Today we'll continue our sermon series on the "Lord's Prayer." We'll learn the last request and the closing of the prayer. Let's read Matthew 6:13b, "... But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
The word "deliver" also means to break (chains), to loose (bands), to snatch, or to pluck. The term "the evil one" that Jesus is talking about here is Satan. In Matthew 13:19, He says, "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path." Apostle John also says in 1 John 2:13-14, "I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one."
Jesus teaches us to pray, asking God to deliver us from Satan's power, snares, arts, and temptations. Apostle Peter warns us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus also warns us that Satan's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy us (John 10:10). He wants to destroy our marriage, family, church, health, job, and relationship with God and others! We always need to be alert and pray for God's protection. Satan often uses the trials in our lives to tempt us to sin by doubting God's love and His faithfulness. That is why trial or problem can make us a better or bitter person! If we trust in the love of our heavenly Father, it makes us better and grows spiritually. But if we fall into Satan's temptation, we can become bitter and be disappointed with God. For example, when we get sick, we can see it as a chance to rest, pray, read the Bible more, do a reflection, and seek God's will. But if we fall into Satan's trap, we can be impatient, disappointed, and even angry with God. Failure also can teach us to be more humble, careful, and rely more on God. But Satan can use it to discourage us and make us frustrated and give up.
"For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Some Bible translations, like NIV, do not have the last part of this prayer that some call "doxology" or a liturgical formula of praise to God. But I use the NKJV that has this doxology.
"For Yours is the kingdom." Jesus teaches us in this prayer that God is both our heavenly Father and our King. In the first petition, we ask His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. At the end of the prayer, we declare that He is the ruler of all kingdoms on earth and in heaven. He is the King of kings. There are many kings and presidents in the world throughout the history of humankind; Some have more power than others. Some believed in God, and some do not. But all are under the authority of God, and in the end, they have to give account to God.
"and the power ..." The word "power" in Greek is "dunamis." The synonyms of it are strength, capacity, ability, potency, force, might, capability, and many others. We often misunderstand God's power because we tend to think of God's power in terms of physical strength, omniscient knowledge, or a wealth of resources at His disposal. The New Testament does not use this word in the meaning of human power. It is most frequently used only to describe miracles and signs, healing supernatural power and love of God. In short, this power meaning has most likely moral and spiritual relevance. God demonstrates His power by His ability to accomplish His will in every situation, through any means, He chooses to glorify Himself. God's power centers on His will and His glory.
Testimony: Some time ago, I witnessed God's extraordinary power when I served a 29-year-old man (who holds a black karate belt) in my home country. After sharing the gospel with him, I asked him if he was ready to accept Jesus into his heart, and he said, "yes." When I started praying with him, I suddenly heard a loud voice like a roaring lion. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the man had manifested into a lion. His eyes were bulging upward (I couldn't see the pupils), and his hands were like lion's front feet ready to pounce on me. The voice said that the man was his forever and that no one could take him away. The voice also angrily said that he wanted to destroy my family and me. I immediately realized that a demon had possessed the man. Thank God for giving me his power and great courage to face that scary situation. When I asked, "Who are you?" the voice replied, "Legion." But then after I pressed him, he claimed he was Lucifer. For more than an hour, I fought against Lucifer in the power of God. Every time I prayed and cast Lucifer out in the Name of the Lord Jesus, the man bounced and fell to the floor. After the very tense deliverance ministry ended, the man told me that he did make a covenant and gave his soul to Lucifer to derive supernatural power from him. The young man also said that Lucifer was going to attack and kill me, but he could not because there was something like a transparent shield in front of me, which he couldn't penetrate. I know it was God's supernatural power that had protected me from that attack. Praise God for His special protection! May His Name be glorified!
"and the glory ..." His glory is the first and principal thing which we are to seek when we approach him. In Deuteronomy 5:24, Moses said, "And you said: "Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire…." As I said at the beginning of these sermon series, prayer is first about God, about who He is, His will, His authority, and His glory. Prayer is not merely about us or our needs. So, we begin the Lord's Prayer with God and end this prayer with Him too, which is to bring glory to Him, not only temporary but ... "forever." In other words, we pray, "May Your Name have the glory both in this world and in that which is to come!"
To illustrate God's kingdom, power, and glory, I would like to share a story from Isaiah 37 & 2 Kings 19. Assyria was a country in northern Mesopotamia in the OT times of the Israelite kings. It became a large empire. Sennacherib was its king from 704 - 681 BC during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah. Sennacherib means sin has replaced my brother. He invaded Judah. He mocked God by sending messengers to Jerusalem to tell Hezekiah that God would not defend Judah. "Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you … will you be delivered? (Isaiah 37:10,11). Hezekiah prayed to God about Sennacherib's insults and mockery and asked for deliverance. God answered through the prophet Isaiah. "Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came." (v. 29). At night the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib broke camp and withdrew to his home city. One day while worshiping his God in its temple, two of his sons killed him with a sword. Humans should not mock God; those who do face grave consequences. On the other hand, as with Hezekiah and Jerusalem, He is mighty to save.
"Amen." Amen is a Hebrew word that means "to be firm, secure, true and faithful." By closing the prayer with the word "amen," we have full confidence that God has heard our prayer and can fulfill our requests according to His will and time.
