Lead Me Not Into Temptation
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/24/2018 AM
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Text:
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I Peter 1;
Lord's Day 52
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Psalters: |
173, 332, 156, 385 |
- The necessity.
- 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.
- 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)
- Temptation implies there is a power to sin in every child of God (James 1:13,14).
- Our proneness to sin and the weakness of our faith is so great that apart from grace we cannot stand a moment.
- This petition implies a dread of being led into temptation arising from an hatred of sin; the forgiven soul hates sin.
- This petition expresses our confidence in our Father’s guidance of us: “lead us...”
- We ask this of our heavenly Father because we know He is in sovereign control of the situation, also of temptations.
- We deny dualism, where God and the devil fight each other. Cf. Canons V - 3b,4b,6,7.
- God uses Satan to test or try His children, according to His infinite will and wisdom.
- With this petition we mean:
- That we be given the strength to resist, to stand in the fight, and to turn to God (Canons V, 7,11).
- We desire to be pleasing to God, i.e., to be holy, even as our heavenly Father is holy.
- Therefore we must constantly watch and prayer, lest we enter into temptation (Matt. 26:4).
- The God who sends the trials God, also gives deliverance, for which we fervently pray.
- God promises help. God is faithful (V-3b) and rich in mercy (V-6).
- The experience of deliverance.
- Conclusion: May the awareness of how easy it is for us to fall cause us to persist in resisting, praying and watching.