So far we have learned from the Lord’s teachings on prayerin this passage in Luke 11, that prayer concerns our Father’s presence, ourFather's purpose, our Father’s provision, our Father’s pardon, and our Father’sprotection. I couldn’t help but notice that before we pray for His protection asbelievers, we should have the assurance that we have our own sins forgiven,which only comes because we have forgiven “everyone” who wronged, sinned, hurt,or offended us.
This is crucial if we are going to be able to expect theFather to protect us from the attacks of the evil one. Unconfessed sin in ourlives become a “stronghold” of Satan in our minds and hearts. Those strongholdscan only be destroyed by the mighty weapons of the Word of God and prayer: 2Corinthians 10:3-6 reminds us: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are notwaging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not ofthe flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy argumentsand every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take everythought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, whenyour obedience is complete.”
Did you also notice that in this basic model and pattern ofprayer we are not taught to pray for the Father to keep us from experiencing sickness,suffering, pain, or discomfort. We are not taught to pray that we won’t die.For sure, no doubt, it is not wrong to pray for our physical, mental, andemotional needs, or even for these needs in our family and friends. But farmore important than our circumstantial needs, it is clear here that the emphasisis on our character needs! We are all goingto suffer afflictions and pain and one day face death.
That is the reality of life! But we have been promised thatthe Lord will give us grace and strength to go through it all with His presenceand therefore we don’t need to worry or fear (Psalm 23:4). What is important isour faith and trust in our heavenly Father to supply for every need we have(Philippians 4:19).
We should also note that when we pray, “Do not lead usinto temptation”, that it means that the Lord is the One who might beleading us to do something wrong or evil. No, this statement is a way of sayingthat we need the Father’s protection from the solicitation of the evil one to sinor do wrong. James make it very clear that God does not tempt us with evil: “Blessedis the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he willreceive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Letno one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannotbe tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
1 John 2:16 reminds us that all temptations we face in thisworld concern three areas: “For all that is in the world--the lust of theflesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but isof the world.”
These are the same things that the Devil tempted Jesus with(Matthew 4:1-11). Peter warned us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because youradversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”(1 Peter 5:8). Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11-12; For we donot wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, againstpowers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hostsof wickedness in the heavenly places.”
That is why we pray for our Father’s protection against theevil one and his temptations. But we must also do our part by: “But put onthe Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill itslusts” (Romans 13:14).
If we are “drinking of the water of Life” that Jesusgives us in His Word, we not be thirsting for the dirty water from the well ofthe world (John 4:13-14). And remember Psalm 119:11: “Your word I havehidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”
Today, are you experiencing “deliverance from the evilone”!
God bless!
