Prayer

Lead us not into temptation

Matthew 6:8-15
8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
NKJV

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

This petition really contains two parts -

The first deals with God's hedge of protection around us. When God questions Satan about Job, Satan complains of the hedge of protection God has placed around Job.
Job 1:9-10 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. NKJV

So, too, God watches over each of His children. Angels watch over God's children, helping to form the hedge.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. NKJV

Psalm 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. NKJV

Notice that when preparing to attack Job, Satan needed God&s permission. So it is with all of Satan's attacks. God is in control and we need to remember this. Jesus tells Peter on the night of Christ&s betrayal that Satan asked permission to attack the apostles.
Luke 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." NKJV

This should provide us with great assurance that God is in control. The Psalms talk of the wings of protection of God. We need to continually pray for this same protection.
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings NKJV
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! NKJV

But, we need to be mindful of the source of the temptation and evil. For, as we investigate what we face, we find the temptations come from everywhere.

Evil arises from within ourselves
James 1:13-14 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. NKJV
Evil comes from Satan
Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. NKJV
Matthew 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." NKJV
Evil comes from our own hearts
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? NKJV
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; NKJV
Evil comes from the world around us
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, NKJV

Seek God's wings of protection, but keep in mind that many of the things we think of as temptation and evil are either really trials of testing or are our own stupid choices.

God has promised never, ever, never to place upon His children more that we can handle.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but 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. NKJV

Notice, however, that this promise is not that we will avoid or be taken out of the temptation, but rather that we will be able to BEAR IT! How do we bear the temptation?

We rely upon God!
Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. NKJV

In this trusting, we follow the teachings of Scripture. For example, Paul tells us how to avoid our own stupid errors and to avoid the snares of the Satan.
Ephesians 6:13-17 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God NKJV

What is required for this protection?

The TRUTH of God
The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God
The GOSPEL of God
FAITH in God
The SALVATION of God
The WORD of God

How do we accomplish this protection? How do we avoid being led into temptation?

By reading the Word of God
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NKJV

By praying
Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- NKJV

We are right back where we started. Prayer is the key to all. Prayer is communion with God. Prayer is the mechanism for an ongoing relationship with God.

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