Elmer Towns, the vice president of Liberty University and dean of its school of religion shared how he was conducting a seminar for about a 150 people at a seminar in California. At the conclusion of the day, he walked over to the end of the first row of chairs by a row of windows, asked every one to kneel so he could offer a closing prayer. Dr. Towns then began to pray the Lord’s Prayer, but in his own paraphrased words. When he got to the last petition, he prayed, “Lord, deliver us from the evil one who would harm us in a travel accident, destroy our health through disease or germs. Deliver us from the evil one who would hurt us in ways we don’t even think about”.
Then, no sooner than he concluded the prayer, got up and moved a few steps toward the middle of the room, one of the large windows right next to where he had been praying came crashing in on the exact spot where he had just knelt to pray. Glass shattered into thousands of pieces as the heavy ornate window smashed a chair and surely would have crushed him.
Coincidence, perhaps, but perhaps not! Satan is real, he dwells here on planet earth and he seeks to destroy everything belonging to the Lord.
Now in the traditional Lord’s Prayer in the King James Version of the Bible it reads, “Deliver us from evil”, however, the New King James Version along with the NIV and others is more accurate when it says, “Deliver us from the evil one.”
When we pray therefore, “Deliver us from the evil one, we are acknowledging the fact that there is not only evil in the world, but a supremely evil one. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. By praying this portion of the prayer, we are admitting that life is a struggle and that we are in warfare, a battle, and are combating an enemy who seeks to oppress us and keep us from serving the Lord and sharing Him with others.
By praying this prayer, we are confessing that though we are in the world, we are not of it. That though the Lord is Sovereign in the world, Satan dwells here as well and we live and move and have our being behind enemy lines.
When we pray “Deliver us from the evil one”, we are conceding four essential facts about our enemy the devil. We are admitting that he is exists, he is in conflict with us as God’s children, God is our deliverer from him and the Lord wants us to take our stand against him.
Now before we look at these four essentials, I want you to understand that how we approach our adversary is as important as knowing his schemes and what the Lord is calling us to do.
Therefore, understand that as believers, we have been essentially recruited into God’s army and as soldiers of the Lord; we need to learn how to fight the good fight of faith.
In boot camp soldiers learn the basics, that’s why the Lord’s Prayer is so fundamental to the faith and why it needs to be a daily reminder of our mission and purpose. Think about it!
“Our Father in Heaven”- we have authority as God’s children
“Hallowed be thy name”- Lord, you are in charge
“Thy kingdom come”- you give the orders
“Thy will be done”- I will submit to you and your orders.
“Give us our daily bread”- an army marches on its stomach
“Forgive us and help us to forgive others”- let me not give the enemy a hand up on me.
“Lead me not into temptation”- help me not walk into an ambush and now deliver me from the evil one.
The Christian life is not a Church picnic, attending a nice worship service or adopting the power of positive thinking. It’s a battle with an enemy who relentlessly tries to destroy us and the work of God. You see;
1. The Evil One Exists
A fella stood up every week at the conclusion of his church’s prayer meeting and prayed; “Lord, clean out the cobwebs in my life”. After listening to him pray this every week for months, a little older woman of faith finally stood up and prayed. “Lord, I want to thank you for cleaning out the cobwebs in my brother’s life, but Lord, would you save him a lot of trouble and just kill the spider”.
How often do we confront the cobwebs in our life while ignoring the spider? 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
In our culture, we are filled with fairy tales and false information about the evil one. Some Christians deny his existence, while others just see Satan as a way of personifying evil (take the d out of devil and you get evil). Some recognize his existence, but deny his power. But make no mistake about it; he exists and he is bent on the destruction of God’s purpose and plan. But make no bones about it he is a formidable foe.
