Deliver Us From Evil
For a few weeks now, the
whole theme of delivering us from evil has been rolling around in my head. I
looked back over the messages the Lord has led me to give over the last few months
and I saw that back in July God led me to do a message titled, “Fear No Evil,
God is With Us”. Then in August I did a
message entitled “Strategies and Deceits of the Devil”. I’ve also been working
on a message about the “Armor of God”.
As I look at this situation,
I can clearly see that God is warning us that the kingdom of hell is busy and
we need to be aware of the strategies, identify the deceits and be ready to
stand on the rock in order to weather any storm we may find ourselves in.
Matthew 7:24
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
The rain and the wind and the
beatings come in this life. The stuff hits the fan and it flies everywhere, no
doubt about it… and we had better be standing on the right ground when that
happens. When we’re on the rock, come what may, when the storm is over, we’re
still standing. And when it’s all said and done, even if we’re no longer
present in the flesh here on this earth, then we’re standing on the streets of
gold in the presence of our God….and
blessed be the Name of the Lord… WE’RE STILL STANDING!
I do believe there are times,
cycles, or whatever you want to call them in this life, when the enemy seems to
put out a concerted effort against the body of Christ. As I wrote this last
sentence I was made aware of what time of year it is right now. We are coming
up on the end of October. This time of year is Satan’s high holiday. It is the
high holiday of Satanists and witches whether they claim themselves as white or
black witches. The fact is, they are all getting ready now for their big year
holiday. I believe it’s New Years for them. October 31 is called Samhain.
(sow-in). It is a celebration of the dead and the time in their celebration
when they say that the veil separating the living from the dead is at its
thinnest. They spend a lot of this time working on connecting with the world of
the dead. So here, as we come up on
this high holiday, we have this pagan world in a sense of unity… just as the
Christian world is in a sense of unity when it celebrates Christmas or Easter.
Is this something we should
be afraid of? From my earlier message of Fear No Evil, God is With Us, I would
have to say no.
Why is it again that we
should not be afraid?
Psa 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for you are with me
We know from 1 John 4:4 that
greater is God in us than Satan who is in the world.
We know from Romans 8 that
nothing in all of existence can separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus, that all things work together for good for those who are called
according to God’s purpose and if God is for us then who….really….can be
against us?
And considering as Paul says
in Philippians 1:21 that for us… to live is Christ and to die is gain, the
question becomes…. whom then shall I fear, whom then shall I fear?
What else are we taught about dealing with this evil
that is in this world?
Matthew 6:13 And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Here in the Lord’s prayer we are asking God for the
way out when we are tempted. We are asking for deliverance from the evil one,
God’s enemy. And in fact the scripture reassures us of an answer to this prayer
from 1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not
common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your
ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that
you may be able to endure it.
In essence then, it sounds
like to me that we are praying that we’re smart enough to realize when we’re
being hit by those fiery darts or flaming missiles of Ephesians 6, and we will
see, and take, the way of escape offered to us by our God. This gets back to what’s our part and what’s
God’s part in this faith walk. God
provides the way of escape, we
choose to take that way leaning in dependence upon the grace of our God as
we go.
There is a temptation for us
Christians that is called pride of self. This is where we think we’re too
mature, smart, educated, (fill in the blank) and surely cannot be tempted to
sin in certain situations of life. We somehow think we’re totally “beyond”
certain temptations. I mean, we are Christians, there are certain places where
we’re untouchable right? However, if you think that about
anything in your life, beware…..
1Co 10:12
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Jesus tried to warn
Peter:
Mat 26:31
Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall
away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:32
But after I am raised up, I will go before you
to Galilee."
Mat 26:33
Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I
will never fall away."
Mat 26:34
Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this
very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to
him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the
disciples said the same.
Well we all know what
happened. Peter got put in the position Christ foretold and he denied Jesus
three times, just like Jesus said he would. ….. and Peter had been so sure of
himself.
So what does this tell us?
We don’t need to fear evil
because God is with us. But we need
to have a good healthy respect for this one who is lurking around like a
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Enemy is after us. Don’t be
foolish about your enemy. Sin will open a door in our lives that let’s the enemy
get a foothold. To let a sin in our life go un-addressed, leaves a gap in the
armor of God that protects us and you can be sure, that fiery dart or flaming
missile is going to be targeted right for that vulnerable spot.
We cannot allow ourselves to think
we are impenetrable or untouchable in any area. If we act like we’re
untouchable and nothing can get us, or if we think we’re above temptation and we
get all judgmental and condemning about other people’s sins or weaknesses, we
open ourselves up to take a hit.
Pro 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
I had a mentor in the early
part of my Christianity who God told me that if I learned from this person’s
mistakes, I wouldn’t have to make those mistakes for myself. I’ll never forget
one big mistake that she readily admitted to me was one of the biggest mistakes
she’d made in her life.
