Deliver Us From Evil: Spiritual Warriors Prayer, Part 7
This is the final week in a seven-week study on the Lord's Prayer, or as Pastor Ricky Jacob likes to call it: the Spiritual Warriors Prayer. Need to start at the beginning? Read Part 1 here.
Listen to the devotion:
There once was a warrior who had leprosy. He offered Elisha, a prophet of the God of Israel, 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing to be healed. This warrior was healed by God after he followed Elisha's directions to wash seven times in the Jordan River. (2 Kings 5)
The warrior offered Elisha the silver, gold, and clothing. The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” However, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, was tempted to have some of these riches for himself. He allowed the evil one to lead him away from trusting in the God. He ran after Naaman, made up some story and was given 150 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.
Gehazi attempted to hide these items from Elisha but he failed. This deception and walking in the way of the Evil one is never hidden from God. What do such earthly riches get Gehazi? Listen to Elisha’s prophetic words, “Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants."
Jesus instructed His disciples in praying the Spiritual Warriors prayer. It closes with this final petition: But deliver us from evil.
We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
Jesus gave you His prayer and in so doing gave you access to His Heavenly Father. His Heavenly Father is now your heavenly Father through faith in Him. As you battle the temptations of the Evil one, you have been equipped with the words of this warrior’s prayer. You can trust in the Word and promises of God as He assists you in thwarting the enemy. Trust not in the riches or pleasures of this life, that are so short-lived. Rather you who believe in Jesus are assured that when your last hour comes He will give you a blessed end!
The Evil one could not keep Jesus forever in the tomb. The Devil’s apparent victory was short-lived and on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. You who place your faith in Jesus share in His victory and have life ~ everlasting!