And When You Pray/And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil - 10/10/2021

October 10, 2021 Front Porch Meetings Readying for Return - No pressure And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil Matthew 6:13 13 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. Petition #6 Today, we come to the last petition found in the Lord's prayer. It is the 6th Petition found in Matthew 6:13 . . . and it reads: NKJV 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or, the evil one]: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. The main focus in this petition is on two key words: temptation and deliverance. Of the six petitions, this 6th one is probably the most difficult to understand. I believe what makes it difficult is the part that says: . . . And lead us not into temptation . . . On its face, it seems we're asking God to lead us not into temptation. This immediately makes us assume questions like: * Does God lead us into temptation? * Are we asking God to not lead us somewhere that He Himself does not want us to go or be, yet He would allow it? * You mean, we have to ask God to lead us not into temptation? And if we don't ask Him, does that mean we are prone to be tempted? Wow! How confusing. [But, these are legitimate questions. We'll get to the bottom of them as we take a step by step approach to opening up this verse to clear understanding. To get our minds and hearts where they need to be on verse 13, I need to do a little Jesus probing. That's what Jesus did when He needed those He was talking to to really hear what He "was saying" not what they thought He was saying. It was those times He needed those who were listening to Him to see themselves and be convicted by His truth. Hear Him first, then ask follow-up questions. * Peter who was overly concerned about John's timing for death. * The Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes when they were trying to trap Him and His disciples or the woman caught in adultery. To get the most out of this passage, I need everyone to open their minds and hearts as well as their Bibles to gain the full essence of this verse. To get us all on the same page about the brand of temptation this message is focused on, let's start off with a definition of "temptation". Temptation in the Biblical sense is a situation in which a Believer experiences a challenge to choose between fidelity, (loyalty, trustworthiness) and infidelity (unfaithfulness, disloyalty) to their commitment toward God. God allows His children to be tested in order to show them their development and His faithfulness. Tests are designed to show us how much we know or don't know; They manifes how much we're growing and areas that need more development. Now, I want to test your hearts by asking a few questions - some personal. Is temptation real? [Is COVID-19 Real] Have you ever been tempted? Have you ever given into temptation? (not just chocolate cake or sweet potato pie)? Have you succumbed to any kind of temptation since being born again? Likewise, have you overcome any sort of serious temptation since being born again. Do you think we should never face temptation as God's children? It would be a tragic mistake to believe that. Temptations, tests, trials, and stumbling blocks are an inevitable part of life - especially the Christian life. (Smyrna church); God allows it. We must not dismiss every temptation as absent of God. But like Job, look to God, discern whether the temptation is from God or such as is common to man. God alone delivers us from all and through all manner of temptations that He allows to be presented to us from Satan the evil one. Pause: I believe there are temptations from the hand of Satan that God allows to test us; and I believe there are temptations that are common to every man that God has built into the Believers Spiritual DNA to overcome just by walking in the Spirit and being obedient to the will of God. I say this to say that temptations from the evil on are not every day occurrences and "semi-rare". A part of Satan's tactic is to cause us to believe that he is more in control and more present than the really is. That's one of his most effective schemes: Deception! It's intended to preoccupy our focus and to divert our attention away from the important spiritual things of God. Now, "What is considered temptation?' How many types or ways can a person be tempted. Too often we limit what temptation to obvious sins. But consider these: * Pride * Taking or sneaking a piece of God's glory after doing something quite well with the help of the Lord. * Glorifying self * Leaning to own understanding * Possessing lust and bitter anger to the point of wishing harm or wanting to see harm come upon someone or something * Desiring vengeance * Unforgiveness * Hatred * Murder * Gossip, misuse of the tongue * Molestation * Cheating on taxes, tests, term papers, and TITHE, other violations * False humility (deception) * Doubting God (Eve . . . * False accusations, lying - outright/under pressure * Unnatural passions - unrighteous desires * Covetousness * Jealousy * Anything that leads to evil and unrighteousness Galatians 5:19-21 NLT When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Now, back to our text: Matthew 9:13 says: 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: . . . And lead us not into temptation . . . On its face, though we assume questions we are asking God to lead us not into temptation . . . which leads to those questions of : * Does God lead us into temptation? * Are we asking God to not lead us somewhere that He Himself does not want us to go or be, yet He would allow it? * You mean, we have to ask God to lead us not into temptation? And if we don't ask Him, does that mean we are prone to be tempted? It's even more confusing when we pair this verse with James 1:13 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. Luke, from the NLT makes this verse more palatable: 4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation.