Prayer Study Group Lesson Week Six

“Deliver Us From Evil”

Jesus added “Deliver us from evil” to the prayer He taught His disciples. It is so important that we understand that deliverance from evil comes solely from God. Without Jesus and the redemption that He brings to us, we are helpless against the enemy.

What do we do when we face evil? James, the half-brother of Jesus, taught this:

James 4:7 (NLT) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

It takes a humble heart, one that is bowed low to Christ’s authority, to resist the devil. When we resist through the power found in Jesus, the devil will flee.

When we submit to Jesus, we come under His authority and protection. When we function in our own power we cannot resist. The devil will keep pursuing us. 

1 Peter 5:7-9 (NLT) 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

    8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

“The Lion and It’s Prey”

Lions often work together when they hunt. This cooperation increases their chances of getting food. Most of the hunting is done by the lionesses which divide into two teams. One team circles around ahead of the prey. When they are in place, the second group shows itself and scares the animals. The frightened victims stampede and are chased into the first group of lions. Most of the hunting is done at night, because lions have excellent hearing and eyesight. Their hearing is so good, they can hear prey that is more than a mile away. Lions’ eyes are the biggest of any meat-eating animal. Like the eyes of other cats, they are specially designed for seeing at night.

The roaring lion is a great example of how we fall into sin and why we need to stay alert. The first group of lions represent the devil lying in wait to devour us. The second group of lions is the temptation that exposes us to sin. We are the most vulnerable during this time. When we succumb to the temptation we run right into the devil’s trap and we are devoured by him.  We get lost in our sin, tangled up with guilt. 

The good news is this; we have a Redeemer who offers us a way out when we sin. But, the best defense against the evil one is to resist him and stand behind our great Warrior Jesus. When we refuse the lure of sin and keep our eyes on Him, we  remain safe in Jesus. He does the fighting for us.

There are three stages of temptation:

1. Evil desire.
2. Sin.
3. Death

We all have desires. And these desires aren’t all bad. For example, I have a great desire to be loved and to love. But, that desire becomes sin when it is twisted and warped adultery that disguises itself in the cloak of false love. The sin is when a person succumbs to the temptation to go outside of marriage to fulfill this desire to be loved. Sin always leads to death. It can kill a marriage. It kills the spirit. It puts a wedge in our relationship with God.

Our protection comes from Jesus. He gives us the armor to do battle with evil with Him as our Leader and Protector.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)  10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

   13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Our Defense

The belt: This is where the sword was hung and the word describe it as the belt of truth.

1 John 2:20-21 (NLT) 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

The sword: Represents the Spirit. His Spirit is powerful, more powerful than any other power.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The breastplate: It is a coat of mail that covers all the vital organs. It is known as the breastplate of righteousness. It protects our heart. Remember righteousness is defined as having a right relationship with God.

Psalm 40:10 (NIV) 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.

The shoes: Are really know as “greaves” or shin guards. They protect the legs. We stand with the shoes (greaves) of readiness to share the good news. Without this protection, our walk is hampered and vulnerable to injury. 

Romans 10:14-15 (NLT) 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

The shield: The Roman shield was covered with leather, soaked in water and was used to extinguish flaming arrows. The shield described in Ephesians 6:16 is the shield of faith. It stops the fiery arrows of the evil one.

Psalm 92:4 (NLT) He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

The helmet: It surrounds the head and covers it, protecting the brain and all it does for the body. The helmet is known as the helmet of salvation. Our minds, the decision making part of us, must choose to wear the helmet of salvation. It is a personal choice to accept Jesus and be saved. Every decision we make must be based on our Hope of Salvation ~ Jesus. When we chose the salvation Jesus offers, there is no hope of survival.

Exodus 15:1-3 (NLT) 1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him! 3 The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!

Not only does God deliver us from evil, He gives us protection to wear. It comes by choice. We have to choose to stand behind Him and by faith wear the armor He provides for us. We submit to His authority and protection by faith. This is our only protection from the evil one. Let’s put on the armor and stand behind our Savior for He alone can “deliver us from evil.”