Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare audio video notes. Jesus believed there is an evil one and referred to him often in his teachings. We cannot do a complete teaching on the subject of the evil one, but I will attempt to help us with some needed information. It is imperative we recognize the evil one and understand how he operates. Jesus said, …lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Sermon On The Mount Sermon Series
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
By Pastor Delbert Young
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Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Scriptures: Matthew 6:13, Luke 10:18, Jude 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Matthew 16:23, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:4, Psalms 18:1-19
The devil is real and personal. He is not an impersonal cosmic force. Interestingly, I find believers are usually in one of two extremes. One extreme is that we borderline acknowledging his authenticity. Even in talking about a real devil, we fear that we are being “overly spiritual,” weird, and over the edge with church stuff. So, we barely recognize the existence of the evil one. We think that if he does exist, he won’t get me.
The other extreme is when we realize the devil is real, we place him, or one of his demons, behind every bush – everything is of the devil. Any negative events that take place are the devil. Nothing is because of my carnal nature. It’s Flip Wilson’s “The devil made me do it” syndrome. Either we hardly believe in the devil at all, or we believe everything is of the devil. What is your personal position concerning the evil one?
AT LIFE GATE
I fear we make too little of the evil one. There are a few reasons I feel this way. One is that we teach the kingdom of God with a huge, loving Father, a mighty ruling Lord, and a powerful Holy Spirit. Though that is true, it doesn’t make the evil one any smaller.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Another reason I fear we make too little of the evil one is because I have seen the extreme when everything is blamed on the devil. The results of that arena are that we never deal with our flesh or our hearts, and in the kingdom, we must deal with our hearts.
PERFECT PRAYER:
No matter what our personal feelings are about the evil one, the perfect prayer includes prayer about him. Jesus said to pray this way.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Jesus believed there is an evil one and referred to him often in his teachings (Mat 12:26; 13:39; 25:41; Mar 3:23; 4:15; 7:29; Luk 7:33; 8:12; 10:18; 11:18; 13:16; 22:31; Joh 6:70; Joh 8:44).
We cannot do a complete teaching on the subject of the evil one today. We will save that for another time, but I will attempt to help us with some needed information. It is imperative that we recognize the evil one and understand how he operates. Let’s see if we can accomplish that.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
NAMES OF EVIL ONE:
The names of the evil one are given to us in Revelation 12:9.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
We learn several things from that verse. We learn that a war in heaven has already taken place and that Satan and his agents have been cast to earth. Some believers await that war in heaven and the event of Satan’s being cast to earth. Their interpretation of the book of Revelation tells them it will happen later during a time of great tribulation. However, Jesus said it had already taken place. It happened when Christ’s disciples utilized the power given to them around 30 A.D.
Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The point we need to see is that the evil one and his agents are indeed active in the earth.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
We also learn from Revelation 12:9 that the evil one comes in many different forms. He’s the great dragon, an old serpent, the devil, and Satan. Why so many names? Names in the Bible also speak of natures. Each of those names gives us an aspect of the nature of the evil one. Let’s take a quick look at those names.
great dragon– drakon {drak’-own} #1404 – a great serpent
serpent – ophis {of’-is} #3789 – with the ancients, the serpent was an emblem of cunning, wisdom, and deceit.
From the serpent and great dragon, we learn the evil one is the master of cunning. His ingenuity appears limitless. His wisdom is great. He is the great dragon. In and of ourselves, we are no match for the serpent’s cunning and wisdom. His deceit is amazing. He can take what a person well knows is wrong and easily convince the person that it’s right. He did it with Eve, and he did it with Adam, and they were created in the image of God and walked with God on a regular basis.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Devil – diabolos {dee-ab’-ol-os} #1228 – prone to slander, slanderous
Slander and talking about people is not only devilish; it is the devil himself. He is the accuser of the brothers (Rev 12:10). We are as the devil when we talk about people.
Satan – Satanas {sat-an-as’} #4567 – incites apostasy from God and to sin
The evil one will attempt to find a way to turn us from God. He will cunningly use people, things, emotions, time, lusts, etc. We will see more about how he does this in a few moments. He is a master of evil. He is the evil one.
BIBLE WARNS TO BE CAUTIOUS:
I know we all think we are big and bad, or it won’t happen to me, but none of us, in and of ourselves, is a match for the evil one. Jude warned about taking the devil and his angels seriously.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Jude 1:8-10
8 In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings.
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals – these are the very things that destroy them.
Make no mistake about it, the evil one will destroy us if he possibly can. Jesus said to pray, “. . . deliver us from the evil one.”
MASQUERADE:
The evil one and his agents are masters of disguises. They will appear in any form, even as apostles or a righteous person. Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, said,
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
The evil one can show up in doctrine. It is imperative that we are part of a good church that teaches correct doctrine. A primary way Satan shows up is through false ministries.
NOT REPULSIVE:
The evil one is not repulsive. He does not have green eyes, cloven hoofs, and a forked tail. The opposite is true. The evil one will access our hearts through the things we desire and love the most. He masquerades in any way he can to allure us into his trap.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
The evil one will approach us in association with our temptations (Mat 6:13). He can approach us with a bottle or a pill. He can approach us in a dress or a suit, and he will use anger or calmness. Also, he will use people in Bagdad, Afghanistan, or Washington, D.C. He will use the thing or the person you love the most to get to you and deceive you. If at all possible, he will even show up in you or me. He showed up in Peter one day in an attempt to deceive and lead Jesus astray.
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Jesus immediately recognized the evil one using Peter. Satan comes to allure us with the things of men and away from the things of God. What, or whom, draws you from the things of God? Satan used someone close to Jesus. Satan would later use Judas Iscariot.
