The Lord's Prayer - 8

THE LORD’S PRAYER ~ 8


"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
- Matt 6:13


God’s ultimate plan is to completely deliver His creation from evil (Rom 8:20-21, Matt 13:41-43). Scripture declares ~ "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

Oh yes friends, there is indeed an age coming in which peace and righteousness will reign on earth (2 Pet 3:13), and God will dwell among us (Rev 21:3, Eze 37:24-28)

That is our hope. To be united with God for all eternity. In a world free from the oppression of the evil one.

Even now, our heavenly Father has not only made available to us deliverance from our sins which would bring eternal separation from God, but also deliverance from those daily spiritual attacks meant to turn our hearts from Him.

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
on those who hope in His steadfast love,
that He may deliver them from death,
and keep them alive in famine."
- Psalm 33:18-19


This prayer we’ve been studying from Matthew chapter 6, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, is what Jesus instructed us to pray to the Father. Our first charge is to come before Him with humbleness of heart and earnestly pray these words. And the second is to be striving with all that we are to live holy, righteous, godly lives in reverential fear of God our Father, so that we might fully be partakers of all His promises, including His promise to deliver us from evil.

"The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their refuge in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked,
and saves them, because they take refuge in Him."
- Psalm 37:39-40

"the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment." (2 Pet 2:9)

"the godly", "the righteous", "those who fear Him", "those whose hope is in Him"... unto those the promise of deliverance comes.

Under both the Old and New Covenants we find this Kingdom Truth: The prayers of the righteous are heard, and their reward is deliverance from evil.

"He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
- 1 Pet 3:10-12 (quoting Psalm 34:12-16)

Paul’s prayer for the saints, for those called to be holy, for us, was that we would "be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Recognizing that "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:11-14)

Dear brothers & sisters, let us walk as those who have been brought into the "Kingdom of His Beloved Son." May we never allow our circumstances, or any temptations, to take our eyes off the Lord, or diminish our hope in His promises. Just as Jesus teaches us to pray, throughout Scripture we are exhorted to cry out to Him, for eternal salvation, for strength to overcome our sins, and for deliverance in times of trials & temptation.

May our faith, hope and trust be in Him this day and always, that we may be partakers of His saving grace, and be strengthened in our walk with the only One who is able to truly bring freedom.

Michael


I love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies
- Psalm 18:1-3