Word of Salvation – Vol. 13 No.51 – December 1967

 

Help For The Helpless

 

Sermon by Rev. Rev. G. I. Williamson on Matth.6:13

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55

Psalter Hymnal: 122; 16; 137; 48

 

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,

The man who prays the prayer our Lord taught his disciples must first experience a radical change of heart.  For Jesus said, "Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  Since it is man's inborn nature to exalt himself, it is only by God's amazing grace that a sinner can humble himself before God.  But see how our Lord teaches us to humble ourselves before him in order that we might then be exalted!

(1)  We must begin, he says, by becoming as little children.  For "except ye be converted, and become as little children," said Jesus, "ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."  That is where all true prayer begins.  It begins when a converted sinner learns to say. "Our Father, which art in heaven."

(2)  But it does not end there!  For the Lord then commands his children to praise and magnify his great and glorious name.  And so the child must humble himself yet more, in order to say, "Hallowed be thy name.”  For the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.  Or, in other words, the child of God must become the humble worshipper of the glorious and exalted one.

(3)  And then our Lord teaches us yet greater humility, as the worshipper becomes the subject of the high and holy one.  "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God," said Jesus, "and him only shalt thou serve."

(4)  Thus the subject of the sovereign Lord, becomes also his humble and obedient servant.  He not only says, "thy kingdom come" but also "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Every Englishman is a subject of the Sovereign ruler of Britain, but not every subject is a servant!

(5)  But what is lower even than a servant?  Well, it is the beggar who cries, "Give us this day our daily bread."  It is the man who not only lays all at the feet of the true and living God, but who also acknowledges that he deserves not the least of the blessings that He gives.

(6)  And then even further down the path of self-abasement we must go!  For lower than the beggar is the sinner who cries, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."  So the child of God becomes a worshipper – the worshipper a subject – the subject a servant – the servant a beggar – and the beggar a self-confessed sinner before God!

(7)  But wait!  There is yet one step further that we must go, if we would know what it means to be completely before God.  It is the plea of that man who says, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil!"  For the Bible says that "pride goeth be- fore destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."  When God says, "Yes, you are my child!  Yes, I accept your worship.  In grace I will call you my servant.  And in mercy I will give you, not only daily bread, but forgiveness as well!"  Then - says the Bible - "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."  For at this point the great battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, is only well begun.  And, as the King of Israel once said to Ben-hadad King of the Syrians when he boasted of the victory that he was so confident that he was about to win, "let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off."  Rather let the child of God – the worshipper – the subject – the servant – the beggar – the sinner – learn to say, with the Apostle: "When I am weak, then am I strong!"

So let us consider the last petition of that prayer which is prayed by the man who is wholly humbled before God!  "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

I.  A RIGHT VIEW OF SELF

To begin with, it is perfectly obvious that the man who prays this petition must have a low estimate of himself.  For who would pray that God might spare him temptation if he had any confidence in himself?  Only a weak and helpless sinner would ever feel the need to pray this way.  And to some people this has seemed much too pessimistic a view to take on this matter.  They have said that a Christian ought to reach the place that he is strong enough that he will not have to pray in this humble way.

(1)  Some, therefore, have taken up the idea that if people will only yield themselves to the Holy Spirit, completely, they will be so filled with His divine power and holiness that they will no longer be subject to temptation.  It often happened, in such cases, that people soon had an emotional experience of some kind in which they then imagined that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.

And so they became very confident of their own ability to resist temptation and overcome the devil.  Many actually believed that they had nothing more to fear: and some even went so far as to ask that they might be lead into temptation in order that they might prove that they had complete mastery over sin.  But that is where the tragic ending came: for again and again, in the history of the Church, this false doctrine of 'perfection' has caused people to fall into the depths of sin and the very power of the evil one.

(2)  Others tried to find a different way to solve the problem of temptation and the power of the devil.  They thought that they could get away from temptation and evil if they would only live apart from the ordinary society of men.  They thought that if they lived all alone, or at least in the company of a select group of religious people, they would no longer need to pray to be delivered from temptation and evil.  So the Monastic movement – in which men forsake society, and take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – became very widespread in the Church.  But again came the tragic ending.  For these very movements became the occasion for the worst temptations, and in those temptations many fell, so that these movements became the main source of temptation for the very people who entered them to 'get away from it all.'

But the real trouble – the basic trouble with these people was that they did not have a sufficiently humble opinion of themselves.  And therein lies the difference between the false piety that men have devised, and the true piety that we find revealed in the word of God.  For in the Bible there is just one thing that we never find anywhere among those who were the greatest servants of God.  We never find anywhere that they had any confidence in themselves.  No, the very opposite is the case.  For the further they progressed in the things of Christ, the more we find them speaking words of condemnation and reproach with respect to themselves.  So they simply cast themselves more and more upon the grace and power of Christ.  "I know that in me," said Paul, "(that is, in my flesh) there dwelleth no good thing."  But "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  That is what it means to pray in truth: "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."

