Sermon
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
June 12-13, 1999
Pastor Leighton Sheley

I'll invite you now to take your Bibles and open to Matthew chapter 6. Our pastor has commenced a study of the Sermon on the Mount, and so we are now looking at the Lord's Prayer, and a particular portion of that. My wife called me this week. She'd heard this story on KFAX. It was a story about Billy Graham. Billy Graham had come to a community to do some of his crusade work. That day he had written a letter and he was looking for the post office to mail it, and after exhausting his resources he called over a young lad and asked where the post office was. The young lad gave him directions and then Mr. Graham said, now I want you to come this evening and I'm going to show you how to get to heaven. And the lad wasn't too excited about the invitation and said, how are you going to show me how to get to heaven when you can't even find the post office? 

How quickly our testimonies undermine the credulity of our message. We invite people to become Christians saying, come and become a Christian and have victory over sin, and then we turn around and we sin every day. Perhaps it's because we are misrepresented or because we misrepresent ourselves, or because we really don't understand ourselves as a body of Christ. There's a passage in James that tells us we should confess our sins one to the other, and that's been misinterpreted through the centuries to mean different things. At one time it was interpreted to mean that we should go to a specific person in a specific booth and there confess our sins. At other times it's been misinterpreted to understand that we're supposed to confess everything to everybody, and it doesn't mean either of those things. 

What it really means is it was intended for believers to believers to confess that we have sinned, that we are sinners, and that we are in need of a Savior. So I'm going to invite you to do something today. I'm going to invite you to turn to two or three neighbors and say, I am a sinner saved by grace. Would you just do that? Find two or three. I am a sinner saved by grace. Kind of eliminates the super spiritual pretense doesn't it? A church is not superhumans, but sinners saved by grace. 

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 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. Now last week we looked at, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, this week we're going to look at, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, or the evil one. 

Now, in some translations it's evil and in others it's the evil one, and the reason for this is because poneros is used in the nominative case which usually denotes a title. So what Jesus was really saying, is deliver us from the evil, which was probably a reference to Satan personally. This verse leads logically from the verse that proceeds it because temptation often precedes sin. Now the word temptation peirasmos is also translated trial or testing. In the original Greek, it didn't have a connotation, a negative connotation; it simply meant a test intended to prove. 

Now, we tend to perceive testing in a negative fashion, perhaps because our introduction to testing was in grade school, and the experience was not a pleasant one. So when somebody says, test; oh-oh, we don't think of it as being positive. But you know, not all tests are bad. In a few weeks I'll be getting on an airplane, and I will be very glad that somebody tested it before we hit the end of the runway. The results of tests always prove something. If we succeed, it proves that God's power is alive in our lives. But what does it mean when we fail a test? Well, some people might say, well that means that God's power is not alive in your life, and some might even say that you're damned. That doesn't hold up to Scripture because we look at great men like David, and Elijah, and Moses, and the apostle Peter with great respect, and yet, the Scriptures record for us in each case that these men fell at some point or another to temptation. 

So then, what does failing a temptation or a test mean? It means that we need the Savior. It proves that we cannot overcome in the power of our own might. It may be that we are allowed to go through a trial or temptation and we fail because we need to be humbled. It might be because God wants to wake up a slumbering saint. There's always a purpose. It also proves that there's a battle between the old nature and the new nature within us. Paul writes in Romans 7:15, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do; but what I hate, I do. 

Verse 22, For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warning against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Then he goes on to answer the question. I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! Philippians 3:3 says, For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, this body of death. We put no confidence in the flesh. Somebody has suggested that's probably one of the best definitions of Christianity that there is; we who put no confidence in the flesh. And because we put no confidence in the flesh, we are fearful of the times that our flesh will be put to the test, and so we cry out to God to lead us away from such trials and deliver us from the schemes of the evil one. 

Now James 1:2-4 tells us about one of the purposes of testing when he writes; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. And so we know that at least on of the purposes of trials and temptation is that we might be mature and complete not lacking anything. We'll find that as our study continues that other purposes include putting us into a place where we can minister to others and bring glory to God.

You know, the Scriptures tell us that in the book of Job that Satan was visiting the throne room one day and God pointed out His faithful servant. And Satan responded by taunting God, of course he's faithful look at all you've given to him. If you take it away, he'll curse you. And so God allowed Job's possessions and even his family to be taken from him, but he put limits on what Satan could do. Since Satan's schemes are shacked by God, it is to Him we call out and beg not to be led into temptation, but delivered from the evil one. 

