23) – “Deliver Us From Evil”
Today, our search continues through the Bible for:
“...those things most surely believed among us”.
I ask that you all join me once again in Matthew Chapter 6,
As we look once more to see what we believe about Prayer.
In fact, today we are going to be looking once more at The Lord’s Prayer
To learn from Christ - the type of heart we should be praying with,
And the kinds of things we should be praying for.
Our primary text today is based verse 13 – but for overall context,
Lets pick up our reading together back up in verse number 9. Here Jesus declares:
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
In other words, following this example and after this fashion – this is how you should pray. …Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And now our text today – take note of the first part of verse 13
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
RECAP
Last week, we focused purely on the notion of “Temptation”,
And what exactly Jesus meant when we prayed these words.
Because Jesus prayed to the Father saying: …lead us not into temptation.
And for those who may be unlearned or untaught in the Scriptures
There seems to be a suggestion here that God can in fact...
“Lead us” into – or “tempt” us to sin.
Of course a broader study of the Scriptures last week...
Quickly revealed to us that that is not the case.
In fact, there are two main Greek words translated as “Temptation” in the Bible.
The first is Pei-rázo, which among other things, means:
“To solicit”, “to persuade”, or to “entice into sin”.
However, this is not the Word Jesus used in His Prayer.
In fact, we know that God is Perfect and Holy - and that in Him is no sin at all.
The Bible makes all of this very clear to us in James 1:13 saying:
Let no man say when he is tempted [Pei-razo], I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:
God does not lead us into temptation that way...
Neither does He entice anyone to sin.
That is not what Jesus was praying about in verse 13.
Instead, He uses the Greek word Pei-ras-mós
And not only is this a completely different Greek word
But it has a different shade meaning.
Pei-ras-mós means: “to be tried” or “put to the test”.
And the truth is, that as Christians...
We are often subjected to “testing circumstances” and “trying times” in our life.
No child of God is immune to such things.
We all endure tough times...and we all have problems.
And it is in this regard - that we all face “trials” and “temptations“.
You see, a “temptation” – the way Jesus uses it,
Speaks of a trial, or a tribulation in life that tests our faith and resolve.
Now a quick look to the Scriptures and we will find
All kinds of Children of God
Having their faith tested in all kinds of ways.
Two of the most prominent examples in the OT are Job and Abraham.
Now both of these men were faithful servants of the Lord,
And those who were looking to accomplish the Lord’s will in their lives.
But even while walking the path that God had laid out for them
Their faith was severely tested by trials and tribulations in their life.
And remember, last week we discovered that...
Job had His faith directly tested by Satan.
And this is the great lesson we all have to learn,
Because sometimes our faith will be put to the test,
And often, for no other reason - than because we love the Lord
And are following His will in our lives.
Satan doesn’t like that - and so he will test our resolve.
Remember Jesus said to His disciples:
In the world ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33)
“There will be “trouble” and “affliction” in your life when you follow me”
This world is going to test you – Jesus said.
Interestingly that that word Tribulation also means:
To be “pressed”, “squeezed” or “crushed”.
And Jesus is of course speaking figuratively here of the type of pressure,
And the type of affliction and distress…
We will likely suffer out in the world because of our faith in Him.
Now as we put all of this together in the light of God’s Word last week,
We were able to begin to understand what Jesus was Praying for.
You see, Jesus recognised exactly how Satan works
And that the more we follow God…
The more we will be tested.
The more we hold to His plan for our lives…
The more trials will invariably come our way.
In fact, the more God wants to use you to accomplish His will on earth
The more tribulation is likely to befall you...
As a direct result of Satan’s influence over this world.
That was certainly the case for Job.
Interestingly, Peter also taught the brethren in 1 Peter 1:6
And he spoke to them about “manifold temptations”…
Manifold - meaning: “Different”, “diverse”, and “varied” one from another.
In other words, the tests and trials of Life – will come in all forms,
And they will test us to differing degrees.
So my trials are not likely to be the same as yours,
And yours are likely to be completely different to mine.
Different people will be tested in different ways - and some of us…
May not even be tested all that severely at all.
After all, God did not call us all to be Job...or to live job’s life.