Let me give you a marvellous illustration of this great truth.  It actually happened in the days of the Reformation struggle in England.  There were two men bound in prison because of their loyalty to the Reformed faith.  And both knew that they were soon to die if they did not renounce that faith in favour of Prelacy.

Now one of those men faced his death with boldness and courage, while the other man was almost overcome with fear.  He was often seen in tears because, as he explained to his companion, he was afraid that he would not be strong enough to face the fire.  And so he asked his friend to pray for him, in order that he might yet be able to stand in the evil day.  When the fateful hour arrived they were led to the place of execution.  But then something unexpected happened.  Suddenly one man shrank back in horror at the very sight of what was coming.  He then and there renounced his Reformation principles, and was released on the spot.  But the other man went on, courageously, to die for the glory of God.  His faith and testimony held firm until he was literally consumed in the terrible fire.  Which man was it?  Well, it was the weak and trembling man, who never ceased to pray: "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."  You see, he was really stronger than the other man.  He was stronger for one simple reason.  He knew his own heart.  "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God," says James, "for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.  Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  When a man disregards this fact, he may think that he is strong, but he will soon discover how weak he is.  Whereas the man who – knowing this fact – casts himself utterly upon the Lord, will likewise discover that he is strong.

II.  A RIGHT VIEW OF SATAN

But we must hasten on to observe that the man who prays this petition must also have a Biblical view of Satan.  For is it not evident that only such a man will pray to the Lord for deliverance from the power of the evil one?  No matter which way we translate the last few words of our text – whether we say, "Deliver us from evil", or "deliver us from the evil one" – it really amounts to the same thing.  For the Bible says that "the whole world lieth in the evil one”.  So there is never anything evil that does not come from the master mind of iniquity.  Even the sin of man originated with him who is the Father of it all!

C.S.Lewis, the late English novelist, has written one of the few books of modern times on the subject of the devil!  And we may well ask why it is that so few things are said about the devil today!  Well, C.S.Lewis says that the greatest desire of the devil is to deceive men.  And how can he more wonderfully deceive them than by getting them to believe that he does not even exist.  Or, if he cannot quite do that, then he will at least endeavour to make them think that he is nothing to be afraid of.  Does not the scripture itself tell us that, "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light!"  That is why the devil never has such power as when he has brought men to be ignorant of him, and without fear of his power!

But the Bible says that we ought to have an awesome respect for the devil, who goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  And how vast and malicious it is!  Take for example, the book of Job.  It shows us how the hand of the evil one is evident in all sorts of tribulations in this world.  It was Satan, says the scripture – who sent the Sabeans to kill the flocks of Job.  And then he sent fire from heaven to consume the servants of this godly man.  It was the evil one, also, who sent a great wind from the wilderness to smite the four corners of Job's house so that all his sons were dead.  And it was the same old serpent who afflicted him with that sore disease that made him regret that he had even been born.  So there is every reason for the godly man to pray: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

However, there have been those who 'rush in where angels fear to tread.'  Like the people I once knew of at a summer Bible Conference of an interdenominational type.  They believed that the devil existed, and that he went about as a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour.  But they also had the idea that those who wanted victory over sin, could best attain it by direct confrontation with the devil.  And so they taught people to have conversations with the devil, in which they were to sharply rebuke the devil and command him to flee from them.  So many people at that camp became very confident of their power over the devil.  They even came to believe that they were stronger than he – to their own great harm, I might add.  For the Bible says that we should never have anything but an awesome fear and respect for the power of the devil.  A man who would go into a cage with a lion would not be half so foolish as the man who would seek a personal conflict with the devil.  For the Bible says that when Michael the Archangel was sent by the Lord to dispute with the devil over the body of Moses, even he did not dare to "bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  But truly, as Jude once said, "these speak evil of those things which they know not" and "in those things they corrupt themselves".

Does not the Bible teach us that our Lord himself had what can only be called a holy fear of the devil?  Did he not fast and pray – night and day – for forty days, in order to be ready for the onslaught of the evil one?  And did he not, when Satan came, hold fast to that which was written in the Bible, rather than to rely upon himself?  Whenever the devil spoke to Christ, the Bible says that this was his answer: "It is written...!”  And even when the devil left him for a season our Lord was not so presumptuous as to forget the power of the evil one.  No, this is what he said: "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."  So to his disciples he said, "watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

The man who prays the Lord's Prayer, then, understands the true nature of his own situation.  He remembers the words that our Lord spoke to Peter, on the night in which he denied his Lord, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired you – that he may sift you as wheat – but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”  We must be possessed of a wholesome fear of the devil, then, as the Apostle says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

III.  A RIGHT VIEW OF GOD

But most of all we should mark the fact that the man who prays this petition is also a man who holds a proper view of God.  For again we would ask: how else could it be that such a man could pray: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

It is sometimes said that God could not possibly lead any man into temptation.  For if God did lead men into temptation - it is said – then how would it be possible to avoid the conclusion that God himself is responsible for both the temptation itself, and for the sin that often follows upon temptation?  And there is no denying the fact that this line of reasoning has always seemed very convincing to the mind of the natural man.  The natural man – says the Bible – cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.  And nothing is more ridiculous to the natural man, than the idea that God does lead men into temptation while yet being in no way the author of temptation nor the cause of sin!  Yet that is precisely what the Bible does teach us.  For there is nothing – no, nothing at all – that ever happens in this world, which is not according to the eternal decree of God.  "The Lord of hosts hath sworn," says the prophet, "saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass: and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.”  God has truly foreordained whatsoever comes to pass even the temptations of men and yet he is not the one who tempts, nor is he the author of sin.

