Deliverance from Evil: Trusting God's Grace

Devotional

Day 1: The Dual Fronts of Spiritual Warfare

In our spiritual journey, we face a battle on two fronts: the temptations within us and the evil surrounding us. This dual struggle highlights our profound need for God's deliverance. Temptations arise from our own desires, luring us away from God's path, while external evils manifest in forms like war, violence, famine, and disease. Recognizing this duality helps us understand the depth of our vulnerability and dependence on divine intervention. As we pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," we acknowledge the spiritual battle we are engaged in and our need for God's protection and guidance. [06:05]

Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: Identify a specific temptation or external evil you are currently facing. How can you actively seek God's deliverance and protection in this area today?

Day 2: The Reality of Evil in the World

Evil is a destructive force that has intruded into God's good creation, manifesting in various forms such as war, violence, famine, and disease. These manifestations of evil are evident in the world around us, reminding us of the brokenness of creation and our need for divine deliverance. As we pray for deliverance from evil, we are called to earnestly seek God's intervention in the world and in our lives. This prayer is not just about external evils but also about the internal struggle with sin, recognizing our vulnerability and dependence on God. [13:55]

Habakkuk 1:2-3 (ESV): "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise."

Reflection: Consider a specific form of evil you see in the world today. How can you pray for God's deliverance and be an agent of His peace and justice in this situation?

Day 3: The Multifaceted Nature of God's Grace

God's grace is multifaceted, encompassing common grace that restrains evil and promotes good, and special grace that provides strength in times of trial. Common grace is God's kindness to all people, while special grace is given to believers, offering strength and support during trials and temptations. These graces are essential for navigating the challenges of life, reminding us of God's constant presence and support. As we trust in God's grace, we find the strength to face the trials and temptations that come our way, knowing that His grace is sufficient for every need. [24:13]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial or temptation you faced. How did you experience God's grace in that situation, and how can you rely on His grace more fully in future challenges?

Day 4: The Assurance of Restoring Grace

Restoring grace is God's kindness when we fail, offering forgiveness and restoration. This grace ensures that sin does not have the final word in our lives, as Christ intercedes for us. When we stumble and fall, God's restoring grace lifts us up, forgives us, and sets us back on the path of righteousness. This assurance of forgiveness and restoration gives us hope and strength to continue our journey, knowing that God's grace is always available to us. As we pray for deliverance from evil, we are reminded of the power of God's restoring grace in our lives. [35:17]

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced failure or sin. How can you embrace God's restoring grace today and allow it to transform your life?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of Saving Grace

Saving grace is the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing us into a new relationship with God. This grace transforms our lives, giving us new desires and hopes aligned with God's kingdom. Through saving grace, we are invited into a relationship with God that changes us from the inside out, aligning our hearts and minds with His will. As we pray for deliverance from evil, we are reminded of the transformative power of saving grace, which empowers us to live as God's people, honoring His name and advancing His kingdom. [38:31]

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

Reflection: How has God's saving grace transformed your life? What new desires and hopes has it given you, and how can you live out these changes in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the Lord's Prayer, we have arrived at the final petition: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." This prayer is a profound acknowledgment of the spiritual battle we face on two fronts: the temptations within us and the evil surrounding us. We are reminded that evil is a destructive force that has intruded into God's good creation, manifesting in various forms such as war, violence, famine, and disease. These manifestations of evil are evident in the world around us, and they underscore our need for divine deliverance.

The prayer for deliverance is not just about external evils but also about the internal struggle with sin. We are tempted when we are lured by our own desires, and thus, we must approach this prayer with humility, recognizing our vulnerability and dependence on God. Jesus teaches us to pray for protection against being overwhelmed by temptation and for deliverance from the evil that seeks to ensnare us.

God answers this prayer through His grace, which operates in several ways. Common grace is His kindness to all people, restraining evil and promoting good even among those who do not believe. Special grace is given to believers, providing strength in times of trial and temptation. Restoring grace is God's kindness when we fail, offering forgiveness and restoration. Finally, saving grace is the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing us into a new relationship with God.

