February 7, 2022
Sacred Space
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection
Matthew 6:13b (ESV) “...but deliver us from evil.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Jesus ends his model prayer asking that the disciples would be delivered from evil. Paul writes more about this in Eph. 6 when he tells us that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle. Just as our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, our deliverance from evil doesn’t come through our own strength. One of the tools that God gives us in this battle against spiritual forces is prayer. This is why Jesus teaches us to ask God to deliver us from evil. Another tool that God gives us is the whole armor of God. Paul writes that it is necessary to put on the whole armor if we are to stand firm.
As we are witnessing, we have to remember who our true enemy is. It isn’t Democrats or Republicans. It isn’t atheists or a secular society. Our true enemy is the devil and the cosmic powers. If we don’t know who the enemy is we won’t properly prepare ourselves. This week we are going to look more closely at the armor of God that Paul lists for us so that we are prepared to stand firm.
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Pray that God would deliver you from evil.
Pray that God would reveal if you been prepared for spiritual battle.
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection
Matthew 6:13b (ESV) “...but deliver us from evil.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Jesus ends his model prayer asking that the disciples would be delivered from evil. Paul writes more about this in Eph. 6 when he tells us that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle. Just as our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, our deliverance from evil doesn’t come through our own strength. One of the tools that God gives us in this battle against spiritual forces is prayer. This is why Jesus teaches us to ask God to deliver us from evil. Another tool that God gives us is the whole armor of God. Paul writes that it is necessary to put on the whole armor if we are to stand firm.
As we are witnessing, we have to remember who our true enemy is. It isn’t Democrats or Republicans. It isn’t atheists or a secular society. Our true enemy is the devil and the cosmic powers. If we don’t know who the enemy is we won’t properly prepare ourselves. This week we are going to look more closely at the armor of God that Paul lists for us so that we are prepared to stand firm.
Consider:
- Who do you believe the true enemy is?
- Are you prepared for spiritual combat?
- What are the ways in which lost people are tempted and drawn away from the Gospel?
Prayer Points:
Pray that God would deliver you from evil.
Pray that God would reveal if you been prepared for spiritual battle.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting