Little things can and do make a difference. Remember the big power failure back east last year. The New York Times reported, “one sagging electrical line near Cleveland, Ohio, connected with a tree branch at 3:32 p.m. on August 14, 2003, beginning a chain of events which led to the largest blackout in American history.” And there were those who though it might be terrorism.
The paper continues, “According to the most comprehensive study yet, the failure of this single transmission line caused a utility company in southern Ohio to overload and seal itself off from the now infamous power grid…this created a huge need for power, and Cleveland began sucking an unsustainable amount of electricity from Michigan and Ontario…knocking out more transmission lines and generating plants. When the need for more power reached New York, power plants there sealed themselves from the grid in order to protect their own systems. This, however, created a new problem when New York, ironically, had too much electricity and overloaded its own system. The result: history’s largest shutdown.
Here’s another example of a small beginning with huge consequences-temptation. We smile at the comments of those like Oscar Wilde who said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” Samuel Levenson who wrote, “Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we’ll find it.” Or Mark Twain’s statement, “I deal with temptation by yielding to it.” But we also run a huge risk when we downplay the power and importance of temptation, and when we don’t learn how to deal with it when it comes upon us.
RESULTS AND NATURE OF TEMPTATION
Temptation will shipwreck a life faster than an iceberg hitting the Titanic. Don’t believe me? Every marriage you ever seen wrecked was destroyed by temptation that was let go. Every person you know, whose life was sucked dry by drugs, or other compulsions began those disastrous paths under the guidance of temptation. The integrity of entire religions have taken a horrible blow because of the temptation that some gave into. Careers, finances, personal integrity and political futures have all been driven into the abyss by the power of temptation that takes over a life. So when I say we treat temptation too lightly it’s only because I know what it does it do.
I hope that today we can gain a better insight into how to deal with the whole idea of temptation when it comes to us. Because let me say that as followers of Jesus we will face temptations. In this prayer Jesus teaches us to pray saying “lead us not into temptation”. Matthew recalls Jesus continuing with a second phrase, “but deliver us from the evil one.” Luke’s report of this prayer stops with this phrase. I’ve chosen to divide the two up because I think they each offer us more than enough to think about on their own.
Let me quickly clear up something’s about this idea of temptation. The word used here has two meanings. We generally think of it as a negative term that involves attempting to sway someone to do something bad or wrong. But another equally valid translation is to “test” as in to test the validity of our faith or to test some aspect of our character.
TEMPTATION AND GOD
I believe that Jesus has this second idea in mind when he teaches us because we know from other scriptures that God doesn’t tempt us to do evil. James makes that clear in his letter to a church that was trying to pass off their sins on God (James 1:12-14). God does test us. That’s what the Holy Spirit did when it lead Jesus into the wilderness to be confronted by Satan. It’s what Paul does when he writes the Corinthians about their gifts for the church in Jerusalem. God test’s Paul hearts where tells the Thessalonians that God test’s his and his companion’s hearts.
Roy Zuefeldt, the pastor I worked with in Abilene Texas had a great story he used to tell. Two twins grew up in a home where the father was an alcoholic and abusive. As adults one of the boys became like his father. The other became an outspoken critic of any alcohol use. When they were asked why they turned out the way they did they both answered, “what did you expect with my upbringing?” The same situations, the exact same circumstances can both lead us to sin or serve as a God-given opportunity to test our faith. At such times we can echo Joseph’s comment to his brothers when he said, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)
As the book of Job shows God approves any testing that comes against us. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul says that the temptations we face are common. Yet God will make “the way of escape” when we face them. We need to hear this loud and clear—God believes in us. God believes in our ability to remain true to him. God believes in our love for Him.
How do we face temptations without failing God and ending up lost in some sin or another? A starting place is to realize that we’re no match for the testing we face unless we face it with the power of the Holy Spirit. The quickest way to fail a test of our faith is to think you’ve got the power to do it. From Everquest to NASCAR it takes more than one person to make it over the hurdles. If you want to fail when tested then face the temptation by yourself, on your power, with your authority. Just don’t be surprised when you end up flat on your face.
The greatest weapon we have in the face of temptation is prayer. Why? Because Jesus told us too. Beyond that Jesus himself prayed this way. Just before His arrest he prays, “Let this cup pass from me.” To face the tests and temptations with prayer does a couple of things. It causes us to become dependent on God for His power—we’re not facing it alone. But it also ties us into God’s will about the matter. In prayer, like Jesus did in the garden, we admit that we don’t know God’s answer to the testing and temptation we face but we give Him the authority to take charge of our life and lead us through it.
PRACTICAL STEPS
Let’s take a look at your insert and get a couple of practical first steps to take.
Ø Reflect on your past week and the temptations and test you faced. It could have been in the area of purity or being truthful. Maybe it related to the way you did your job or schoolwork or how you treated a friend, spouse, co-worker or homeless person. Perhaps you faced a choice about some obsessive/compulsive behavior or standing firm for Jesus in a discussion.
What was the nature of the temptation/test? How was it a test? In what way was temptation involved? How did you do?
Ø Consider what it is that leads you into these situations? A smoker came to their doctor and told him they wanted to quit. The first thing the doctor did was to let them know that this persons first step was to take a 3x5 card and keep it with their package of cigarettes. Whenever they smoked one they were to write down what it is that triggered the urge. Had they just finished eating, been in an argument, etc…
What do you see in your life that leads into places where you become tempted? It could be the people you are with or the fact that you’re alone behind a closed door. You could be alone with a sense of grief or lost in a computer world. It could be as simple as the acronym HALT—which AA and other 12 step programs use to identify trigger events. HALT stands for Hungry, angry, lonely or tired.
Ø Turn it over to God in prayer. I hope you’ve seen the pattern that to learn about the Lord’s Prayer means we pray a lot more than the Lord’s Prayer. Let God have the situations you face and the fear you have about failing Him. Leave the temptation at His feat and thank God for His power, love and belief in you. Here’s an example:
Lord, You see us in every situation of life. You know what I face even today. Right now I am tested and tempted by ___________________. I do not want to fail You so I am giving this situation to You. I ask you to keep me from the darkness where I lose my way. I ask You, by the power of Your Holy Spirit to let me stay strong for You. Thank You for giving me Your promises. Thank You for believing in me when I’m not sure I believe in myself. And thank You for Your power to see me through this. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