And So Jesus instructs His disciples to pray like this,
Father…Lead us not into temptation,
Pray that God’s plan and His will for you…
Does not lead you into situations where your faith will have to be severely tested
But if, and when it does – Pray, Jesus goes onto say…
That God will also deliver us from evil:
Now it’s really this whole aspect of being “delivered from evil”
That I want us to focus on today.
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Evil is an interesting concept
Because it’s a direct result and product of sin.
Evil only exists and abounds in this world because of Satan.
This particular word used for Evil is poner-ós
And it really speaks of that which is “morally wrong” or “wicked”.
That which brings pain and suffering into our lives...is said to be Evil
a) Evil People & Deeds
Now the way this word “evil” is used throughout the Scriptures
We find it highlighting to us mankind’s sinful nature
And our own predisposition to do things that are evil in the sight of God.
Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount and He said this in Matthew 7:11:
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
“You then being evil” – Jesus says...
Alluding to the fact that mankind, due to His very nature, – has evil tendencies.
And He carries on this dialog with the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34 saying:
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Remember these were the religious leaders of the time
And Jesus even said to them - “you’re very conduct and behaviour is evil”
“The things you are doing and saying are wrong.”
b) Evil World
We even see this term “evil” used in a much broader sense also,
To not only refer to people and their conduct…
But to also refer to the philosophies and social systems of the entire world
1 John 5:19 tells us this
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
“The whole world lieth in wickedness” - John says
That term lieth speaks of something that is “placed” or “set upon a foundation”.
So this whole world is set upon a foundation of wickedness.
That term wickedness is of course the Greek word poner-ós – meaning Evil
God says this world is evil.
And for this reason Jesus tells us in John 17:16
You are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
You are not called to be evil or to live in wickedness…
Because there is something far better that God has called us to.
Its is a way of life and manner of living that is not of this world – but of God.
GOD IS GOOD
Simply put - The Bible tells us that people are sinful…
That their deeds and actions can be wicked...
And that the entire world around us is based on Evil.
Yet thankfully - Jesus tells us that you and I can be different.
Notice again just the opening statement of 1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God…
So there is a difference between us and the wickedness of others
And there is a difference between us living in the world…
And the Evil of the world in which we live.
“We are of God” – That simply speaks of a separate state or condition
Because we and our actions are born out of God.
You see Evil does exist…but so does Good!!!
And these two things don’t mix well together
Because they stand opposed to one another - They are opposites.
At the end of the day – either good triumph or evil is going to win out.
It’s a power struggle of sorts…
It’s a fight between good and evil.
Good comes God and Evil comes from Satan.
Psalms 5:4 declares this about our Lord:
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with thee.
God takes no pleasure in wickedness…
And He doesn’t allow Evil to dwell with Him either.
*To which Proverbs 8:13 tells us:
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
That term fear in the Hebrew means to: “Reverence”, “Honor” and “Respect”
So for those of us who are truly reverencing and respecting God in our lives…
We will be hating evil
I want you to be ever mindful however that
That does not mean we go around hating evil people.
No - Christ’s example to us has always been that we to love others.
In fact, He shows us that we ought to always love the sinner – but only hate the sin.
Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Like Christ we are called to love every sinner – but only to dislike the sin.
That’s what it means to “hate evil”.
God teaches us to love people in the Bible…
But we ought not to love all the evil things they do
Especially when what they do is wrong.
GOOD VERSES EVIL
So clearly there are two influences that can reside over us
Although not equally at the same time.
We are either of this world…
Or we are born of God.
And we will either choose to hold to and practice that which is right
Or we will succumb to that which is wrong in our lives.
Jesus emphasised this point in Matthew 12:35 saying:
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
So even though man’s nature is sinful,
And the world around us is largely wicked…
That does not mean that Good Men and Women
Just like you and I - cannot still abound because of Jesus Christ.
Out of our hearts we can bring forth good things – not evil things.
You see - there is a difference between having a wicked nature
And succumbing to the evil within…
And being a sinner who has been saved,
And called to walk a better path.
Romans 13:14 says
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The more we look to hold and follow Christ,
The less the Evil tendencies of our flesh will prevail.
Romans 12:21:
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
And the Scriptures tell us that God is Good – Amen. (Luke 18:19)
So clearly God is the answer to overcoming evil…
But the question is how?
I mean this all sounds really good in theory - overcome evil with good.
But how does that work?
Is just having the Lord in our lives enough?.
