Continuing our thoughts on our relationship with God and our worship through the words of the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13.

"9 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.
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. "

"Passing the tests of God"

Matthew 6:13.

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:"

James 1:2-4.

"2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

James 1:12-16

" 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 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 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren."

The first point to note is that God will never tempt us, so do not claim that God is tempting you when you are exposed to temptation. however, man can very easily be subjected to many temptations.

"Lead us not into temptation."

This request of God seems to be in opposition to what has just been stated in James 1:12-16, why would God lead us into a situation for which He has told us to avoid?
The "temptations" could be tests He is putting us through, to make us grow in Christ, but it still seems strange for Him to do this when it states that "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:"
This passage has produced many discussions, interpretations over the years, yet it was Jesus who told us to make this request of God, so why did Jesus do this?

The Greek word "PEIRASMOS" which is translated in the scripture passage as "Temptation"

This word can be used to indicate "a trial" or "a temptation," you have to examine the surround words and their use to decide which meaning is intended. The word is often used to have both meanings in a single Bible passage, for instant James 1:2-4.

"2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

James 1:12-16

" 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 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 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. "

James is writing to True Believers, he refers to them as his brethren over sixteen times. James starts his letter with the words "you will receive a blessing as you are put through various trials or testing by God, then in verses 13,14 he is speaking about internal, inner impulses of evil. Something is encouraging us into temptations, the same Greek word,"PEIRASMOS" is used in both situations.
This second situation is pointing out that the person being tempted is responsible for their own sins and failures.

God is Holy and will not test or tempt us in any way which will make us do wrong or fail, we are tested by God and then probably tempted by Satan, they often go together as Satan will do his utmost to stop God making us more Christ like.

It is therefore very possible that a testing by God would encourage or allow a temptation by Satan, consider Matthew 4:1-11, it was the Spirit of God which took Jesus to a situation which permitted temptation by Satan. But Jesus used the Word of God to defeat Satan.

"1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."

God knew that Jesus His Son, as the God/Man, was going to be tempted as a human being, and therefore not able to use His spiritual powers. Jesus, being tempted as a man, therefore knows what our being temptation is like. He could easily have used His Godly powers to stop Satan, but it was important that He only used his human abilities, just like us.

When we suffer a trial, from God or due to our own behaviour or desires, then we must turn to God. When we are exposed to a temptation, then every thing is focuses upon ourself, we are not likely to turn to God for help or power of resistance. Note we are all naturally sinful and a temptation takes any advantage of our weakness in a person, and this pleases Satan. A trial will make us grow stronger in God and so pleases Him, we are able to resist the temptations, to mature and improve our relationship. Giving in to temptation will lead to a feeling of guilt and a broken fellowship with God.

What if we suffer a problem or disappointment, we know that God controls all things, so is this event from Him as a trial, will this situation help us to grow in Christ or is Satan about to use the situation to place a temptation in front of our desires. Suppose we have just lost our job, does God plan for us to get a better job, more responsibility and wages, but that might open greater temptations. If we turn to God for help and possible explanation, we will find that God knows all about the situation and is allowing it to help us grow in Him. Remember that God is all powerful and can overcome any temptation from Satan. Colossians 1:16,17.

"16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

What will happen if we fail the test? We must look to God for help and guidance.
Romans 6:12

"12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are."

Galatians 5:16-18.

"16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

Our faith in the promises of God, He promised that we are saved once and forever.
1 John 1:9.

"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Lord, I am a sinner and know my weaknesses, - protect me Lord. We all need His help.
Matthew 26:40,41.

"40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Ephesians 6:13-18.

"13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

Hebrews 4:15,16.

"15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

1 Corinthians 10:13.

"13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

2 Peter 2:9.

"9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"

John 17:14-16.

"14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Jesus died for our sins and will not fail you.

A daily walk with Jesus is all we need.