LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."  (Matthew 6:13)

 

Growing up, I was taught to recite the Lord's Prayer in Sunday school, and I committed it to memory at an early age.  It wasn't until years later, however, that the words began to sink in, and then only little by little as the Lord opened my understanding to what I had learned.  Most recently, though, I was brought up short by the words quoted above.

 

I have always considered that temptation was an inevitable part of life, and that there was nothing that I could do to avoid it.  These words promise something altogether different than I had ever considered.  They indicate that the Lord is willing to lead me in such a way that I will not walk into temptation blindly, and that He is able to deliver me from the evil that would seek to divert me from following Him.

 

When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray before His betrayal and ultimate crucifixion, his disciples were unable to stay awake and pray with Him.  When He discovered them sleeping, He said to them, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41).  Had they stayed alert and been praying, they would have been better prepared for what was to follow, and, perhaps, would have reacted differently when the Romans came to take their Lord.  Our spirit is usually willing to do what is right, but without the Lord's help, our flesh will usually lean toward what is carnal.

 

David, king of Israel, was tempted with the woman Bathsheba.  She was a married woman, and David knew better than to sin with her; but scripture reveals something very significant about this story in the first verse of 2 Samuel 11.  There it says, "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah.  But David tarried still at Jerusalem."  It was the time when kings go forth to battle, yet David sent everyone else and stayed at home himself.  It was David's place to lead his army, not leave it to someone else.  Because he chose to laze about the palace, it left him restless and open to temptation. 

 

We, too, are fighting battles in our lives.  They are spiritual battles that we are waging against the forces of darkness that seek to draw us into unrighteousness.  We need to be engaged in the fight, not doing what we please.  We can't rely on others to fight the battles for us - we must be willing and ready to take the field ourselves.  We often forget that the enemy is walking about seeking whom he may devour.  If we choose to walk in the flesh, then we are going to be taken unawares, and, potentially, fall in defeat.  Paul tells us to put on all of the armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  If we neglect to use the weapons and armor that the Lord has provided for our defense, we only have ourselves to blame if we get caught in a gunfight with only a butter knife!  Christians cannot live in a neutral state.  We are either actively serving the Lord, or we are slipping into carnality and sin which ultimately will jeopardize our spiritual state.  David paid a horrific price for his sin with Bathsheba.  The Lord has given us power to avoid such a tragic mistake in our own lives.

 

James tells us in his letter to the believers, "…every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." (James 1:14).  It is being "drawn away" that gets us in trouble; but if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [wish to]." (Galatians 5:17).  The closer that we walk with the Lord, the less we will find ourselves distracted by carnal thoughts and desires.  Our hearts and minds will be focused on what pleases the Lord, and not on what only pleases our flesh.  We will find it easier, too, to make the choice to stay away from situations and influences that would place us in temptation.

 

Satan likes to isolate his victims.  That's when we become easy prey to his subtleties.  This is why fellowship is so important for God's children.  "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes  4:9-12).  Eve was tempted by the serpent when she was alone and Adam was not around.  This is not to say that we must never be alone.  However, when we don't get fellowship with other believers on a regular basis, we leave ourselves open to the enemy.  Just as a metal file can put a sharp edge on a metal tool, we also keep one another sharp by exhorting, counseling, sharing, and praying for each other.  This is one of the reasons that the Lord sent His disciples out two-by-two - so they could encourage and admonish each other as they went out to minister.  This is also why we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

 

When I was very young in the Lord, I experienced a time of fierce temptation and spiritual warfare.  Many times I was assaulted, and too many times I knew defeat.  I prayed earnestly for God to help me and give me the strength to stand.  That’s when He gave me a dream.  In my dream I was with several other believers who I knew because they were part of our fellowship at the time.  We were walking through a dense jungle together and discussing all of the potential dangers that existed in that place.  Someone would mention tigers, and we would all laugh and agree that tigers weren’t a threat to us.  Somebody else would mention venomous snakes and, again, we would laugh and assert that they could not harm us.  It was as though we were safe in the Lord and not afraid of the dangers as long as we were with Him – until someone mentioned lions.  It was then that my dream shifted.  I was still in the jungle, but I was all alone.  At the mention of lions, my heart was filled with fear and dread.  I stepped out of the jungle and into a large clearing of mostly grass.  As I stood on the edge of that clearing I detected movement in the brush on the other side.  All of a sudden a large lion stepped into the clearing on the far side.  I wanted to run, but my feet were frozen where I stood.  I was literally petrified in place by the fear that filled me.  Then the lion saw me.  Slowly and deliberately he began to walk in my direction until he was at my feet.  He raised himself up on his hind legs and planted his massive paws on my shoulders.  He stared into my eyes and made it clear that I was to become his lunch.  That is when the Lord put one thing in my mind to speak out to this beast.  It was the name of Jesus.  Very timidly I said the name – Jesus.  As I did, I saw a change in the lion’s confidence.  So I said it again a little more boldly –Jesus!  It was then that I could see actual fear in the lion’s eyes.  I said it again with conviction and authority – JESUS!  This time the lion pushed himself off me, turned around, and fled into the jungle.  I was left free and unscathed.  As I have pondered the dream, I have come to realize that, as much as I needed it, it was not just for me, but perhaps others could be encouraged and find victory in it as well. 

 

There are some things that I have come to understand from my dream.  First of all, fellowship is extremely important.  We are stronger when we can encourage one another.  Secondly, we are not tempted by everything, but usually by something specific to our nature.  A fear, a weakness, a lust, a passion - any of these things can pose a threat to our spiritual equilibrium.  Thirdly, Satan likes to get us alone when he tempts us.  It’s then that he can intimidate us and steal our confidence in the Lord.  Lastly, and most importantly, it is our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His name that will put the devil to flight.  Peter tells us that if we will resist the enemy, he will flee from us.  It is never by our own strength or willpower that we can defeat Satan, but only by faith in the finished work of our Lord and Savior.  His name is above every name!  At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord forever!  Jesus has overcome sin, the flesh, the devil and the grave, and through Him, we can also!

 

The reality is that we don't always walk in the Spirit, and that’s when we are often tempted.  Even worse, we sometimes give in to temptation and commit sin.  If we do find ourselves in temptation, it is important to discern where we deviated from walking with the Lord.  Then it becomes something something that we can learn from and correct for the future.  We are told, "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7, 8).  If we want to please God, we must learn to walk with Him, and cease from walking in the flesh.  If we walk in Him, we will be less subject to temptation.

 

St. Paul says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).  It is a question of faith whether or not we believe that God will provide us with an escape.  If we believe it, we will be actively looking for it and will find it.  We can't flirt with sin and remain unscathed.

 

If we do commit sin, then we need to know that God is faithful to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We have a mediator - an advocate Who will plead our case before the Father - because He shed His life's blood to redeem us from sin.  If we truly repent of our sin - and turn from our ways - Jesus will wash us whiter than snow! 

 

God's salvation is complete and entire.  It's the full package with all the options.  Everything that you need to live a joyful, fruitful, successful life is found in Christ.  He is our righteousness.  He is our peace.  He is our joy.  He is our victory!  "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25).  Draw near to Him, and you will find that He will lead you away from temptation and deliver you from evil.  All that you desire of life and righteousness you will find in Him.