Some translate this phrase as "Deliver us from the Evil One," in the sense of the Devil, the personal power of evil. St. Paul reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) This is a recognition that behind all evil stands spiritual forces that opposed the loving purposes of God.

During his ministry on earth Jesus delivered people from indwelling evil spirits through prayers of exorcism. His inclusion of this petition in the prayer he commanded us to pray indicates that he saw the need for us to continue to ask for the help of God to expel evil spirits from our lives, and those for whom we pray as a matter of course. A prayer I often use contains this intent: "Drive far from us all the snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The forces of evil can manifest themselves in various ways. It may be psychological evil such as described by Scott Peck in The People of the Lie: consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior, excessive intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury, a pronounced concern with a public image and self-image of respectability, and intellectual deviousness. It may be institutional evil in which governments, religious organizations, businesses, clubs, and ethnic groups coerce and enforce their own view with regard to their own interests at the expense of the rights and welfare of individuals. It may be physical evil in which disease, and war, and natural disaster threatens the health and wellbeing of many.

How can prayer help deliver us from the many evils we face? Let us look at some examples of deliverance from evil in order to see where prayer can be effective.

In 2 Corinthians 1 St. Paul talks about the hardships he endured in Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia. "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." (8-10)

Paul was crushed by opposition to his ministry, and he and his associates were threatened with physical harm. The pressure and despair he describes is akin to a severe depression. It was far beyond his ability to endure. One commentator paraphrases his condition: 'We were indescribably, beyond the limits of our power, brought down into the depths.' The silversmiths of Ephesus had led a riot against Paul and the Christians for loss of their business of making images of the goddess Artemis - the local souvenir trade. So many people had become Christians that their trade had fallen off. Paul's life was in danger.

When we are faced with events that are beyond our control, whether they be personal, financial, medical, the result of the actions of others, or of an accident or natural disaster, we can be plunged into despair and even fear for our lives. Such is the experience of thousands of people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. What did Paul do? He had to turn to God, who can turn death into resurrection. He had to realize that only God could help him. On God he set his hope. He went to prayer. He asked for the prayers of others. While it is God who delivers, it is our duty to intercede in prayer for ourselves and others who are struggling against the spiritual forces of evil in whatever form they manifest themselves. God enlists our efforts to effect a rescue from the coils of evil.

Paul testifies that God had delivered us from the deadly power of evil through the Cross and the Resurrection, and that he will continue to deliver us through the means of prayer. As we pray, things happen. In Ephesus God caused the city clerk to quiet the crowds by telling Paul's accusers to pursue their grievances through the courts and warned the crowds against being charged with rioting without reason. Something unexpected happened to change the situation. Such is what can happen when you pray for deliverance from evil.

God uses all sorts of means to deliver us from evil. Sometimes it takes military force for deliverance to occur. Sometimes it takes new discoveries in medical research. Sometimes it takes a divorce. Sometimes it takes patience. Sometimes it takes the raising of money to deliver people from evil. Somewhere along the way someone is praying for deliverance from evil.

Evil in the world is so often the result of individuals going along with the crowd, going along with the institution, with not wanting to stand against popular opinion. Works such as The Lord of the Rings, The Narnia Tales, and the Harry Potter series, emphasize the need to make choices for good out of love, rather than for evil out of selfishness. To stand against evil often means paying a price. Everyone has to make choices for good or evil. When Paul writes about the struggle he experiences in his own life between the good he wants to do and the evil he finds himself doing because of the power of temptation and indwelling sin in his heart, he cries out in prayer: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24) His prayer results in the saving power of Christ who comes to deliver him from his lower sinful nature.

Praying to God for deliverance from evil does not absolve the pray-er from action. To pray for something means to be committed to doing something to fulfill the prayer. God gives you the prayer to motivate you to desire that something should be done. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and others in the German opposition to Hitler prayed that they might be delivered from the evil of Nazism. It led them into a failed attempt on Hitler's life in 1944, which resulted in their deaths. William Wilberforce prayed for deliverance from the evil of slavery, and was impelled to work for years in the British Parliament to pass legislation for its abolition. Praying for deliverance from evil means acting to protect yourselves from evil. It may mean removing yourselves from an evil environment, or from evil relationships, or from personal danger. God uses the military, the police and the fire-fighters to deliver us from evil. God uses common sense to motivate us to get out of the way of danger.

Later in his life, when facing a preliminary hearing of his case at Rome St. Paul recounts another instance of deliverance from evil. "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4:16-18)

When we are alone, without human help, we can remember that the Lord is always at our side to give us strength when we pray. Ultimately the Lord will rescue us from every evil attack and bring us safely, through death and resurrection, to his heavenly kingdom. We will be delivered from the evil of this world into the kingdom of heaven. We can be assured of that promise because "he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13)

Sometimes evil may seem to be especially present in the middle of the night, when fears abound and our sub-conscious releases our anxieties. Some ancient prayers express our need:

From ghoulies, ghosties and long-leggit beasties,

From all things that go bump in the night –

Good Lord, deliver us!

From all evil and mischief;

From sin, and from the crafts and assaults of the devil:

Good Lord, deliver us.

The Jesus Prayer can be used:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."

Lord Jesus Christ, present with me now in your risen power, enter into my body, mind and spirit, protect me from all that harms, and fill me with your healing and peace. You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness. Forgive me my sins, release me from suffering, and restore me to wholeness and strength. Deliver me from all evil, preserve me in all goodness, and bring me into your kingdom.

May the Almighty Lord, who is a strong tower to all who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow and obey: Be now and evermore your defense, and make you know and feel that the only Name under heaven given for health and salvation is the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

An audio version of this sermon may be found at www.ameliachapel.com

Amelia Plantation Chapel.
Amelia Island, Florida