We find a perfect example of this Biblical teaching in the history of David, King of Israel.  It happened when David had risen to the height of his Kingdom and fame.  The Bible says that "the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, to say: “Go, number Israel and Judah."  But in another text, the same infallible word of God says that "Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."  In other words, the same event, was at one and the same time brought about by the will and power of God and yet also by the malice and power of the devil.  God moved David to number Israel, but he moved him to do it by the instrumentality of the devil.  And so, everything that was good in that event came from God, and everything that was evil in it came either from David himself, or from the devil.

And we also see this same truth very clearly in the history of the tribulations of Job.  For the scripture tells us that Satan could not do anything against Job until he had obtained permission from the living and true God.  "Hast thou not made an hedge about him?" asked Satan.  "And about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?  Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth thine hand now," said Satan, "and touch all that he hath and he will renounce thee to thy face.”  And God says to Satan, “All that he hath is in thy power – only upon himself put not forth thine hand.  So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord."  But he was only able to do that which God had determined to have done.  And when that did not make Job renounce his faith, Satan had to come again to God, saying: "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.  And the Lord said unto Satan, behold, he is in thine hand: but save his life."  You see: Satan was not able to do anything unless, and until, it was determined of God.  And then, when it was determined of God, it was brought about in such a way that while God did lead his servant into that temptation, the temptation itself was only from the evil one.

You know, there are some people who think that this is a 'horrible' doctrine!  They think it is a terrible thing to believe in the absolute sovereignty of God.  But the truth is that it is the only basis of hope for weak and sinful men.  Is that not what John meant, when he said "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world?"  And was it not this very thought that comforted Peter, when he said, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation?"  How else could the Apostle Paul have said: "God is faithful, who will not suffer – will not permit – you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  You see, there is no other comfort for the weak and helpless believer, except the sovereignty of God.

(1)  He certain- ly cannot find any comfort in himself, for he is nothing but weakness and sin in himself.

(2)  And he certainly cannot find any comfort in the devil, who exercises all his power and ingenuity with no other end than to destroy the child of God.

(3)  No, it will have to be in God alone that the believer finds his comfort.  But there is no comfort in any other than the sovereign God, who is Lord of all – including the evil one.

God does lead his children into temptation!  And there are many good reasons why he does so.  In 2Chronicles we read that "God left" King Hezekiah "to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."  In Judges 2:22 we are told that the Lord left the Canaanites in the land "that through them (he) might prove Israel, whether they (would) keep the way of the Lord.... or not.”  Sometimes God sends temptation in order that men might have victory over the world by faith in his everlasting word.  So we read in Genesis 22:1 "And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him..... take now thy son, thine only son Isaac.... and offer him... for a burnt offering...!"  In Job's case, the Lord sent temptation upon him in order that he might be sanctified and blessed.  And James says that temptation can even become a very blessed thing.  "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," he says, "for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."  And Peter simply says: "Rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

And is it not a comfort to know that "there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man?"  Is it not reassuring to learn, from God's holy word, that "God... will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it?"  And is it not a merciful solace to believe that God works all things after the counsel of his will so that he is not only able to deliver us from the evil one, but to keep us from the hour of temptation as well?  Yes, that is the most wonderful thing of all – when we are weak – when we remember that we are weak – and act accordingly – God is able also to keep us from temptation itself!  For it is when we are weak that we are truly strong.  Does not the Bible tell us that temptation usually comes when we forget this fact?  Was it not Peter who said, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee?"  And yet who was so soon tempted as he?

So let no one think that this is a poor place to end our prayer as a weak and helpless sinner so lacking in self-confidence, and so full of the fear of the devil that he says: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."  No, this is not the place of defeat.  This is the place of victory.  For our Lord has promised to exalt them that cast themselves on him.  As we read in the 91st Psalm:
            "The man who once has found abode
             within the secret place of God,
             Shall with Almighty God abide,
             and in his shadow safely hide.
            No nightly terrors shall alarm,
             no deadly shaft by day shall harm,
             Nor pestilence that walks by night,
             nor plagues that waste in noonday light.
             At thy right hand, though thousands die,
             no harm shall unto thee come nigh;
             But thou, secure, unharmed, shalt see
             what wicked men's reward shall be.
             Because thy trust is God alone,
             thy refuge is the Highest One;
             No evil shall upon thee come,
             nor plague approach thy guarded home.
             Though fierce and treacherous foes assail,
             their power and wrath shall not prevail,
             Their cruel strength, their venomed spite,
             thou shalt o'er-come with conquering might.”

Amen.