The Lord's Prayer - Part 4 Series

Please continue standing as we read what is most commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer”

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Over the last couple of weeks we have been taking a look at The Lord’s Prayer and today we come to verse 13 which says …

Matthew 6:13

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

Now we know that God does not temp us to sin but He does allow us to be tested and in that testing we may, of our own selves, be tempted to sin. However, whether we ever reach the point of temptation the Lord has promised to make a way that we can be delivered from evil.

This verse can also be translated;

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

James 1:13 tells us, - “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone …”

And we are told that God is actually an active Participant to help us overcome temptation in

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Wow! What a faithful God we have!

This brings up a grave error which has been embraced by much of American Christianity and that is the belief in the concept of a carnal Christian, a Christian who lives in sin.

I am always amazed by the timing that is brought about by the hand of God.

The song that Christine and Vicki sang this morning is a song that I love and that I hate, depending on the perspective. The title of the song is, "Sinner Saved by Grace."

I love the song because it reveals the great truth that before we come to Christ for salvation we are slaves to sin and God reaches to us through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son on the Cross of Calvary and saves us!

I hate the song because it leaves you with the impression that even though I am saved I am still a sinner, the only difference being that I am now a saved sinner! The only difference being one of position in the sight of God with no change in behavior!

“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil!”

Suppose there was a car repair shop that employed only the best mechanics in the world. When this repair shop worked on your car they would always correct the problem perfectly with only the best parts available! They would be the best repair shop in the world but before you could take the car out of the shop they would put a bumper sticker on it that says, “This car repaired at A1 Shop - it will break down for sure!”

Even though they would be the best repair shop in the world no one who saw the sticker would want to go there! Would you?

“Deliver us from evil.” What does it mean???

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Call someone up for a skit! Assure them that they will not need to speak but you will “reflect” their responses so that the congregation will know what they are thinking and asking.

Put a sign around their neck that says “Sinner”

Have a conversation with them like …

Hey Matt. How ya doin’? Not good, huh? That’s too bad.

Me" I’m doing fine. Why? Well, it’s because I love Jesus; I’m a Christian.

How does that help? Well, I used to life a life of sin.

The Bible says that we have all sinned!

Every one of us and sin separates us from God. In fact God HATES sin!

The Bible also says that the wages of sin is death, eternal death in Hell and while we are on earth sin will result in the death of many of our relationships and lead to all sorts of problems.

But here’s the good news, even while we were yet sinners God sent His Son to die on the cross as a payment for our sins!

The Bible also says that if we repent of our sins God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Repent means we need to turn away from our sins and cling to God and follow Him all the days of our lives!