Deliver Us From Evil
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 1/24/2010 AM |
Text: | Ephesians 6:13-18; Lord's Day 52 |
Psalters: | 174, 102, 165, 385 |
- Our danger.
- Scripture ascribes temptation to Satan (Adam in Rev. 20:2; David in I Chron. 21:1; Christ in Luke 4:13).
- But the biggest problem is ourselves - we are liable to be drawn into sin by our flesh Canons V,4.
- Temptation implies there is a ability to sin in every child of God.
- Our proneness to sin and the weakness of our faith is so great that apart from grace we cannot stand a moment.
- The petition implies a dread of being led into temptation.
- This petition expresses our confidence in our Father?s guidance of us: ?lead us...?
- We ask this of our heavenly Father because we know He is in sovereign control, also of temptations.
- God tests His children, directing Satan, according to His infinite will and wisdom.
- God does so to strengthen us by teaching us.
- Sin?s presence in us is a constant matter for humility before God and for flying for refuge to Christ crucified.
- With this petition we mean:
- That we be given the strength to resist, to stand in the fight, and to turn to God (Canons V, 7,11).
- That we desire to be pleasing to God.
- Therefore we must constantly watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation (Matt. 26:4).
- The process of mortification of the flesh is by the spirit of prayer (Eph. 6:18,19).
- And by holy exercises of piety (I Tim. 4:7,8), especially by ?watching,?
- With the trials God sends the deliverance, for which we fervently pray.
- Because Christ told us to pray for deliverance, we can confidently expect God to provide it.
- The experience of deliverance is from the sins which are a normal reaction to tribulations.
- Conclusions.
- It is mockery to pray this petition and then go out and expose ourselves to wickedness.
- May the awareness of how easy it is for us to fall cause us to persist in resisting, praying and watching.