Deliver Us From The Evil One

In a previous post I discussed briefly a believer's spiritual wrestling. I continue that discussion today, focusing again on Ephesians 6:12. There the Apostle Paul teaches that each one of us must wrestle with the rulers and authorities of this world, especially the decisions, laws and rulings that touch directly or indirectly upon our personal spiritual lives. Behind such authorities, Paul writes, are the

"the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places"

 These are strange phrases, often overlooked, but vital to our spiritual lives. Recall how we daily pray the prayer our Lord taught, "but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). A better translation would be, "but deliver us from the evil one." To speak about the evil one helps us to focus upon the fact that the need for deliverance is personal, not vague and abstract, i.e. "evil". There is one who is determined to enslave us in endless darkness.

John emphasizes this as he writes about our Lord's triumphal ride into Jerusalem (John 12:12-19). Recall that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead just prior to this and also recall that Mary, Lazarus' sister, had poured precious perfume on his feet while Jesus and His disciples were gathered for a meal at Mary, Martha and Lazarus's home. Mary had been saving the ointment for his burial, but decided to pour it on his feet at this occasion. She knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem.

Among the crowds gathered for the Passover Feast were some Greeks who asked Jesus' disciples to introduce them to Jesus. Jesus saw this as a sign of what was about to occur. He would be soon lifted up on the cross and by His cross would gather all men to Himself (John 12:20-32).

Among those comments John records these words,

"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

The Greek word for 'world' in this passage is kosmos. It's part the complex word Paul uses in Ephesians 6 when he speaks about the kosmokratoras, the world rulers or, as the ESV translates, "the cosmic powers over this present darkness." In other words, we live in a world hostile to Jesus and His disciples. It doesn't matter what part of this world you live in. Everywhere you go you will encounter powers and rulers working to overthrow the Gospel and the church of Jesus Christ. We live in a hostile spiritual environment.

You  will encounter this hostility, mockery and false teaching in every aspect of human life. You will meet it in literature, music, the arts, politics, science and philosophy. Everywhere you turn, on all sides, expect to find what Jesus and His apostles call "this present darkness." Expect it. Do not be surprised by it and above all, be on your guard. Behind it are spiritual forces and rulers and behind them is the devil, the world ruler himself, the enemy of Christ and of all those who are in His kingdom and under His rule.

So every day we pray, "deliver us from the evil one and lead us not into temptation." And Jesus, who has called us out of darkness, taken us with Himself into His death and brought us out again into life and light, will hear our prayer and deliver us from the temptations of the evil one.