The PCF Blog

Notes on Message preached 31 May 2009 at PCF :”Help for the Battle”

“Lead Us not into Temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One” Matthew 6 v.13

In this petition Jesus encourages us to come to our Father and to ask for daily help in the battle against the enemy and all his forces. The word translated “temptation” refers to any trial that a Christian experiences. It can also be translated “trial” or “test”.

1. The Cosmic Background

At some point in eternity in the past a created angel, Lucifer, led an angelic rebellion against God (Isaiah 14 v12-15),was thrown out of heaven (Luke 10 v18, Revelation 12 v 7-9) and set up his “centre of operations” on earth to re-launch his claim to God’s throne. Deceiving Eve, and causing Adam to sin, Lucifer (or Satan) caused death to come to earth and now “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (I John 5 v.19). Starting at the fall of man, God launched his rescue plan, first through a family (Abraham) then a nation (Israel) and finally through the Messiah, Jesus, culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus, where Satan’s defeat was total and sentence passed. Today Satan awaits final judgement and God waits to bring about his final victory. We are therefore in days when “he knows that his time is short” .In this context that Jesus exhorts us to pray for help, protection and support in battle.

2. The Changing Battlefield

Throughout the Scriptures we can see Satan attacking believers in every circumstance:
1. Adam – Genesis 3 “Did God really say?” “God is lying” “God doesn’t love you” “You can become like God”
2. Job – Job 1-3: Satan is “roaming the earth”. Every test has to have the specific permission of God. And because we know that God loves us, every situation that he allows into our lives has a higher good, even if we do not see it. And Job’s trial end, and he is doubly blessed. (I Peter 5 v8-11)
3. Jesus – Matthew 4v1-11 – Again the temptation is to doubt the word of God(“If you are the Son of God”.)And the offer of goodies if Jesus will only abandon his plan.
4. Paul – Romans 7 v14-25. Paul describes his daily battle with temptation
5. You. We are all experiencing these battles day by day.

3. The Constant Battle

So how do we face this daily battle?

1. You have an advocate – Jesus prayed for you and is still interceding for you. (John 17 v 15)
2. You have a Champion – Jesus understands every battle that we face (Hebrews 4v14-16)
3. You have Armour – God does not send us into battle unprepared (Eph 6 v10-18)
4. You have Daily Victory (I Corinthians 10 v 13) – every battle can be won. (James 4v 7,8)
5. You have forgiveness (I John 1 v 9) When we fail we can go to our Father for forgiveness
6. You have eternal victory. Jesus has won for ever!
“Hear O Israel: today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be faint-hearted or afraid. Do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory”(Deuteronomy 20)

Questions for Discussion

1. How do we come to be in this conflict?
2. What kind of tests, trials and temptations do we experience day by day?
3. How can we respond when under attack?
4. What examples can you give from your own life of when you were under temptation, trial or attack and you experienced God’s help?
5. Is there any trial in you life now that you would like prayer and support for?

“Forgive Us Our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6, 12,14-15

In this section Jesus exhorts us to come to the Father to ask forgiveness for our Debts. In Jewish culture it was recognised that whenever an offence was committed a debt was owed to the offended one. It was also recognised that God was a God who cancelled debts, as in the year for cancelling debts that occurred every seven years.(Deuteronomy 15) In verse 12, then, Jesus is exhorting us to ask God to forgive the debt that we owe him as a result of our sin.

We will look at the need for forgiveness under three headings:

1. Eternal Forgiveness

As a result of our sin, we owe God a debt that we are totally unable to pay. The heart of the gospel is that this debt was paid by Jesus. Ephesians 1 v. 7: “In Him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins”. By accepting Christ therefore, and being born again, the forgiveness of God is applied to our lives for everything we have done to offend him, past present and future.

2.Daily Forgiveness

Having received eternal forgiveness, we still fall every day. What we need forgiveness for now is not our salvation (which is already secure) but forgiveness which restores the relationship with our Father. I John 1 v 9 shows the opportunity that we have to come to God every day to restore friendship and relationship with Him. Psalm 51 is a wonderful example of how David, despite horrendous sin, was able to have friendship with God restored and renewed as he came to God asking for forgiveness.

3.Healing Forgiveness

A major blockage to enjoying God’s forgiveness exists when we fail to forgive others. All of us have know what it is to be hurt by others (and to hurt others ourselves). We forgive others because:

• God commands us to (Colossians 3 v.13)
• It is the only logical response to God’s forgiveness of us
• It is wholly in our interest to do so (Mathew 18 v 21-35)

Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel – don’t miss out on experiencing God’s forgiveness in all its fullness.

Questions for Discussion

1. How is possible for a just God to forgive us when we have failed him so consistently?
2. What happens when a Christian has unconfessed sin in his life?
3. How do we forgive those who have hurt us?
4. What are the consequences of NOT forgiving?
5. Is there anyone that you need to forgive right now?