Part 12 – The Protection of Prayer
The Protection of Prayer
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:-
1. God can’t tempt us
God can do anything that He wants to, but there are things that God cannot do. God cannot change, for example if God could change He could get better, but God cannot become better, because He is the best.
There is nothing that God can do to became better.
James 1:17 (NIV) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
God is already perfect. God cannot stop loving you because He is love. So God can’t tempt us. When we endure temptation, we are blessed and rewarded. The word endures means to continue to trust through resistance and opposition.
I am going to continue to trust God, although I am going through a difficult time and being opposed.
Jas 1:13 Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.
We are drawn away by a desire we have and then the enemy pounces on it and seduces us.
Satan is the tempter. We are drawn away by our desire, we take our eyes off God, and begin to focus somewhere else, immediately Satan notices it, pounces on it and begins to tempt us.
God does not tempt us, but Satan tempts us. We are tempted when we are drawn away by some desire. The word drawn away, is to turn aside and look another way. It is a matter of focus. The moment we turn our focus away from God, that is when Satan comes.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
1Thess 3:5 lest by some means the tempter may have tempted you.
Satan is called the tempter.
2. God won’t mislead us
Note, it is saying: Lead us not into temptation. Why will we pray for God not to lead us into temptation, if God will not lead us into temptation. We need to understand the word temptation.
Jas 1:2 My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, Jas 1:3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. (GNB)
The Greek word for Trial and Temptation is the same word in Greek. It has a broader meaning than just temptation. It is a temptation, trial or a test.
Thus, will God ever lead us into trial or test?
Yes, but he will never tempt us. Trials teach us to believe in God and develops our character to fulfil the destiny God has planned for us.
God will only do it for our Good ;and when we pray: God lead us not into temptation, we need to understand that when we are in a trial or test, Satan will tempt us.
God is saying that if you pray for His protection when you go through trials or tests, you will not fall for the temptation of Satan.
Pray for Protection during this time. Pray for guidance.
Yes, but God will never tempt us.
Trials teach us to believe in God and develops our character to fulfil the destiny God has for us.
God will only do what is for our Good, and when we pray: God lead us not into temptation, we need to understand that when we are in a trial or test, Satan will tempt us.
God is saying that if you pray for My protection when you go through trials or tests, you will not fall for the temptation of Satan.
Pray for Protection during this time. Pray for guidance.
Mat 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Why did the Spirit led Him into the Wilderness? To be tempted by the Devil. God led His own Son into a time of trial, but Satan was waiting for Him.
God did it for the good of His Son.
Luk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
Jesus came out stronger when He came out of this time of trial and temptation. The main reason God did it, was for our good. God led His own Son, into a time of trial, and knew that He would succeed, and His succession would be a benefit for us.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. Heb 2:18 Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, He is able to help others when they are tempted.
Did you know that Jesus can help you through temptation, because He has gone through it? Now Jesus can help us. We can talk to Jesus about our temptation.
Note that Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness in the dry place.
In the old testament Israel was led into the wilderness by God, but His cloud led them through this time of trial and tests.
Deu 8:16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know, so that He might humble you and so that He might prove you, to do you good in your latter end, (MKJV)
Deu 8:16 Who gave you manna for your food in the waste land, a food which your fathers had never seen; so that your pride might be broken and your hearts tested for your good in the end; (BBE)
Deu 8:16 In the desert He gave you manna to eat, food that your ancestors had never eaten. He sent hardships on you to test you, so that in the end He could bless you with good things. (GNB)
God said that trials will always do us good.
3. God will deliver us.
1Co 10:13 No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it. (MKJV)
God will never allow me to be tempted above what I am able to cope with. God will make a way to escape, with every temptation. 3. God will deliver us. God will deliver me, if I allow Him to do it.
1 Tim 4:17b And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me to His heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (MKJV)
God will deliver me, if I allow Him to do it.
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation
God will deliver me from every temptation, but my work is to pray. One of the things we must pray about every day, is protection from the evil one.
If we don’t pray, we are in trouble.
4. If we will pray
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in Your Word; and do not let any iniquity rule over me.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:-
You need to pray, because temptation is a reality.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The way to overcome temptation is to pray. This is what Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s prayer. Joh 17:15 I do not pray for You to take them out of the world, but for You to keep them from the evil.
Conclusion
God can’t tempt us
God won’t mislead us
God will deliver us
If we pray