Jesus ends the Lord’s Prayer with a humble request: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). These words admit a simple truth…we are not strong enough on our own. Temptation comes from our flesh and from a real enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). God does not tempt us (James 1:13), but He will lead us through trials and rescue us when we call. “Lead us” is a prayer for guidance away from the paths that trap us. “Deliver us” is a cry for God to pull us out when danger is near. Our hope is not our willpower; our hope is the Father’s presence, the Spirit’s power, and the truth of God’s Word. When we pray this way daily, we grow alert, dependent, and free.

Forgiveness is central to the Christian life. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). Sin weighs us down like a heavy vest, making life harder, heavier, and more exhausting than God intends. Confession brings freedom. When we bring our failures to God, He forgives and cleanses us (1 John 1:9), removing shame and restoring joy. But Jesus also ties our forgiveness tohow we treat others. When we refuse to forgive, bitterness takes root, peace fades, and our hearts grow heavy. Forgiving others doesn’t mean ignoring hurt or pretending everything is okay, it means releasing the right to hold the debt against them and trusting God to deal justly. Forgiveness is often a process and sometimes painful, but it is always freeing. As we daily practice confession and forgiveness, we can experience the lighter, easier life Jesus promises (Matthew 11:28–30).

The practice of prayer is essential to a vibrant faith. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). That short line is about more than food. It is an invitation to trust God each day with our real needs…physical, emotional, and spiritual. In the Lord’s Prayer, we start with worship (“Our Father… hallowed be Your name”) and surrender (“Your kingdom come”), then we bring our needs with childlike confidence. “Daily bread” pushes back against fear and self-reliance. It trains our hearts to depend on the Father one day at a time, like Israel receiving manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16). As we practice daily dependence, our relationship with God grows deeper, and His peace begins to guard our hearts (Philippians 4:6–7). Daily prayer - daily dependence - deeper relationship.

Prayer is hard because prayer really matters. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He started with two simple words: “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9). That opening changes everything. Prayer isn’t trying to impress God with perfect words. It’s coming to a loving Father who knows us, wants us, and invites us close. In Jesus, we’re adopted sons and daughters who can cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). That identity bringsboth comfort and courage. We approach God with awe (His name is hallowed) and with confidence (He’s our Father). This week we explore what it means to pray from child-of-God security, not shame or performance, and how that shifts our daily prayer life from a duty to a deep relationship.

For the past eight weeks, we’ve learned what it means to chase the Wild Goose—the Holy Spirit—and to break free from the cages that hold us back: responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, and fear. This final week is an invitation to run wild; to live fully alive in Christ and run the race He’s set before us. Paul writes, “Run in such a way as to win the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24). We don’t run aimlessly or in our own strength; we run with purpose, courage, and eternal perspective. Every believer has a unique race to run, one that only you can finish. The Holy Spirit empowers, directs, and sustains us as we live out God’s purposes. When we live with heaven in mind, each act of obedience (big or small) becomes part of an eternal victory. Freedom isn’t just being released from the cages; it’s learning to soar and run wild with God’s Spirit leading the way!

Fear suffocates the plans and purposes God places in our lives. It keeps faith “on the bench” instead of in the game. Scripture shows a better way: God told Joshua three times, “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6–9). We don’t work up courage on our own; courage grows from God’s presence, God’s promises, and God’s Word. Paul says God has given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Jesus adds, “Take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Mark Batterson notes that fear often traps us in indecision and indecision is a decision. The Wild Goose (Holy Spirit) calls us to take daring, obedient steps that may feel unsafe but are full of God’s life (John 10:10). Faith doesn’t ignore risk; it trusts God in the risk.

Failure is part of every human story. From Adam and Eve hiding in the garden to Peter denying Jesus three times, even the heroes of faith stumbled. The problem isn’t whether we fail—it’s how we respond. Failure often drives us to hide in shame or try to fix ourselves, but that only keeps us stuck. Jesus shows us a better way. In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15), the younger son squandered everything and ended up in thepigpen. But when he came home, his father ran to him with compassion, restoring him as a son. That’s the Father’s heart for us: we are not defined by failure, we are refined by His Spirit and called into more. Romans 8:1 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Instead of letting failure cage us, we can step into grace, freedom, and the Spirit-led life.

Guilt is heavy. It shrinks our dreams and keeps us from the Spirit-led life Jesus offers. In Luke 7:36-50, a woman with a broken past weeps at Jesus’ feet while a rule-keeping Pharisee looks on. Jesus doesn’t deny her sin—He forgives it. “Your sins are forgiven.” Forgiveness is received, not earned. When we hold on to shame (“I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself”), we act like the cross wasn’t enough. Jesus is enough! Scripture says our sins are removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) and that when we confess, He forgives and cleanses us (1 John 1:9). Mark Batterson warns: if our memories aren’t soaked in grace, we stay caged by false guilt and miss future opportunities. The enemy (John 8:44) loves replaying our worst moments; Jesus invites us to bring our sorrow to Him and walk free (2 Corinthians 7:10). To chase the Wild Goose, we must trade the cage of guilt for the grace of Jesus.

Assumptions are powerful. They shape how we see ourselves, God, and the world around us. But often our assumptions are cages that keep us from the Spirit-led life God intends. Moses assumed he was disqualified because of his past failure, his lack of eloquence, and his limitations (Exodus 3–4). Yet God still called him to lead Israel out of Egypt, reminding him, “I will be with you.” Mark Batterson writes: “Not only does God disrupt our routines, like we explored in the last chapter; He also challenges our assumptions. Assumptions that take all the mystery and majesty out of life.” When we live by assumptions, we shrink our vision down to what feels possible. But when we live by faith, we see that “with God all things are possible.” The Spirit calls us to trust His promises, not our perceived limitations. To chase the Wild Goose, we must be willing to challenge the ceilings we’ve placed on God and step into His adventure.

Life often runs on routine. We wake up, work, eat, sleep, and repeat. Routines can be healthy—bringing order, comfort, and stability—but they can also slip into ruts, where life runs on autopilot and faith loses its passion. Mark Batterson warns: “What happens is this: the sacred becomes routine. And we not only forfeit spiritual adventure but we also start losing the joy of our salvation.” This is the danger of the Cage of Routine. Jesus told the church in Ephesus, “You have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4). They hadn’t lost their beliefs or good works, but routine had robbed them of intimacy with Him. When that happens, faith becomes mechanical rather than alive. Jesus invites us to remember, repent, and return to our first love (Revelation 2:5). The Spirit is always doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19), calling us out of the ordinary into a fresh, vibrant relationship. To chase the Wild Goose, we must be willing to break free from autopilot, shake up our habits, and make space for God to move in unexpectedways.

Sermon from September 21, 2025

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