Back in the 80s some Christians
had the idea that we ought to go about all puffed up and haughty against the
devil. You know, greater is He that is in us right? The teachings that came about
were showing spiritual warfare in such a way that people were making some
pretty brash and taunting proclamations to the enemy.
This lady was going somewhere
to minister Christ. On her way she was doing the spiritual warfare thing we
were all being taught to do. She was railing against the devil and she was
proclaiming how strong she was in the Lord and the kingdom of hell could not
prevail against her or something to that effect, and she reports saying to the
devil, “go ahead, take your best shot”.
On that very trip to
minister, she was in a car accident that damaged her spine. If I remember
correctly she had a fracture of some degree. It didn’t paralyze her or anything
like that, but it caused her pain for years to come.
What’s the lesson here? We do not voluntarily open ourselves up for
the enemy to take his best shot at us. Don’t worry, he’s doing that anyway.
Even in scripture it says:
Jud 1:9
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing
about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous
judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
We need to be very careful
about a prideful and haughty attitude.
Pro
11:2 When pride
comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Our job is to hide in the
shadow of the wing of almighty God. We need to be humble servants before the
Lord. Does that mean we cannot be fierce warriors also? No, or course we are to
be fierce warriors, but there’s a way to fight and we’re going to talk more
when we talk about the armor of God.
Let’s look at another
temptation. There are times when our actions are appropriate but our attitudes
aren’t. When evil comes against us and we win, there is sometimes a temptation
to be a little too happy during the process about someone who gets what we
think they deserve.
First of all, if we all got what we truly deserved, we’d be in bad
shape. God’s grace extended to us, saves us from what we deserve. God grieves
over his creation that is decimated and imprisoned by His enemy. God cautions
us about having the wrong attitude in our vindication and victories also. So…
are we supposed to be happy when we are given victory by God? Of course!
PS
35:26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
PS
35:27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his
servant."
PS
35:28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long.
However the flip side of that coin is:
Proverbs 17:5 says he who
is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
The TNIV says whoever gloats over disaster will not go
unpunished
Do you see a subtle
difference here between being happy and glad in the salvation or vindication of
the Lord vs. being happy and glad someone got the destruction you think they
deserved?
Let me give you an example: Exodus 15 The Song of
Moses and Miriam
1 Then Moses and the
Israelites sang this song to the LORD:
"I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 "The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.
4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh's officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, LORD,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, LORD,
shattered the enemy.
7 "In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you. You
unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of
the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
'I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.'
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, LORD?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 "You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your
unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with
trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, LORD,
until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, LORD, you made for your
dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands
established.
18 "The LORD reigns
for ever and ever."
There are describing words
here about what happen to the enemy. This is a song about victory that God
brings and the greatness of His majesty over the enemy who opposes Him. It is
about God’s ability to protect and lead His people. Do you see the focus?
A few years back someone put
the first verse to a contemporary song and I’m going to sing it to you, then
I’m going to sing a version I wrote. I only changed a few words but you see if
you can get the attitude difference I’m talking about here.
The Word’s Version:
I will sing unto the Lord for
He has triumphed gloriously the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
The Alternate Attitude:
Ha ha ha and ho ho ho, you got
yours and down you go the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
Did you catch that subtle
difference in attitude? J
Deliver us from evil.
1- we fear no evil for God is with us
2- we pray to God that we not be led into temptation but that
He deliver us from the evil presenting itself to us, by making us wise to see
the way of escape that God says He gives, and to help us make the choice to
take it. In the future we’ll talk about this some more.
The prayer of Jabez in 1Chronicles 4:10 he asks that God keep
him from evil that he would not cause pain. The idea is that Jabez wants to act
in a way that does not allow evil to hurt himself or anyone else.
Evil causes pain when it
comes at us with those fiery darts or flaming missiles and we allow ungodliness
to come forth from us in unscriptural attitudes or in hidden or open sin.
Psa 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
Psa 139:24
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting!
When we pray for the Lord to
deliver us from evil, we need to be willing to open ourselves up before God and
let him examine the attitudes of our hearts. Then we need to be brave enough to
agree with God when He shows us things, and we need to repent of them. God
loves us. He’s not out to condemn us and beat us with our sin, He’s out to free
us from it.
John
3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Yes God wants to save us to be with Him for
eternity, but that salvation starts the moment we accept Jesus here on this
earth. He wants to save us from the things that torment us here and now. He
wants to free us, He wants to deliver us from evil.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord
is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
1 John 3:8 concludes by saying “the reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Let’s take time to seek the
Lord personally so that He may uncover places in our lives that He wants to
touch in order to deliver us from evil and make us free to be everything He
created us to be. When He shows us those places, let us agree to do our part as
we follow him in growth from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord
is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Co 3:18 And we all,
with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into
the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the
Lord who is the Spirit.