Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Well, what a topic we come to. The topic we come to today, probably one of the most important topics to study and to know about and to strategize on how to deal with it.

The topic that we're going to discuss today is temptation. Temptation. And if you like a title for your notes, the title is, Lead Us Not Into Temptation. And I'd like to begin with two passages of Scripture to set the foundation for us today on this topic of temptation. Temptation, those lures which come upon us that have the intention to take us away from God. This is what we're going to be exploring today. Do you know where that phrase is found of the title, Lead Us Not Into Temptation? Well, it's found in the model prayer, Luke 11, verse 4.

So I invite you to open your Bibles, and let's turn there together. We're going to go to two passages of Scripture, but we're going to begin here with Luke 11, chapter 11, where, again, those words are found, and also is found the model prayer.

Now, prior to the fall Holy Days, we were giving ourselves to this model prayer. So we now come to this phrase here regarding temptation, but we'll do well to remind ourselves here in chapter 11, verse 1. Luke is now recording the moment in which Christ's disciples come to him, and they say, Lord, teach us to pray. And he responds with this template, with this model by which we are to pray. Verse 2, Jesus says to them, When you pray, say, Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

It's one thing we are to pray. Another is to continue, give us day by day our daily bread. Also, forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Again, these are aspects that we dealt with in previous sermons. But now we come to the conclusion of the model prayer. And we are to, per Jesus, conclude this prayer by saying to our Father, Father, do not lead us, verse 4, the second part of verse 4, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Next, if you'll turn with me to James chapter 1, verses 12 through 15. James 1, verses 12 through 15. This is our second opening passage that we'll turn to today on this topic of temptation. James has a lot to say on this topic, and we find additional information here regarding this lure that comes upon us to go against God in His way. Here James speaks of this. James 1, beginning in verse 12, James says, "'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.'" So, enduring temptations directly attached to and associated with our receiving of the crown of life. Verse 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. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.'" So, let's stop there.

You know, let me begin by saying here, I believe I can confidently say that there is no portion in a Christian's life when we are exempt from temptation.

I think I can confidently say that. So, those of us who were hoping that maybe by dent of growing older that somehow we would be able to get out of temptation, unfortunately that's not the case. We discover that's not the case. And in fact, when we get older, we discover that there they are, the same old temptations right there beside us, biting at our heels, if you will.

And if that's not bad enough, what we generally find also as the years go on, that the old ones are joined by new ones, by new temptations. I wonder if you've experienced that.

Temptations that we've never faced before. And these new temptations are often so cleverly designed to be specific to our vulnerabilities at that point in our life. So, yes, temptation is a reality. It's unavoidable. And the only time that we're going to be free of temptation is after this physical life is completed. And so what the Bible teaches is that in this way, the Christian, the true Christian, is in a continual, unyielding, spiritual war against temptations that look to take us away from God and his way. But, if you're an inquisitive mind, you might ask, why? Why does it have to be this way?

Why is it that a Christian would be involved in a continual, unyielding, spiritual war of this type? Why is that the case? Well, simply stated, it is because of this. The same grace which calls and reconciles us back to God is then the same grace which antagonizes us to the devil. The devil to whom we were friends before we trusted in Christ.

So again, the same grace which calls and reconciles us back to God is then the same grace which antagonizes us to the devil. Okay? So, in being called and brought back to God, everything changes. Because again, prior to that, we weren't in a relationship with God. And we were, at that time prior, in a sense, friends with the devil. However, God's grace brought us to be friends with God, and therefore simultaneously makes us an enemy of the evil one.

And from that point in the Christian's life, Satan will bring all of his endeavors upon the life of the one who has responded to God's call and has committed to live for him. So as a result of making that commitment, that statement of faith, they will not, we will not somehow or another have a smooth spiritual sailing from that point. Rather, we're instead placed on an intense battleground.

Now, we won't turn there, but it is for that reason that Jesus, prior to his crucifixion in John 17, it's the reason that he prays, Do not take these that you gave me, Father. Do not take them out of the world, but please protect them from the evil one. That's his prayer.

