A Study of the Lord’s Prayer
Lesson # 8
“Deliver Us From Evil”
Matthew 6:13
“In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.(12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (NKJV)
The King James Version translates this, “deliver us from evil” but The New King James Version , The New International Version and The New English Bible translations rendered it, “deliver us from the evil one” – referring of course to Satan.
In our last study we saw how the phrase, “lead us not into temptation,” indicated that the child of God was conscious of past sin and failure and fearful of falling into yet further sin. When you use the phrase “deliver us from the evil one” you are admitting that this life is a struggle with an enemy that oppose us. Because we do not know what dangers we will face each new day, we need God’s protection to cover us. When you pray “deliver us from the evil one” you are turning your protection over to God.
There is no part of life that is not touched by evil. It has ruined our circumstances, it has marred our character, indeed it has affected the whole of God’s creation. According to Romans 8:22-23 “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (NKJV)
I. Existence of Satan
The Lord’s Prayer recognizes evil as a deadly fact. Yet many Christians have never stopped to realize the nature of the spiritual battle in which we are engaged. Part of the problem is that we live in a society that has fictionalized the existence of the evil one. According to a national survey conducted by the Barna Research Group most Americans do not believe in Satan. 60 percent of American adults – six out of ten – believe that Satan “is not a living being but a symbol of evil.” Only 25 percent “believe strongly” that Satan is a real being. Only 45 percent of those who describe themselves as “born again” deny Satan’s existence.
The Devil has been portrayed as evil in appearance. When portrayed in the movies, he always has a sinister appearance. Yet the Bible says, that he can appear as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan was originally a powerful angelic being, a wise and beautiful cherub named Lucifer. Pride and rebellion led to a rebellion described in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-17. Lucifer became proud because of his wisdom and beauty and he declared, “I will be like the Most High” (Isa. 14:14). He sought to make himself equal to God and aspired to be worshipped. Because of his sinful heart, he was cast from heaven by his Creator. He would subsequently be know as the Hebrew name Satan which means “adversary.” Satan is also called the devil (from the Greek word diabolos) with the meaning of slanderer or accuser.
The angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God are commonly referred to as evil spirit or demons. According to Revelation 12:9 those demons were cast out of heaven along with Satan. According to Revelation 12:4 he took one-third of the angelic population with him.
It was Satan’s sin that introduced evil into the universe. Later, Satan misrepresented God’s motives to Adam and Eve. They had been created sinless, in the image of God, but they were given the freedom to choose whether to obey their Creator. Because they choose to believe Satan and ate the fruit that had been forbidden by God, through their sin, sin entered into the human race. Satan has been an evil force in every generation.
It should be remembered that Satan is a created being and therefore in no way the equal of God. Although he is God’s chief antagonist, he is not God opposite in power. As a created being, he is under God’s control. He is subject to the limitations of being a creature. He cannot be everywhere at the same time, he is not all powerful and he is not all knowing like God.
II. Description of Satan
Father of Lies (John 8:44)
God of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Prince of demons (Matthew (9:34, 12:24)
Prince of this world (John 12:31)
Ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2)
III. Defense Against Satan
We must be prepared to meet he attack of the enemy. There are many factors that contribute to Satan success at the art of deceit. First, although he is not equal to God, he is of an order of creatures that is higher than man (Heb 2:7). He was created an angel, and among the angels a cherub.
Satan is also successful because of his vast experience. By his very longevity he has acquired knowledge of a great breadth and depth. Satan also has the ability to transform himself in a variety of ways.
Four Principles For Meeting the Attacks of the Enemy
A. The Principle of Respect.
Scripture tells that we need not fear Satan because, “ …. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NKJV). But, too many Christians rely on fleshly strength to deliver them from Satan. Our confidence does not lie in ourselves, or in our ability to counteract evil, but rather in the character and strength of our Father in Heaven who delivers us. Even the great archangel Michael did not dare take Satan on alone but called on the Lord to rebuke him (Jude 9).
B. The Principle of Removal.
Our heavenly Father endows us by His Spirit with the Spiritual common sense that he expects us to use in avoiding temptation. 1 Timothy 6:11, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” (NKJV)
C. The Principle of Resistance.
James wrote (4:7) “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (NKJV). Here he is using a verb tense that means to take a decisive stand.
The apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:9) advises Christians that they should not give in to Satan but “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (NKJV).
D. Principle of Readiness.
Our best defense against evil is a right relationship with God through the application of His word. Scripture warns the believer that he must be prepared. Jesus warned his disciples (Mark 14:38), “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (NKJV)
Paul warns the the Ephesians (6:11) to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (NKJV) The believer’s armor is given in order that we might stand against our adversary (6:13-14).
The belt of truth. It was the soldiers belt that held all of his armor in place. It is the truth that holds all the we believe in place. Since Satan depends on deception to maintain his power our first line defense is to know the truth.
The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate protected the vital organs (heart, lungs, kidneys). It is righteousness that protects us in those vital areas in our relationship with God. Any sin in our lives leaves an opening in our armor through which Satan can attack us.
The shield of faith. The Roman soldiers shield was of sufficient size that he could take shelter behind it, from the arrow of the enemy. In order to quench the fiery darts of Satan’s temptations we must seek to know and apply God’s truth to every area of our lives.
The helmet of salvation. It is the knowledge that we are saved that provides protection from the Satan’s two edged sword of discouragement and doubt. It is the helmet that gave the soldier the confidence to fight.
The sword of the Spirit. God’s word is our only offensive weapon and it can only be used effectively it we know its promises.
[These principles are drawn from Elmer Towns. Praying Through the Lord’s Prayer for Spiritual Breakthrough. pp. 189-190.]
Conclusion
Although Satan may be the ruler of this present evil world, though he may be the prince of the power of the air, though he may have cohorts of evil spirits at his command, he has no claim over the children of God, nor does he have any power to tempt them except what the Father allows.
Sometimes God chooses to take his child out of suffering almost immediately. Sometimes he chooses to let His child remain in it for a lifetime, but He always takes us through it. And ultimately He is going to deliver us from evil by taking us home to Himself.
The Psalmist (121:7-8) expresses his confidence this way, “The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. (8) The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” (NKJV)
