lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

The Lords prayer. 

Mathew 6:9-13   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.  A-men.

The night Christ was betrayed

Luke 22:39-46  39) And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42) Saying, Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43) and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Christ knew what things he must suffer that night and the crucifixion that awaited him the next day.  As the man of flesh, he wanted to be delivered from this torture and suffering, as God he knew it must be done.  His flesh knew that he was God, and he could take over the world, and be the Kings of kings right then and there.  He could call down a legion of angles and destroy the Roman army, with just a snap of his finger.  He was in such turmoil, God sent an angel to comfort him.  He knew this was his last night as a human on this earth.  His prayer was for God not to let him enter into temptation.

As Christians, we tend to get lax and comfortable in our lives, and forget this simple prayer the Lord gave us.  How many great, big name evangelist have fallen from their ministry because they were tempted and fell into that temptation?  Don’t let this befall you.  When Christ said to his sleeping disciples to rise and pray, lest they enter into temptation, this was some of the last human words Christ gave his disciples before he was taken.  Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  None of us are so set, that we don’t need this prayer daily. Of all the things Christ could have said to his disciples that last night, he thought this was the most important.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Genesis 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Genesis 7: 15-16   15) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.  16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

After God shut the door on the ark, it was impossible for any one else to enter.

Mathew 25: 1-10   1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

I Corinthians 15: 51-52   51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,  52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Thessalonians 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Our pastor asked us one time, “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”  You need to make sure you’re always ready to stand before God, because if you get killed in a car wreck or some other accident, they you just had your rapture.  Make sure you live your daily lives ready at any moment to meet Christ.

For God so loved the world

God gave his Son for us

John 3:16-17   16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The law led us to Christ, but now we have Christ we no longer need the law.

Galatians 2:22-29   22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should after-wards be revealed.  24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Spirit of God now lives in us

I Corinthians 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Now you are Christ, so put away all the acts of the flesh and put on the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-8   1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal

II Corinthians 10: 3-5   3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Until our earthly bodies pass away, we are forced to live in these bodies of flesh, but we are spiritual beings.  Therefore our battles are with worldly desires and spiritual foes.  We do not fight our battles as the rest of the world does, but the power of our warfare is through God.  We always make sure God is over everything in our lives, and we put nothing over God.

Ephesians 5: 1-8  1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;  4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Christ allowed himself to be our sacrifice.  He presented his blood before the alter of God. For those who believe, all their sins are now forgiven.  We are now the property of Christ, so we should make every effort to conduct ourselves as Christ’s.

Are you ready to stand before God?

II Corinthians 5: 20 thru 6: 6 -  20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  1) We then, as workers together with him (Christ), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)  3) Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:  4) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,   5) In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in fastings;  6) By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love without hypocrisy, 

One thing I know about this life, is we will all die sooner or later.  Our time on this world will come to an end. Our bodies will pass away, and our spirit will stand before God.  Will you be ready?  At that time, it won’t matter how much of this worlds goods you acquired while your were here.  All the things you have done here will be exposed before God.  Paul breaks these down into two classes: 1) wood, hay & stubble, 2) Gold, silver & precious stones.  These works will be tested by fire, so it goes without saying which ones will be the important ones before God. 

In I Timothy 6:7 says For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

If you are a Christian, make sure your ready to stand before God.  If you have any active sin in your life you are battling with (drunkenness, adultery, fornication, pornography, lust for money etc.).  Begin right now to confess that before God, and start overcoming that temptation with God’s help through prayer and fastings if need be.  Prepare yourself to be ready to stand before God.