Teach us to Pray: pt 4 - Praying for Holiness

Slide 1 - As I go Up

One of the things Jesus commanded us to do as a faith family, as the church, is remember him by participating together in this celebration we call communion or the Lord’s Supper. The eating of this bread and the drinking of this cup, emulating the most important moment of the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples before going to the cross. This meal, this celebration, symbolizes the victory that Jesus won over sin and death. His broken body and his shed blood provide that victory for us.

a few quick instructions:

To eat of this meal, you don’t have to be a formal member of Fayette Community Church, but, we do ask that you examine yourself as to whether you are trusting Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and if you’re not this is a great moment to maybe take that step in faith.

Parents, it is up to discern whether your kids are spiritually prepared to participate in communion. This is something sacred for us, something the Bible teaches us to take seriously.

If you need gluten free wafers we have those up front here as well.

I’ll invite you to come down the center aisle then return to your seats from the outside aisles. The band will lead us in a song as we grab the elements; after finishing the song you can grab the elements as you return to your seats.

Once everyone has the elements I’ll pray for us once more and guide us in eating and drinking so as you return to your seat please just hold the bread and cup until instructed.

PRAYER / music as people grab the elements

Paul writing to the church in Corinth told us how we are to celebrate this meal together.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Take the bread and eat it with me.

Paul continues in verse 25.

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Drink this with me as we remember our Lord’s sacrifice for our sins.

I would like to invite you to stand with me if you are able and recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, with me. SLIDE 2

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. SLIDE 3

It is so appropriate ending with the Lords prayer today as we are also ending our series on The Lord’s prayer today with that last stanza.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

There was a wealthy man once whose chauffeur had just retired. For those of you like me who will never be able to afford a chauffeur you may be wondering what that is - its a fancy word for personal driver - or as kids call them mom and dad… (pause) but this guy was rich and could afford to pay a guy to just drive him around, but now found himself in the position of needing to hire a new driver. So he put out an add for a driver ‘Help wanted. Need a driver who is comfortable driving small sports cars, medium size sedans, large SUVs, and can work both automatic and stick-shift transmissions. As would be expected upon seeing the words ‘sports car’ every male from a 30 minute area showed up to apply (pause) but eventually the man narrowed it down to 5 applicants. He had them take turns driving him around in a limo, while the other applicants sat in the back with him, and each driver got to stretch of windy road along a massive cliff, fifty foot drop just inches from the road. As the first driver gets along the stretch of road the man asks him to see how close he can get to the edge and the man gets about 6 inches away, not bad. The next driver later gets to the same section and knows he has to get closer than the last guy if he wants the job, so he gets about four inches from the edge. The third driver, three inches, the fourth two, the final driver gets to that section of road and as expected hears ‘good job so far, but how close can you get to the edge while maintaining control at speed?’ The driver, going 65, looks out the passenger side window at the road, he knows this area well, well enough to know it isn’t the safest stretch, the guardrail is mounted to the cliff, but with loose bolts. The man waits for the man to begin swerving right as the others did, but instead the man slows down, and comes to a stop. Turning around he sees the amused expressions on the other drivers faces, all thinking he chickened out. ‘Sir’, the driver begins. ‘I know my business, and I know these roads, I know how to get you where you need to go quickly, but more importantly safely. As a chauffeur I will not risk my life or the life of others, that is too foolish and really unwise. If it costs me the job, so be it.’ Silence falls thick in the car before the man leans forward, hand outstretched - ‘your hired’ he says shacking the mans hand. SLIDE 4

Father [....] lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This is the last line in the earliest manuscripts, with the later manuscripts including

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

But we’re going to just stick with that first line

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Why did Jesus end his prayer, or more precisely his lesson on prayer with this request. Why is Jesus teaching his disciples, and the crowds that follow them, to pray God keep us free from temptation. God deliver us from evil, or as some Bible translators translate it deliver us from the evil one.

Well if you were here last week you may recall me mentioning this is the sermon in this series I was most looking forward to preaching on, as it relates to a topic that, for the last three years, since I began seminary, has become dear to me, as it is a topic that my opinion on changed over the last three years. So can a leopard change its spots? with enough hair dye maybe. Can a pastor, a theologian change their mind on doctrine - apparently!

For those unaware - our church is part of a denomination called Wesleyan, we get the name from John Wesley, an Anglican preacher, missionary, and with his brother Charles, hymn writer. And one of the pillars of the early movement was based on one of Wesley’s passions, the idea of holiness, not only God’s holiness but our personal holiness. And because of that our denomination is part of a family of churches call ‘the holiness churches, churches that preach we can be holy. We can overcome sin. We can find victory in life, through Christ empowered by the Spirit for the glory of God. In short we believe that God can keep us from being led into temptation. We believe God can deliver us from evil. We believe that when Jesus told us to pray this, when Jesus taught us to pray this, it was because Jesus wanted us to believe God could and would answer that prayer!