Now I'm going to invite you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 10. May times as we're going through a passage and we're studying, I will recite to you Scriptures and give you the references and that's for the purpose of illuminating a particular point, but we want to study this particular passage, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, and learn seven truths about temptation. Therefore let him who thinks he stands firm take heed lest he fall. 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. Now the first of these seven truths, and if you want, if you're using your own Bible, you might go ahead and underline these words-standing firm. Temptation will strike when we are overconfident, standing firm, because overconfidence leads to a lack of vigilance.

Within the last number of decades there was a war that took place. Israel was invaded by its enemies all around and it seemed like Israel had given up without even a fight. They had not mobilized their armies. They went ahead and let their soldiers take leave and so forth, and so the enemy thought that they were sitting in victory. And over night, just a few days later, the Israeli army was mobilized and the enemy was defeated. You see, overconfidence leads to a lack of vigilance, and we must be ever vigilant at the schemes of the devil. A second word that you might want to underline is the word overtake. Temptation seeks to overtake us as a wild animal.

1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. That word seize or overtake is used to describe the intelligent purposeful activities of a hunter or a fisherman. Thirdly, you might want to underline the word common. All temptations are common to man. There exists no exclusive excuse. How many times have you said or heard someone say, no one has ever gone through what I'm going through? What are they trying to say? They're trying to say that if I fail it's because no one else has been here. That's not what the Scriptures say. The Scriptures say that there is no temptation but that which is common to man. Other people have gone through whatever it is that we go through, some have succeeded, some have failed. 

Fourthly, you might want to underline the word faithful. God is faithful. Now we might think that we're alone in the midst of the temptation, but God is always with us. Hebrews tells us that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. And that's very important because Satan is smarter and stronger than we are, and if it were not for the constant protection and presence of God, we would be defeated. Satan waits for an opportunity to trip us up. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. I'll just use verse 4. Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be ale to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. This is a reference to God who comforts us in all our troubles. In all of our troubles God is present comforting us. And then it goes on to tell us that sometimes we go through troubles so that we can comfort others who are going to go through similar situations. 

Fifthly, you might want to underline the phrase, beyond what you can bear. God never allows us to endure temptations beyond which we are able to bear. Now the word there for you is singular not plural, and what it means is that each and every one of us has a different threshold. As we're being tempted one of us might stumble at this point, and another stumble at this point, and another stumble at a farther point. And no temptation will ever be allowed to exceed our individual personal threshold. Now what does that mean? That means that we can't blame God for our failure. Whatever temptation we fail at, was not beyond our ability to defeat. You might want to underline the phrase, provide a way out. Because sixthly, God will always provide a way out. 

The music that we selected this morning was in preparation of this message. One of the selections that we chose was; God will make a way when there seems no other way, He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me, He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side; protection in the shadow of His wing. The word provide is actually the same word as create. It was used in the forming of Adam and Eve. God will create a way of escape for us. Seventhly, you might want to underline the word stand up under it, because God always limits temptation so that we can stand up under it or bear it. It means to endure underneath it. We can't tell ourselves, I can't take anymore, the temptation is too much, and use it as an excuse for failure because God's Word tells us that He will never allow a temptation too great for us. It means that we cannot blame God. 

Now let's look at another passage that gives us more insights. It's found in James 1:13-17. In James 1:13-17 we're going to look at how temptation works. 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. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 

Now the first of seven observations on how temptation works is that God is never the ultimate source of evil. When tempted, no one should say God it tempting me for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does He tempt anyone. Now we as people have a tendency to blame others for our own failures, and God gets an awful lot of blame. This is true from the very beginning of mankind when God confronted Adam in the garden, what did Adam say? He said, God, the woman that you gave me. And what was he saying? It's not my fault, God, it's the woman's fault. And if it's not her fault, it's Your fault because You gave her to me. Okay? God gets blamed an awful lot. Mankind is always blaming others, or circumstances, or God for their own failures.

Secondly, God is always the ultimate source of everything that's good. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights. That phrase, Father of heavenly lights, is a reference to God as Creator because He created the heavenly lights; the sun, the moon, the stars in whom there is no shadow or changing. You know, when you look at the sky the lights change. The sun might be brighter on given days. The moon might also be brighter, and the stars and so forth. They change, but God never changes. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thirdly, every temptation purposefully seeks to deceive. The evil one wants to make us think that the price for sin is small, but when we're tempted our value system is disoriented and the clarity of our vision is impaired. For Eve, she only saw one tree in the middle of the garden when God had clearly defined the middle of the garden as having two trees. 

