DELIVER US FROM EVIL
At the top of Jesus’ teachings is the prayer, “Deliver us from evil.” The Lord’s Prayer says, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The average person does not understand evil, nor do they want to. Most people avoid horror, deviant behavior, and wickedness. They do not even like to look at it, but evil is escalating in America and around the world. It has been here since the fall of man, and it is so vile that it has often shocked us. Scripture warns us that we are on the brink of a massive surge of wickedness. Darkness is coming! Our prayer to God remains, “Deliver us from evil.”
Before continuing with this teaching, please know that I would rather not talk about evil, but I am compelled to warn God’s people. This is in the Bible, and therefore we should not ignore it; we must prepare ourselves.
Evil is generational; like curses, it is passed on from deviant parents to their children. Often a criminal comes from a family of criminals. Wickedness, however, can be birthed in a child who comes from good parents. When any person chooses sin and perpetuates a sinful lifestyle, perversions and wickedness can become infused by demonic entities. Then evil can erupt beyond the scope of human thought and skill.
When evil rises it produces different levels of ungodliness. It begins with the list mentioned in the Bible. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:19-21
These sins emerge to satisfy the lusts of the flesh and they are destructive. Furthermore, they do not remain as narcissistic activities; they attract demons, and then the ungodliness becomes excessive. Wickedness can ramp up to violate, hurt, and murder multitudes. That is what we call horror. We have seen it bring genocide to the masses, terror to millions of people, and even destroy entire nations.
It begins with a lying spirit, a hatred of God, domination and control of innocent people, a lawless denial of truth and goodness, gross sexual deviance and perversion, senseless and thoughtless violence, and it even propagates such torturous evils as sadistic mutilation, and ritualistic sacrifice of the young and innocent.
These practices are justified in the minds of the perpetrators because of a lust for greed, ambitious power, political ideology, and even religious convictions. Evil is then advanced as if it were good, proper, and necessary.
The lying spirit brings persuasive deception, allowing it to become the acceptable culture for many people. The spirit of lawlessness is constantly promoted through propaganda until it becomes the norm in society. At the end of the age, the demonic darkness will become darker than the world has ever known. Scripture says, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.” Isa. 60:2
Many Christians avoid the subject, but evil does not keep to itself. It conspires, grows, and spreads. It flaunts its horror in the face of God and His people. We can see its effects already covering the earth and doing everything, at every opportunity, to infuse into each every area of society. It can no longer be ignored.
Take hope, for darkness is not the end of the story. We read, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isa. 60:2-3
When evil is at its worst, the glory of the Lord will rise over His people and they will overcome. The battle lines are drawn and the two kingdoms, of light and darkness, are becoming more clearly defined. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.” 1 Jn. 4:4-5
Rejecting God and His Word produces a slippery slope that leads to ruin. All people groups, including the Jews, have been guilty of following the antichrist path.
Scripture says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” Jn. 1:12 NKJ
Compromise, casual Christianity, and indulging in small besetting sins have rendered the church weak to the point of losing its effectiveness as the light of the world.
There is a remnant, however, that cries to God, “Deliver us from evil.”
While many refuse to see the political situation as spiritual, others see themselves as warriors ready to drive back the enemy and release the glory of God, at home and abroad. Soon, the sleeping church will rise and the glory of the Lord will shine through them. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
HERE ARE STRATEGIES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAT MANY DISCIPLES EMBRACE
I ask you to look at these eleven areas of strategic service, and check off the list to see where you may become more effective.
1. Worship the Lord with unbridled passion.
2. Pray effectively and fervently.
3. Walk blamelessly before the Lord.
4. Courageously obey the Lord with acts of faith.
5. Express God’s love with generosity and kindness toward everyone.
6. Share the gospel of Christ with sinners and saints, as God leads.
7. Rescue the weak and defenseless from abuse.
8. Give generously to the poor.
9. Fight for biblical principles through politics.
10. Establish programs for godly education and impartation.
11. Connect with others in the body of Christ as a unified family and a strategic army.
We pray our monthly teaching
devotional empowers & inspires you
to live a supernatural Christian life.
DR. PETER WYNS
Founder & President
Christian for Messiah Ministries
Pastor at Antioch International Church
Instructions in Righteousness is produced by “Christians for Messiah Ministries” (CFM). Dr. Peter Wyns is the President of CFM and the Head Pastor of Antioch International Church. He has served as a pastor for 54 years and ministered in more than 45 nations.
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