Lead us not into Temptation

Part 3

13^th March 2009

This is the third and final part of this series. In part 1, we saw that we all live with two warring principles in us:

We want to live right
We continue to do wrong

In part 2, we saw three reasons why we find ourselves in temptation:

Sometimes, we forget to pray "lead us not into temptation"
Sometimes, for His own reasons, God chooses not to answer that prayer
Sometimes, we choose temptation because we enjoy it

We also saw that when we pray according to Jesus's instruction, "do not lead us into temptation", we remind ourselves that we need to take the problem of temptation seriously, and that we are sufficiently weak that we need God's help and protection.

This week, I try to answer these important questions:

How do we avoid temptation whenever possible?
How do we deal with temptation when it can't be avoided?

As I've already aid, we avoid temptation firstly by praying. This will reduce the amount of temptation we will have to face.

We avoid temptation secondly through common sense. We avoid those situations where temptation is most likely to be a problem. This depends on your own areas of weakness; different people are tempted by different things. The most obvious example is perhaps that some are tempted by homosexual sin, others by heterosexual sin, and still others by both. But there are many who are tempted by one of these but not by both.

Some are tempted by drunkenness. If that's you, avoid those friends who are likely to encourage you to get drunk. And don't keep alcohol in the house.

Some might be tempted by gossip. Again, avoid those friends who encourage you to gossip by listening hungrily for every little cruelty you speak about others. Instead, cultivate the friendship of those who will rebuke you for gossiping.

And so on. As they say, it's not rocket science.

Thirdly, we need to beware what us perhaps the worst sin of all - pride. Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 10v12
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

I really hope you're not thinking "well, I don't have any problem with sin, I'm far too holy and mature"! You could fall at any moment. In fact, you already have!

But be encouraged by Paul's next sentence:

1 Corinthians 10v13
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.

This leads to the answer to our second question. Even when you are under severe temptation, God is still with you, and He is still Lord. He promises to provide a way out. This means, of course, that we're without excuse. But it also means that we can be victorious over sin. We can remind ourselves that we do have a choice, God's word promises that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear so we can never say we "had" to sin. We can stand firm, and look for the way out that God promises.

Also, we are equipped to stand up under temptation if we have prepared in advance. See how Jesus handled temptation:

Luke 4v1-14:
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Jesus was tempted three times, and in each case he used Scripture to strengthen His resolve not to sin. He kept saying "it is written". He could do this because he knew the Bible.

A sure knowledge of right and wrong, and a growing love of what is right and hatred for what is wrong comes through faithful and prayerful Bible study

At the end of the temptation, Jesus returned to His home in the power of the Spirit.

A confidence in God's reward inspires us to remain holy

And we know that Jesus lived to please His Father.

We can stand up better under temptation if we have settled in our own minds that we live to please our Father.

Consider:

Romans 12v1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Resolve NOW that you will live a life sacrificed to God. Not only is this our duty to our creator and redeemer; it also enables us to test and approve what God's will is, to prove that obedience to God is better and more pleasing than choosing sin. The next time you are tempted, you will be able to say "no, because my life is dedicated to God".