In this study, we'll focus our attention on the conclusion of the Lords Prayer

“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” - Matthew 6:13

1.TESTING & TRIALS

Matthew 6:13 “Lead us not into temptation…”

In light of what the scriptures say in James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone”

If God cannot and does not tempt anyone, why are we being instructed to pray, "Lead us not into temptation"

If Jesus saying that James is wrong? If the answer is yes, we’ve got a major problem with the entirety of the scriptures.

Is He saying that God can and will lead His children into temptation so we should beg Him not to?

We need to be clear here – the answer to the question “What is Jesus saying here?” not only has huge ramifications on how we see and understand this model prayer BUT also in how we see and understand God, the Bible and the Christian life.

UNDERLINE the word “temptation”

The Greek word for temptation (pier-ras-mos) has two basic meanings and both are used in the New Testament scriptures. One is positive and the other is negative

a. In a positive sense – it means test

This speaks to various circumstances and situations that the Lord brings into our lives in order to enhance the strength of our faith and trust in Him

This word is used in James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”

Throughout the narrative of scripture, we find that in the school of faith, testing is part of the curriculum.

Sometimes, they are scheduled exams that we see coming from a distance and other times, it’s a pop quiz

Without those God-given test, we’d never know where we stand as far as spiritual maturity goes and certainly wouldn’t grow.

Proverbs 17:3 “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts”

We see Go testing His people in the Old Testament (Genesis 22, Exodus 16, ect) and in the New (John 6)

Simon Peter spoke at length about these divine test

1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ”

He later goes even further and says in 1 Peter 4:12-13

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy”

So, in a positive sense, the Greek word used for temptation means a test, sent by God, for our own good and His own glory

b. In A Negative Sense

Peir-ras-mos – means seduced to do evil

In the very same chapter where James says that we should consider is joy when we face temptation, knowing that God has sent it as a character developing, faith building test…HE USES THE SAME WORD in verses 13-14

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed”

The same Greek word for temptation is used positively in verse 2 and negatively in verse 13

HERE IN THE LORDS PRAYER - Matthew 6:13 “Lead us not into temptation…”

Is Jesus talking about peir-ras-mos that is positive or negative, good or bad? – I think the answer is YES.

Let me explain with a statement: What God will give us as a good test will be used by Satan as a bad temptation.

The key here is the double-meaning of this Greek word – meanings which seem to on opposite ends of the spectrum to us may not be that far apart.

Maybe that’s why James and other Biblical writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, use the same word in both senses in the same passage.

The idea that's being conveyed - WE’RE going to be tested by God and tempted by Satan // The test God sends is highjacked by Satan

What God intends to allow us to walk through in order to accomplish His good purposes in our lives, Satan co-opts for His own evil purposes.

God never solicits His children to sin. He can’t. He takes no delight in our sin. He can not, does not and will not play some twisted, cruel game with the people He loves, demanding our holiness while setting us up to fail.

He does however cause or allow His children, for their own good and His glory, to go to a place or season of great testing and it’s often in the midst of that testing that Satan comes along with temptation.

WHEN WE PRAY – “Lead us not into temptation”, we’re not asking God to keep us from the good test that He sends into our lives.

Neither are we asking God not to tempt us.

We’re Saying: Lord, as you test me, I know that Satan will tempt me.

We’re acknowledging that both testing from God and temptation from Satan are going to be part of our lives until our faith becomes sight in Heaven. They’ll most often come at the same time. Father, we are weak. Our sheer willpower to resist the temptation of Satan is inadequate.

As we pray, “Lead us not into temptation” – we’re not asking God to grant us more willpower to fend off the temptation of Satan, we’re asking Him to shield us from those areas of temptation.

2. TRIUMPH

The conclusion of the Lords prayer is a powerful, resounding reminder that our God reigns and that our help during temptation comes from on high

Matthew 6:13 “Deliver us from evil”

Most Bible scholars agree that this is better and more accurately translated, “Deliver us from the evil one”

In other words: Evil is not to be viewed as some inanimate force but as a personal being – Satan

We live in an age where many consider themselves too sophisticated to give credence to the idea or concept of a literal devil.

The greatest trick the devil has ever played was convincing people that he doesn’t exist.

Most of the people that we’ll encounter in life have bought into this deception.

THAT’S A BOLD STATEMENT but I say it with confidence because it’s fleshed out in the way they live their lives. They come and go, say and do – as they please with not so much as a passing thought of the reality that there will one day be a reckoning…literally, there will be hell to pay

On the flip side, there are also those who give too much credence to the devil, more credit than he deserves. They ascribe ability and power to him that he does not possess.

They look for him under every rock and think he’s hiding behind every tree. They see him in every uncomfortable circumstance, difficult situation or inconvenience that comes their way.

Knowing who our enemy is and how he operates is paramount in engaging in spiritual battle

a. He’s A Created Being

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him”

The Bible never explicitly tells us when Satan originated. He presumably came into existence sometime after the creation of God’s perfect world prior to his appearance in Eden.

b. Satan Rebelled Against His Creator

According to Scripture, there was once an angelic insurrection against heaven’s King

On two occasions the New Testament speaks of a time when angels turned on God and fell into wickedness:

2 Peter 2:4 “God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment”

Jude 6 “The angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day”

The Old Testament speaks specifically about Satan’s fall: Isaiah 14:12-15

“How you are fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”

Jesus witnessed the fall of Satan – He spoke about it in Luke 10:18 “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

c. Satan Is Your Powerful Adversary

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

As he prowls – He is called “the father of lies” (John 8), “the evil one” (Matt. 13:19), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).

We witness him spearheading attacks on God’s people (Job 1:6; 1 Chron. 21:1; Zech 3:1), with “power” (Acts 26:18) to “bind” (Luke 13:16) and “oppress” (Acts 10:38).

He steals, kills, and destroys – he wants to ruin your life, your family, your church

SO - there’s incredible wisdom in taking Satan and his attacks with a blood earnest seriousness BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE – While he is an immensely powerful being, don’t get it twisted, He is not like God. Not even close.

Our God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient.

Satan does not have unlimited power, he cannot be everywhere at once, and he does not know everything. He is a created, limited being. He depends upon God for his existence.

When we pray, as Jesus taught us, “deliver us from evil”– we’re recognizing that evil exist, that it’s source is lurking in the shadows even right as we meet here this morning – seeking to reek havoc

BUT our plea for deliverance suggest that we believe that there is one who is greater than he.

The Lords Prayer concludes with a doxology: Matthew 6:13 “For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Depending on what translation you use, this doxology may or may not be included.

While it is recorded in older translations such as the King James, it’s omitted from more modern versions such as the NIV or ESV

The reason is simple: When the King James Version was translated into the English language, they used the oldest and most reliable manuscripts that had been discovered at that time in history.

These weren’t original manuscripts but the result of an examination of a handful of manuscripts that dated all the way back to the 12th century. They included this doxology.

Through the passage of time, there have been manuscripts found that date much further back in time, much closer to the time when the original authors put pen to papyrus paper. Over 5,800 manuscripts, actually…some dating back to within a century of the Apostles.

In the oldest and most reliable manuscripts we have, this doxology wasn’t included.

For this reason, the vast majority of scholars today agree that the words “For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever” weren’t penned by Matthew but added by Christians in the early church to give a final word of praise to God at the end of this prayer.

SO – should we include this doxology in our praying of the Lords prayer?

Well, a doxology is defined as “an expression of praise” and it’s always appropriate to do that!

Besides, this traditional doxology perfectly sums up the character of this prayer as it exclaims that ultimately the goal of our prayers and lives – all about Gods Kingdom, His power and His glory