Lead Me Not Into Temptation

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Peter 1; Lord's Day 52
Psalters: 173, 332, 156, 385
  1. The necessity.
    1. The tempter is Satan (David in I Chron. 21:1; Christ in Luke 4:13; Adam in Rev. 20:2) – a roaring lion and an angel of light.
    2. But the bigger problem is ourselves – sin may not rule us, but we easily drawn into sin by our flesh Canons V-4; Rom. 7:21-23)
      1. Temptation implies there is a power to sin in every child of God (James 1:13,14).
      2. Our proneness to sin and the weakness of our faith is so great that apart from grace we cannot stand a moment.
    3. This petition implies a dread of being led into temptation arising from an hatred of sin; the forgiven soul hates sin.
  2. This petition expresses our confidence in our Father’s guidance of us:  “lead us...”
    1. We ask this of our heavenly Father because we know He is in sovereign control of the situation, also of temptations.
      1. We deny dualism, where God and the devil fight each other.  Cf. Canons V - 3b,4b,6,7.
      2. God uses Satan to test or try His children, according to His infinite will and wisdom.
    2. With this petition we mean:
      1. That we be given the strength to resist, to stand in the fight, and to turn to God (Canons V, 7,11).
      2. We desire to be pleasing to God, i.e., to be holy, even as our heavenly Father is holy.
    3. Therefore we must constantly watch and prayer, lest we enter into temptation (Matt. 26:4).
  3. The God who sends the trials God, also gives deliverance, for which we fervently pray.
    1. God promises help. God is faithful (V-3b) and rich in mercy (V-6).
    2. The experience of deliverance.
    3. Conclusion: May the awareness of how easy it is for us to fall cause us to persist in resisting, praying and watching.