The fish only sees the worm not the hook nor the stringer nor the fisherman's knife and grill. If we knew the full cost of partaking in a sin before, we would never partake. Fourthly, every temptation becomes effective when we are dragged away or distracted. As a fish is drawn to the flashing lure of a fisherman, we are drawn to temptation. The evil one works as a magician trying to get our attention where he wants it, distracting or dragging away our attention. Fifthly, every temptation can only work because of our own evil desire. You might want to circle the word own, our own lust. You see temptations power is from within. It's the evil nature at work within us. And the desires that reside in each of us are different. 

You know, what would lure one person will have no affect on another person. Different kinds of fish are lured by different kinds of lures. One person might be lured to violence, another one to sexual immorality, another to theft, another to lying, and yet another to coveting that which belongs to someone else. You might be out with a friend and they start saying we've got to get out of here; we've got to get out of here. And you say, well why? We're in a store and we're here to. Because I feel like I've got to shoplift something. And you're in the same place they are, you're looking at the very same thing, but it has absolutely no lure for you, but your lure, your weakness is some other place. 

Sixthly, our distraction towards evil desire leads us to be enticed. This is literally a fishing term, and it's like a fish toying with the worm. We begin to play with the prospect of our evil inclination. We begin to plan and prepare. You know, we have no control over what comes into our minds. We're driving down the highway and you see the billboards; thoughts are flashed into our minds. When you're watching television and a commercial pops up; thoughts are flashed into our minds. When you go for groceries in the store we look at the front covers of magazines; thoughts are flashed into our minds. There's nothing we can do to control the thoughts that come into our minds, but the Scriptures tell us there is something we can do about the thoughts that stay in our minds. 

Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Scripture is telling us that we should focus our attentions, our thought processes, on things that are godly. Seventh, every temptation has as its ultimate goal making us sin. 

The Bible tells us to flee temptation, but we have a tendency to want to play with it. We think we know where the line is and we're going to see just how close we can get to that line without swallowing the hook. As we toy with temptation its affect upon us, its lure, increases and our resolve is systematically undermined. After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown, brings death. Desire has conceived, is a phrase that is a reference to our decision to sin. Sometimes, like in humans, there's a time lapse between conception and the birth of a child. And often times there is a time lapse between when we conceive, when we've made our decision to sin, and the opportunity to sin comes along. Sin, if allowed to grow, will eventually destroy us. The wages of sin is always death. 

Now since all of us deal with temptation, how should we deal with it? There are some questions that we need to ask. What do we do it we're being tempted? The first thing we should do is to call out to God. David called out. Many of the Psalms record his pleas to the Lord to come to his aid and to save him from his enemies outside of him and within. In Psalm 17:5 and following, Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings. Protect me Lord next to Your side. 

Secondly, fill your mind with godly thoughts. Psalm 119:11 says, Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Romans 12:2 says, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Even in the midst of temptation you'll be able to know what God's will is and approve of it by your choice. Third, choose a mature, trustworthy Christian man if you're a man, or a woman if you're a woman, and partner with them to overcome the temptation and grow in Christ though the experience. As we've already noted, one of the reasons that we are in experiences of temptation is an opportunity for growth. Next, identify and change habit patterns that put you in jeopardy. Observe where, and when, and how, and with whom you are as you're being tempted and then change the pattern. You see, falling to temptation requires two ingredients; appetite and opportunity. If one has the opportunity, but no appetite, one will not fall. If one has the appetite, but not the opportunity, one will not fall. If you're dealing with an appetite then control the opportunity. Do not place yourself where you're tempted to stumble.

Lastly, practice holiness. Fill your mind and your time with God and godly things. Read the Bible daily. Set your mind on things above not on things of this earth. Pray continually, not just the perfunctory times at meal and when you go to bed, but continuously though the day. Clearly identify yourself as a Christian. You have a name to live up to. Your choices will reflect honor or dishonor upon the name of Christ. The best time in your ministry. You know that each and every Christian has been given gifts with which God intends Himself to be glorified and the church to be edified, and the best time in your ministry. Now that's what we should do if we're dealing with temptation. What do we do if we've fallen into temptation? First, stop immediately. Second, repent. Repent means to go the other direction. Turn around, turn away from your sin and go towards God. Third, confess your sin to God. For, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. And then, seek out a godly, trustworthy, mature person because James 5:16 says, The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much; and have them pray for you. 

