1.In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus asked the Father three times to remove the suffering He was about to face. 2.On this occasion, Peter, James, and John were with the Lord. 3.Our lesson is based on a statement that Jesus made to Peter in vs.41. 4.Jesus revealed some information that would help Peter "enter not into temptation."
A.Identifying the source of temptation will help us avoid entering into it. 1.It should reassure us to know that God is not the source of temptation. a.(vs.13) God cannot be tempted with evil, and He does not tempt anyone. b.God allows us to be tested, but He does not entice anyone to commit sin. c.Just the opposite is true (2 Peter 2:9 -- "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations"). d.If God is not the source of temptation, who is? 2.Satan is the source of temptation. a.(Matthew 4:1) Following His baptism, Jesus was led "into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." b.(Matthew 4:3) Satan is identified as "the tempter." c.Satan is also identified as our adversary (1 Peter 5:8). B.To avoid entering into temptation, we must understand how it works. 1.According to vs.14, we are tempted when we are lured away by our own desires and enticed (this temptation process is illustrated by what happened to Eve in Genesis 3:1-6). 2.James showed in this verse that the temptation process is both "universal" as well as "personal." a.The temptation process is universal in that it relates to "every man." b.The temptation process is personal in that it relates to our individual desires. C.To avoid entering into temptation, we must stop it at this point. 1.Some helpful instructions are given in James 4:7-8a. 2.Perhaps it will help us to look at two men who faced similar temptations. a.Joseph resisted Satan (Genesis 39:7-12). b.David did not resist Satan (2 Samuel 11:2-4). D.To avoid entering into temptation, we must realize that its results are deadly. 1.Desire that is allowed to conceive will result in sin. 2.The final result of sin is "death" (Isaiah 59:2). E.This information in James 1:13-15 will help us not to enter into temptation. F.Let us turn our attention to some . . .
A."Prayer" will help us to avoid entering into temptation. 1.In His model prayer Jesus taught His followers to pray: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). 2.(Matthew 26:41) Jesus told His apostles: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." 3.We need to depend upon prayer because "the flesh is weak." B."Hiding God's Word in our hearts" will help us to avoid entering into temptation. 1.This great principle is revealed in Psalm 119:11. 2.This principle sustained Jesus when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:1-11).
Conclusion:
1.Let us heed the words that Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 26:41. 2.The way we react to temptation will affect our behavior, and it will affect others by our influence.
