Prayer Is About Relying
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Relying (Trusting)
Relying (Trusting)
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
is all about trusting then Lord in the greatest battle we will face in life. This is not the battle to put food on our tables or clothes on our backs. This is not the battle to approach God for forgiveness or even the battle to forgive those who have treated us wrongly. Rather, it is the battle we face every day as we fight the temptations of the flesh and the attacks of the devil.
Prayer is about relying. In the greatest battle of life, we need to learn to rely on God, for therein lies the secret of our victory!
I. The Problem of Temptation
I. The Problem of Temptation
Lord in the greatest battle we will face in life.
The Lord Jesus tells us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” This simple request literally brims over with meaning.
literally brims over with meaning.
A. This Statement presupposes the leadership of the Lord in our lives.
A. This Statement presupposes the leadership of the Lord in our lives.
I think we would all agree that our heavenly Father is a sovereign God. Since this is true, does this also mean that God leads us into places where we are tempted to sin?
The answer to that question is an obvious “No!” This problem is addressed in
13 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.
13 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. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
this also mean that God leads us into places
in
When Adam was tempted and fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, he tried to lay the blame at the feet of the Lord (). But, the fault did not lie with the Lord. The fault was with Adam and Adam alone!
fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, he tried
where we are tempted to sin?
to lay the blame at the feet of the Lord (Gen.
3:12). But, the fault did not lie with the Lord.
The fault was with Adam and Adam alone!
This is not the battle to put food on our tables
God never leads us into direct contact with sin, but as we travel the path of life, every crossroad brings with it the option to take a path which leads us away from the Lord’s will for our lives. Every trial we face comes with the potential to fail. We may sin, but when we do, the fault lies with us and not with God.
or clothes on our backs. This is not the battle
So, what is the Lord telling us to pray? The meaning is more like “Allow us to be spared from difficult circumstances that would tempt us to sin”
with sin, but as we travel the path of life, every
So, what is the Lord telling us to pray? The meaning is more like “Allow us to be spared from difficult circumstances that would tempt us to sin”
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1832.
to approach God for forgiveness or even the
with sin, but as we travel the path of life, every
crossroad brings with it the option to take a
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
B. Temptation arises from within the human heart
crossroad brings with it the option to take a
path which leads us away from the Lord’s will
battle to forgive those who have treated us
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
wrongly. Rather, it is the battle we face every
path which leads us away from the Lord’s will
for our lives. Every trial we face comes with
You see, our human flesh is hopelessly flawed and given over to sin
the potential to fail. We may sin, but when we
for our lives. Every trial we face comes with
given over to sin
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
day as we fight the temptations of the flesh
Mark
and the attacks of the devil.
Temptation in and of itself is not a sin. But, when the instant temptation is embraced and pursued, sin is the result (). Just seeing Bathsheba on the rooftop bathing in the nude was not a sin. But, when David desired and pursued her, sin had been born, and the end of that sin was death and destruction!
the potential to fail. We may sin, but when we
do, the fault lies with us and not with God.
when the instant temptation is embraced and
Prayer is about relying. In the greatest
The essence of temptation is a problem within man. You see, the heart of the problem is a problem in the heart. The Pharisees and the Sadducees never did understand this. In the next verses we see that disciples had trouble understanding it as well. ().
do, the fault lies with us and not with God.
Prayer is about
battle of life, we need to learn to rely on God,
relying
pursued, sin is the result ().
within man. You see, the heart of the problem
17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
for therein lies the secret of our victory!
We need help! We need a Helper who is greater than we are. We need Someone who can strengthen us in times of temptation ().
and pursued her, sin had been born, and the
is a problem in the heart ().
end of that sin was death and destruction!
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
We need help! We need a Helper who is
greater than we are. We need Someone who
II. The Power of Temptation
II. The Power of Temptation
Our need to pray for the Lord’s protection from temptation is so great because we are so prone to failure. We have already discovered that our drive for sin, our hunger for sin, and our capacity for sin dwells within our own hearts. Temptation is merely an outgrowth of who we are by nature, and that is why it is so often so hard for us to resist.
can strengthen us in times of temptation
A. Temptation is a powerful opponent, but most Christians have no idea as to its real power.
A. Temptation is a powerful opponent, but most Christians have no idea as to its real power.
().
prone to failure. We have already discovered
You’ve heard someone say, “The temptation was so powerful that I couldn’t resist.” But, in truth, the person who gives in to temptation’s allure knows nothing at all of its power! Only the person who stands against it and wins the victory over it can testify to the great power temptation can wield!
that our drive for sin, our hunger for sin, and
resist.” But, in truth, the person who gives in
our capacity for sin dwells within our own
We need to look at temptation and sin in there true light. When we yield to the attractions of the flesh and the world, it is easy to go wherever temptation takes us. But, when we stand our ground and refuse to yield to sin’s siren call, we discover just how much of a pull the flesh and sin have on our lives.
