Deliver Us From Evil

Prayer Matters: Praying with Power and Purpose

Part 8: Deliver Us From Evil

Matthew 6:14

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9-13

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13

Why are some Christians averse to the idea of a real Devil?

• An to those who are fanatical about evil spirits and see the Devil in everything.
• If we talk too much about the Devil, then we will undermine of sin.

“There are two and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors…”. — C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.

Why is this petition so vital to our spiritual well-being?

Praying is a vivid reminder of how dangerous and alluring sin is in our lives.

7 …if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

Critical Reasons to Pray as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:14:

1) Temptations are a and in our lives.

6…Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” Genesis 39:6-7

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Galatians 5:19-20

2) We need to withstand temptation.

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;

    she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22 All at once he followed her

    like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

23 till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

    little knowing it will cost him his life. Proverbs 7:21-23

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

• God us into temptation.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; James 1:13

• God will us to strengthen our faith.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

3) We need God to deliver us from our own temptations.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Does temptation appear internally or externally?

The answer is !

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15

29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

The Devil and his demons are real and they are at work in this world stirring up all manner of trouble, intent on destroying our spiritual lives. They especially love to make what is evil look good and what is good look evil. The Apostle Peter was crystal clear about being very aware: 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

That is a pretty vivid picture of how the devil works in this world. If I told you there was a hungry lion loose in the parking lot, how many of you would walk out to your car after the service? We might be curious, but nobody is going to walk to their car with a lion prowling around looking for someone to devour out there. But yet this is exactly what the devil is doing.

So what can we do? That’s what we are going to learn today! This powerful petition at the conclusion of Jesus’ model prayer is very important if we are going to live in a way that truly honors God in a world that conspires against Him in so many ways!

As I have done virtually every week in this series, I again give Dr. Robert Mohler Jr. credit for his outstanding insights on The Lord’s Prayer captured in his book, The Prayer that Turned the World Upside Down.