Most of us know the Lord’s prayer pretty good. Even some have it recited and use it as one of their prayers on a daily basis. This isn’t bad but also think upon the words of the prayer and its meaning for your lives. So often does the words have no more meaning when it is recited so often. That is why praying to God as the Lord taught, but in our own words is important also. Now, let us look at a portion of that prayer that is vital to our walk with God. It says, 1“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. This part of the prayer is often read but disregarded. This is because people are so used to their own life that living anything different would be too much for them. However, this is exactly what it will take for someone to be saved. Please understand that walking in the ways of the Lord means to walk in His light. We allow Him to scatter the darkness that we may be led by the Spirit. It is a transformation and the Holy Spirit can do so, if we allow it.
Jesus explained what it takes to follow Him. He said, 3“he that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” Therefore, we must think upon our own lives as God see’s us. If there is anything that God hates, then allow Him to cast it out today. 4This is exactly what happens when we confess our sins and are baptized. As we go down in the water, we die to ourselves. Then, as we go out of the water, we live for God. We are then made a new person in Christ Jesus. 2As the Lord puts it, we are born again. This very act of being born again in the Spirit is the only way we will enter the kingdom of God. It is our faith that leads us to live it out and then do the works of the Father. For as Paul said, 5“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Know that followers of Jesus do not have a license to sin. We pray that God will strengthen us and carry us through every temptation.
When it comes to temptations, James helps us understand the need for God’s deliverance and to understand that it was our choices that led up to our failings in it. He said, 6“my brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” These trying times will help us understand what it takes to endure in the faith and not give way to the evil one. It also builds our faith and helps us to become stronger in our walk with God. Even though the temptations can be very enticing and lure the flesh to give way, don’t do it, but pray that God frees you from it. Please know that Satan only wants to take us down and steal away what we have in God. He masquerades what is evil to appear good. It isn’t until guilt kicks in that we can see how bad it is. He does not want to see us come out victorious, but only see us fall victim to sin and death.
James continued and taught about enduring in our faith when trials comes. He said, 6“blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, Neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” This is a great explanation of what temptation does to a person, when he voluntarily gives into it. It is always because our flash gets in the way and God’s armor is laid low that we give ourselves over to the lusts of the flesh and not God. So I encourage you to be vigilant with God and heed His commands. Pray that you may fight against sin and temptation and do His will.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, help every one of us to stay strong in the faith and not give into the lust of the flesh. May we not lose focus on You, so that when times of trial comes, You may relieve us of the evil situation we are in. Even in the very moment that we feel tempted and catch ourselves thinking about things that we shouldn’t, may we be reminded to call upon Your Name, that You may take our thoughts captive. This way, the thoughts that have clouded our minds will be turned into good things that will glorify Your Name and no longer tear it down. Help us do this and live a righteous life in You, Jesus. I know that I am not capable of living such a life of faith, unless You are by my side. As my flesh is weak, I need You every day and every hour of my life. Your presence is what helps me choose what is right and do the right things. The Holy Spirit is able to pierce my heart when there is any sin in my life, that it may be cast out. I need this type of refreshing every day, that I may better walk in the faith. Their can’t be anything that gets in the way of Your love, Lord. Since the day of my baptism, my life has been dedicated to You. I am born again in Your Spirit and I pray that I may always do Your will and not my own. May Your ways be my ways. I trust in You, God. You are my joy and my delight. I honor You and rejoice, just to know You and have You in my life. All praise to Your Holy Name. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 6:1-15 (KJV)
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2John 3:1-8 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
3John 12:25-37 (KJV)
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
4Romans 6:1-10 (KJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
5Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
6James 1:1-15 (KJV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
