Lead Us Not into Temptation - Paul M. Williams

Matthew 6:7-13 It seems that almost every other month, another Christian in the position of leadership, jumps to a social media platform to announce to the world that they're stepping down from ministry due to some moral failing; or in the case of the last two months, that they're abandoning the faith altogether!  Apostasy has always existed in the ranks of the fold and exhortations abound in the New Testament, calling us as believers to perseverance!  What you ask, is the secret of enduring faith and victory?  In one word, humility!!  "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:6-8).     Indeed, we are charged with the task with taking to arm us for the fight, the whole armour of God; but we must never forget who it is that is on our side, fighting for us.  Our Lord instructed us to pray "…lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Mt. 6:13).  This petition can so easily be overlooked at times and it is the purpose of this sermon to bring it back into fresh view.  Will we not encourage ourselves in the Lord, to know that "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13)?