No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His word. Here are revealed the wiles of the tempter and the means by which he may be successfully resisted. Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture, placing his own interpretation upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to stumble. We should study the Bible with humility of heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God. While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan, we should pray in faith continually: “Lead us not into temptation.” Great Controversy pg.530
to temptation’s allure knows nothing at all of
we yield to the attractions of the flesh and the
hearts. Temptation is merely an outgrowth of
B. Thank God, the power of temptation has no more force in our lives than we allow it to have!
B. Thank God, the power of temptation has no more force in our lives than we allow it to have!
If we wish to stand against it, we can! Our Lord has given us some precious promises that will strengthen us in the midst of our temptations and guarantee our victory over them, if we yield to His will and not to temptation! What are those promises? Let’s look.
can! Our Lord has given us some precious
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
promises that will strengthen us in the midst
of our temptations and guarantee our victory
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; 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.
over them, if we yield to His will and not to
1 Corinthians
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
2 Peter
temptation! What are those promises?
We need to have a living revival in each of our hearts like Paul talks about in .
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
6-18
III. The Plea in Temptation
III. The Plea in Temptation
who we are by nature, and that is why it is so
its power! Only the person who stands against
This verse closes with the words “but deliver us from evil.” This verse could be talking about evil in general and or it may refer to “Deliver us from the evil one.” As Christians, we all have an enemy who hates us and wants nothing more than to see us fall and fail. He cares nothing about us. The ultimate goal of this enemy is to use us to bring disgrace and dishonor to the name of the Lord Jesus and God the Father. This enemy is the devil, and he desires to see us fail ()!
world, it is easy to go wherever temptation
saying, “Deliver us from the evil one.” As
often so hard for us to resist.
Eph
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.
takes us. But, when we stand our ground and
it and wins the victory over it can testify to the
great power temptation can wield!
Christians, we all have an enemy who hates
A. When we pray this prayer, we recognize that we are unable to fight this war on our own.
A. When we pray this prayer, we recognize that we are unable to fight this war on our own.
refuse to yield to sin’s siren call, we discover
Therefore, we call on the name of the Lord, employing His power to stand against the devil in the battle with temptation and sin.
just how much of a pull the flesh and sin have
us and wants nothing more than to see us fall
and fail. The ultimate goal of this enemy is to
This was the tactic Jesus used during His time of temptation and confrontation with Lucifer ().
on our lives.
against the devil in the battle with temptation
Desire of Ages Chapter 12—The Temptation
When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and he thought this the best time to approach Him.
Desire of Ages Chapter 12—The Temptation
Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest. But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated. Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan. The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand.
Desire of Ages Chapter 12—The Temptation
Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam’s position; He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured.
When Jesus was tempted, He turned to the spiritual resources of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and made His victorious stand against evil.
When Jesus was tempted, He turned to the spiritual resources of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and made His victorious stand against evil.
When Jesus was tempted, He turned to the spiritual resources of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and made His victorious stand against evil.
When Jesus was tempted, He turned to the spiritual resources of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and made His victorious stand against evil.
during His time of temptation ().
use us to bring disgrace and dishonor to the
and sin.
B. We are to appropriate the resources we have been given in the Person of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the Word of God
B. We are to appropriate the resources we have been given in the Person of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the Word of God
We are to dress up in the “whole armor” of God and make our stand (). We should utilize the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and we should be fitting your feet with the gospel of peace. Incidentally, the phrase “having done all to stand” in verse 13 and the words around it, mean to “fight to a standstill.”
Incidentally, the phrase “having done all to
Victory
Victory
stand” means to “fight to a standstill.”
name of the Lord Jesus and God the Father.
When Jesus was tempted, He turned to the
Through prayer, victory is ours in the battle with temptation. We are challenged to pray about our needs in this battle, and we are to trust the Lord to deliver us in the hour of temptation. He will do His part. Victory is available, but only those who are serious about waging war on the lust that dwells within them will experience the Lord’s victory.
This enemy is the devil, and he desires to see
battle with temptation. We are challenged to
Do you need help in the battle with temptation? If you need something from the Lord or if you just wish to seek His help in avoiding the pitfalls of sin, come before Him and look to Him for the strength you need. Prayer is about relying. May the Lord teach us that in the greatest battle of life, we need to learn to rely on Him, for therein lies the secret of our victory!
spiritual resources of the Holy Spirit and the
temptation? If you need something from the
Word of God and made His victorious stand
us fail ()!
pray about our needs in this battle, and we
Lord or if you just wish to seek His help in
against evil.
are to trust the Lord to deliver us in the hour
avoiding the pitfalls of sin, come before Him
of temptation. He will do His part.
Victory is available, but only those who
and look to Him for the strength you need.
Prayer is about relying. May the Lord teach
are serious about waging war on the lust that
dwells within them will experience the Lord’s
us that in the greatest battle of life, we need to
learn to rely on Him, for therein lies the secret
victory.
of our victory!