The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 6 Part 8 Help To Resist Temptation and Protection From Satan's Attacks

Jesus teaches us to set our attention upon the Father, His kingdom and glory when we pray

Matthew 6:9-12  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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. 

Christians have a pattern of prayer to follow from Christ who is our perfect example.

Our prayers should be acts of reverence and respect and a right fear of the LORD.

Our Father, the God who created and governs all things, is who hears our petitions.

For all who exercised repentant faith in Jesus Christ, the Father is now "for" us (See Romans 5 :1-11; 8:31-37).

We are urged to come boldly into His presence through prayer, because we come as His children in Christ (See Hebrews 4:14-16).

We must come having great confidence in God's promises that He will not withhold any good thing from His children (See Psalm 84:11).

We are commanded by His apostles to pray without ceasing and to continue instant in prayer (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12).

We are blessed with the Spirit of God indwelling each believer in Christ and He helps us when we pray with unheard groanings, interceding for us (See Romans 8:26).

Asking our Father for help as we face temptation and spiritual attacks from the Devil.

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

Praying this petition to the Father "Lead us not into temptation" is asking for the Father's help against any temptation that might seduce us to sin.

In the previous petition, we prayed that the guilt of sin would be removed, and this request is that we may never return to sin and that we may not be tempted to it. 

Temptations are to be prayed against, both because of the discomfort and trouble they bring and because we are in danger of being overcome by them.

If we stumble and fall into sin, then guilt and grief will surely follow.

We are vulnerable to Satan's attacks because our flesh is weak, even when our spirit is willing.

James 1:13-14  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14)54  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

The Bible is clear. God never tempts or leads any Christian into sin. 

Thus, this prayer earnestly asks “Lord, do not let Satan loose upon us; chain up that roaring lion, for he is subtle and spiteful; Lord, do not leave us to ourselves."

God cannot be tempted by evil nor will He ever lead us into being tempted to commit sin.

Rather, our active enemy knows that fleshly lusts are our most vulnerable point for his attacks.

We have fleshly lusts and can be drawn away and enticed to sin.

Thus, we are praying for the Lord to help us in this lifelong battle against the culture, the devil and our flesh.

King David faced the same struggles that we do and he prayed for help as Jesus tells us to.

Psalm 19:12-14 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13)  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

King David knew that in his flesh dwells no good thing and that he was weak and needed the LORD's mighty help.

Thus, he asked the LORD to cleanse him from any hidden tendency to sin.

Specifically, David prayed that the LORD would hold him back from presumptuous sins that would dishonor God.

He fervently asked that the LORD would not let any sin dominate his mind and pollute his soul.

Instead, David asked for the LORD to guide his inner man so that his thoughts, words and actions glorified God.

This prayer of David closely connects with the last petition Jesus taught us about in the Lord's prayer.

We look to our Father in heaven as the singular source of our help.

Psalm 121:1-8  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2)  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3)  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4)  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5)  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6)  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7)  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 ) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 

This beautiful Psalm is a close companion to what Jesus taught about the Father's help to deliver us from succumbing to temptation and the Devil's attacks.

We are praying to our heavenly Father and here, the Psalmist looks unto the hills where help from God will come. 

This is a beautiful way of remembering to look to heaven when we are tempted or attacked and we appeal to our Father for deliverance.

We pray to our Father for help against our fleshly lusts and for deliverance from our enemies because our help comes from the One True God who created all things.

We pray not to be lead into committing sin because our Father will hear and not allow our feet to slide into transgression.

We ask our Father for deliverance because He alone has the power to deliver us and He will preserve us from all evil and watch over us for our good.

All aspects of our lives, physical and spiritual, should be centered on the glory of God.

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

And as the LORD alone can keep His people from the power of temptation, so Jesus graciously taught us to pray that the LORD would keep us from the evil one who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The conclusion of this prayer pattern is our focus upon the Great Commission and kingdom living.

Our life should be lived out for the glory of God rather than consumed upon our own agendas.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

Sharing the gospel of Christ with those who do not yet know Him must be our mission.

Living according to the commands of Christ must become our pursuit.

Seeking to glorify God in all that we think, say and do must become our passion and priority.

Colossians 3:23-24  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24)  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17)  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

Only as we learn to read, study and think about the truth of God's Word, can we become entranced with the glory of God and pursuing holiness as individual Christians.

As we grow in our understanding of what God says to us in His Word, we will be equipped to worship our Father in Spirit and in truth.

Our hearts will have its affection set on the things of God instead of being mired in the cultural muck of this world.

We will be those who give thanks to our Father in all things in our earthly pilgrimage.

We will be those who enthusiastically and heartily serve God with glad hearts.

May this be the prayer of our hearts today, and may our Father find ways to use each one of us to advance His kingdom on earth.

Bob