“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:13-15
The Lord’s Prayer concludes with spiritual warfare. It begins with relationship (Our Father) and worship (hallowed be your Name), moving into submission (your kingdom, your will) and petition (give us this day), and always aware of grace (forgive us). Then the final prayer is about temptation and deliverance. Where does this temptation come from? And what would deliverance look like?
James 1 makes it clear that temptation primarily comes from inside us – from our own evil desires. Yes, the devil plays a part (so resist him, James 4:7) and this sinful world provides ample opportunity (the days are evil, Eph. 5:16). But the primary danger for each one of us is our own sinful desires – the remnant of our old nature, our “flesh.”
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” James 4:1-2
When we pray “deliver us from evil,” we are asking God to change us. We are pleading with our holy God to continue the work He started in us at the moment we called on Jesus in faith. At that instant, you were justified – declared righteous and holy in Christ. From that time, you are being sanctified – the Holy Spirit is shaping you more and more into the image of the perfection of Jesus. When you die, or Jesus comes back, you will be glorified – all remaining sin finally removed and the righteousness of Christ fully realized in you.
A vital part of our sanctification is praying against our sinful desires and praying for the transforming power of God’s Spirit. How does God deliver us from the remaining sin in our hearts and minds and lives? It is a process! And it involves every means of grace at our disposal: worship, Bible reading (meditation, memorization, discussion), prayer, fellowship, accountability, discipleship, teaching, preaching, service, obedience, etc. This is the process of renewing our minds in God’s Word (Rom. 12:2), as we pray for His help to become more holy.
Our next series, Gospel-Centered, takes us through Romans 8. I challenge the whole church to start memorizing this glorious chapter of God’s Word – and learn as much of it as you can! Saturate your mind with this wonderful gospel truth:
- In Christ, I am forgiven – “there is no condemnation” v. 1
- In Christ, I am free – “the law of the Spirit of life has set you free” v. 2
- In Christ, I am holy – “God has done what the Law could not do” v. 3
- In Christ, I am righteous – “the righteous requirement of the law” v. 4
- In Christ, I have a new identity – “those who live / are being” v. 5
- In Christ, I have a new mind – “to set the mind on the Spirit is life” v. 6
- In Christ, I can conquer the flesh – “put to death the deeds of the body” v. 13
- In Christ, I am a child of God – “we cry ‘Abba Father'” v. 15
- In Christ, I am secure forever – “nothing can separate us” v. 39
And in the middle of this amazing chapter we see the purpose of God for us:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30
What is the GOOD for which all things work together? What is the purpose to which God has called us? It is to shape us, more and more, into the image of Jesus Christ. He is perfecting us – preparing us for glory.
Let’s joyfully join God in this work He is doing in us – agreeing with His purpose and praying every day, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”