How to Overcome Evil With Good Instead of Being Overcome By Evil – Rom. 12:21
75% of Americans said they felt depressed after the incident of 911, 2001. How are you feeling today?
Some events in human history impact us so greatly, that we will forever remember the circumstance surrounding where we were when we heard the news. I’ll never forget sitting in a classroom while in the 5th grade and hearing the reports of JFK’s assassination over the school PA system and watching my teacher Mrs. Evalyn Humke weep. Or watching with a group of missionaries as Christa McAuliffe began her journey to be the first teacher in space, only to have it end so abruptly and tragically. Nor will I ever forget last year as we watched the TV in our dining hall to see smoke billowing up from the North Tower of the World Trade Center and moments later see the second plane crash into the South Tower. Those images are forever embedded in our memories. You probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the news.
But today, I want to ask and attempt to answer the question that no doubt has puzzled so many since that horrific day. How can we become better rather than bitter as result of the lessons from 911?
Scripture commands us to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 6:12) How do we do that?
Let us overcome any tendencies to give in to discouragement, frustration or hurt. Let us take the offensive instead of just preceding along like robots who fail to utilize the power of God’s promise, "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21)
Overcome: From the Greek word nikao meaning to mightily prevail over, to master, to be victorious. We have a choice in every situation to either be a victor or to be vanquished. Too many believers are failing to experience consistent victory over their anger, fear and self-centered responses to adversity. Jesus wants us to experience His life in all of its abundance, but too many Christians today are allowing themselves to be defeated by the world, the flesh and the devil. Quote: He, who overcomes with the good of patience, forbearance, kindness, and beneficence to those who have wronged you, is better than the mighty. Here are a few guidelines for overcoming evil with good instead of succumbing to power of evil that seeks to defeat us emotionally, mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. Instead of being overcomers, many Christians are merely succumbers.
OVERCOME WITH PRAISE TO GOD that you are already a conqueror through Christ who loves you. (Rom. 8:37) THANK God for making you a conqueror over sin, human desires and evil through the power of Christ who lives within each believer. As the famous old song reminds us, there is victory in Jesus. We just need to appropriate the victory we already enjoy in Christ by being steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing our labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15:57,58)
Too many Christians fail to appropriate, recognize and utilize the power of Christ to help them do everything God asks them to do. We cannot experience what it is to be an overcomer unless we recognize and thank God for what we already have in our new identity in Christ and in the body of believers WE belong to. Paul wrote, “He has put all things under His feet and appointed Him as head of the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all things in all ways and makes everything complete, and who fills everything everywhere with Himself. (Eph. 1:22,23) Praise God for giving you His overcoming power a member of His body.
OVERSHADOW any opposition with His mighty power. To overshadow something is to let it appear much more prominent or important. Be like Mary who learned how to let the power of God overshadow any negative criticism, misunderstanding, or misconstruing of the facts when she was told, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) “Then the angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you like a shining cloud and so the holy offspring will shall be born of you.” (Luke 1:35)
OVERLOOK another’s fault. To overlook is to fail to notice, to ignore, and to look beyond. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Learn to be bigger than any problem through the power that Christ gives you. In a day when lawsuits and people are quick to demand their rights Paul tells us that we are not to take vengeance in to our hands, but leave room for God’s wrath. We are to overcome with forgiveness that will break the cycle of retaliation and lead to reconciliation. The alternative is terrible because returning evil for evil hurts us just as much as it hurts an opponent. Forgiving another person frees you of the heavy load of bitterness that defiles many. Choose to be better rather than bitter from every situation.
OVERFLOW with love, hope, joy and faith. The Greek word is hyperperisseuo, which means to abound more exceedingly. To overflow means to extend beyond the limits by going over the brim of vessel. David wrote, “My cup overflows.” (Psa. 23:5,6) People who allow the Spirit of God to empower them will have the spiritual resources that allow them to overflow with kindness, patience, and a harvest of righteousness. People who are overflowing of the fruits of the Spirit will be able to replace any negative tendency with righteousness, godliness, faith, love and peace. A person who is in close communion with the Lord, His Spirit and His word will overflow with the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Quote: “He that cannot quietly bear an injury is perfectly conquered by it.” (Matthew Henry)
OVERPOWER with Christ’s mighty power working in and through you. Paul wrote, “I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” (Phil. 4:13) Plug in to the power source of Christ’s word, His presence and His love so you will not give in to the temptation of responding out of your flesh instead of Christ’s power in you. He who began a good work in you is able to complete it. (Phil. 1:6) Do not doubt, fret or get sidetracked by unimportant problems that are like insects that can be warded off with Christ’s powerful repellants. God told Zerubbabel, “Not by power or by might, but by my Spirit says the Lord. Mountains will be removed.”
OVERRULE with the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence, power and perspective. The Spirit of God and the word of God have enough power to help you overrule any opposition force to God’s Kingdom. Cast all of your cares upon on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be defeated. Jesus said, “In the world, you will have tribulation but be of good cheer as I have overcome the world. I will send to you another comforter who will be with you.” (John 16:33) He will guide you into all truth. For it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13,14) Right actions often lead to good feelings. Do not wait until you feel like being an overcomer.
DO NOT OVERINFLATE negative pressures. Too many problems get overblown because individuals inflate the importance of a difficulty beyond their power to cope. People who allow a minor offense to be blow out of proportion are succumbing to their emotions instead of thinking objectively about their Christian responsibilities.
DO NOT OVER-REACT to problems. People who occasionally respond more strongly than is justified when they are irritated.
