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Explore Matthew 6:5-13 to understand the importance of prayer and how it can protect us from temptation and evil. Discover the power of acknowledging God's worth, aligning our hearts with His agenda, and seeking deliverance from the spiritual evil within us. Learn practical steps to resist temptation and grow in faith.
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Sermon • Matthew 6:5-13 • Lead Us Not Into Temptation • Introduction
REVIEW: • Lead with affection for God - What we believe about God will shape our prayer life. • Acknowledge His worth in reverent adoration - The father we are approaching is also the eternal almighty God. • Align your heart with God’s agenda
5“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 Pray then like this: • “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. • 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. • 11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. • 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. • (Matthew 6:5-13 ESV)
If we are harboring unconfessed sin in our lives, or if we are holding on to hurts and resentment, then we are easy prey for the evil one.
“Life is a spiritual minefield; amid such dangers we dare not trust ourselves; Father, keep us safe.” • J.I. PACKER
What is the sixth petition? • A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. • That is: In ourselves we are so weak that we cannot stand even for a moment. Moreover, our sworn enemies—the devil, the world, and our own flesh-- do not cease to attack us.
Will You, therefore, uphold and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, so that in this spiritual war we may not go down to defeat, but always firmly resist our enemies, until we finally obtain the complete victory.
In God’s program of spiritual growth in the lives of His people, tests are used to gauge our progress, and they can be an encouragement to our growth. They may also reveal areas where we need to grow.
“Temptation may be our lot, but only a fool would make it his preference.” J.I. PACKER
The deliverance we need is not only or mainly from adverse circumstances, but from the spiritual evil within us that makes both adverse and favorable circumstances its springboard for attack.
Sin in our hearts, spawning all kinds of inclinations to do something other than God’s will and to love something or someone more than God himself, is the source of our danger. J.I.PACKER
We will experience testings, trials, and temptations (James 1:2-12; 1 Cor 10:13, 1 Peter 1) in this life, but through prayer we are tempted less than we might have been and find ourselves better equipped to handle it when it comes.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cried, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?“‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied, I answer prayer for grace and faith.These inward trials I employ, From self, and pride, to set thee free;And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou may’st seek thy all in Me.”
Believe the Truth. • Understand the Difference Between Temptation and Sin. • Understand Our Nature and God’s Power. • Take Radical Steps Not to Sin. • Pursue Accountability.
The ABC’s of coming to faith – • A - Admit that you’re weak and need grace and strength – That means there is GOOD NEWS FOR YOU • B- Believe that Jesus is the only savior who can heal your heart. • C- confess to God that you want to trust Jesus as your savior and Lord.
Our Father, which art in heaven,Hallowed be thy Name.Thy Kingdom come. Thy 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. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.