I LOVE the model prayer (often referred to as the Lord’s prayer), and I pray it almost every day … not quote it, but pray it … so that it fits my life that day. But there is one line in that prayer that I ponder over and over … “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” (Mat 6:13). I decided I needed to know more, so I did a little research, and I learned the neatest thing!

The word for ‘temptation’ is the Greek word ‘peirasmos’. It is often translated as ‘test’, as seen in this verse…

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not, (Deu 8:2).

Pray That God Might Prevent It

Peirasmos means ‘proving’ something by experiment, and it is talking about a season of testing … to try the heart. So Jesus is saying that we can pray that God would not put us through a season of testing.

Jesus used the same word here …

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” (Mat 26:40-41).

He was encouraging the disciples to pray for the very same thing there in the garden that He had just taught them to pray in the model prayer. Jesus knew the guards would soon be approaching to take Him away, and He knew that the disciples were about to face a big test, so he encouraged them to pray that God might prevent it … in fact, that is the very thing HE had just prayed for Himself …

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will,” (Mat 26:39).

Some Fall Away During A Season Of Testing

Photo courtesy of: dustpuppy

It is very enlightening when we see that that the same word is used here …

But the ones [seeds] on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away, (Luke 8:13).

In this passage, we see a new believer who, during a season of testing, fell away … God was proving their heart. Their roots did not go down into the rich soil of the Word, and they were not able to withstand the testing. This is why it is SO important to help new believers get involved in studying God’s Word.

So the first portion of our phrase from the model prayer, in essence, says … “keep us from a season of testing.” We know that He doesn’t ALWAYS answer that prayer by keeping us from testing, because in my example of Jesus in the garden, He didn’t remove the testing of Jesus. He still had to face the guards, the trials, and the cross, because it was necessary to fulfill God’s purposes. But sometimes He WILL protect us from a season of testing.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth, (Rev 3:10).

In context it is talking about faithfulness, and that fits with the second half of our phrase in the model prayer … “But deliver us from the evil one.”

Know That You Need Help

Deliver - RUOMAI means to rescue or free, but it is in the aorist middle imperative voice, so it carries with it the idea of personal involvement … an action by the individual making the request. It means HELP us free ourselves!

And ‘evil one’ is really only one word PONEROS, which has the idea of “evil which results in sorrow.” It refers to evil in general, not just Satan. Jesus is encouraging us to ask for help. He is willing to empower us [help us] to free ourselves from evil situations.

So the phrase “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” in essence says…

“Keep us from a season of testing, BUT if we do go through a season of testing, help us not participate in evil situations.”

How To Receive Help

How do we receive God’s help during seasons of testing? By submitting to the Holy Spirit’s leadership … God’s help is conditional to our obedience.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions, (Galatians 5:16-17 NLT).

I’m so thankful we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to walk victoriously through seasons of testing.

Want to know why others are thankful? Head over to Heavenly Homemakers and visit other GratiTuesday participants.

I am also pleased to list this post at …

• Grace Alone’s “Thankful Thursday”

• Rose-Colored Glasses’ “Thankful Thursday”
  

Keeping it real,