20150814 DO I AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT SIN?

RESCUE US

Matthew 6:13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

Note: The words that are gray up above are in some manuscripts, but not in others. The NLT and other translations point this out. Since I’m using the NLT with permission I left the words as they have them.

Here Jesus teaches us to pray for protection, for rescuing from sin and the evil one. [1^st Attitude] When temptation comes do you immediately look to your Heavenly Father for assistance? Do you ask Him to help you make the right choice? [2^nd Attitude] Or do you start weighing the consequences if you give in? Do you look around to see if anyone is watching? Can you get away with this sin and not get caught?

I’ve heard it said that the strength of one’s character can be measured by what he does when no one is watching. But, God is always watching. He does not sleep, nor does He slumber.

The 2^nd Attitude above shows a heart that has not fully agreed with the Heavenly Father about sin and therefore has not fully repented. Sin is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Sin is what separated us from the Father. Sin is what made us in need of a Savior. Sin is what would send us to a devil’s hell. Sin, our sin is what Jesus took upon himself on the cross of Calvary. He died to pay the penalty for our sin, and to set us free from the law of sin and death. He gave us victory over sin, Satan and death. He didn’t do all this for us to continue to walk in sin. His desire is that we would be a light to the rest of the people in the world who don’t yet know Him.

“Why so hard on sin, preacher?” Because sin will always take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. That is not just some cute saying that preachers spout to get more “AMENS”. I have seen the devastation in the eyes of spouses who’ve been cheated on. I have heard the desperation and unbelief in the voices of children who grew up being abused. I have sat in a locked room on the other side of a table from a prisoner caught with drugs, or caught driving under the influence. I’ve watched them weep over the lost opportunities with their children and spouses. I’ve sat with the family members of one who paid the ultimate price for his or her sin and wondered, “Where do I find strength and hope to offer this family?”

Jesus wasn’t just looking for something else to add to a short prayer. He knows the hearts of men. He saw the struggles we deal with. He was tempted in every way like we are and yet He did not sin. In the garden of Gethsemane He told Peter to pray so that he wouldn’t give into temptation. See Matthew 26:41.

James tells us, James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

He doesn’t suggest we have a conversation with the tempter. No, the instructions are to 1) humble ourselves before God and 2) resist the devil. The result is that Satan will flee. It is imperative that we are humble before God and that means that we agree with Him fully. We agree that He is right about sin and therefore we look to Him for help in defeating it in our lives daily, moment by moment. Then we will not be looking around for a way to sin and not get caught. We will quickly say, “NO” to sin and the devil.

Someone put it like this, “When Satan comes knocking ask Jesus to answer the door.”

Heavenly Father, don’t let us yield to temptation and please deliver us from the evil one. Thank You for the promises in Your Word that You will indeed help us and that the evil one will indeed flee. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!