Keep Watch and Pray

INTRODUCTION: Today we complete our series on: “Teach us to Pray”

Illustration:

When I was little — I had a unique prayer that I always prayed from memory

It was a prayer my dad taught me — and I would recite this prayer every night before going to bed

I no longer recite that exact prayer today — but the pattern and the discipline that prayer taught me remains

The truth is there are many unique prayers in the Bible — The prayer of Jabez, Moses, David’s many prayers, Hannah, Mary

Each had their own unique petition, praise and adoration towards God — they teach us the many ways we can offer prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is the most unique of them all — authored by the Son of God — it’s a prayer given to us by our heavenly Father

And just like the prayer my father taught me, the Lord’s prayer can also be recited from memory.

But as we’ve learned over the past weeks — The Lord’s prayer is more a model — rather than a prayer to be repeated mindlessly like a child would every night before going to bed.

We learned that the Lord’s prayers is: Relational — Worshipful — Purposeful — Practical

Transition into objective of sermon

And today we will take a closer look at the final verse of the Lord’s prayer — verse 13 .

But first, let’s begin by reading the whole prayer once again as we have been doing

Matthew 6:9–13 “9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

Let’s pray

In addition to all the things we’ve learned about the Lord’s prayer — one thing we have to understand — is that it’s ordered in a specific way

God first — us second — and God last

Verse 13 belongs to that 2nd part of the Lord’s prayer that acknowledges our complete dependence on God for everything

Transition to next point: And therefore, the Lord’s prayer keeps us humble

1. Prayer Keeps us Humble

Segway: The first thing we have to come to terms with in verse 13 — is what it means when it says, “lead us not into temptation.”

A. God leads us

While the one word that immediately stick out — is the word, “temptation” — let’s not skip over the “lead us” part

When we pray, “lead us not into temptation” — we are humbly acknowledging that God is the one leading our life in the first place

How can we truly pray, “lead us not into temptations” — if God is not truly leading our life to begin with

Engage:

Have you truly surrendered your life to God? — or do you only go to him when things don’t work out?

I can just picture God saying, “Am I leading your life!?”

Praying, “Lead us not into temptation,” is emphatically declaring — That God is the one that is leading my life

B. Led by the Spirit — Tempted by the Devil

But praying that prayer also implies that — even while God is leading my life — there will come times when we encounter trials and temptations along the way

In Matthew 4:1 We read that Jesus himself “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Led by the Spirit — Tempted by the devil

The Book of James also deals with this tension that we can be led by a loving, caring and compassionate God — and at the same time face trials and temptations of many kinds.

James 1:12–13 “12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;”

James addresses this tension by showing that — while God may allow trials — He is never the one actively causing it

Rather God allows trials to produce perseverance and spiritual maturity in us — making us complete

Quote:

Pastor and author John MacArthur writes:

Trials have many purposes…many purposes. Trials test the strength of our faith. Trials wean us from earthly things. Trials call us to eternal hope. Trials reveal what and who we really love. Trials teach us to value God’s blessing. Trials enable us to help others who suffer. Trials produce endurance which equips us for greater usefulness, but mostly trials humble us.

C. To the cross

All throughout the Bible, we see God’s people facing adversity — even when they were obediently following God

The Israelites were led into the wilderness and tested for 40 years

Abraham was tested by God and told to sacrifice his only son

Joseph was enslaved and imprisoned for over a decade because of the vision that God gave him

Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a fiery furnace

And Jesus himself, as written in Hebrews, “who for the joy set before him, endured the cross” —

But even though he willingly endured the cross — the night before he was crucified

— Jesus knelt down and prayed

Luke 22:42 “42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.””

Does that sound familiar?

Jesus prayed the same prayer he taught his disciples to pray

When he was getting ready to face his ultimate test — he prayed the very same prayer that you and I are learning to pray today

Engage:

I don’t know what kind of test you are facing today — but I know that it pales in comparison to what Jesus was facing as he was getting ready to die on that cross for you and I

And if this prayer was good enough for Jesus to pray as he was facing the cross — then it’s good enough for me

Pause and land: When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are humbly accepting that God is leading in our lives — even when the journey includes trials.

Transition to next point: The second thing that prayer does for us, is that it keeps us watchful

2. Prayer Keeps us Watchful

Segway: Let’s revisit the scene in Gethsemane — when Jesus was about to face his final test

A. Don’t sleep

Prayer is one of those things that we can easily get accustomed to doing everyday

— and naturally it can become so routine that it loses its sense of urgency and importance

— especially in times when we really need it the most

And unfortunately this is exactly what happened with the disciples on the night before Jesus was taken

In Matthew 26, after the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples headed up to the Mount of Olives to pray — probably as they have done many times before

But Jesus knew this was no ordinary night

So in Matthew 26:31 “31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

Jesus knew he was about to be crucified

And as their leader — as their shepherd — he knew he was leading them into the same trial that he heading into

— so he warns them

— and he does so a second time in Matthew 26:38 “38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.””

Then he goes on to pray the prayer we looked at earlier, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Yet, while Jesus prayed fervently — his disciples fell asleep— and this happened three times throughout the same night

Maybe they thought — since when does Jesus need us to keep watch? — so they slept

Engage:

Have you ever felt that way about prayer?

You can sense the Holy Spirit urging you to pray — but you rationalize it

— God’s got it handled — I’m just gonna go ahead and get some rest — I have an early day tomorrow.

