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Ask anyone to name a prayer and they will say the prayer Jesus taught His disciples. 

Although many could recite it I wonder how many actually try to live by it.

It is called a model prayer. That being the case let us look at one of the models. Lead us not into temptation.

The fact is no matter what our age we all struggle with some form of self-control from temptations.

We will deal with this in two parts. Part one lead us not into temptation and part two deliver us from the evil one.

Temptation

The key to understanding the first part is to understand that the word “temptation” has two meanings. It can mean to tempt with the goal of causing one to sin or it can mean a test or trial to prove the soundness of one’s faith.

The first meaning is what the devil and we do as James 1:13, 14 and remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires.

However, the second meaning God does use to test us in order to give us the opportunity to prove our faithfulness to Him. 1 Peter 1:4-7 You, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Key

James tells us therefore if we resist the Devil he will flee from us. There is something fundamental that has to happen before we can resist. James 4:7 so humble yourselves before God. 

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The key is to humble yourselves declaring to God your dependence upon Him to lead you. Jesus is concerned about our daily attack from the devil. 

In Matthew 4 Jesus was personally tempted by the devil himself and that’s why we can understand Jesus requests us to ask for His leading. Jesus wants us to overcome and He knows all about the strategy of the enemy we face each day.

Asking for help is not weakness but strength. In fact, it is our starting point.

Paul’s warning to “take heed lest you fall” (1 Cor. 10:12) is as necessary today as it has ever been. 

Opportunities for temptation are almost endless, We need to take Paul’s warning seriously and watch out for temptation, or we will surely fall. 

1A.R. No victory over temptation makes us stronger than we were before. If we think it does, we shall fail. It was that false supposition which caused Joshua’s armies to lose the battle of Ai after victory at Jericho. They thought that conquering Jericho had made them strong and that little Ai would be easy to overcome. The fact is, Christian friends, that all through our lives every experience of conflict is given to teaching us the lesson that “, in me, (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing. . . .” The moment the child of God begins to think that because he has got the victory once he will overcome sin the next time, he will go down. 

As one battles his way through temptation he discovers his own desperate weakness, his own helplessness apart from the grace of God. 

So how does temptation work?

1A.R. First, there are the circumstances which may or may not lead to sin. Secondly, there is the desire within your life, if you like, when aroused by these circumstances. These two parts are operative in every temptation.

You see, there must be tinder as well as spark if you are going to kindle a flameIf fire falls on water it won’t kindle anything. It is God who sends the fire; it is you who light the flame. 

He tempts only insofar as He creates circumstances which are either an occasion for falling or an opportunity to prove His power to keep you. In that sense, temptation is merely testing. God permits temptation in our lives to prove the profession of our faith in Jesus Christ and to discipline our Christian character by teaching us to rely completely upon Him for power. God allowed Satan to sift Job, but first of all, Satan had to ask God’s permission.

So please if you are struggling do not give up, just ASK the Father He loves to help us. 

Remember you are starting from the winning position, not the losing position.

1 Victorious Christian Praying by Alan Redpath.

Author Edward Lawrence

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