And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil - Part 7 - 12/12/2021

Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes December 12, 2021 And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil Matthew 6:13 Matthew 9:13 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. James 1:2 - 4 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (endurance/perseverance). 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1: 13-15 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. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Start Here REVIEW Today we're continuing a message, entitled, And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil - Matthew 6:13. This lesson will serve as a new, added weapon of warfare in your spiritual arsenal against the threat temptation. The 6th Petiton of the Lord's Prayer The FIRST thing ... understanding how not to be taken advantage of by temptation; apply God's four golden words spoken to James in James 1:2 "Count It All Joy". Count means to stop and observe, to stop and evaluate, consider, and establish . . . and ultimately conclude that God is in control. When James says COUNT, he is telling Believers to ask themselves of the trial OR trials they are facing: Is this trial from God or is this trial from Satan? Satan can't bring trials upon God's people he can only frustrate them by trying to tempt us into doubting God. Trials are designed to develop our faith, build endurance for the Christian journey, strengthen our walk with God, and to mature us in Hallowing God's name, seeking His Kingdom, and doing His will - in earth as it is in heaven. We are to bathe every trial that comes our way in the mindset that "This trial is only intended to test my faith and grow endurance in order to bring me to maturity in Christ. Nothing more. Trials are not punishment from God. The greatest temptation for believers regarding trials is to blame the devil. That's exactly what the devil wants you to do so you won't see God's loving hand insulating you through trials and building faith muscle that will allow you to decode and destroy Satan's schemes. To count the experience of falling into a trial as JOY comes with wisdom and maturity. When it comes to TRIALS, God promises at least four things in the way of protecting us . . . He promises to: 1. Limit the boundaries of the trial and the evil one. 2. Make trials not about punishment or embarrassment for the Believer, but rather for the development of faith. 3. Position Believers for added blessings like divine peace, comfort, contentment, miracles, soul winning and witnessing, and experience various other overcoming power, etc. (Daniel, Stephen, Hebrew Brothers vs. Elijah). 4. Walk with us through the trial. No trial is faced alone. No trial is absent of God's presence. The moment we realize that is the moment we experience real joy. Trials are defined as trouble or something that breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy, and happiness in someone's life. They are an interruption that hold our attention when they happen. They sober us up in our walk with God by showing us how badly we need Him. "Knowing" is key. We must come to know that the trials we face are only a TEST. James 1: 3 says 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. {produces endurance and perseverance}. TRIALS are not intended to bring you down but to make you whole, and more mature in the things of God. Satan's intent is to bring you down, God's intent is to develop you. The Two Test Choices we face are: Obey God or Disobey God. Obeying God's Word and His Voice (The Holy Spirit) always ministers a way of escape. 1 Cor. 10:12 & 13 says: 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. Case 1: Joseph and Potiphar's Wife Disobeying or Ignoring God's Word and His Voice in face of a Trial opens the door to Temptation. This is the place where we turn a TRIAL into a TEMPTATION. David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11:1-3 (NKJV) Remember, "A trial turns into a temptation when we disobey and or lean to our own understanding which is in direct conflict with God Word." Now for today's message, let's apply some First Aid principles to what we have learned about TRIALS, Tests, and TEMPTATIONS. To begin, here's a Moment of Truth Question: What is it that trips us up between Trials and Temptation? Keep in mind, temptations don't just happen - they are a part of a process. And, trials are controlled by God. Now the questions again: What is it that trips us up between Trials and Temptation? It's not the test. The test is designed by God to build faith and endurance. Even Satan's deceptive lures aren't the critical cause of what trips us up. The thing that trips us up is: Our lack of trust and patience or endurance in God's process. We often lack trust in God's promises - like: I won't put more on us than we can bear; and we often lack patience or endurance to wait on God. We can rely on God's promises. Just as He said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:19 19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words [promises]fall to the ground. God is faithful to His promises and has declared that they are: Yes, and Amen . . . meaning they are final, unchanging and irreversible. God's promises favor His children How many would agree that trials are often painful and rough on the human side of life? How many would also agree that because we don't like pain or trials we often give up and give in too quickly. We start out well, but then get distracted or enticed by some ungodly faction. Paul said to the Galatian Saints: "You did run well, what happened that you got off track. Who did hinder you? James Chapter 1 verse 4 says of us when we are facing trials and going through them: 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NLT says: 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.] This verse is telling us to pack some divine patience when facing trials because it will serve us during the long haul. It will sustain us in accomplishing what God had intended when He assigned the trial to us to begin with. Philippians 4: 6 is good medicine for us when it comes to facing trials and trusting God: it tells us to: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. James 1: 3 & 4 from the New Living Translation says: 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. So, when it comes to trials, patience must be allowed to have its complete uninterrupted, untampered with access to our lives, so that you and I may experience the full affects of its benefits - nothing lacking. (My Afro Blow Out). The trials we face, if bathed in patience and perseverance, will develop in us endurance to consistently trust God more and more as He grows our faith to the size we see exemplified in Enoch, The Hebrew Brothers, Elijah, Joseph, Esther, Peter, James and John, Rahab, (Peter's development came when Jesus allowed him to be tested by Satan who wanted to sift him.). [Methodically dismantle him] What is the best remedy for all of God's children? Apply God's Wisdom . . . In the process of trials, tests and temptations God's Wisdom is available to help us discern and navigate every trial successfully. Just ask, sincerely. James 1:5 (5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.) Why is it important that we ask for wisdom? The reason we ask for wisdom is so that we don't prematurely disconnect from God before He finishes completing His work of perfecting our faith to the degree that we benefit from the lesson and blessing that the trial was intended by God to bring initially. A second reason we ask for wisdom is, so we don't immaturely disconnect from God for the same reasons some of us prematurely disconnect. Premature disconnection has to do with impatience. Immature disconnection has to do with undeveloped faith. Trials come to test our faith. Final Word . . . When it comes to triumphing in Trials, we must be brutally honest with ourselves about how we get from God's Golden Remedy of Counting it all Joy when faced with a Trial to Yielding to Temptation and obeying the evil one. James 1: 12-15 explains how. I call this step in the process "The Truth That Makes You Free": James 1:12 says . . . 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. "Approved" here means "passed the test". The believer has successfully and victoriously gone through his trials, indicating he is genuine because his faith has endured like Job's. Yet, James extends a warning to Believers to own up to their fall into temptation. This warning protects us from the error of blaming God for our fall into temptation because of disobedience. James says: 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. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. God will not tempt His children, but He will subject us to trials that may expose us to Satan's assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (sifting - Luke 22:31-32). Why does Satan bring tempting and temptations to God children? 1. Because God allows him to for the benefit of proving him wrong and a spectacle (and His children faithful and victorious (Job)). 2. To draw us away from God and unto himself. 3. To thwart God's purposes in for our lives. 4. To distract us from hearing God's truth. 5. To deceive, divide, and destroy our connection with God. Why does God allow temptations? 1. To expose Satan (Matt. 4) 2. To cause us to experience deeper joy. 3. To prove His faithfulness. 4. To build spiritual muscle in His children. When we pray: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, this 6th petition reflects our desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what our need is before we ask (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 the Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:13 which is to everyday rely on God's strength to combat and triumph over imminent temptations. Only He is able to lead us not into temptation but completely deliver us from its evil. And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil Matthew 6:13 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% . 1 1 1