And so we have this phrase in the model prayer, Lead us not into temptation. And then we pay special attention to the second half, Deliver us from the evil one. So this part of our daily prayer is where the believer asks for God to be protected from the evil one. That's Satan the devil, protected from the temptations that would put us in his grasp. So that is our prayer.

Therefore, a Christian must figure out how to deal with them, how to deal with the temptations. If this is our prayer, we must do everything in our power to resist falling into them. And for our help today, to this endeavor, I have broken up this whole subject matter, and so it's a big subject matter, into four parts to help us understand, to help us engage in resist temptations. So four parts to help us better understand these temptations. So let's get right to it. They're all very simple, yet profound, if you will understand these things. Okay. Number one. Number one is simply to understand that this is a daily battle. Okay? That's number one. Understand that the fight against temptations is a daily battle.

The way a Christian deals with temptation is by actively engaging in this battle each and every day. So a good thing to write down and put it on the sticky of your mirror, perhaps, is to write these words. I will engage in this battle of temptation every day.

Why is that statement important? Well, it saves us from the notion that somehow there's going to be this all-encompassing action that I can take, which will remove me from the battlefield. That's not the case. I'm here to tell you there is no such experience.

There is no such all-encompassing action that you can take that will remove you from the battleground. It's not going to happen.

Because the truth is, no matter what kind of spiritual victory you had yesterday, you know that as you move into this morning, you are faced again with the task to resist whatever earthly temptation comes your way. All right? In other words, no matter how successful I was yesterday, I know this morning it's another day that I must refuse to allow my eyes to wander off to sin. No matter what victory I had yesterday, I know this morning is another day that I must refuse to allow my mind to contemplate something that is sinful. I know it's another day where I must refuse to allow my affections to be placed upon anything that is not of God. So my ability to be victorious is not necessarily to my ability to think back to a previous day's victory. Rather, the victory lies in my ability today. Today to avert my eyes. Today to capture erroneous thoughts. Today to align my affections upon God. That is the number one primary understanding that this is a daily battle. Receiving God's grace does not remove me and will not remove me from the battleground. You see? It's just the opposite, in fact. God's grace places us on the battlefield, you see. And, in fact, once you've made that commitment and you've received God's Spirit, the awareness of our sin only intensifies. I know you've experienced this. Your senses are even heightened by the Holy Spirit. And you'll find yourself fully aware, down to the most minute aspects, those areas that are not in step with God. And so, Jesus teaches us in response to the disciples asking to teach them to pray. In the few requests that he lists, he concludes with, Father, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Father, today, just like yesterday, I am yours. And I want my life to reflect the fact that I am yours today. And I'm not going to relax or rest upon my victories yesterday.

I'm going to endeavor to prove, to show evidence of my loyalties each and every day. So when we raise our head from this part of the daily prayer, we are making a new commitment that morning to be His. To be His. That's number one. That's number one. Number two. The second aspect of four, to understand regarding temptation, is number two, to understand, God is never and cannot be the source of temptation. Okay? That's number two. Understand, God is never and cannot ever be the source of temptation that lures us away from Him. Okay? If you're still hearing James, it's right there, verse 13. There's no way to wiggle around it here. James 1, verse 13 again, Let no one say that when he or she is tempted, let him not say that I'm tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone, James says there. So this is categorical, a categorical statement here. You cannot escape the logic here. Good reasoning. God is incapable of being tempted himself. Therefore, it's logical that he's incapable of tempting us in the same way. Okay? Very logical. Very important second understanding to understand here. So, again, you critical thinkers, and you're thinking along with me, the question with this second point may arise, then, Why then, Mr. Ledbetter, why would we even pray for this then? Why is this in the model prayer? Because we read here in James, God is not the source of temptation, so why pray this concluding statement, this concluding request? Let no one say, God is tempting me. However, Luke 11, Father, lead us not into temptation. So what are we asking God to do? If God doesn't do this, why do we have to ask him not to do it?

