Lesson Five • The Lord’s Prayer – Part Two
Devotion 5: Deliver us from the Evil One

Pastor John Carter

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13

As we have been walking through this section of the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus pointing us to deliverance. If we are going to be delivered, we have to identify from what we need to be delivered. It is like when we talk about being saved in the church, if you do not clearly identify what it is you need saving from, salvation sounds really weird. Jesus does not make it a profound mystery. He says it right here in the example, “Deliver us from evil.” I want to give you a couple of correlating passages that follow along with the concept of evil. Some of your translations may even have this evil identified as the evil one.

Read these verses and see if you can connect some dots:

  • “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:14-17
  • “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
  • “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:17-18

Some translations and manuscripts include some words at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. Right after “deliver us from evil,” they may include these words, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13, NKJV).

Whether it is included or not is really not a major point. The idea that God’s Kingdom has the power and glory to overcome evil or the evil one is clearly articulated in the verses prior and throughout Scripture. It is always important to consider this when we are praying. Are we cognizant of the evil that is in our world? Do we seek the One who has power over the evil one to protect us? Consider some of the following verses:

  • “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3

 

  • “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.” Ephesians 6:10-12
  • “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:18-19
  • “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

As I read through those texts (there are many more I could have included), the thing that sticks out is that an evil power definitely exists in our world. The desire of the evil one is to destroy, consume, create chaos, and ruin our lives. The markers of those who are walking in the kingdom of darkness are disobedience, wrath, and living out of the desires and passions of the flesh. The devil (evil one) has schemes, traps, tricks, or temptations that he sets out to trip us up. Jesus, when He modeled this prayer for us, wants us to be aware of these traps and recognize there is evil that we need to be aware of. He points us to seek that help from the Father. He is the One who is all-powerful and mighty! Consider the evil that may be surrounding you today. Go to the Father and ask for Him to deliver you from this evil. He has the power to do that! Scripture also teaches us that this battle against the evil one is not one that is fought on our own. Obviously, we need the presence and power of God, but God also gave us each other (our neighbors if you will), to help overcome the temptations of the evil one. Below are a few passages that really show the the need we have for one another and overcoming the traps and temptation of the evil one:

  • “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
  • “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
  • “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

Today, as you are praying, lift up your brother or sister in Christ. Carry some of their burdens as you approach God and pray on their behalf. Pray that the Lord will deliver you both from evil.