"DELIVER US FROM EVIL"


A. "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" - MATTHEW 6:13
  1. The seventh petition:
    1. Looks to God for deliverance in any given situation
    2. Has confidence in His paternal care
    3. Seeks no other help
  2. This petition indicates clearly:
    1. That our heavenly Father, who knows our human frailty, loves us and will not allow evil to harm us
    2. He still is the head of His creation, King of the universe, and Master of our destiny, He who cares for the sparrow, will not abandon us to the devices of the evil one
    3. Also, it will be to His glory to deliver us from evil
B. DELIVER US FROM EVIL
  1. Evil still abounds in this world:
    1. Says the prophet Isaiah, "For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people" - Is. 60:2
    2. Writes Paul, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come" 2 Tim. 3:1
    3. And John warns us in these words, "Woe to the inhibitors of the earth and of the sea; for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" - Rev. 12:12
    4. John testifies that, "the whole world lieth in wickedness" - I John 5:19
  2. In view of these facts, it is paramount for God's people to pray daily:
    1. "Deliver us from evil"
    2. He did this gloriously to the three Hebrews - Dan. 3:17-30; to His servant Daniel - Dan. 6:10-28; to Joseph in Egypt - Ps. 105:17-22; to Peter - Acts 12:5-17; to Paul and Silas - Acts 16:25-40
    3. He will do it to His remnant people in the last days - Is. 33:15-16
    4. God's people have the promise, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth them" - Ps. 34:7
C. GOD'S DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL IS FOURFOLD
  1. He delivers us from the bondage of sin:
    1. Sin in the heart of man, is his deadly enemy - James 1:15; it is desperately wicked - Jer. 17:9
    2. Note what both the Lord and Paul say about sin in the heart - Matt. 15:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21
    3. The bondage of sin is terrible - read what Paul writes about it - Rom. 7:14-25
    4. The Son of God has come to deliver us from this bondage - John 8:34-36; Matt. 1:21
  2. He delivers us from evil:
    1. By creating in us a new heart, removing the old nature out of our life - Ez. 36:26-27; 2 Cor. 5:14-17
    2. This experience involves the crucifixion of the carnal nature - Rom. 6:6-12; Gal. 2:20
  3. He delivers from evil:
    1. By making the Holy Spirit the Lord of our life; He controls our thoughts and so set up a standard against the evil one - compare Is. 59:19 with Gal. 5:16-18
    2. By providing us with the armor of God as detailed by Paul in Eph. 6:11-18
    3. Taking refuge in God's holy word is the great secret of being shielded against evil. That was Luther's great secret in overcoming the forces of the Papacy - 2 Tim. 3:15-17
    4. Also, and that is very important, God has made the church of the living God a shelter for the believers against evil - John 10:15-16
  4. How wonderful and how reassuring is this petition to the children of God in this present world:
    1. We have a loving and compassionate Father in heaven who knows our frame, our weakness, and our earthly environment - Ps. 103:13-14
    2. We have a Saviour who has entered every temptation that befalleth man; He knows all the dangers of temptation and evil - because he passed through all of them - Heb. 2:14-17
    3. He is mighty to save - let us trust Him and no harm will befall us - Rom. 8:31-39


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