As we pray this prayer, we are invited to trust in God's grace, which is sufficient for every trial and temptation. We are assured that evil will not ultimately prevail, for Christ has overcome the world. In this assurance, we find hope and strength to live as God's people, honoring His name, advancing His kingdom, and doing His will.

Key Takeaways

1. The battle against evil is fought on two fronts: the temptations within us and the evil around us. Recognizing this dual struggle helps us understand the depth of our need for God's deliverance. [06:05]
2. Evil manifests in various forms, such as war, violence, famine, and disease, intruding into every aspect of God's creation. This reality calls us to pray earnestly for deliverance from evil. [13:55]
3. God's grace is multifaceted, including common grace that restrains evil and promotes good, and special grace that provides strength in times of trial. These graces are essential for navigating the challenges of life. [24:13]
4. Restoring grace is God's kindness when we fail, offering forgiveness and restoration. This grace ensures that sin does not have the final word in our lives, as Christ intercedes for us. [35:17]
5. Saving grace is the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing us into a new relationship with God. This grace transforms our lives, giving us new desires and hopes aligned with God's kingdom. [38:31]
** [38:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to the Lord's Prayer Series
[00:53] - Honoring God's Name
[01:26] - Praying for God's Kingdom
[02:09] - Understanding God's Will
[02:49] - Our Daily Needs
[03:24] - Forgiveness and Reconciliation
[05:31] - The Sixth Petition: Deliverance from Evil
[07:43] - The Battle on Two Fronts
[09:39] - The Nature of Evil
[13:55] - Manifestations of Evil
[17:31] - Why We Need This Prayer
[19:19] - What We Are Asking of God
[22:09] - How God Answers This Prayer
[24:13] - Common Grace
[30:00] - Special Grace
[34:01] - Restoring Grace
[38:19] - Saving Grace
[42:42] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

Now friends this very important and highly relevant last petition of the Lord's Prayer teaches us that in the Christian life we are engaged in a battle that is fought on two fronts. There are the temptations that lurk within us and there is the evil that is all around us. Always remember the battle is on these two fronts. [00:05:45]

Evil then very simply is the destructive power that has intruded into God's good universe. It includes all that came into the world through and after the fall that was not there before. Now evil of course comes in many forms. Four of them are described in the book of Revelation. [00:09:39]

What we're being told here very clearly is that evil has intruded into every part of God's world: the political, the social, the judicial, the economic, the ecological, and the biological as well. It goes everywhere and think about this as you watch the news bulletins each day. [00:13:55]

Lead us not into temptation. Us, us who call you Father, us your children. Why are we tempted? Why does sin find a landing place in our lives? Well, James tells us each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own evil desire. [00:15:20]

So you see as Christians we can never look down on others. We can never look down on the world from a position of superiority. We have come to know that sin is like a fountain within us that constantly throws up temptations with which we have to contend. [00:15:56]

When we pray deliver us from evil we are saying to God this power of evil is too much for us, but it is not too great for you. Deliver us. Picture a hostage and he's blindfolded and he's tied to a chair and he's locked in a prison. He can't get out, can't move. [00:20:42]

Christ answers this last petition of the Lord's Prayer by his marvelous and wonderful grace, and grace very simply means something that is undeserved that is freely given. And God's grace operates in many wonderful ways. I want to identify four of them very simply. [00:23:04]

Common grace, which is very simply his kindness to all people including those who defy him. See, think about this and you may have wondered about this question. You may have asked it. If it is really true that by nature human beings are dead in trespasses and sins, why then is it that so many unbelieving people live peaceful happy and cross-productive lives? [00:24:13]

Special grace which is his kindness given particularly to strengthen us at times when we are tested. Now here is something very wonderful that is yours as a Christian believer. God gives special help for special trials at special times. [00:30:00]

Restoring grace, which very wonderfully is God's kindness to us when we have failed. Thank God for this. You remember that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter the disciple was tempted. Jesus had said to him now watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. [00:34:01]

Saving grace, which is God's kindness when we turn to him in faith and in repentance. The scripture says very clearly it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing it is the gift of God. [00:38:19]

When you believe in his name God will adopt you into his own family. He'll bring you into an entirely new relationship with himself, and as a child of God, you're going to have way more than common grace. You're going to receive saving grace as Jesus Christ saves you. [00:40:20]

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