I had a friend who once challenged me on this, probably 7 or 8 years ago. He sat in a membership class and heard this and later asked me my thoughts. And I mentioned I think it is possible, I want to find that victory in my life, but I hadn’t yet and he responded that he wasn’t sure if he believed it so I invited him to look through some passages of the Bible with me, which we’re going to do today, but then I asked him what do you see in scripture, in addition to the forgiveness of sin, can we find victory over sin. And he responded, and I only remember this because it happened in a time in my life where I was much better at journaling

according to these verses, yes, but according to my life experience and everyone I've ever met and known, no.

And graphic designer Brian didn’t know what to say, so I was like ‘ok… cool… well… keep thinking about that...

But after years of study, and growth I wish I had asked, ‘and who should have a greater authority in your life? You and others, or God?’ Too often we consider ourselves the greatest authority on us - but we shouldn't! We should consider God the greatest authority on ourselves. So with that in mind - That God is the greatest authority - that his word should matter above personal desire or experience - lets see what does the rest of the Bible have to say along the lines of this prayer. SLIDE 5

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

We first need to remember that Jesus is teaching this prayer to Christians, to those who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus is teaching this to those of us who have seen we are sinners, and as sinners we need someone to forgive us of our sin, and show us a better way. And Jesus does that, but God doesn’t stop there, He sends the Spirit, the helper, the counselor, to guide us throughout the rest of our life. But all to often rather than ask the Spirit for guidance we ask ourselve how close can I get to that cliff? How close to the ledge can I get before I fall over the side? Then as we find ourself handing off the edge of the cliff wondering how we got there we go - God forgive me, I messed up… again… I’ll stop, I swear, then ten minutes later we’re back at the edge of the cliff looking over…

Before christ we are a slave to sin SLIDE 6 This is explained well in Romans 6 where Paul writes

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.

In our time before Christ we were a slave to sin, slaves to the flesh, slaves to ourselves - we did what we, or those around us, influenced us to do. the results, or as Paul calls it, the fruit, of this behaviour often results in shame now; but ultimately result in death later. A physical death which is the result of sin in general, but also a spiritual death - an eternal separation from God, an eternity in hell rather than heaven. And sadly that is our default state. Since the beginning of human kind we have been prone to temptation - and in Genesis we see Even tempted by the serpent, deceived into breaking the only rule God had… so we shouldn’t complain there are too many rules; Adam and Eve failed with just one… But God didn’t leave us in that state, he came in the flesh to die, to have victory over the flesh - four our benefit so we too could have victory. Paul continues in verse 22 SLIDE 7

22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I shared an illustration on Easter using this passage showing God’s desire for us to turn to him as saviour and Lord. Showing that while the wages of sin is death - God wants to give us a gift of eternal life - a gift that begins with the forgiveness of our sins, and is continued and eventually perfected in our obedience to his commands. The free gift is eternal life - we see that in verse 23, but before that in verse 22 we see the promise - we are set free from sin - but with the freedom from sin Paul declares, you have become enslaved to God - and the result, the fruit of that is sanctification, holiness, being made right with God.

Jesus teaches us to pray

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

And Paul shows us that God’s desire is just that - to take us away from temptation, away from evil. Yet many of us, like my friends, say - but my experience, and that of those I know, doesn’t share this same message. Many of us may have lingering addictions from our time before Christ, or may have desires that run counter to what Christ and scripture command and we wonder how do we align our addictions, our passions with His word. In another of Paul’s letters, to the church in Corinth he writes reminding them of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, and declares while they all saw the same miracles, shared the same manna, drank from the same rock… literally God made a rock gush forth water for them to drink - despite all that, many lived in a way that did not please God and resulted in many being struck down, dying in the wilderness. Paul then declares in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 SLIDE 8 starting in verse 6

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. 7 Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. 8 Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. SLIDE 9 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

Paul gives us a warning - don’t be like them, don’t desire evil things. Don’t become idolaters. Don’t live for the party. Don’t commit sexual immorality. Don’t grumble. (pause) I love that last one… don’t grumble - like some of us can look around and be like - yeah guys stop being evil! Stop worshiping idols. Stop partying, focusing only pure human pleasure, stop practicing sexual sin.. stop… wait what now… you expect me to stop grumbling… have you seen my coworkers… have you seen my kids… have you seen my to do list… have you seen my insert whatever it is you like to grumble about here! Like Paul drops the bar quick - God takes this holiness thing seriously! All those punishments too, the death of 23,000 destruction by a snakes, killed by the destroyer - those are events recorded in the Old Testament - God takes holiness seriously! But Paul ends this warning with a great promise, verse 13. SLIDE 10

13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

(pause)

Father […] lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Do you begin to see how those two things are so well connected! Recall the question I mentioned asking my friend earlier? ‘according to the Bible can we find victory over sin?’ and remember his answer? ‘according to these verses, yes, but according to my life experience and everyone I've ever met and known, no.’ Remember the question I should have asked next? Whose authority is greater, God’s scripture our our limited experience and limited understanding of that experience?

