Matthew 4 tells the story of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Two chapters later, He is teaching the disciples to pray “Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). It might seem like a contradiction; does God lead us to temptation or does He deliver us from it? The fact is these stories are a powerful reminder of how temptation works and what we must do to resist it and walk in spiritual victory.

First, the Scripture offers great insight and encouragement on this matter.

• God tempts no one - James 1:13-14 NASB No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 

• Jesus is our example of how to overcome - Hebrews 4:15 NASB For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.

• God will help us to endure and escape - 1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

God may allow us to be led into the presence of temptation but He will never lead us to give in to the impulse of it. The decision of whether or not we yield to what we feel is our responsibility and why our daily devotion is so important. Jesus demonstrated this reality when tempted by Satan in the wilderness and on the night of His betrayal in the garden. He resisted Satan three times by declaring “It is written” and quoting the Scripture. He understood and trusted in the power of the Word of God. On the Mount of Olives, two times He tells His disciples, “Pray that you do not come into temptation” (Luke 22:40, 46). Do you see the weapons of warfare Jesus employed? Prayer and the Word of God. There is simply no substitute for having a daily God connection. Consistent prayer and Bible Study is the only way you will have the strength to keep walking in spiritual victory. 

Only one of the disciples had betrayed Jesus to turn Him over to the Romans but soon the others would face a similar temptation. Peter deeply loved Jesus and was sure he would never deny Him. Sadly, when tempted to protect himself by conforming to others, he denied the Lord three times. Temptation doesn’t wait for an invitation, it often shows up uninvited in a vulnerable moment. It will show up with colleagues at work. It creeps into the conversation at dinner tables with friends. It even lurks in the privacy of homes and bedrooms. No one is exempt, whether we like it or not. 

So, what do we do? How do we overcome? We must connect with God every day through prayer and His Word. We must die to our carnal desires and live by the power of the Spirit. None of us are strong enough to keep ourselves from falling into temptation without healthy spiritual disciplines and the work of the Holy Spirit.