Smart Weapons
Teach Us To Pray
February 9, 2020
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
In the final petition of the Lord's Prayer Jesus teaches us to ask God not to lead us into temptation but to deliver us from the evil one, acknowledging the offensive and defensive realities of spiritual warfare and our dependence on Christ for rescue and strength.
Summary
Closing a series on the Lord's Prayer, the sermon focuses on the sixth petition—'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'—using wartime analogies to show that spiritual life involves both offensive and defensive battles. Temptation is framed primarily as test or trial that proves faith, and we are taught to plead with God to spare us situations where we would fail or to rescue us when evil comes. The petition highlights that we are on mission against a powerful enemy, that 'deliver' can mean both preservation and rescue, and that Jesus, who experienced temptation, provides the Word and victory. The sermon concludes with a call to prayer, communion, and reliance on Christ who has destroyed the works of the devil.
Key Points
- Sixth petition: 'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
- Temptation often means test or trial—used to prove loyalty and faith.
- Spiritual warfare has both offensive and defensive dimensions; prayer addresses both.
- We should ask God to keep us from situations where we'd fail and to rescue us when evil attacks.
- 'Deliver' can mean both preserve/spare and actively rescue.
- Jesus experienced temptation and provides the Word and victory over the devil.
- The petition reframes our life as mission and calls us to dependence on Christ through prayer.
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