We are so glad that you joined us today at North Main Street Church of God. At North Main, we exist to develop completely committed followers of Christ who...

Know Christ intimately,

Grow in Christ continually, and

Go for Christ daily

Communion
We will be celebrating communion together this morning during worship. The ushers will distribute the elements at that time, but for those who need a gluten-free or sealed option, those are available at the Welcome Center right outside of the doors you came in today.

Rescue Us
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Governing”
Series Title: “The Goodness of Prayer”
August 25th, 2024

Something to think about:

As we close out our series on the LORD’s Prayer today, we focus on the last verse in the passage. In this verse, Jesus specifically instructs His disciples to request GOD the Father’s deliverance from temptation and evil. Let’s take a look once more…

Key Point: “GOD allows His people to be tested as a way of strengthening us, and He is always the Way of deliverance.”

In a rather odd way, this verse may seem somewhat contradictory to what we have come to know of GOD’s character and nature. Why would we ask for GOD not to “lead us into temptation?” That seems wildly out of His nature to do. Does this request presume that GOD can and/or does lead people into temptation? I thought that the devil was the only one who did that. What’s really going on here? In order to understand this at a deeper level we need to break this verse down further:

Something to take home:
When we pray, Father, “Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one,” what we are in essence asking GOD is that He would give us the strength and the wear with all to live a life free from the snare of temptation, always passing the test of faith, and rescuing us from the evil one’s schemes and tactics that would seek to destroy us.

Like any good father or parent, GOD desires to guide and direct us and for us to be willing to submit and follow His will and ways. It’s in this act of submission to His will, and keeping our eyes fixed on Christ the Author and Perfecter of our faith, that we are able to resist the devil and he will flee from us.[1]

As further encouragement, Paul in his letter to the Church at Ephesus, instructs us, just as Jesus did in the LORD’s Prayer:

Ephesians 6:10-17 (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.

Key Point: “GOD allows His people to be tested as a way of strengthening us, and He is always the Way of deliverance.”


[1] James 4:7.

According to Biblical scholar, Bruce Barton, “The Greek word translated ‘temptation’ (peirasmos) does not mean ‘enticement to do evil’ but ‘testing.’” (Consider James 1:13 as confirmation that GOD does not tempt people.) GOD allows people to be tested. Why do you think He allows testing?

Though GOD doesn’t tempt people, nor is Himself tempted, He does allow leading into temptation for the purpose of testing. (Consider Jesus’ being led into the wilderness for 40 days and nights before He began His ministry (Matthew 4:1)). How have you been tested in your life? How have you done under the test?

To pray that we will not be led into temptation is the same as asking, “Lead us not into further testing even while you are leading us out of evil.” Jesus prayed boldly to the Father (Consider Matthew 26:39). When was the last time you prayed boldly to the Father in Heaven? Were you resigned to His will?

GOD is in the “deliverance” ministry. This is why Jesus could instruct His disciples to pray for deliverance from the evil one. However, GOD’s mode of deliverance is in delivering someone through a situation rather than helping them to avoid it. When was the last time GOD delivered you through something rather than helping you to avoid it altogether?

Paul, in his letter to the Church at Corinth, addresses the temptations believers face in 1 Corinthians 10:13. This is a “deliverance through temptation” by providing a way of escape from its effects. When was the last time you were tempted? What way of escape was available to you? Did you take the way of escape? Why or why not?

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