The Lord’s Prayer - Part 5

Matt. 6:13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
· Jesus taught His disciples to pray the way He did.
· It's supposed to be a prayer that brings God’s presence & miraculous power.
· Each petition asks God to bring into this world the rights, privileges & power of the age to come.

A. Lead us not into temptation
· God can lead us to a situation where we are tempted, but He will never lead us into temptation (to sin)…

~ The Holy Spirit intentionally led Jesus into the wilderness, but not so He
would sin.
~ Jesus was tested in the wilderness, while the devil tried to tempt Him
into sin.
~ There is a significant difference between being tested and being tempted.
~ God may sometimes lead us into circumstances where our faith, obedience and character are tested.
~ The situation or emotion itself is not necessarily sin. What we do within the situation, or how we respond to the emotion, determines whether it becomes sin.

For example, you:
· Lose something valuable, and you are tempted to think, “God cannot be trusted.”
· Are trusting God for financial breakthrough and you become tempted to obtain money dishonestly.
· Decide to live sexually pure, and you enter a relationship where you're strongly tempted to cross the boundaries

~ Remember: Though God will never tempt you to sin, He can test your faith.
~ A test reveals what is in our hearts & can strengthen our faith.

~ God can use difficult circumstances to refine your faith.
~ Satan tries to use difficult circumstances to destroy your faith.

· Jesus asked His disciples to keep watch with Him while he prayed in Gethsemane, but He found them asleep three times.

Matt. 26:41: Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Why did He tell them to watch & pray?
~ He knew they were about to face intense spiritual pressure & temptation.
~ They loved Jesus & intended to stay faithful, but Jesus knew they overestimated their own strength & underestimated the coming temptation.
~ We must remain spiritually alert & aware of our vulnerability.
~ When we pray: “Lead us not into temptation,” we’re not praying that temptation will never come.
Rather, we’re asking God to:
~ Keep us from falling when temptation comes
~ Lead us away from temptation
~ Help us recognise temptation

· David understood that temptation begins in the heart.

"Do not let my heart incline to any evil"
· Before we sin, there is a thought, desire/attitude we entertain.
· David asks God to guard his heart before those desires become actions.

"to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity…"
· The people & environment around us can influence us.
· “Bad company ruins good morals.” – 1 Cor. 15:33
· David prayed not to become comfortable with anything that drew him away from God.
· We cannot treat temptation casually. We have to watch, pray, recognise our weakness, stay close to God, and RUN when needed!
· Joseph is a great example. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he fled!

· Sometimes it’s wisest to avoid temptation altogether…
· If you struggle with addiction, avoid the places & people that trigger you.
· If pornography is a weakness, set boundaries in place.
· Avoid being alone online when lonely or bored.
· Use filtering/accountability software & involve a trusted Christian friend.
· Unfollow or block social-media accounts that expose you.
· Have an escape plan: put the device down, leave the room, pray,
go for a walk, or contact someone you trust.
· Whatever your weakness: identify triggers & decide beforehand how you’ll respond.
· When you’re frustrated in your marriage, be careful when someone else starts giving you the attention you’re missing at home.
· When people gossip, stop and ask: "Would what I’m about to say honour Jesus?"
· Stay in the Word & close fellowship with Holy Spirit
· When Jesus was tempted, he repeatedly used the Word of God.
· God promises: with every temptation He will provide a way of escape
(1 Cor. 10:13).

B. Deliver us from evil

· Deliver means to rescue or save. We’re asking God to rescue/save us from evil.

~ What is the domain of darkness? It is satan’s realm where sin, spiritual bondage & deception have power over a person.
~ God rescues us from satan’s dominion & brings us under Christ’s loving rule

We live in an evil age.

Evil can be understood in three ways:

1. The evil one:
Joh 17:15: I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
o Jesus knew His disciples would have to live in a world where evil forces are at work, accusing, dividing, deceiving & destroying
o E.g.: You suddenly experience intense persecution, accusation or conflict
o Jesus didn’t pray that they be removed from difficult circumstances.
o He asked the Father to protect them spiritually while in the world.

2. Evils of this world:
Gal 1:4: [Jesus] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
o Present world system characterised by sin & rebellion against God.
o Where sin is accepted as normal & people reject God’s truth.
Examples of such mindsets:
~ Everyone is doing it
~ If it feels right it must be right
~ Money & success make you valuable
~ You must look a certain way to be accepted
o We must ask: Does this agree with God’s Word?

3. Evil within us:
Matt. 15:19-20: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person...”

Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh:
~ Sexual immorality (sexual behaviour outside God’s design)
~ Impurity (lustful thoughts & actions)
~ Sensuality (unrestrained, shameless behaviour)
~ Idolatry (worshiping/prioritising anything above God)
~ Sorcery (witchcraft)
~ Enmity (hostility toward people & God)
~ Strife (Ongoing quarreling & conflict)
~ Jealousy (resentful desire for what someone else has)
~ Fits of anger
~ Rivalries (selfish ambition and self-seeking)
~ Dissensions (discord & disagreement that cause division)
~ Divisions (factions formed through disagreement)
~ Envy (resentment that someone else has something good)
~ Drunkenness
~ Orgies (wild partying involving excessive drinking & immoral behaviour)

o The same demonic powers that are at work in this world work in & through us.
o When we pray this, we ask: “Lord, deliver me from the evil around me & the evil inside me.”

Ask yourself:
o Where is the enemy trying to influence me?
o Where is the world trying to shape my thinking?
o What’s happening in my own heart that I need to surrender to Jesus?

Good news: Jesus has already defeated the enemy – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame.” (Col. 2:15). We have spiritual authority!

Application Question:
Where are you most vulnerable to temptation or evil right now, and how can you intentionally invite God to lead, protect, and deliver you?