4. Against these mighty enemies we are powerless. We could not seriously think of taking up the fight against them by our own power. If we did, we would soon learn to our sorrow that we cannot successfully resist their temptations. Our enemies would gain the victory over us. In this our pitiful condition we come to our Father in heaven, who has promised us His help, and who is always with us. We pray to Him in the name of our Savior not to lead us into temptation, that is, we pray that God would guard or watch over us that such temptations may not come near us, that He would graciously defend us against them.—If is true, temptations will come. We live in this sinful world, which is full of temptations. The devil "walketh about" to devour the children of God, and our flesh tempts us with evil lust. These enemies will again and again assail us to gain their evil ends and desires. And it is for our good that God permits them to do so. But we pray God to keep us steadfast in all these temptations, to strengthen us in order that we may fight the good fight of faith against them. We pray to our Father that He may preserve us in the true faith, so that we shall finally, in the end, overcome all temptations and obtain the victory. Our heavenly Father will hear our prayer. "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." 1 Cor. 10,13. According to His good and gracious will He wants us to be faithful to the end and to be saved.
REMEMBER:—
1. We pray in this petition: My dear heavenly Father, guard and keep me against my powerful enemies, the devil, the world, and my flesh; hinder their evil will that their temptations may not approach me.
2. We pray in this petition: My dear heavenly Father, be with me in all temptations, whenever my enemies assail me, and grant me grace to fight the good fight of faith. Keep me in the true faith in Christ, my Lord, that I may finally overcome all temptations and obtain the victory.
MEMORIZE:—
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith. 1 Pet. 5,8.9.
My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not. Prov. 1,10.
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. 1 Cor. 10,13.
QUESTIONS.
1. Which is the Sixth Petition? 2. What does God indeed not do? 3. Why are we certain that God will not lead any one into temptation? 4. Why, then, do we pray God not to lead us into temptation? 5. Who are our enemies that lead us into temptation? 6. Why is the devil compared to a roaring lion? 7. Who is our second enemy? 8. What do we understand by our own flesh? 9. What is the evil will of these our enemies against us? 10. Into what do they try to lead us? 11. Who alone can help us against our powerful enemies? 12. What does it mean when we pray that God would guard us against our enemies? 13. When their temptations do assail us, what do we pray our Father in heaven to do? 14. What makes us certain that God will hear our prayer?