Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church

Christ teaches us to pray that we may live as saints in the light

·30 min·3 clips

The prayer 'deliver us from evil' is not for outsiders hoping to get in, but for saints already secured in God's kingdom.

The episode is a sermon from the Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church, expounding on the theme 'Christ teaches us to pray that we may live as saints in the light.' It begins by drawing a parallel between the Lord's Prayer and the structure of Colossians 1, noting how both move from addressing God as Father to hallowing His name, praying for His kingdom, seeking His will, and requesting daily bread. The focus then shifts to Colossians 1:12-14, which speaks of being 'qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light' through redemption and forgiveness of sins. The speaker emphasizes that this qualification precedes the prayer for deliverance from temptation, establishing that believers pray from a position of already being in God's kingdom. He clarifies that 'lead us not into temptation' is not a plea from outsiders but a request for God to preserve those He has already delivered from the dominion of darkness. The sermon explores the reality of living in a fallen world where trials are inevitable, and believers still have sinful natures. It poses a challenging question: why pray for fewer trials if God uses them to strengthen faith? The speaker warns that such questioning mirrors the devil's tactics to undermine God's care, as seen with Adam and Eve and Jesus in the wilderness. He argues that believers do not need to seek out temptations to prove their faith, as Christ has already secured their salvation. The message highlights human weakness and the danger of Satan, referencing Jesus' words to Peter about Satan wanting to 'sift you like wheat.' It describes spiritual warfare using the metaphor of Satan as an enemy furiously attacking territory he no longer owns, unable to destroy those in Christ. The sermon encourages resisting the devil through a strengthened relationship with God, nurtured by means of grace like preaching and sacraments. Practical applications include praying for godly friends and families to create a 'hedge of protection,' citing 1 Corinthians 15:33 on the influence of bad company. The speaker urges listeners to evaluate their relationships and strive to be friends who encourage godliness, not temptation. The episode concludes by affirming God's promise to preserve believers, ending with the doxology 'for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.'

As heard by us

Colossians 1 is framed as a prayer path from Fatherhood and daily bread to forgiveness, deliverance, and resistance to temptation.

The teaching reads Colossians 1 in conversation with the Lord's Prayer, tracing a path from God as Father to hallowed name, kingdom, will, and daily bread.

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Why you'd press play

You get a prayer lesson that treats temptation like spiritual warfare.

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