Good question. Good question. Well, the answer comes with a little diligence. The answer comes with digging in a little bit deeper. Our research will pay off. And if you just look a little bit deeper at the Greek word for tempted or tempting, it'll help us with our understanding. Because the Greek word here in James and the Greek word in the model prayer, the word is—don't quote me on this—perasman or perasmas. Perasman, perasmas. I'll spell it for you if you like. P-E-I-R-A-S-M-O-N. P-E-I-R-A-S-M-O-N. And it's the same word. It's the same word that's used in Luke. It's the same word used here in James here. And this Greek word can actually be translated either trial or test or temptation. Okay? Various ways that you can translate this Greek word in the Bible. Again, it can be translated to be tried or to be tested or to be tempted or temptation. And the context determines the translation. Okay? So let me explain this as easily as I can. This is how to think about it. This is how to think about it. What God may allow into our experience as a genuine and necessary test or trial, the evil one may seek to use it as a source of temptation. Okay? I'll repeat that. This made sense to my brain. Okay? Maybe it'll make sense to yours. What God may allow into our experience as a needed test or trial, right? What God may allow or bring into our life as a test or trial, well, the evil one then may seek to use that test or trial as a temptation. Okay? In other words, God allows trials and tests into our life. Those trials and tests are to produce character, spiritual maturity. Well, the evil one seizes upon those and takes that which was a test or trial to produce a benefit. He will seek to turn it into a temptation for destruction. You see? Many examples in the Bible. Let me just give you one. God tested Abraham, right? And he tested Abraham and Sarah. God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah. He said to them when Sarah was in her later years, her elder years, I make a promise to you, Abraham and Sarah, for a son. I'm going to give you a son, but you're going to have to wait. Okay? And the test and the trial from God was in the waiting. Well, Abraham decides not to wait and decides rather to take matters into his own hands and to bring about that promised son through their servant Hagar.

And so what happened? Well, Satan came along and takes the test which God brings, and he says, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to turn this test into a temptation. Satan tempts Abraham. Abraham listens and fathers a son through the servant Hagar rather than Sarah, his wife. And all chaos breaks out, right? So many disastrous consequences come from that sin. But as a result of Abraham not having victory in the test, rather he gives himself into the temptation. Abraham taking the test which came from God, succumbing to the temptation of impatience to bring about a son to himself according to his own timing.

He didn't wait! And therefore he gave in to the temptation. We can all relate to that. And just know, Satan is always ready to turn a test or a trial from God into a temptation to sin. He is always ready to do that. It's one of his most masterful techniques. The good news is, of course, God didn't give up on Abraham. God provided another test toward Abraham, brought him that test, and he said, Okay, Abraham, here you go. Here's another one. Have you learned from that? Well, I want you to take that son, which I promised you, and I want you to take him up on the mountain and sacrifice him.

This is my test that I'm presenting to you. Sacrifice your own son. And in that moment, he was prepared not to take things into his own hands like he had done in the previous test. Rather, he was faithful in the testing of God, and he fulfilled that and had victory in that test. And of course, we know the story. He was prepared to sacrifice his son. God stopped him and provided a substitute, you see. So, understand this. When we pray, lead us not into temptation, what we're saying is, God, help us so that we don't allow the testing that comes from you to become a temptation from Satan the devil, you see.

So, when we pray, lead us not into temptation, what we're saying is, God, help us so that we don't let that testing become a temptation again. Father, I'm going through this severe test here. Don't let me go without your power, without your protection. I need your help and deliverance from the evil one who's whispering in my ear at this moment. That's what the essence of this part of the prayer here is. So, we're not so much asking that we should not be tempted, rather we're asking that we should not give in to sin's seductive allure from the testing. Okay. Again, when God brings about the testing of Abraham, God's purpose is that Abraham would pass, pass the test, and develop that godly character in the extra faith.

God's purpose is not that we don't, his purpose is not that we fail the test, you see. But when temptation arises, it's exacerbated by the evil one. Satan's goal is that we absolutely fail the test and give in to the temptation. So, that's the second thing to understand. God is never and cannot ever be the source of enticement to evil. Hopefully that's helpful there. That one's really helpful to me.

Number three, to understand when we're looking to understand temptation and so that we can better deal with temptation. Here, back in James here, in verse 14, James 1 verse 14, is revealed to us our third point when James states, but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. So number three point is temptation begins with our own desires.

