Deliverance Recognized

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13)

​When I was roughly twenty-two years old, I found myself deeply ensnared in a quasi-Christian cult. The Urantia Book, which the group studied, was alleged to be a new revelation from God to mankind. It was packed with abstruse and esoteric text concerning God, angels, the Bible and its characters, and even life in other universes. As a young man, I initially found it all intriguing, but I soon realized that those who attended held themselves in high esteem for comprehending the subject matter. It was a mutual admiration society, which was thereby ungodly and disturbing. Surely, God would never be so exclusive with His truth. I wanted out, but my own pride made it difficult to leave without a sound, scripturally based defense—especially if I hoped to help other members recognize the spiritual deception in this book. So, I began praying earnestly that God would show me the way out.

​Within days, I was driving on a highway at night and noticed a Datsun pickup truck pulled over on the shoulder with its hazard lights flashing. The hood was up, and the driver was trying to figure out what was wrong. It happened to be the exact same year and model truck I drove, and because I always did my own mechanic work, I was intimately familiar with it. I pulled over to help. Within a few minutes, I managed to get his truck started so he could make it home safely, though the carburetor needed a complete overhaul. I offered to do the job for him the following day.

​The next morning, as I worked on his carburetor, he explained that he was only home for a few days because his wife was about to deliver their first child. He was actually a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, traveling the world to translate scripture into newly discovered languages. Upon hearing about my spiritual plight, he instantly provided the exact Bible verse I needed to confidently walk away from the cult: “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind”. (Colossians 2:18) He also reminded me that God is perfect and makes no mistakes. If a teaching contradicts the Bible, it is thereby a false teaching. As 2 Timothy 2:15 exhorts us, “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” Knowing God's Word is our key defense.

​The details of this appointment were nothing short of miraculous: I felt compelled to stop and help a complete stranger, not yet realizing that God was orchestrating an answer to my prayer for deliverance through this fellow brother in Christ. As Jesus declared in John 5:17, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” We often don’t recognize God at work in our lives—especially when we've asked for help. The author of Hebrews later exhorted, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). We truly need to keep our spiritual senses keen to the ways God places both heavenly messengers and spiritual kin on our path. God provides! That is the very nature and essence of His kingdom.

​This divine provision shows us exactly how the Kingdom operates through mutual care. As Jesus prepared the disciples for His departure, He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35). This was a direct command, but wasn't Jesus' profound hope that His followers would instinctively love each other with that same sacrificial love? His hope was founded on a universal Kingdom truth that Christ demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry. As Peter later wrote, “…love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). The blessings that flow from loving one another manifest in countless ways—often unrecognized and unappreciated in the moment, much like a late-night roadside breakdown turning into a spiritual rescue mission.

​When we consider how intentionally God orchestrates these moments to protect us, it changes how we pray. Too often, we fall into the habit of reciting the Lord’s Prayer mindlessly, with little thought for the reality that Jesus did not waste a single word. It is the perfect prayer for us, complete in every way. As we continue to live in this world without becoming a part of it, we must deeply grasp how critical it is that our Great Shepherd and Deliverer continues to “…lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

​Father, Thank You for being our Great Shepherd and our timely Deliverer. Open our eyes to see Your hand actively moving in our daily routines, and give us the grace to show prompt hospitality to the strangers You place on our path. May our love for one another be a clear, undeniable beacon to the world, shattering spiritual deception and advancing the truth of Your Gospel for Your glory alone. Amen.

mgb