Matthew 6: 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray after he had been baptized by John the Baptist. At the time of his baptism the heavens had opened up over Jesus and the voice of his Father was heard to say: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” No sooner had this happened, we read that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (See Matthew 3:13 – 17 and Matthew 4:1).

Is it because Jesus had gone through his hour of temptation why he taught his disciples to pray in this way? And why does it say “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil”? I found myself pondering this for a moment and became quite confused. Does the Holy Spirit lead us to be tempted? I wanted to be sure I understood so as not to mislead anyone. The Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts and was quite emphatic with the following guidance:

“I have taught what I have taught. Listen, my Word is clear. My Son was sent to deliver mankind from the grasp of Satan. His unity with me guaranteed that he would be delivered from temptation. Those who identify with my Son have the same protection. I do not deliver them over to the devil to be tempted. I am on board with them. It is I who will bring them through their hour of temptation if they are truly mine and are depending on me for deliverance. My children should never think that they are capable on their own of surviving temptation. They must always look to me.”