If any of you watch Seinfeld, you know the quintessential overeactor is Kramer. At the slightest disturbance, Kramer freaks out. It is humorous but in real life that kind of a person tends to be described as bi-polar. or manic-depressive. Many cases of road rage today are examples of people who have over-reacted when they needed to allow the Spirit help them practice self-control behind the wheel. Parents who over-react to their children’s idiosyncrasies often need to show love, concern and a calm manner to those who are still in the process of maturing into an adult.
DO NOT OVERSTATE your difficulties. Some people have a tendency to state too strongly or exaggerate their hardships. Realize that “No temptation that has taken you but such as is common to man. But God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. With each temptation He will provide a way of escape so you can be able to bear it.” (I Cor. 10:13)
DO NOT GO OVERBOARD by showing extreme fear, intimidation or anger at the enemy. Know that He is a defeated foe because of the great work that Christ has performed on our behalf. The forces of evil have to flee when we breathe that holy name of Jesus in prayer. We exercise the authority of the believer by commanding the forces of darkness to be bound by the power of the name of resurrected Lord Jesus. We declare that God’s power is greater than any problem we will face as we recall, Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. (I John 4:4)
DO NOT BE OVERWHELMED by what you are up against. To be overwhelmed is to allow oneself to be over powered with emotion, burdens or excessive negative thinking. Remember that the power of Christ is far greater than any opposition force. Joseph wrote, “You meant it for evil, but God used it for good for the saving of many lives. (Gen. 50:20) We all need to utilize 50:20 vision. Let us praise God for the fact that He does work all things together for good as long as we loving Him and fitting in to His plans. (Rom. 8:28) Just when you think the problems, predicament and opponents are too great for you thank God that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. (I John 5:4,5) John wrote, “Whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over the world and who conquers the world, but he who BELIEVES that Jesus is the Son of God, who trusts, adheres and relies on that fact.” (I John 5:4,5 – Amplified Bible)
DO NOT BE OVERLY CRITICAL OF EVIL PEOPLE. Jesus said, “Before you try to take the speck out of your brothers eye, first remove the log from your own eye.” James wrote, “What is the source of conflict and quarrels among you, is it not your own desires, you want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures… God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:2-4; 6,7) Allow the Lord to determine what is best for you instead of insisting on getting what you think you deserve or want or need. Let the Lord judge people in His own way.
DO NOT OVERDO anything. Some people become so extreme in certain practices that they lose the balance of a Christ centered perspective. One well-meaning man became so wrapped up in evangelism that he felt he needed to go to all the capital cities of the world and preach the gospel. So he bought a plane ticket to 100 cities and preached the gospel in the city square for one day and came home thinking he had completed Christ’s great commission. We must always be careful that we do not become so legalistic, traditionalistic, spiritistic or humanistic that we fail to find our balanced perspective in Christ. Luke wrote, “Jesus continued to grow in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)
DO NOT OVEREMPHASIZE hardships. People who talk or think too much about the negatives aspects of life are apt to forget about the part of their glass that is full of positives. Some people have a tendency to overemphasize problems because they live more by fear than by faith. Remember how Moses refused to allow the people of Israel overemphasize their difficulties when he led them to the Promised Land and through the Red Sea experience.
DO NOT DEMAND TO UNDERSTAND WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN – Deut 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our god, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” We may not understand why certain adversity, opposition or hardships come in to our life but all we really need to know is enough information to obey God’s will for our life. With all the rest, we trust in the Lord with all our heart and not rely on our own insight, but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:5,6) God will find a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make our way for Thee. He will be your guide. Walking close beside your side. With love and strength for each new day. He will make a way for Thee.”
DO NOT DWELL ON THE NEGATIVE. Resist the temptation to watch all of the TV programs that speak of the awful tragedies and the suffering and hardships of people as it tends to take our eyes off of what is (T O N O R) True, Noble, Right, (Plead) Pure, lovely, excellent, admirable, praise-worthy) We are to be rejoicing in the Lord and delighting ourselves in Him and trusting and committing our way to Him and then He will bring things to pass. Think about all the good things you have in Christ instead of dwelling on the part of the glass that is empty and negative. We are to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thes. 5:16-18)
DO NOT HESITATE TAKE THE OFFENSIVE. Remember what David said to the enemy Goliath in I Sam 17:45-47, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. All those gathered here will know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battles is the Lord’s and He will give all of you in our hands.” The greatest growth of missionary activity in the US came right after the worst war of the past century, WW2. People were suddenly made aware of the fields that were ripe for the harvest. Let us pray that there will be a similar catalyzing of new sending, giving and involving in world missions as a result of this tragedy of 911. Let us remember to be more offensive in our orientation than defensive. The full armor of God is all on the soldier’s frontal parts, nothing is provided for his backside in the event he wants to turn and run away from the battle. We are to be moving forward for Jesus Christ and the advancement of His kingdom in both qualitative and quantitative measures. (Matt 6:33)
Prov. 21:31 – Says, the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. Be assured that you need to do adequate preparation for the ministry but God is the one who gives victory, success and the wherewithal to ultimately overcome.
BE OVERJOYED IN THE LORD. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice, Paul wrote in Phil. 4:4. “ Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Trust also in Him and He will bring things to pass. Commit your way to the Lord and He will do it.” (Psa 37:3-5) Be thankful for the good things you have. The good things you have are for many just a dream so be thankful for the good things you have. More than 2 billion people will live on less than a dollar today. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes. 5:16-18). Remember. It is not by power or by might but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts. Then we can truly rejoice in the fact that we have not been overcome by evil, but have overcome evil with good.
