternal peace and rest with you, we will sing of your greatness, and give you all the glory for every battle and skirmish won in your name. On that day we will stand with the heavenly host and shout “Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come!” and in so doing we will at last know and understand the fullness of what that means.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Our God has routed sin, and defeated death! Jesus Christ His Holy Son has triumphantly carried His banner before Him, and led His armies into battle against all that is sinful and evil. The war has been won, evil has been destroyed, and every sin and temptation has been removed forevermore! Glory to God on the highest for He is our Lord, the great King over all.
Amen!
Rich Forbes