In Christ, I Am...overcoming Evil Series

IN CHRIST, I AM…OVERCOMING EVIL—Ephesians 6:10-20

Sometimes we are surprised at the evil in our world. A nice person, a good neighbor, goes ballistic and shoots someone. A respectable public figure has hidden sins exposed. A person we love and thought we knew shows a dark side.

Evil touches so many people: teenagers shot in the streets, victims of human trafficking, abused children, homeless veterans, drug babies, the list goes on and on.

Evil touches people we know: people dealing with abuse, rage, anxiety, pain, or betrayal.

Evil touches us too. It may be in the workplace: unfairness, lies, unethical demands. It may be in our families: broken trust, insensitivity, or pain. It may be in our bodies: cancer, depression, addiction. It may be in our minds: lust, doubt, or fear.

EVIL IS REAL AND POWERFUL (Read verse 11.)

The devil is real. He is not equal with God; for example, he is not omnipotent (all-powerful) or omnipresent (everywhere in the world at the same time). Yet he is powerful, and he is active on the earth. Revelation 12:7-9 gives a picture of where the devil is today: “There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (devil), and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

The devil directs powerful evil forces: (Read verse 12)

“Rulers and authorities” might be institutions in society, such as the governments or political leaders or even religious organizations. Not necessarily bad, but often corrupted by evil.

“Powers of this dark world” might be cultural idols, influencers on social media, rich and powerful people who control the economy, lobbyists and special interest groups, drug rings, gangs, etc. Not all are bad, but all can be corrupted by evil.

“Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” include evil spirits, largely unrecognized in our culture. Whether they are demons or less personal forces of spiritual evil, many people are oppressed spiritually, in ways that are hard to explain.

Our struggle against the powers of evil almost seems like an unfair fight. Evil is everywhere, and we often feel powerless to influence world governments, politics, cultural movements, economic systems, or social problems. Evil is in us as well; every one of us struggles with forces that might seem impossible to overcome.

Yet our situation is far from hopeless. Read verse 10.

GOD’S POWER IS GREATER THAN ANY EVIL POWER.

The power of God is revealed throughout the Bible. God created the universe from nothing, and brought the world to life. He brought his people out of Egypt, and made them into a strong nation. He preserved a remnant of his people, even when they went into captivity because of their sin.

Then Jesus came into the world, and he showed his power as the Son of God, by healing and casting out demons. The ultimate demonstration of his power came when evil did its worst: Jesus was crucified, dead and buried, but then he broke the power of evil and death, by rising from the dead. The cross was a power struggle between the powers of evil and the power of God, and God’s power was shown to be stronger, when Jesus was raised to life.

What does this mean for us? It is like being afraid of a bully, who is bigger and stronger and meaner than we are. Yet if we have a big brother, who has already fought and badly beaten the bully, we don’t need to be afraid. At the mention of our big brother, the bully leaves us alone!

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, as we confront evil! In Ephesians 1:18-22, Paul says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.”

We are far from powerless against evil. Yet the power is not our own; it is the power of God. That is why Paul says, “Be strong IN THE LORD.”

HOW CAN WE BE STRONG IN THE LORD?