Yes – God is the one and only means by which we can overcome evil,
But no – simply knowing that will not be enough alright.
a) It’s A Fight
For one thing – we need to recognise that we are in for a fight.
With so much evil in and around us…
Its not just going to diminish without a fight.
Now the Apostle Paul actually talks about this battle existing on two fronts
One is a battle of the flesh…
And the other is a battle warred in the spirit.
*Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.
Remember Jesus prayed - Deliver us from Evil
However, Evil is not going anywhere without a fight. Verse 26:
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Here Paul is drawing an analogy from the Greek games.
He’s talking about those athletes who were training to run…
And who were practicing their wrestling before the contest.
And Paul says look I am not like them…
I am not practicing running an unmarked track here,
Or merely shadow boxing the air – because I am in a real contest.
A Physical Fight
And notice how he describes his adversary – Verse 27
27 But I keep under my body,
That phrase keep under means “to strike in the face”
In other words, Paul says – “I am fighting myself”
“I am battling with my flesh.”
…and [I] bring it into subjection:
And that phrase bring into subjection means:
“To enslave” or “force to serve”.
In other words, Paul says: “I fight to take control of my body…
And I enslave it to my will”
“I no longer serve my fleshly desires and evil tendencies I once had,
Because I fight in order to make my flesh serve me.
I am no longer a servant to sin.
And then he concludes by saying…
I war with my flesh in this way:
…lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway.
Paul says I fight my own sinful nature
Because I don’t want others to discount my ministry
And the message of Jesus Christ I am preaching.
A Spiritual Fight
So then on one level…
Fighting evil is really a physical battle with our flesh.
However, on another level, resisting evil actually involves a spiritual battle within.
*Turn with me to Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle [that means to engage in hand to hand combat] not…
against flesh and blood,
There is a battle between good and evil going on alright,
Only this time we see and learn
That it’s not a physical fight whereby we take up arms to fight the flesh.
…but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
So this is a spiritual battle we are waring within God’s Kingdom...
As we are forced to fight against the wicked influences of this world
And against all the evil that stands opposed to our Lord.
b) We Need To Prepare
Point number one – overcoming evil necessitates a Fight.
It’s a fight at times with our own flesh…
And a greater spiritual struggle in the world
That’s the first point…
Point number two is – We need to get Prepared.
In fact, Jesus starts by telling us we need to Pray - Matthew 26:41
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
This is how you get prepared for the fight…
You Watch and Pray - Jesus said.
See what’s going on – both in and around you
And Pray for the spiritual strength and insight to combat it.
Now what’s interesting here – is that Jesus told His disciples to do this
So that they would not enter into “temptation” - pei-ras-mós
Which speaks of having one’s faith tested and tried by Satan.
Jesus says look – if you are actually aware of danger - pray for God’s help,
You might, actually avoid certain trials and tribulations altogether.
In other words, don’t give Satan and His evil influences
An opportunity or the grounding to attack your faith.
Watch…Pray – and get prepared.
* Now let’s all turn back to our text in Matthew 6:13
Here Jesus adds to this truth and our need for spiritual preparation
In the way He prays during The Lord’s Prayer…
Saying in verse number 13:
13 And lead us not into temptation [trials and tests of faith], but deliver us from evil:
You see, as we saw last week - Satan wants to test us…
He want’s to throw every trial and tribulation He can into our lives
In an effort to get our faith to fail.
He wants us to quit on God
And He will use every evil influence he can muster to bear against us.
But Jesus simply says – don’t provide Satan that opportunity
Watch and Pray…
And understanding that your flesh is weak,
Pray that God would lead you away from such tests
And deliver you from that kind of evil.
Tell me - Do you pray like that?
Do you pray those kinds of prayers?
The term Deliver used there carries with it the idea of being “Saved” or “Rescued”.
The picture here is one whereby “someone is pulled away from danger”.
So the idea here is not just one of rescue…
But one where by God actually draws us closer to Himself
So that we can be delivered out of the danger.
Jesus said: Father - deliver us from evil
Draw us closer to you Lord
So that evil will have no more dominion over us.
Bring us into your safe keeping God
So that Satan can no longer test and try our faith.