Some people think the devil is out to kill them. That may be true, but people are more valuable to the evil one alive if they are helping him advance his kingdom of darkness. For example, if a person is a slanderer, then that person is very useful to the evil one.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
PRIMARY POINT:
The primary point that I want to make in our time together today is that the evil one has an individual plan to trap each of us. Jesus referred to this when he said to pray, “…deliver us from the evil one.” Our not realizing that he has a plan to trap each of us may be the largest miscalculated aspect concerning him. Let’s take a look.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
First, note that Ephesians 6:11 is personal. The understood subject is “You.” “You put on the full armor of God so that YOU can take YOUR STAND against the devil’s schemes” for your life. The Apostle Paul is telling us that the devil has a scheme of attack for YOU and a scheme of attack for me.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
The Greek word translated schemes is methodeia (Strong’s #3180) and pronounced meth-od-i’-ah. It’s the word from which we get our English word ‘method’, which is exactly what the word means. There is a method to the evil one’s madness. The word includes the thought of cunning art, deceit, craft, and trickery. The scheme of the evil one to trap us is amazingly artfully. He has crafted a plan. The plan is not haphazardly thrown together. It is skillfully and artfully crafted to deceive and trick. Not to necessarily kill, but to deceive, trick, get us off the purpose of God, and to stop the advancement of the kingdom. In so doing, he destroys us.
The kingdom of darkness has existed for a long time. It is not disorganized, as the evil one would have us believe. Rather, his deceitful kingdom is methodical and methodized.
The evil one has a scheme specifically designed for me, and he has one specifically crafted for you.
He does not desire to repel us with slanted green eyes and fire-engine red skin. Rather, he desires to entice us. So, little by little and bait by bait, and scheme upon scheme, he methodically allures us to his snare of destruction. That’s the evil one’s crafted method, and it works amazingly well. It works so well that we each know the method by which he approaches us. Yet, knowing this, we still allow the evil one to draw near. Amazing!
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
With the understanding that the evil one has methodically crafted a scheme to destroy each of us, let’s look at another scripture.
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
A reason that I reference this verse is because of how I have heard 1 Peter 5:8 taught. I have heard people say that the devil, the roaring lion, is a toothless bully. The teaching attempts to humorously say that Jesus pulled all the devil’s teeth and that he can do nothing to us. Those types of statements worry me. Paul tells us to armor ourselves against the methodical schemes of the devil. Peter tells us to constantly be alert. Anyone who makes light of the evil one doesn’t understand the scriptures. Jesus told us to pray to be delivered from the evil one. The evil one is dangerous and will devour our lives.
GREATER IS HE IN US:
I have said all of that to get to this place. Yes, the evil one is dangerous and yes, we need to pray about our temptations and constantly ask Father to deliver us from the plans of the evil one. But I want to make certain that we all know that greater is he that is in you than he that is out there.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
There is a balance. I don’t care what we face in life or what scheme the evil one devises; Christ in you is greater than that scheme. I don’t care if the evil one’s scheme works—and sometimes it will—and you are in the pit. Christ in you is greater than the devil. I know that no matter how hopeless or impossible it may seem in the natural, you have a Father who is well able to see you through.
Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. He is the Great I Am. He has everything I need to get out of the pit and to be victorious. And if he doesn’t have it, then he can create it. He created the whole universe. You need to develop an unshakable confidence in Father. You’ve got to be fully convinced that there is nothing too hard for our God. You’ve got to know that you know that you know that he loves you with everlasting love. And he’s personally concerned about every one of us. He will deliver you from the trap of the evil one.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Psalms 18:1-6
1 This song of David was written at a time when the Lord had delivered him from his many enemies, including Saul. Lord, how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me.
2 The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me. He is a rugged mountain where I hide, he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me, and a tower of safety, He is my shield. He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull.
3 All I need to do is cry to him – oh, praise the Lord – and I am saved from all my enemies!
4 Death bound me with chains, and the floods of ungodliness mounted a massive attack against me.
5 Trapped and helpless, I struggled against the ropes that drew me on to death.
6 In my distress I screamed to the Lord for his help. And he heard me from heaven; my cry reached his ears…
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Psalms 18:16-19
16 He reached down from heaven and took me and drew me out of my great trials. He rescued me from deep waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me – I who was helpless in their hands.
18 On the day when I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady.
19 He led me to a place of safety, for he delights in me.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in bad situations. We are in the trap of the evil one, but we don’t have to stay there. We cry out to Father, saying, “Deliver me for the evil one!” If you do that, you will overcome some of the most incredible obstacles that you never dreamed possible to overcome.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
I know some of you are surrounded by incredible problems. Your life may be a big mess. You don’t see how you can get out of it. You must stop looking at your present-day circumstances and get your eyes on your all-powerful, Almighty Creator of the universe, Father. Quit talking to Father about how big your problems are and start talking to your problems about how big your Father is.
And I want all of you to go out here today knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that no scheme that you face is bigger than our God. Just as David said, in your darkest moment, God’s light is going to burst forth, and he will reach down from heaven and deliver you from your great trials. He did it for David, and he has done it for me. He has done it for you in the past and is going to make a way where there is no way. And he’s going to bring you through triumphantly and victoriously for the glory of the kingdom.
See, no weapon formed against you can prosper.
Cry out to God. First say, “Lead me not to that temptation. I can’t handle it.” But if it gets you, the cry out, “Deliver me from the evil one.” Do what you know to do. Speak to your mountain. Command it to move. It must move because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
Deliver Us From the Evil One – Overcoming Spiritual Warfare
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