Today at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine — the First Sunday in Lent, February 17th, 2013 — “Temptation” (Luke 4:1-13)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

In the 6th petition of the Lord’s Prayer we pray “and lead us not into temptation.” This does not mean that we ask the Lord that we never be tempted (see the actual definition from the Catechism below), but that we would not be overcome by temptation. Along the way we must come to realize that we are never called to resist on our own and without the grace and help of God. Instead, we pray that the Lord Himself would help us when temptation comes. What is the basis for our confidence in asking Him to help? The simple answer is because Christ and Christ alone overcame temptation. He is the victor over temptation for us. Here is an excerpt from this morning’s sermon:

1. Thus we pray in The Lord’s Prayer: “And lead us not into temptation.”

 

What does this mean? “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.” (Luther’s Small Catechism, explanation of the 6^th petition of the Lord’s Prayer)

2. Some of us, however, feel defeated before we even begin the fight. A mother once told her little boy that she was going to the grocery store and that he was not to touch the jam! Upon returning, the mother noticed the jam all over the little boy’s fingers and on the corners of his mouth. “Didn’t I tell you when Satan tempts you that you should tell him to get behind you?” his mother quizzed him. But the little boy explained, “Yes mommy, but as soon as he got behind me, he pushed me right into it!”

3. We can relate. We know better, but we can all say with St. Paul in Romans 7: “…I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15)

 

Part I: Away from trying to deal with temptation through our own will power and such, instead let us run to Christ!

 

1. The problem is that too often we convince ourselves that the key to overcoming temptation is our own self-discipline. In other words, “we have to be stronger.”
2. But none of us can withstand the assault. The devil is stronger than we are period.
3. There is only One who has stood against him successfully: The Lord Jesus Christ!
4. So when tempted, flee to Jesus!
5. Notice in the book of James — at chapter 4 verse 7 — where we are taught to resist the devil, the command is qualified by the part just prior to your resisting. Scripture says, “submit yourselves therefore to God.” That is, we are to return to Christ. Otherwise any so-called “resistance” is only wishful thinking!
6. We must understand that temptation is not for us to defeat. Rather, believe in the Gospel and confess the truth of what the Gospel reveals: Jesus defeated temptation FOR YOU!
7. The temptation in Luke 4 (and the other Gospel parallels) is extremely important for our Lenten season. Lent is not for you to embark on 40 days of making yourself better, but 40 days of having Christ before your eyes of faith, the ONLY ONE who faced and defeated all temptation! On account of His victory over the devil, Jesus said he saw the devil fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18). Jesus saw his defeat. Thus it is Christ’s victory we must cling to in temptation.
8. But too often our sinful pride takes over and we want to imagine that we can muster up the strength to be our own saviors. This is delusion.

I hope to see you God’s house.

In Your Service and To Christ’s Glory,

Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa

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