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Devotional For the Week 21st February 2005

The Lord’s Prayer (5)
Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:9-13

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one

Temptation – Satan’s Weapon of Mass Distraction

Satan entices us to sin by tempting us with evil incentives. He disguises his evil intentions by promising material wealth, comfort, status, power. He leads us to believe his lies that nothing bad will happen.

Just as he deceived Adam and Eve to sin by tempting them with rewards, he is doing the same to us today, for without incentives, we would never do his bidding.

Lead us not into temptation

The Lord’s prayer teaches us to recognize the fact that we are too weak to resist Satan’s temptation, and that we should ask our heavenly Father for help.

This petition teaches us 3 ways to resist Satan’s temptation:
1. Be aware and alert of Satan’s evil strategies. (See 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:1, John 10:10)
2. Confess to our weakness and inclination to sin. (See Matt 26:41, Luke 22:40)
3. Ask for God’s power to help us overcome the temptation. (See 2 Peter 2:9, 1 Cor 10:11-13, 1 John 4:4)

How to fight the battle

Only a person who is in control, with self-discipline and with the spirit of God dwelling firmly in him can fight the battle of temptation against sin and the evil one.

Therefore when we pray, we should submit ourselves fully to God for when we approach God, then He will be near to us.

Pray for God to lead us away from temptation, and to deliver us from the evil one.

Rev Vincent Goh

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