Pray That You May Not Enter Into Temptation
Luke 22:31-62
John Loftness
January 25, 2009

The heart of the passage is this: How Jesus dealt with the temptation to escape his calling to suffer.

The goals of this sermon:
To be amazed at who Jesus is and what he did.
To follow in his footsteps.  If he needed help as a man to overcome in temptation, how much more do we!

1. Peter and Temptation
The passage begins with a rather ominous warning for Peter: “Satan wants to sift you like wheat.”  We would put it this way: “Satan want to take you apart piece by piece.”  “He wants to shred you.” 

Jesus is leaving, and Peter is a leader among the disciples and Satan wants to take him down.

Jesus says that Peter is going to fail, but that his failure won’t be final because Jesus has prayed for him and that Jesus will be a source of strength after his spectacular failure.

Peter protests: “I’m ready to die for you Jesus.”

In verses 35-38, Jesus warns them that once he’s gone all the protections and provisions that they had will be removed.  They will be vulnerable and defenseless.  They need to gather supplies and prepare to defend themselves.

Verses 54-62.  In one night, Peter was warned.  Peter protested the idea that he could be disloyal—in fact he asserted that he would be loyal to the death.  And a few short hours later he’s tempted.  And he fails.  Spectacularly.

What went wrong?

The answer is found in Jesus.  How did he relate to temptation?

2. Jesus and Temptation.

Before he goes off to pray privately, Jesus gives them instructions: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

And then he goes a short distance from them to face his greatest trial.

His greatest trial was not Judas, who would betray him.  It was not his often clueless disciples.  It was not the fickle crowds or even the murderously jealous high priests.  It wasn’t even Satan, who had since his temptation in the wilderness three years ago been waiting for an opportunity to tempt him big time. 

His greatest trial was what his Father was asking him to do.

Verse 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me…”

If you know your Bible well, you know this cup.  It is the cup of God’s wrath.  Here are a few of the many verses that refer to it:
• Psalm 11:5-6
• Psalm 75:8
• Jeremiah 25:15

So what does Jesus’ prayer reveal?  His FATHER –the one with whom he had experienced eternal, perfect fellowship in love and harmony and delight.  His FATHER—the one with whom relationship was so close that the two persons—God the Father and God the Son—were actually—in essence—one being.  This very Father is asking him to drink the cup of wrath that for a thousand years he had been telling his prophets he was preparing for his enemies!

It’s one thing to be tried by your selfish desires; it’s one thing to be tried by Satan.  But to have your Father, your heavenly Father, ask you to experience the wrath that you not only did not deserve but that every human being who had ever stiff-armed God did deserve—This Father asks you to drink it down to the dregs.  That is temptation as has never been known before this moment in the garden and never will be known again.

He expresses his desire: “remove the cup from me.”

But then, verse 42 again, he expresses his resolve—“Not my will but yours be done.” 

“I will take what you desire over what I desire” even if the injustice of the arrangement is from the standpoint of his righteousness—outrageous.

He works it through in prayer.  He gains the strength he needs to drink the cup that was designed for his enemies by praying.

He rises to find his disciples—the disciples he had asked to pray regarding the temptations they were about to face as he was arrested and tried and executed—and they are asleep.  They are exhausted from the events of the week—the talk of danger and betrayal and death.  Sorrow is exhausting.

“Why are you sleeping?“ he asks.  “Have you no idea what you are about to face?”

It must have been a very lonely moment for Jesus.

And then he repeats the command that he gave them: “Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

3. Temptation and you and me.

Why did Peter fail?

He did not do what Jesus did.  He did not pray that he might not enter temptation.  He took a nap instead.

At first glance, this is a rather odd expression—“…not enter into temptation.”  You would expect: “Pray that you may not give in to temptation.”  Or, “Pray that you may not sin.” 

John Owen points out that to “enter” temptation is a state of one’s soul that lies somewhere between the experience of temptation and the practice of sin.

He says that we enter into temptation when our minds are entangled by the confusion that comes through entertaining thoughts of sin.

In Owen’s words:

“When we [allow] a temptation to enter into us, then we ‘enter into temptation.’  While it knocks at the door we are at liberty; but when any temptation comes in and parleys with the heart, reasons with the mind, entices and allures the affections, be it a long or a short time, do it thus insensibly and imperceptibly, or do the soul take notice of it, we ‘enter into temptation.’”  (John Owen, On Temptation)

Some ideas for how to watch and pray that you not enter into temptation

1. Pray like a child of God. 
2. Pray like a forgiven sinner. 
3. Pray having studied yourself. 
4. Pray having studied your circumstances.
5. Pray for resolve when the temptation becomes intense. 

Apply
1.  Sit down alone and ask God to reveal to you any ways you have entered into temptation.
2.  Pray according to the five points listed above.  Develop a habit of praying daily—with specifics as you have studied yourself—that you not enter into temptation.

Books
John Owen, Overcoming Sin & Temptation.
Edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor.  (Crossway Books, 2006)
http://www.wtsbooks.com/sitesearch/search.php?keywords=Overcoming+sin+and+temptation&x=0&y=0

Kris Lundgaard, The Enemy Within: Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin. 
  (P&R Publishing, 1998)
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/218/nm/The+Enemy+Within%3A+Straight+Talk+About+the+Power+and+Defeat+of+Sin+(Paperback)