Temptation - what is it? How do we deal with it? And how can we make sure it doesn’t wreck our lives? Do you struggle with temptation?
The Lord’s Prayer has the potential to transform the way we pray and live. Matthew 6:13 reads, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Every day the Spirit is on a mission to give us fullness of life, but also every day there is an enemy opposing this (1 Peter 5:8; Proverbs 4:23).
In Matthew 26:41 Jesus challenges us, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The Christian life is meant to be a blessed life but there are many temptations that try to entice us from the path. The path to blessing and conquest can be hard, and you will be tested and tempted daily and in different seasons. This is why the Lord’s Prayer is so powerful.
When we pray Matthew 6:13, we are asking for God to guide us and deliver us so that we can experience the best of life. When you pray, God helps you resist the temptations along the way and delivers you from evil. Let’s look at three things we can learn from this part of the Lord’s Prayer:
1. You will face temptation (Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4; 1 John 2:16)
- The lust of the flesh (Luke 4:3; Ephesians 4:19)
- The lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5-7; Ephesians 4:19; Mark 10:21-22; 1 Timothy 6:9)
- The pride of life (Luke 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:17-18)
2. You can overcome temptation (James 4:7)
- By knowing and declaring the Word (Luke 4:4,8,12; Psalm 119:105)
- By spiritual discernment (Luke 4:9-11)
- By following the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1-2,14; Galatians 5:25; Proverbs 4:18)
3. You can live above temptation through prayer (Matthew 20:39-44; Proverbs 1:14-15; John 14:6)
Apply
1. You will face temptation. The Bible makes clear that each of us will face temptation. Temptation is to live according to the world and not the word (Ephesians 2:1-3). It’s where we settle for less than God’s best in life. Simply put, temptation is when we give into sin. Sometimes there are certain seasons of acute temptation and other times there are daily subtle temptations that the enemy may use to take us off track and divert us from God’s plan for our lives. This can be day to day things like eating that donut on your diet, losing your temper with your kids or being on social media too long or bigger things like being unfaithful in marriage, stealing from your place of work or making an idol of your career. Even Jesus faced temptation (Hebrews 4:15). We read about the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4, Mark 1 and Luke 4 and how he was tested in the wilderness for 40 days by the devil. Scripture groups temptation in three areas (1 John 2:16), and Rick Warren frames these in another way, “Passions, possessions and pride; sex, salary and success; hedonism, materialism, secularism.” These are the common sins that will trip you up in life if you are not wise to them. Jesus was tempted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
- The lust of the flesh: This temptation is the distortion of desire. How did the enemy use the lust of the flesh to tempt Jesus? He used food! Jesus was fasting for 40 days and because of this had not eaten anything and was hungry (Luke 4:3). The enemy tried to test Jesus’ natural desires. The enemy will test your flesh and natural instincts, trying to distort your natural desires. This may be through sex, or food or laziness, emotion or a lack of self control. Tempted to look at what you shouldn’t, to listen to what you shouldn’t, to be negative, to gossip, to eat too much, to give up or give in, to live jealous. The lust of the flesh defines our culture. Our culture champions a ‘flesh-based framework’ for living rather than a ‘faith based and faithful framework for living’ (Ephesians 4:19). Which lusts of the flesh tempt you? Are you living by any of these?
- The lust of the eyes: This temptation is the distortion of direction and vision (Luke 4:5-7). The enemy tried to tempt Jesus by offering him the world. The highest places, position, power and possessions the world had to offer (Ephesians 4:19). People who have given into this temptation are greedy for the things of the world. Their vision is for material gain, power, position and prominence. The lust of the eyes leads us to pursue idols rather than God and it is an alluring temptation that robs us of our destiny (Mark 10:21-22; 1 Timothy 6:9). How does the lust of the eyes impact you? Is your vision God’s vision? Do you seek Him first? Do you keep your eyes fixed on Him?
- The pride of life: This temptation is the distortion of decision making. It is thinking we know better than God. It’s where pride makes us make bad decisions. It’s where we prioritise our will over following God’s will. The enemy tries to tempt Jesus with the pride of life (Luke 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:17-18). You might think you know what you are doing or be confident in your own thinking, but the Bible counters and says that your pride makes your thinking futile, your understanding darkened and that you operate out of ignorance because of your hardened heart. Does there need to be a new level of humility in your prayer life?
2. You can overcome temptation (James 4:7). Jesus shows how you can overcome temptation:
- By knowing and declaring the Word: Each time Jesus was tempted He responded with the truth. He knew the scriptures. He knew how to apply them to the situation he was facing and He spoke the word with power (Luke 4:4,8,12). When we know and speak the Word of God, we can overcome temptation (Psalm 119:105).
- By spiritual discernment: The enemy even tried to manipulate scripture in order to tempt Jesus (Luke 4:9-11). This was the same trick he used with Adam and Eve in the garden. But Jesus didn’t fall for this. Replying, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Resisting temptation requires Spiritual discernment in how to apply the word of God to your everyday challenges. This is why you must pray.
- By following the Holy Spirit: Jesus models this to us through his times of testing and the apostle Paul taught this too (Luke 4:1-2; Luke 4:14; Galatians 5:25). So when you pray, ‘lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil,’ know God is faithful. The Holy Spirit will help you, guide you and deliver you. As you face temptation God will give you wisdom, build your character and guide your steps (Proverbs 4:18).
3. You can live above temptation through prayer. Jesus conquered temptation because He prayed and was one with His Father. To beat temptation you must be persistent and determined in prayer, like Jesus praying three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 20:39-44). The enemy was persistent in tempting Jesus, but Jesus did not back down or give in. He won the battle through prayer. You cannot back down in prayer. Keep praying until you are living above temptation. Pray that you will be able to identify the temptations you are facing. Pray that God will give you the Word and the wisdom to combat the lies. Pray that the Lord will strengthen you so you can resist temptation. Do not give in (Proverbs 1:14-16). Build your spiritual muscles through prayer and refuse to give in to temptation. Pray that the Lord will help you beat temptation and deliver you from evil. If we follow Jesus, we will live above temptation and walk on the path of blessing, promise and victory (John 14:6). After facing and conquering temptation, Jesus moved in a new season of power, purpose and prophetic clarity (Luke 4:14). He was launched into ministry teaching in the synagogues and announcing his mission to bring salvation, healing and deliverance. When you live above temptation, you also come into a new season of life. You are able to live by the power of the Spirit, walk in blessing and your destiny. Decide to live the Word’s way, not the world’s way. Don’t give in to temptation and settle for counterfeit blessing. Don’t gamble with the consequences of temptation (Hebrews 12:1), “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” You will face temptation, but when you pray and when you follow the Lord’s example and pray, you can overcome it. God will protect you and guide you and help you be an overcomer in every circumstance of life.