Okay, that's number three. Temptation begins with our own desires. In other words, I know that we're going to acknowledge today that evil desires and enticements, while they may be exacerbated by the devil, they ultimately come from within. Okay? The desire to go against God's way. They emerge. That desire emerges from within. Now, this is made perfectly clear by Jesus Christ himself in a really well-known passage. Keep your marker here in James 1, if you will, and let's turn over to Mark 7.

Mark 7 verses 17 through 23. Mark 7 verses 17 through 23. We're going to break into the moment here where Jesus explains where this defilement comes from. Mark 7, we're going to begin in verse 17. Look at what Jesus says here.

Notice verse 20. Then he said, what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within out of the heart of men proceed, evil thoughts, adultries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, and an evil eye. We're not done. Blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man. I think he pretty much covered the whole spectrum there of evil there. That's what comes out of a man or a woman, he says. All these evil things originate from the heart of a man or a woman. So think about this here. This is an amazing list here. Is this true? Well, let's think about this. So there is a few evidences of this fact that Jesus is putting forth here. Those of you who have had children tell me if this is true. When our child is born, and when they get to a certain age, perhaps when they can start scooting around or maybe get a little bit mobile, and when they maybe begin to talk and interact, is this true? We, as parents, do not have to necessarily teach our children to lie, do we? Rather, we have to teach them to tell the truth. Or, we do not have to, in most cases, teach our children to steal, to take something of someone else's. We have to teach them to not take something that's not theirs, right? So right there from the beginning, we have this nature, and it is a carnal nature there. And this is what then, that's just the beginning stages of the full embodiment that Jesus is speaking of here. These things come from within. Right there from the beginning. Within a year or two, we see the evidences. I can remember, you know, one of our children just would consistently, was just drawn to the electrical socket. And even though we had the covers on there, we didn't want them anywhere near it, you know. I think it might have been Kate, I'm not sure, but just the slap on the hand. No. You know, let them do that. Again, no. No. And, you know, twenty little pats on the hand later, perhaps that desire, that carnal nature is broken in that particular moment.

You know, we see it on full display in the very early stages of our existence here.

And so, with this fourth point, while it is true that the devil does come and does entice our carnal nature in us, while that is true, let's be very clear, regardless of that fact, every time that I sin, it's because I made a decision to sin. And ultimately, it comes from within my carnal heart from the inside. Someone says, there's a phrase, all sin is an inside job, you know.

The Bible punctuates this. We won't turn there, but Genesis 4, you have this scene painted for us, this imagery where sin is portrayed as crouching at our door, kind of an eerie scene, it's there. Sin is crouching at our door and desires to have us. But there, for your notes, Genesis 4, 7, then it states, but you must rule over it. So, yes, sin is crouching at our door, it's there, it's going to always be present for the remaining of our life, but you and I must rule over it. Temptation cannot open the door to sin.

Temptation cannot open the door to sin. And did you know that not even the devil can open the door to sin? Who ultimately opens it?

Again, this is emerging from us, and so we must rule over it. We must learn the techniques to deal with temptation so that we can be successful in victories, mount up victories on victories rather than defeats. So, we may try to explain our sin in various ways. We may try to explain why the door is open. Young people, you may try to say, well, the reason that door is open is because my horrible friends, if you knew my friends, there's such a bad influence on me, and that's why the door is open. Or, we may try to explain the door being open. Well, you know, this happened in my past life. I have this horrible incident that occurred. I had a, my upbringing, a weakness was created in me from an abuse that I received in my early years.

That's why the door is open.

If you knew my environment at home. But, what we're learning from Scripture is that we cannot hide behind environment, friends, family, past scars, and you can't even try to blame it on the devil himself. In fact, you know, where did that come from? Blame it on the devil? Who was that Tom Sawyer? Was that Tom Sawyer? The devil made me do it?

According to James 1, 14, we cannot escape the personal responsibility in giving in to sin. Despite Satan's efforts, we are responsible, ultimately, for ruling over these temptations.

And that brings us to our fourth and final point here to understand about temptation. To review today.

