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Pray That You May Not Enter Into Temptation

by Chris Simmons

As Jesus approached the cross and prepared to lay down His life, He went to the Mount of Olives with the twelve. As He prepared to go off by Himself to pray, He gave the admonition to the apostles in Luke 22:40 to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” After finding them sleeping, Jesus twice more gave the same direction (Matthew 22:40; Luke 22:46). Early in His ministry, in teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus’ example included the petition “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).

How important is it that we pray that we “may not enter into temptation”? Jesus’ admonition for avoiding temptation included the idea of being watchful (“keep watch with Me,” Matthew 26:38). Are we praying that we might watch for ourselves and the souls of others and that we might avoid – and not enter into – temptation? Perhaps more importantly, we need to ask and consider what our responsibility is in avoiding being led into temptation and entering into temptation.

First, if we truly want to not enter into temptation, we need to always remember to think clearly and be alert to the fact that we have a relentless adversary who seeks to destroy our very soul and that we can’t be ignorant of his schemes and devices. Peter teaches us in I Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Rest assured that even if we’re not thinking about him, he’s thinking about us and his well thought out schemes and devices. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 2:11 urging that we not be taken advantage of by Satan and that we be not “ignorant of his schemes (devices, ASV).” We must be vigilantly aware!

Similarly, if we’re aware of such a scheming adversary, we will next focus on not putting ourselves in harm’s way. We are commanded in Ephesians 4:27, “do not give the devil an opportunity.” We can’t fool ourselves into thinking that Satan isn’t a continual threat to our spiritual welfare and we must not needlessly put ourselves into situations that give him the opportunity and an unnecessary advantage. That is why Paul wrote in Romans 13:14 of the need to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” When we make the decision to go where we know people will be immodestly dressed or where “unwholesome” speech (Ephesians 4:29) will be prevalent or anywhere that our fleshly lusts will be aroused, we are choosing to put ourselves in harm’s way and we’re handing Satan an advantage he shouldn’t have. You can read of a young man who gave the devil an opportunity and who provided for the lusts of the flesh in Proverbs chapter 7 which ultimately “cost him his life” (verse 23). Our battle is hard enough, we just can’t make choices that gives Satan the advantage.

If we really believe that we’re in a great spiritual battle and desire to not enter into temptation, then we need to prepare and equip ourselves for success. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” We need to be prepared before the battle is ever engaged in and ensure that “the full armor of God” is put on and that we’re equipped to do “everything” necessary “to stand firm.” The greatest preparation of all is to spend the time and effort (i.e., “be diligent,” II Timothy 2:15) to know God’s word and be ready to use it to keep us away from temptation. Scripture will not only help us to overcome the temptations we do face, it will help us to avoid entering into the temptations we don’t need to face. God’s word is promised to make us “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:17, NKJV) which includes our ability to avoid being led into temptation.

To avoid entering into temptation, we also must prepare for a way of escape when we see moments of temptation approaching. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:12-13, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” We need to think about and prepare for the “way of escape” before we ever enter into temptation. Once we have entered into temptation, it’s too late to begin to think about how we’re going to escape this situation unscathed and “unstained” (James 1:27). That preparation for the “way of escape” needs to include our readiness to flee situations of spiritual danger (cf. I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22). Like Joseph (Genesis 39:9-13) the “way of escape” is most often achieved by simply getting out of the environment or situation where the temptation is found. We’ve got to learn to flee before it’s too late!

Running away, in and of itself isn’t enough. We’ll be far more successful avoiding entering temptation when we’re busy doing what God would have for us to do and actively seek after those things that are pleasing to God. It should be noted that each time Paul urges Christians to “flee” from sin, he immediately follows it with the command to “pursue righteousness, faith, (and) love” (I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22). We must “put our hand to the plow” and get busy doing God’s work (Luke 9:62). We must learn to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) and learn to make ourselves “useful to the Master” (II Timothy 2:21). The admonition to not “grow weary” or “lose heart” in “doing good” (Galatians 6:9; II Thessalonians 3:13) is vitally important in our efforts to avoiding the entrance into temptation. To be willing to “spend and be spent” (II Corinthians 12:15; ASV, NKJV) for the souls of others and the cause of Jesus Christ will keep the doors to temptation at bay. Oh that we all would simply be too busy and exhausted doing the work of the Lord to find ourselves entering into times of temptation.

Though we have failed in the past to avoid entering into temptation and given way to sin, through these biblical approaches, we can do better today than we’ve done in the past. May we seek God’s forgiveness for those times we’ve sinned and resolve that we will not only pray for the ability to avoid entering temptation but actually do those things that will help us overcome and draw us closer to our God (James 4:8).

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