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Deliver Us From Evil



The months of March through June of 2020 have been quite the spectacle of emotions, tensions, anxiety and even fear. If a pandemic of COVID-19 were not enough to challenge us, we found ourselves staring glued to our media devices watching riots, looting, destruction and protesting take over many of our major cities.

Now, take all of that and add the political climate in our country with the insipid, vile and volatile hatred many are expressing towards the President of the United States, we could be easily conclude that there is a lot of evil and hate in our Country.

Jesus comforted us in John 16:33, by saying “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I believe this ties in with the reason Jesus taught us to pray for such troubling times. Jesus teaches us to pray, in Matthew 6:13 “…but deliver us from evil.”

For many years, I have always assumed that this part of the prayer was just referring to Satan and his demons. Although, some justification could support that, I have found that understanding the full meaning of these words can actually empower us to live more victoriously against not just Satan, himself, but the entire realm of all his evil.

Jesus offers us victory if we are willing to do our part to withstand, fight, and persevere over the temptations that are about us daily. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Although the interpretation of the word “evil” could mean either Satan or evil individually, it can also mean both at the same time. The bottom line is that we are sternly warned in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour….” Yes, we must live holy and obedient lives, but we must also add the word “vigilant” to that list. Satan is out to get us!

We should live with a sober and cautious heart because we realize that Satan is working over-time to totally annihilate us. Jesus tells us that Satan’s desire is to use any and every severe testing, circumstance, or issue to his advantage. Again, remember, his goal is to utterly destroy you…to hurt you….to frustrate you….defeat you in mind, body and spirit.

He wants you to give up and give in. He wants you to blame God for everything and denounce your faith. He wants you to fail. He wants you to totally blow it. He would love to keep driving that wedge in between your marriage, children, friends, and all healthy relationships. He won’t stop. He doesn’t play by any rules. Anything goes….because you need to be defeated. He is that desperate to get rid of you. We all need to stop and really let that soak in.

Now, don’t you see why vigilance is so critical to our spiritual health? Now, can’t you see why it is so important to pray, “Lord, deliver us from evil?” Jesus wants us to pray not only that we will not be led into a testing of our faith that is beyond our endurance, but that we would be delivered from Satan and his deadly purposes of evil against us.

Here is a bit of a disclaimer: You must choose to live vigilant, holy, and obedient lives while staying deep and grounded in the Bible. Just because you accepted Jesus doesn’t mean you are “good to go” and can go along your merry way thinking you’re fully covered and protected. No, it doesn’t work that way.

Please note….this is not a “program” a “procedure” or “insurance policy” to prevent bad things from happening to us. This is a committed lifestyle with a purposed-driven initiative to live sold-out to Jesus every moment of every day regardless of what life and this world deals us. John Wesley would call this “going on towards perfection”….living out our salvation and being committed to holiness. It takes effort….but it is well worth it.

Like a well equipped and readied military, let us put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) trained and fully prepared for spiritual battle. Let us expand our knowledge of Scripture, strengthen our time of prayer and grow our relationship with Jesus, so that we “…will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 5:11). So, let us continue to pray, Lord…deliver us from evil!

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