This morning we consider the 6th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:13. We look at it through James 1:12-18 as James teaches us about trials and temptations.

Temptation means, “being put to the test”. All temptations begin as honourable God-given desires (to be loved; to belong; to achieve; to feel good) that have been corrupted by sin. When these God-given desires seek to be satisfied outside the will of God, they become lust — a sin. And so, Satan plays on these God-given desires to corrupt to sin.

It is important to understand the typical pattern of temptation:
1.Natural curiosity — to wonder what it would be like if...
2.Exaggeration of God’s limitations — to make the Law of God seem foolish
3.Rationalization — to reason away God’s limitations
4.Challenge to God’s Limitations — to contradict God’s Laws
5.Stepping into Sin — the desire turned into sinful action
6.Involving Others in Your Sin — everyone else does it!
7.Awakening guilt — Knowing that you have done wrong
8.Shifting the Blame — it is always someone else’s fault
9.Suffering the Consequences — the reality hitting home.

God-given desires corrupted by temptation gives birth to sin and sin, if not repented from, leads to death!

Now, at any stage this pattern of temptation can be broken by REPENTANCE — there is always a way back in Jesus. But there is also a pattern of dealing with temptation:
1.Be quick to listen — take note of what the Bible teaches
2.Be slow to speak and get angry — don’t make excuses; think what you are about to do
3.Put away immorality and evil through Prayer
4.Be doers of the Word — Live out the Biblical Principle instead of the lustful desire.