[c]" Matthew 6:13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one It is not God's role to tempt me to sin, so why do I ask him to not do so? Especially, since He doesn't tempt people to sin! We'll answer that in a minute Well, there a number of ways to look at this verse which seems to compound even believers' confusion about what it is really saying. Now, one thing that is clear is that though God does not tempt us with evil, He does sometimes lead us into the place where temptation will be encountered. How many of you believe that? It doesn't mean that God is tempting us. What it means is that He is allowing us to tempted by the enemy. We can see this very plainly in Luke Chapter 4: verses 1-3 Luke 4:1 New King James Version 4 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, [Why? To Be Tempted by the devil] 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. Now here Jesus was being led by God the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. So, where was He being led? He was being led to and into a place or condition of temptation. Could this be us Believers from time to time in our walk with the Lord. That God would lead us into a condition of temptation? And why would He? First of all, as it was in Jesus' case, God the Holy Spirit was doing the leading. God drove Him into the wilderness. So, it is with us - if, we have to encounter or endure temptation - which is an unavoidable part of the Christian life - would it not be best that God is doing the leading [standing with us] -- whereby three things are in play when God allows temptations: 1. He is also controlling the degree of temptation-severity 2. as well as the kind of temptation (none are just random) 3. He also provides a level of protective equipping that He fortifies us with - in order for us to go through and come out of the temptation unscathed. After all, God has declared in 1 Corinthians 10:13 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. This is not a general promise that includes non-Christians; rather it is a promise that is made exclusively to God's children. God has promised to protect all of God's children by guaranteeing them a way of escape from the hand of temptation. Under God's escape plan, temptation will always lose. Anytime temptation gets the best of a believer it is because the believer willingly surrenders to it. And in every case, temptation is surprised to overcome a believer because it is very aware of God's escape for them. Jewish parallels suggest that "Do not bring us into temptation" may be colloquial or native for "Do not let us be overcome by temptation" or "Do not let our faith be tested beyond what it can bear." James 1:2, 3, 13,14 shows that "temptation" can have a negative or positive purpose. The negative purpose is an enticement to sin. The positive temptation would be to the strengthening of our faith. God is about strengthening our faith through trials; but Satan is about destroying us through planting temptations. James1:2, 3 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1: 13, 14 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. 13 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. This verse challenges our thinking, but we need not make it more complicated than it is by reading into it more that Jesus intended for us to. Here are some ways to comprehend and get a grasp of how we should incorporate understanding of this verse into our prayers: First it is saying: * "Don't leave me to be tempted, but deliver me from every evil encounter by going with me through them." (I must remember that You will not put more on me than I can bear. And, You will always supply me with what I need to do Your will. Even a way of escape. * As You are leading me, there are times I will invariably and imminently encounter temptation. But lead me through it. Give me the wisdom to recognize Your hand and Your prefixed escape. * God, You are leading us. As You lead us, as you lead me, even in that leading I will encounter temptation(s) along the way, but deliver me unscathed from intended evil that is designed to set me back or overthrow me. * Remember: Luke 22:31-34 31 [d]And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me." [But Luke gives a little help on interpretation (then we dive in deeper). Luke 11:4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."] I wish I was in a conventional Saturday morning live classroom where I could have you to work on verse 13 in groups. * It is right to pray for daily physical needs, for forgiveness, and for guidance and protection from evil. "Lead us not into temptation" does not mean that God tempts His children (James 1:13-17). In this petition, we are asking God to guide us so that we will not get out of His will and get involved in a situation of temptation (1 John 5:18) or even in a situation of tempting God so that He must miraculously rescue us. (Matt. 4:5-7). Remember God does not tempt men (James 1:3), but He will subject them to trials that may expose them to Satan's assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22:31-32). This petition reflects the believing one's desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what one's need is be one asks (v.8), and He promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape - often through endurance (1 Cor. 10:13). But still, the proper attitude for the believer is the one expressed in this petition. Rely on God's strength. Only He is able to lead us through temptation and to deliver us from its evil. 1