Now what is also fascinating…
Is that we see Jesus Praying something similar elsewhere in the Scriptures
Only He adds another dimension in John 17:15
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
So again Jesus is praying for His disciples
And on behalf of those who are faithfully following Him…
But He clarifies something in this context – doesn’t He.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world
So this Prayer is not about the Lord returning
Or about hastening the time when we should be delivered from this earth,
But again it’s a prayer that God would “keep us from evil” while we are here.
That word keep means: “to watch over” or “keep an eye on”.
And the picture is really of one who watches over something of value,
In the sense of guarding and protecting it from danger.
Now Jesus is quite clear in saying
My prayer is not that God would deliver you from the world,
But rather while you are living and walking according to Gods will in this world,
That He would watch over you,
And guard and protect you from evil.
And He prays it again here during the Lord’s Prayer…
Lord - deliver us from evil
Safeguard us from the wickedness of this world
By drawing us closer to you.
You see that’s really the secrete.
The secrete to being in control over our fleshly desires…
And the secrete to living in what is fundamentally an evil world,
And not being negatively affected by its influences – is drawing closer to God.
The best way we can prepare to combat evil
Is to get as close to God as we possibly can.
Ps 97:10 simply says this:
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: [for] He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Couple of things to note there…
Firstly, God preserves His Saints
And delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
That’s the first thing to see and understand,
The second thing to note however is that this reference is made
To those who love the Lord and are following Him.
Jesus said “If you love me – Keep my commandments”
And then He gives us His commandments to follow in His Word.
Commandments like that found in Psalms 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.
Turn away from that which is evil
And instead embrace that which is good.
That’s the commandment.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
“Hold fast” [seize possession] of that which is good – Commandment 1
And abstain from all appearance of evil – Commandment number 2
That term abstain means to “refrain”
And it means to exercise “self-restraint” and “self-control”.
Strange to think – but God actually commands us to refrain from sinning
By exercising a little self-restraint and self-control.
And please note that we are to be doing this not just when it comes to evil actions
But even the “appearance of evil”.
That term appearance there – speaks of the act of seeing.
So God says that we are to refrain from even looking upon
And beholding with our eyes that which is evil.
And then of course there is the commandment we find in
1 Thessalonians 5:15 which says:
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Don’t get caught up in this evil - eye for an eye mentality of the world
But ever follow after that which is good.
And do good not only among yourselves as brethren…
But do good to all men the Bible says.
So God’s commandments are actually pretty clear in this regard.
Depart from Evil…
Abstain from the appearance of Evil…
And render not evil for evil to any man.
Instead God commands us to:
Do Good…
Hold Fast to that which is Good…
And ever follow after that which is good.
And guys the Bible details to us everything God says is good,
And by following this – we overcome evil.
CONCLUSION
So in conclusion then…what we have learnt together?
Firstly, there are two major influences biding for control in our lives.
That’s is to say - there is good and there is evil.
There is the physical world and there is a spiritual kingdom
There is our flesh and then there is God’s Spirit residing within us.
One has a foundation that is established and built upon wickedness
And the other has a foundation set upon righteousness.
One is experienced by drawing closer to God and keeping His commandments
The other is manifest as we succumbing to the flesh…
And to the baser influences of this world.
You see when it comes to our daily lives
We need to see and understand that there is both good and bad,
There is both right and there is wrong…
There is God and there is Satan…
And there is that which is Holy and that which is Evil.
But here’s the thing…
Simply knowing and understanding that God is good
Is not enough in itself for us to overcome evil.
Because we are in a fight…
And we need to sufficiently prepare for that fight.
Jesus knowing only too well the battles ahead Said:
Watch and pray… for the spirit [within you] is willing but the flesh is weak.
And then He adds to this in the Lord’s Prayer
By instructing His own disciples to pray like this - asking God to:
Lead us not into temptation: but Deliver us from Evil
“Lord spare us from the many trials and tribulations of Satan”,
“And rescue us from His evil hold and ungodly influences over this world.”
“Save us from Danger Father - as you draw us closer to yourself”.
And God does indeed deliver His people in this way.
He delivers those that love Him…
As they obey Him…
As they follow Him…
As they keep His commandments…
And as they more closely connect to Him in the truth.
I want to leave you all with one final verse tonight.
It’s found 2 Timothy 4:18 which simply says:
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Remember Christ’s personal demonstration here…
And don’t be afraid to model your own prayer life around His example.
Be sure to Pray things like this: Lord - Deliver us from Evil
