Lead Us Not Into Temptation Part Two Series

Lead Us Not Into Temptation (2)

The King and His Kingdom

OKAY - I want to start off this morning by reading several passages of Scripture that are both powerful and inspiring.

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. - John 4:14

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. – John 10:10

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:12,13

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6,7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy… - 1 Peter 3:18

Prayer

QUESTION – have you ever read Scriptures like the ones we just read, Scriptures that describe this full and abundant life that is supposedly ours as a Jesus follower…

Never thirsty again, Content in every and any situation

Able to ensure and stand up under all things through Christ

No longer being anxious about ‘anything’

Having a living hope and experiencing a peace that passes, that transcends all understanding, and

Being filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy

AGAIN – have you ever read passages like that and thought... “yeah sounds great, but my life sure doesn’t look like that. INSTEAD -

AND – how come every time I try to experience that life, it’s like I’m walking into a stiff wind or running uphill into a brick wall. QUESTION...

Why, is life so hard, so difficult?

Why, is it at times such a struggle?

Why do our best efforts seem to never go unopposed.

BECAUSE – as we said last week, as we began unpacking the closing words of the greatest prayer ever prayed...

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

BECAUSE – we have a powerful and unrelenting enemy who has declared war on us.

As John Eldredge writes in his book ‘Waking The Dead’

By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn’t just roll in on a tray. There is a thief. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. In other words… yes, the offer is life, but you’re going to have to fight for it because there’s an enemy in your life with a different agenda.

OKAY MGCC – here’s the deal...

IF YOU – want to experience the abundant life that God has for you, you will need to fight for it, and listen in order to fight to win, you must know 3 things, you must

Know Your Enemy

Know Your Responsibility, and

Know Your God

NOW – some of our conversation this morning will be review (review is good), However, most will be new stuff.

AND B/S– I really want to encourage you to lean into our study morning... BECAUSE – falling into temptation is like a really ‘huge deal.’

I MEAN – check out what Jesus’ ½ brother James wrote to us in the first chapter of His letter ..

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

UNDERSTAND – God never tempts us to sin.

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

Dragged away and enticed are fishing terms.

Bait is dropped before us, we are attracted to the bait

And we okay until we take that bite.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

– James 1:13-15

Death = spiritual death = separation from God

OKAY – let’s this do this.

MGCC – to win the battle, the war, this struggle with falling into temptation and doing evil, you need to know your enemy.

I. Know Your Enemy

NOW – last week we talked a lot about our enemy, so this will just be a ‘brief’ review.

a) Know who he is