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• Ask for Deliverance: Guidance
“Lead us not into temptation” – The last thing we are told to ask for is assistance in escaping temptation. This request is actually a two-fold acknowledgment. First, we admit that we are involved in a battle against evil forces. Though your Bible may say “deliver us from evil,” the truth is that the Greek is more literally translated, “deliver us from the evil one.” We don’t like talking about spiritual forces. We think of cartoonish images and Halloween costumes when people talk about Satan and demons. But just as Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness in Matthew 4, we are constantly tempted as well. Many people fall into sin because they don’t even realize that they are under attack. Second, this passage reminds us that not only is it a spiritual battle, but we are bad at fighting it.
We need help because we give in too easily to sin. The good news is that because Jesus endured temptation without failing, He is able to come to our aid. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” He will give us mercy for our failings and grace to help lead us out of temptation. But we have to want it, and the truth is we are often quite willing to be ensnared by sin.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Do you ever have problems praying? Why? What does praying to get people’s attention look like in today’s world? How can we resist that temptation and focus on God alone?
2. How do we sometimes pray like the pagans Jesus mentions? Do you sometimes feel like you need to get God’s attention, like God doesn’t care, or notice? How can we fight this fear and trust that God knows our needs?
3. How do the words/phrases “Our”, “Father” and “in heaven” each help to deepen our understanding of the nature of the God we are praying to?
4. What does it mean to pray for God’s “name to be hallowed”, “His kingdom come” or “His will be done”? What does it mean to pray focusing on God’s glory? What does it mean to pray asking for our good?
5. Why does God offer us only daily bread? Why do you think we are reminded to forgive even as we ask forgiveness? Why do we not like talking about spiritual warfare? How do we sometimes put ourselves in a place to be ensnared by temptation?
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