According to this verse - 1 Corinthians 10:13 whatever temptation you are feeling - it is common to humanity! Your temptation, your sin is not unique! Yet far too often we buy into a lie that I am the only one who struggles with addiction, with pride, with anger, with lust, with greed, with gluttony, with selfishness - we may come up with different names for our sins, but the root temptation is common among us; but by thinking we’re alone we don’t confess it out of shame, by thinking we’re alone we don’t look to others who have found victory and ask for help, by thinking we’re alone we’ve already lost ground to the enemy which may be satan or in many of our cases may even be ourselves.

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.

Paul does not say we will not be tempted, even Jesus was tempted, that can be found in Matthew 4, but Jesus, being God, was able to bear the temptation without sin, and Hebrews 4 references this while telling us SLIDE 11 verse 14

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Jesus can sympathise with us, he faced all out temptations - but He overcame them all, so let us hold fast to our confessions, that is our beliefs, let us cling to those things we say we believe so that we may lean into the Spirit which resides in us to show us the path to victory. Let us rely on God, let us approach the throne of grace boldly in our time of temptation, our time of need so that we may receive the mercy of God, the grace of God leading us away from sin, away from the edge of the cliff! SLIDE 12

13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,

God knows our limits and He won’t let us pass that line. God knows our point of no return. (pause) but we still sin don’t we. Why? If God knows our limits, God knows our temptations, why does He let us fail, what does he let us fall on our face into sin? Why? What would you have God do? Every time you want to sin, would you have him render you unconscious, have him surround you with an impenetrable force field? Have him teleport you to a desert somewhere… That sounds like a good way to make someone not like you very much… that sounds like a pretty dysfunctional relationship…

My dad told me a story once of a Christmas gift. It was a gift he gave to one of his younger brothers, my dad is the second of four kids, an older sister and two younger brothers; the first three are pretty close in age, but the youngest is a bit younger, so when he was in high school my dad was already out of college. And they did a gift exchange every year with a maximum price limit and my uncle wanted a cool jacket, I think it was like a pilot’s bomber jacket or the like, but no where in town sold one in the price range. So my dad left CEdar falls one day and checked Cedar Rapids, no luck, Iowa City, no luck, Des Moines, no luck, eventually he found one somewhere in the budget and he bought it. Now I don’t know the price he paid, but it was under the stated maximum… not including gas and time… He probably could have bought the jacket in town saving time and gas, and possibly even money - but rules are rules… But the gift meant so much more knowing the work that went in to get it. It took more than a short drive and the swipe of a card - it took time and energy, sacrificing other opportunities… God could force us to obey, God could force us not to sin - but God wants us to want to be holy. God wants us to want to find victory. God knows we’ll have to work for it, God knows we’ll struggle with it, God knows it won’t be easy, God knows it may require sacrifice, but God also knows it can be done.

God won’t tempt us beyond what we are able - but we will allow ourselves to be tempted beyond what we are able. God will give us plenty of off ramps, escape hatches, opportunity for victory - and we walk past every last one right into the open arms of temptation. Jesus prayed

Father […] lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

And Paul wrote

13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

As we pray deliver us from evil God is saying YES, I will provide you a way out, you can bear this temptation you don’t need to give in, I will deliver you, I will let you out - come after me, chase after me, follow me!

Either we believe all scripture is true or we do no. But if we believe all scripture is true than we must accept that as we pray the Lords prayer we are expecting God to give us this answer - and call us to be holy, call us to live right, call us to find victory over sin - because that’s what Jesus told us to pray for, but further that’s a promise that scripture gives us! Before my friend told me that his experience didn’t line up with scripture, I told someone else that same thing. And they too didn’t have a good answer. But later as I reflected on some people I knew, people who I’ve never seen or heard sin, I thought, surly they don’t have a perfect life, surly they sin too, but they look, the sound, they seem so (pause) pure. How? So I asked one of these guys that question and he gave me some advice, first never think you won, the battle for holiness ends at heaven’s gates - be vigilant until that day. So don’t think you have won, but also don’t think you can’t win. Thinking you can not win is the shortcut to failure. Thinking the battle is lost is the quickest way to loose an unfinished war. Accept that God can carry us through, accept that God wants us to be holy, and be ready to make sacrifices, you don’t have to drive around looking for a cheap jacket, but don’t see how close you can drive to the cliff when the road is wide open on the other side.

If you know listening to certain music, watching certain movies or shows, reading certain books, going to certain places, hanging out with certain people, staying up alone past a certain time may open the door to temptation - FLEE! Put barriers, side rails in place. Find ways to remove yourself from scenarios that are more tempting than others and especially ones which allow you to act on that temptation. When we pray

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

May we begin to believe that God will do that! Let us begin to believe that God will help us avoid temptation and God will guide us away from temptations call.

Let me pray for us.

Pray.