Prayer Day 11 Delivery, Please

Matthew 6:5-15
Romans 7:15-20 
Hebrews 10:19-25 
Matthew 4:1-11  

Prayer, Day 11

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” ~Jesus
Temptation is the desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment,
while threatening long-term goals.

It’s something we all face and have all given in to.
“We have all fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 

The face of temptation looks different for everyone,
but one thing is the same, when we follow temptation, sin will drag us in. 

Every. Time.

For some, it may be the urge to spend money on things you don’t need.
For others, it could the desire to eat or drink or medicate the pain away.
Or maybe for you, it’s looking to the internet to satisfy a sexual urge.
The urge to share that juicy story, the desire to arrogantly prove yourself right, the lust for more.
Temptations are everywhere, for everyone.  

As we walk through life, we look for healthy ways to handle temptations.
We put money in safe places, so we can’t spend it.
We lock away the food and drinks.
We pursue accountability partners and even counseling. 

But, if we are completely honest, even with all the safeguards, we still give into temptation. 

Because here’s the truth about temptation for anyone who does not have Christ. 
You cannot win against the temptation to sin. 
It’s absolutely impossible. 

The apostle Paul says of himself before Jesus:
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but Sin that dwells within me. 
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. 
For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”
Romans 7:15-20 

See, without the rule and reigning authority of Christ and His Righteous Life indwelling us, making us free, we are dead to life. 
We are chained to sin.
Temptation will always grip us.  

But guess what?
There is hope!

Paul concludes his description with a desperate, pleading question:
“Who will deliver me from this body of Death?!” (verse 24)

Who??!
Jesus.
Jesus delivers.

And so, Paul shouts with triumphant victory!
“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (verse 25)

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are freed unto Life! 
We are no longer under the reign of Sin and Death, tied down with no choice but to accept Temptation’s death knell, we are free. 
Free to walk away from Temptation and her seductive lies.
She doesn’t.
The Enemy never does. 

James wisely teaches, “Resist the Devil (by submitting to God), and he will flee from you.”

Peter reiterates, “Resist him (the Devil), be firm in your faith…”

Freedom from temptation begins and ends with Jesus Christ.
First, our lives fully surrendered to Him.
Second, our moments of temptation given over to Him.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

This was Jesus’ own prayer.
It was His modeled invitation declaring Himself to be
the only way out of temptation. 

Want true deliverance?
It’s found in nothing else than by calling on the Sweet Name of Jesus. 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul says, “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

During Jesus’ own experience with temptation, He again modeled for us the proper way to fight temptation: with the all-powerful Word of the LORD.  Matthew 4:1-11.  

We must use God’s Word of God to fight temptation.
Until we start fighting spiritually,
we will continue to fall into Death instead of living real life.

Just as Paul knew that through Christ alone, who took our punishment for our sin in our place, giving us His righteousness and free access to God through Himself,
he knew every victory was bound up in that powerful name of Jesus Christ.

Victory to break the chains of sin that temptation brings.
Chains keeping us in darkness.
Chains holding us in bondage.
Chains keeping us from experience of redemptive power of grace.
Chains holding us back from being fully used to glorify God. 

Temptation is strong, but our God is stronger! 

So Lord, “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
Lord, “search our hearts, know us, and remove any evil way in us.” Psalm 139:23-24 

God, You have already won the battle of our hearts, so help us walk in that freedom!
Teach us to rely solely on you, using your Word to keep us firm.
Remind us, Spirit, that we are Dead to Sin because of Jesus Christ!
Teach us, every day, in all the ways we are tempted, to give ourselves fully over to You. 
Deliver us Lord, like only you can!
And we will join with the shout of Paul,
“Thanks be to God (for the freedom that comes) through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

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