The last petition
in the Model Prayer looks to the future when we
pray, “And do not lead us into temptation, but
deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
That is a prayer that every
believer should pray daily because we are all
vulnerable to succumb to temptation. One wag said
truthfully, “If a man wakes up and finds his house
on fire, he does not sit in a chair and write or
read a treatise on the origin of fires in a private
house; he sets to try to extinguish the fire and to
save his house.”
Where is the fire in your
house? Each one of us has a different spot of
vulnerability. What is a brutal temptation for one
person, may leave another one unmoved, and vice
versa. Every person has a weak spot which if he is
not careful can ruin his life.
“Do not lead us into
temptation.” The word for “temptation” has the basic
meaning, “to test.” When it is used of Satan testing
us it is with the view of causing us to fail the
test.
Are we honest enough with God
to ask Him to keep us out of circumstances and
tempting situations because we know from experience
our faith could not endure them? Do we play with
temptations instead of praying that God will keep us
away from them?
The Bible tells us God tempts
no one (Jas. 1:13). But we have an old nature that
is always capable of sinning, and it is at war
against the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:17 explains
that both the Holy Spirit and the flesh are in
constant active unceasing conflict. “For the flesh
sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; for these are in opposition to
one another, so that you may not do the things that
you please.”
“But deliver us from evil.” The
word “deliver” (ruomai) means “to rescue, save,
deliver, or preserve someone from someone or
something.” When the believer is walking in
dependence upon the Spirit he is delivered from the
lust of the flesh. Whatever is undertaken in the
energy of the flesh will fail, because it is not in
the power of God. The only way we can possibly be
delivered over our old nature is by the Spirit
working in us (Rom. 6:14; 8:2). The most spiritual
Christians are warned to pray daily, “and do not
lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
If we do not we are courting failure in living the
Christian life.
It is our responsibility to
walk in the Spirit, reckon on the indwelling power
of Christ living in us, putting off the old man,
mortifying the flesh and abiding in Christ.
The deliverance from the power
of sin is through Jesus Christ (Rom. 7:25). Romans
6:1-10 teaches us that the believer’s fallen nature
has been judged by co-crucifixion, co-death, and
co-burial with Christ, therefore making it possible
for the indwelling Holy Spirit to answer this
petition of the believer.
“Evil” can be translated “the
evil one” meaning the devil, or it can mean evil in
the ethical sense. Here it is probably the evil
element in life.
The Holy Spirit delivers us
from the power of sin in our daily life. We have
been delivered from the penalty of sin by the
atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The moment we put
our faith in Christ as our Savior we were forgiven
of our sins and the assurance that our debt has been
paid in full.
This prayer deals with the
power of sin in our daily life. From the human side
it depends upon our attitude of faith in the death
of Christ and the action of faith taking God at His
word and depending on the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit to overcome temptation. There will never be a
time in the Christian's life when he will not need
to depend on the Holy Spirit. The just one shall
live by faith—faith which depends on the power of
the indwelling Spirit. This is what it means to
abide in the Spirit or abide in Christ.
The doxology, “For Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen” (v. 13b) was added in later manuscripts as a
fitting liturgical closing to the prayer. All power,
honor and glory belong to the LORD God.
Our greatest defense against
falling into sin is the presence of Jesus Christ
living in us, and our dependence upon Him. “What
would you do, if you suddenly found Christ standing
beside you?” is a good question to ask ourselves
often. How would you then live? It is His
“inescapable presence” that keeps us from yielding
to temptation.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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