Sometimes we need prayer warriors to help us through times of temptation. Someone might ask, well, what if I've committed the unpardonable sin? I've been asked that so many times. People concerned that they have committed the unpardonable sin. The passage that's referenced is Mark 3:28, "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; "but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation". We are drawn into relationship with the Lord because of the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit drawing us into relationship. It's the Holy Spirit of God that places within us the desire to have a right relationship with God. When someone commits the unpardonable sin, God's Holy Spirit no longer contends with that person's soul. God's Holy Spirit departs, and so that person has no spiritual dimension. That person has no spiritual sensitivities. That person has no spiritual concern that their relationship with God is right. What is being said here, the very fact that you are concerned with your relationship with God is evidence that you have not committed the unpardonable sin.

Lastly, what if we're aware of someone else who's falling into temptation. Well first, don't get proud of our own successes. Proverbs 16:18 says, Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Say, there but for the grace of God go I. God thank you that my feet are not filling that person's shoes. Thank you for your protection and Your provision. Secondly, be slow to judge. Romans 2:1 says, Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. You might say, well, you know, I never did that; whatever that might be. Yes you did. You know, if you call someone a fool, if you thought someone a fool, you've murdered them. If you've done something in your heart, you've done it. Everyone of us sitting here has broken every rule that God has. We've done it. Be slow to judge. 

In that same passage, Romans 2:4 it says, Or do you despise the riches of His goodness (kindness), forbearance (tolerance), and longsuffering (patience), not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Kindness, tolerance, and patience. Now what is that talking about? God's kindness, tolerance, and patience. You know, the instant we sin God knows about it. Now God could confront us at that moment, but God waits for the cool of the day. God gives us time to reflect upon our choices, our decisions, He gives us opportunity to repent therefrom. And you know, when God confronts, He does it, sometimes He does it by asking questions like, Adam, where are you? Adam, where are you? Now that question wasn't for God's benefit. God knew where Adam was. God knows everything. It was for Adam's benefit.

I have two children. And there's a certain level of noise that's normal in my household. When it gets quiet, it makes me nervous. And sometimes I will call out, Sterling, Crystal, where are you? Now I know they're in the house, and I have to confess it is for my benefit because usually I'm trying not to have to get up, but it's also for their benefit because if they're doing something that they know they shouldn't, and they hear daddy's voice, it gives them the opportunity to repent. God's kindness, tolerance, and patience. Not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance. Pray for God's protection on that person, that the devil might not be able to destroy them utterly. Pray for wisdom and discernment for you. You know, it may not be God's plan for you to confront them, or to confront them at this time. You know, racing in to confront a brother who's fallen or a sister who's fallen may actually contribute to their failure.

A number of years back I became aware that a dear friend had fallen into sin. I began praying for the Lord's discernment, and weeks passed and I didn't get the release, and I thought maybe I'm missing something, or maybe it's not me that supposed to do the confrontation. One day it came. It's time. And we sat down and we laid things out, and as the result, they repented and they are restored and they are in fellowship. You know, if I had confronted them weeks before that, they were in a different place and instead of repenting, they may have very well have rejected and I might have even pushed them farther from being restored. Any confrontation must be accomplished by God's chosen person, in God's chosen time, in God's chosen place, in God's chosen fashion. The confrontation must be guided by God's spirit and accomplished in humility and love. Ultimately, seeking the other person's restoration. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their sin, your Father will not forgive your sin.

Let's pray. Lord, there're so many truths. Often we fail. Thank you Lord for Your kindness and Your patience. Thank you for Your mercy; mercies that are new every morning. Thank you Lord that when we stumble and fall You pick us up and You clean us, and You encourage us to carry on. Lord we thank you for this church family where people are slow to condemn and quick to encourage, where people recognize that they too are sinners saved by grace. We depend on You for our protection and provision every day, not only in the physical realm but also in the spiritual. That You indeed love us with a great and everlasting love. Give us wisdom Lord that we might bring honor and glory to You. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. 

Let's stand together. Lord, as we go from this place this day we are overwhelmed with the task, for You have called us to be ambassadors of Your kingdom, representatives of You. And Lord, how can it be that we who are so imperfect can represent You who is perfect well? Lord we just ask that Your Holy Spirit give us guidance and protection and open our eyes to see the opportunities that You provide to proclaim Your good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Give us wisdom to know how and where, when and with whom to proclaim the gospel. Thank you Lord for Your great, great love for us. We go with You this day to share it to the world in which You placed us, in Jesus' name we pray, and together we say, amen. God bless you.