The truth is, Jesus was not asking them to pray because he needed their help — He was telling them to pray for their own good

In Matthew 26:40–41 “40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.””

It was for their own good — danger was coming — he was warning them

B. Don’t be complacent

Illustration:

On December 7, 1941, just hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor, two U.S. Army radar operators detected a large cluster of aircraft approaching Hawaii. They reported it, but the officer on duty dismissed the warning, assuming it was incoming American planes. Tragically, this moment of complacency led to one of the deadliest attacks in U.S. history — and the 1st attack on US soil

The Holy Spirit is our radar operator — and if we are not vigilant and respond to His call to pray — we will find ourselves unprepared for the battles ahead

Complacency in our prayer life — leads to spiritual vulnerability

When we are not vigilant in our prayer life — we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy

Jesus was telling his disciples to keep watch — to be on guard — to pray — because he knew the enemy was approaching

Later in 1 Peter 5:8, the Apostle Peter writes, “8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.”

This is the same Peter that swore to Jesus that even if everybody abandoned Jesus — he never would

— the same Peter who fell asleep and couldn’t keep watch with Jesus for n hour

— the same Peter who that same night ended up denying that he knew Jesus — three times

He had learned a thing or two about the dangers of complacency

Engage:

Have you been neglecting God’s call for you to pray?

Have you been complacent in your prayer life?

Prayer is our defense against an enemy who is always looking for an opportunity to pounce

Don’t wait until after the attack to pray — be watchful

Transition to next point: And God’s call to prayer is not meant to scare you — it’s meant to keep you hopeful.

3. Prayers Keeps us Hopeful

Segway: Right after Jesus says to pray, “lead us not into temptation,” he immediately adds, “But deliver us from the Evil one”

A. Lead us and deliver us

When we humbly accept that trials are a part of life

— and when we remain vigilant and watchful in prayer

— it shifts us from being reactive—to proactive in our prayers

— Rather than waiting for trouble to come — we seek God’s strength and deliverance in advance

“Lead us not into temptation, BUT deliver us from evil”

We acknowledge that we don’t desire trials or temptations — but if they come — we trust that God is our deliverer.

— This is a prayer of faith — this is a prayer of hope — not fear

B. Psalm 23

We see this play out in the most famous psalm of the Bible, Psalm 23

In the first three verses of that psalm — David declares that the LORD is like a shepherd that leads and guides him

— He says, “He leads me beside still waters,” — “he leads me in paths of righteousness”

Then all of a sudden in verse 4 he says Psalm 23:4 “4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

David isn’t in the dark valley because he strayed or took a wrong turn — God is still with him.

The same God who led him by still waters and along right paths — is still leading him now.

And David declares, I will fear no evil.

David doesn’t lose hope, he doesn’t lose faith — he doesn’t begin to question where God is

— no, he declares — I will fear no evil! — He is ready.

C. Be watchful not fearful

The Bible never tell us to fear the devil or demons — we are to be watchful and hopeful — never fearful

The Lord’s prayer is not meant to make us paranoid and constantly looking over our shoulder

— Being watchful is not the same thing as being paranoid

Illustration:

Being watchful is like getting into a car and putting on your seatbelt —and if you’re the one driving, checking your blindspots and keeping your distance in traffic

Being paranoid is when you’re on the passenger side and the driver is doing 90 cause they wanna and they are so close to the car in front of you that you start gripping the door handle — screaming, “Watch out!”

Paranoia makes you react out of fear — watchfulness prepares you to act with wisdom

There is no need to fear — God will make a way

1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

In the midst of your trial — in the midst of your temptation — God will lead you out

How do I know? Because Abraham got his son back — The Israelites made it to the promised land — Joseph made it out of prison — Daniel made it out of the lion’s den — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made it out of the fire

— And Jesus defeated death and rose from the grave — And in the same way God will deliver you too!

Pause and Land: Prayer is not a reaction to fear—it is a response of faith and hope.

Transition to end: Doxology

And as we reach the end of the Lord’s prayer — we come to a declaration of praise and glory to God

Just as our prayer started with worship — and so it ends in worship

This final declaration of praise reminds us that, when we say:

Yours is the kingdom: Prayer is conducted under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God

It abides by the laws of God — not by the laws or men

And the power: Prayer is conducted under the power and authority of God

That is what makes prayer so powerful — it’s empowered by God — and nothing is impossible for God

And the glory: Prayer will always result in the glory of God — not men

It’s not intended for our glory — it’s not to make our name great — it’s meant to honor God

The only glory we have is that which reflects upon us from Him

REVIEW: Objective and rationale

When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”:

We are taking a posture of humility acknowledging that God is the one leading our life

And while we don’t desire to enter into trials — we remain watchful and vigilant prayer — knowing that

regardless what the enemy may try — our Father is with us always — and he will deliver us

it keeps humble — it keeps watchful — and we remain hopeful

APPLICATION:

But like I said earlier

— you can’t ask God to “not lead you into temptation”

— you can’t call God your Father

— unless you are born again and have surrendered your life to him

Salvation call

Dear God,

I confess that I’m a sinner,

and I ask for your forgiveness.

I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

I believe that You raised him from the dead

From this day forward,

I surrender my life,

I surrender my will

to Jesus Christ

I pray this in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time: Text LIVING to 94000