Praying About Temptation

When we confront temptation, we face an enemy we know little or nothing about. We make assumptions about how to attack it. We guess at how to defend ourselves against it. But until we possess the right information, we lack the ability to fight and defend against it effectively.

KEY VERSES

Matthew 6:13 (NASB)

13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

James 1:2-4, 12-14 (NASB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Luke 4:1-13 (NASB)

1 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)

13 Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.


UNDERSTANDING

  • On a scale of 1 to 10, how aware are you on a daily basis of your propensity to sin?

  • Can you think too much about your own sin? Can you think about your own sin too little? Explain.

  • In what specific ways are you likely to be tempted today? How should that recognition change the way you pray?

  • Why do you need God to lead you? What does He deliver you from?

  • When you ask God to lead you, what are you acknowledging about yourself? What are you saying about His character?

  • Do you tend to think you can handle temptation on your own? How can you tell whether you’re handling temptation in your own power or in God’s?

  • If you’re confronted with temptation, is it God’s fault for leading you into that situation? Why or why not?

  • How does recognizing that your trust in God is at stake change the way you look at being tempted?

  • How would your prayer life change if you prayed from a resolute posture of victory in Christ? What obstacles tend to keep you from doing so?

  • Why is it dangerous to think of yourself as being above a certain temptation or sin?

  • Why is it important to recognize that God doesn’t tempt anyone? Why is it important to accept the fact that we’re enticed to sin by our own evil desires?

  • Does it surprise you that Jesus used God’s Word to fight temptation? Why or why not?

  • How does reminding yourself of who God is serve as a weapon when you battle temptation?

  • How does your current commitment to reading God’s Word reveal how important you believe it to be?

  • Can you think of a particular temptation in which you saw God provide a way out? What role did God’s Word play in recognizing that way out?

  • What factors keep you from actively looking for and then taking the way out of tempta- tion that God provides?

APPLICATION

  • Pastor Jeff made the following points of application: “Accept that temptation is the common experience of all people. Remember God is faithful, even when we may not be. Realize Your temptation is not more than you can endure. Look for God’s way of escape.
    “ Which of these stands out to you the most personally as something you need to do this week? Explain.

  • Why do you think we tend to compare ourselves to others and think we’re doing ok, instead of comparing ourselves to Christ and realizing we need God’s power?

  • As you pray, in what specific ways can you remind yourself that Christ has already won the war?

  • What are some specific ways you’ve seen God’s power at work in your life when you’ve faced temptations? What role did prayer play in those situations?

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