Number four, then, with all that previous foundation built, please also understand, while it does begin with our own individual desires, number four, temptation itself is not a sin. It's how we respond to it. Okay? That's number four. Understand, with regards to temptation, number four, temptation in and of itself is not sin. It's how we respond to it when it arises. Well, that's what matters.

There is a response to the temptation, and how we respond to it either leads to life or death. Going back to James 1, verse 15, or 14 and 15 here. James 1, verses 14 and 15 again. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Yes. But here, verse 15, then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it's full grown, brings forth death. So again, to our number fourth point, it's how we respond to the temptation, whether it'll produce a godly result or an evil result. The fourth understanding really gets to the day-to-day wrestling. It's not a sin until, you know, dot, dot, dot, your temptation is not a sin until the accidental opening of a lewd website. And you recognize it, and you get off of it, and, you know, averted your eyes, and you prayed, Oh, sorry, Father, that's not a sin. You know, you redirected.

It became a sin when you set your affections on it, and you kept it up. And your eyes lingered on that image. That's when it becomes a sin. It's not a sin when the temptation to gossip hits you. That's not a sin. Oh, and you prayed, Oh, sorry, Father, boy, where did that thought come from? Sorry about that. That's horrible.

Help me to control those thoughts. It's a sin when you find yourself whispering in the individual's ear. You see?

It's not a sin when the temptation of anger hits you. It's a sin when you unload on your children or spouse.

That's what James is teaching here. James is telling us there is a moment, and we know this is true. There is a moment, a crossroads, in every temptation when we have a choice. And that space, that moment is where we're really looking to refine our skills and to refine and build up our spiritual muscles. Because we cannot, it is in that moment when we can either snuff it out or allow it to grow. Again, verse 15, there's this process here. Desire then conceives, then it gives birth to sin, and then it grows and brings forth death. It's a process here.

So there's always this moment, always a choice, whether we are going to, if you will, give birth to that temptation to sin or not. Let me state it this way. Sin is born the moment you become aware of its existence and you refuse to get rid of it. Sin is born the moment you become aware of its existence and you refuse to get rid of it. So Christians must deal with the temptations at the moment of its appearance. At the moments of its appearance. Urgent, immediacy, practice just recognizing it and then getting it out whatever way you can. It's not when the temptation arose in your hearts, it's how we respond to it.

So therefore, we understand the importance of this part of the model prayer as we confirm our commitment daily. So let's begin to conclude here. I want to conclude with a little encouragement as we go forward. There is a promise, very encouraging, loving, gracious promise from God with regards to our temptation. And I want to conclude with this as we wrap this study up. And it's found in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13. We'll conclude with this passage here.

1 Corinthians 10, verse 13. Again, it's a very powerful, encouraging promise from God. All that are in this battle and dealing with temptation.

Here's the promise from God. And it's an incredible promise. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13. The promise from God is this.

1 Corinthians 10, 13. No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man. We have all these common temptations. But, listen, God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. But with the temptation will also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it. Let's stop there. Isn't that awesome? Isn't that encouraging? What a loving God. Yes, He gives us this high level of righteousness that we are to achieve, but He gives us the ability to do it. We have high admonishment. He gives us the ability through the Spirit.

A high command, but we're given the capability.

This is a promise to you. It will allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. But with the temptation will make a way of escape to bear it. Believe that so many of these temptations that we're given into, we've believed the lie of the devil that somehow we have no way of escape. It's more powerful than the power that we have. Don't believe it. In fact, when it comes, perhaps some of these habitual, sinful temptations, maybe state right off the bat, God is not testing me beyond what I'm able. I'm able to have victory over this that's before me. Now, Father, show me the escape route to it. I believe your promise. Help me escape it.

And He will. He will. He will help you bear under it. I hope you believe that. So, I hope we can pray these words in a greater way from this day forward. Father, be in this daily battle with me. Allow whatever test or trial that is before me. Don't allow this temptation to sin to be as a result of it. I know I am weak in how my desires are within me, but created me a clean new heart and helped me respond with immediate support. I see when these temptations arise, and please make the way of escape broad and clear so that I may bear it. Father, lead us not into temptation.