“And Lead Us Not Into Temptation”

The Kingdom Reverses the Ravages of Sin

 

Read Matt. 4:1-11 – picture yourself in this scene – describe some thoughts

 

The “V” Structure:  The complimentary petition – Thy Kingdom Come

“The balance between the petition for the Kingdom to come and the complimentary petition for freedom from temptation.”

Deliverance can come only from the King Himself.

This petition for escape from temptation is connected to the previous petition about forgiveness by the word “and.”  There is a connection between “bread” and “forgiveness,” and there is a connection between these two and deliverance from “temptation” by the use of the same word, “and.”

Without daily food we will physically die, and without forgiveness we will die spiritually and emotionally.  Here, Jesus relates deliverance from temptation directly to these two critical petitions.  The battle is fierce and we cannot win in our own strength.

 

“TEMPTATION” – To Entice or to Test?

A critical issue of daily living in a sinful world

 

Four Categories of Temptation

 

1 – Humans test God:

            Ex. 17 – Water in the Wilderness – the people put the Lord to the test

            Act. 5 – Ananias & Sapphira incident – they put the Holy Spirit to the test

            Heb. 10:31 – They found out how fearful it is to fall into the hands of God.

 

2 – God tests humans:

-          God tests people to demonstrate their integrity

-          God asks a very big sacrifice of Abram (Gen. 22) and not until the very end does He intervene – although the whole text is God’s intervention.

-          Testing is not to destroy, but rather, to discipline, mature, and perfect our

integrity.  God WILL limit testing

 

3 – Other people tempt us:

-          We live in a sinful world and among sinful people of the world.  Sinful people use various devices to get what they want.  “The goal of this kind of enticement is to destroy and pervert.” 

-          Community – in both the sinful world and among Christians – is powerful. 

-          Temptations, masquerading around as “freedoms” are constantly being paraded before humankind – Christian and non-Christian alike.

 

4 – Satan tempts us:

“Within boundaries God has designed, Satan is permitted to attempt to seduce Job”  (p. 87).  Jesus was tempted by the devil directly.  The enemy’s goal is to cause us to betray our trust in God!  Satan stands behind every last ditch effort against God to the bitter end.  There are and will be many casualties along the way – “even though we know the victory at the Cross guarantees final success.”  Satan’s final fate was sealed at the Cross, but his gyrations will affect us.  Jesus teaches us to pray for escape from temptation.

 

“US” – Never Alone in Temptation

Are we trying in our own strength?  There’s power in community – Jesus can relate to us as well, so He’s in it with “us.”  Temptation is real and we need divine help.  “We don’t stand a chance against such powerful temptations apart from a delivering God and a supportive community.” (p. 88).

 

“NOT” – The Negative of Humble Dependence

-          The only negative in the Lord’s Prayer

-          This negative admits our dependence on God for deliverance

-          A humble trust in God – we rely on God at every juncture of testing

 

“LEAD” – Remembering That God Never Seduces

-          see. James 1:13 – “God tempts no one” – He doesn’t send us into the battle to watch us get destroyed!

-          Actually, He will limit the testing to protect His people.  See Mt. 24:22 & 1 Cor. 10:13

-          This petition includes a plea that God “intervene on our behalf.”

-          Heb. 4:15-16 – Jesus has experienced every temptation we can face and prompts us to “trust God who alone can deliver His community in Christ.”

 

Principle 16:  “Spiritual Formation is Reflected in Personal Lifestyle and Exhibited in Redemptive Action in Our World.”

 

-          Heavy temptations bring us closer to God if we develop a God-dependant relationship as a foundation.

-          Our problems cannot be solved by our personal resources but by God’s Grace

-          Because Jesus was tempted like we are, He is able to help those who are being tested – (Heb. 2:18).  He’s already been there.

-          Community allows us to face opposition together rather than alone.

-          Accountability – Covenant with God to find a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable.

-          We are not overcome when testing comes.  God promises to deliver us.  We pray “Lead us NOT into Temptation.”  We have Gethsemane-tested faith in God.

-          Develop a God-dependant relationship.

-          Be shaped by His grace

-          We are never alone – community of believers for support – and Jesus beside us.

 

           

Scripture References – Taken from the Holy Bible – New International Version

Zondervan Publishing Co. – Grand Rapids, Mi.

 

Matt 4:1-11

4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

"'He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 

Heb 10:31

31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

James 1:13

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

 

Matt 24:22

22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

 

1 Cor 10:13

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.

 

Heb 4:15-16

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

Heb 2:18

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.