LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:9-10, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Pastor Ed Newton has reminded us that our God is Father, King, Provider, Forgiver.; He is also our Leader and our Deliverer. Pastor Newton said, “To lead means to bring something/someone into the existence. In this case to bring people into the presence of Jesus and the forgiveness He offers”. Jesus tells us to “follow Him and He will be a shield to us”. He leads us as we trust in Him, trusting in His ways and not trusting or leaning on our own understanding. Psalm 23:2 describes the direction he leads us into. “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (from the Listener Guide).

When Believers pray “lead us not into temptation” it is necessary to understand that God never leads us into temptation. James’ writing is very clear! “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (James 1:13-14). Pastor added, “Our own hearts lead us; our flesh makes us do what we do not want to do.”

All Believers experience continual temptations. Understand the devil knows what triggers each Believer to be tempted. He is not omniscient, omnipresent; “but he does watch and keep notes on the weaknesses of Believers. He does not waste time on me in the areas I cannot be tempted; but he does do everything he can to cause me to fail in those areas where I am weakest. God establishes boundaries for those who follow Him and walk a narrow way. That way to His kingdom is narrow because it helps Believers to walk as He demands in order to become like Jesus. Walking the narrow way is the way Believers overcome “which is through a heart transformation” (Pastor Newton).

Believers are “To count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4) (from the Listener Guide). “If we did not face the temptation or go through it, we would not grow in our relationship with our Father” (Pastor Newton). Remember, God does not tempt you; He goes through the trial/temptation with you to help you grow in the image of His Son.

“But deliver us from evil”! To “deliver” is release or break the bonds. We are in the Christmas season, and it is important to remember that the Lord Jesus came to save us from the works of the devil! He came to die on a cross for the sins, all the sins, of those who believe in Him and walk the narrow way with Him. “He wants all people to be saved and the walk in freedom” (pastor Newton). He wants us to be delivered “from” the power of sin! Romans 6:6-7 tells us, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin” (Listener Guide). You might be thinking that all sounds great, but you still have lots of difficulty. The key to walking on the narrow way is found in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”. The Holy Spirit will prompt the Believer about doing wrong, about staying out of places where resisting temptation is too difficult. Romans 8:11 tells Believers, “If the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you”! Believers realize the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you, who gives you power to overcome all trials/temptation the devil throws at you! Through the Holy spirit you have the power to be victorious over evil!