Jesus dealt with him in the wilderness; Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2
And Jesus prayed in John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
Now why would Jesus be confronted by the devil and pray for us in our confrontation with him if he didn’t exist or was just evil with a “D”. The Lord prayed for us because He knows
2. Satan is in conflict with you.
Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then
This passage goes on to say what that full armor looks like in order to take our stand:
• the belt of truth buckled around your waist
• the breastplate of righteousness
• your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
• the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
• the helmet of salvation
• the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Years ago, an artist painted a portrait of the devil playing against a young man in a game of chess. The painting hung in an art museum in Cinncinati, Ohio. The story about the painting claimed that the devil had challenged a young chess player to a game. If the young man won, he would be eternally free from the influence of the evil one. If he lost, the devil would possess his soul. The picture showed the devil’s determination to win. Chess experts who saw the picture realized that in just four short moves the young man would lose. The picture portrayed torment in the face of the young man as the devil moved his queen to announce checkmate. The young man had his hand over his rook, amazed and disheartened at what appeared to be ultimate defeat.
For years, the picture in the Cincinnati art gallery communicated doom and despondency. As viewers passed the portrait, they saw the hopelessness of the young man’s dilemma. Some of the world’s finest chess players stood amazed at the artist’s brilliance in chess playing and its application to life.
Finally, one person who studied the picture was convinced someone could beat the devil, so he contacted an aged chess master, Paul Murphy, to come from New York to study the painting to see if there was a way out for the young man. A crowd gathered to see if the chess master could figure a way out.
After much studying, pondering, and deliberation, the old chess player’s eye’s finally lit up. Through a combination of moves, the master not only found a solution to the young man’s dilemma and ultimate defeat, he actually discovered the moves that would turn the tides and put the devil in checkmate.
When the chess master finally explained the solution, the people went nuts. In fact, one fella stood up and shouted; “Young man, what are you waiting for, make the move!”
Many Christians today feel doomed, despondent, and disheartened. Satan’s just one move from taking them out and they feel like they are just moments away from defeat. But the great chess master, Jesus Christ has provided a combination of moves that not only will take us out of our adversary’s claw, but reverse the tides and claim the victory. But God wants us to “make the move!”
How is that? How can that be? How can we fight against this formidable foe? The Bible is clear! The Word of God is not mistaken and Scripture says it without hesitation.
Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
3. God is your deliverer
And because he is our deliverer, that does not give us a license to sit on our duffs and be victimized, He wants us to take our stand and be victorious. When you pray, “Deliver us from the evil one, you are not passively sitting bye. You’re not taking a back seat, or letting your engine run idle; you’re taking a stand.
Your actively Putting on the full armor Eph. 6:11
Your taking your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph. 6:11
You know that your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
You know that you need to put on the full armor of God, Eph 6:13
Because, when that day of evil comes (and that day will come again and again and again) Eph 6:13
You will be able to stand your ground, and
And after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then. Eph 6:14
Why? Because God is your deliverer, you’re turning to Him for protection and you don’t have to give into the threats of the evil one and give the devil a foothold. Eph. 4: 26
Folks, I’ve been trying to teach you the Lord’s Prayer for two reasons.
1. To help you break the habit of praying it mindlessly, repetitiously and without thought, purpose or intent.
2. To help you to see that you can use the Lord’s Prayer for deliverance. So how do you use
4. the Lord’s Prayer for deliverance.
Well, there are several principles:
First, the Principle of Respect
When we as Christians rely on ourselves to fight spiritual battles, we will loose. An outdoorsman is not afraid of poisonous snakes, but he does respect them and does not put himself in danger. We do not need to fear the evil one, but we must respect the evil one’s craftiness in order to deal with him.
Second, the Principle of Removal
Many times Christians get themselves into trouble not because they fall into temptation, but because the jump right in with both feet. 2 Timothy 2: 22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart
If you don’t want to burn your hand, then keep it off the hot stove.
Third, the Principle of Resistance
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jesus submitted to God the Father in the wilderness, used the offensive weapon of the Word of God and Satan fled. Learn to resist. Put into practice the things you’ve learned and take your stand.
Fourth, the Principle of Readiness
The Boy Scouts have a motto, “Be Prepared.” Jesus reminded His disciples in Mark 14: 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
When you pray, “Deliver us from the evil one”, you’re taking a stand.So take a stand and don’t give the devil a foothold
