Prayer and Worship Study 6

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation

We talked in regard to or as we got to the “Give Us” portion of the Lord’s Prayer that we were in the “requests” section, here is another example of what Jesus is encouraging us to ask of God.

How many of us wake and bring this request to God? We may skip this one and non-verbally communicate the next request, deliver us from evil, but why is it that we skip this one?

We are we asking God to give us other things? Things that will make this life better, or easier, why is that more important?

This request should be at the top of our list of requests, even before give us this day our daily bread or, at least, right along side of it.

Proverbs 30:8–9 ESV

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

The temptation here is to do wrong because of a lack.

Remember Jesus in the wilderness, tempted to turn stones into bread. Who are what was He resisting? The devil, the devils scheme to get Him to act out of a physical need and to not trust God who led Him into the wilderness to provide for Him in His good time.

Ok, let’s look another passage, Ephesians 6:10-12

Ephesians 6:10–12 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

New Living Translation Chapter 6

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Let’s work backwards through these verses

Who or what do we wage war against? V12, not really against humans, our war is against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world

What makes us think we can make it through a day without employing the Lord’s help and resources?

Why do we live, for the most part, oblivious to the fact that we have an enemy who’s hellbent on our destruction.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Genesis 4:7 ESV

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

In the Ephesians passage what is the goal of the Christian? To be strong in the Lord, to rely on His strength. To put on all of God’s armor.

Why, to do what? To stand firm against the strategies of the devil.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.

New Living Translation Chapter 10

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

What is the warning in this passage? Be careful, if you think you are standing firm you might be really close to falling. Don’t play with fire.

What is the common ground for all people? We all will experience the same temptations, maybe not exactly, but the same opportunity to rebel, to not trust, to take matters into our own hands, to desire things more than God and His kingdom, to want our will to be satisfied more than God’s, etc.

What is the comfort in this passage?

God is faithful

He won’t allow more than what we can stand up against

He will provide a way out for us.

What is the desired outcome in this passage? That we endure, that we remain faithful and pure, holy.

So what does this tell us about Lead us not into temptation and how we should pray?

Genesis 39:6–12 ESV

So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

New Living Translation Chapter 39

6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

In the Ephesians passage we said that the purpose of utilizing the Lords strength and putting on the whole armor was to stand firm against the enemies strategies.

In this passage it seems that Joseph has employed a different tactic, what is it? He fled

Why the difference, why did he not just continue to stand firm? We stand firm against the strategies, the attacks in our mind, the lies we believe, and firm in what is true and right.

Is it possible that even Joseph was tempted in this moment?

Let’s look at his tactics to avoid sin

He communicated his desire and what would be true.

He stood firm and day after day refused her.

He avoided her, not putting himself in that situation.

Lastly, when the tempter got too close, he fled.

Matthew 26:41 ESV

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

What does this tell us about “Lead us not into temptation” and how we should pray accordingly

James 1:12–15 ESV

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. 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.

New Living Translation Chapter 1

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

This is the perfect time to remember that it’s the same word in the Greek that gets translated either trial, tempt or test.

Peirasmos—examination, submit another to a test, to learn the true nature or character of; temptation, trial, given for the purpose to make one stumble.

How do you think the translators differentiated? The situation, the source and the desired outcome.

If it’s God, then it’s a test, and the desired outcome is to prove our faith, to reveal what needs to be transformed, to increase trust and dependance etc. and ultimately life.

If it’s the devil, it’s a temptation and the desired outcome is to do wrong, to come out from under God’s authority, to get us to rebel, to not trust and take matters into our own hands, etc. and ultimately death.

Look at the passage, what does God desire? For us to patiently endure.

What would the enemy want, the opposite.

We have a tendency to view trials as something negative.

The trial in and of itself might be neutral, death, sickness, job situation, poverty or riches,

Have we ever viewed the good times in my life as a test? How do we handle life and God when everything is going well?? How might the enemy be trying to trap me when things are great.

How else do we know it’s temptation? There’s another source, not just the devil, also our own sinful desires, which entice us, our sinful nature which the enemy takes advantage of.

Some talk about a third enemy, Satan, Sin nature, and lastly Society, all three are in action to destroy us, death.

So what does this passage tell us about Lead us not into temptation?