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Overcoming Evil with Good
August 6, 2022

Christians have an incredible future waiting for us in eternity at the return of Jesus Christ. Until then, the life that we have may at times seem less than incredible and at other times extremely challenging. Each of us have this common hope of eternal life and each of us also shares a common adversary, Satan, who seeks whom he may devour. Peter tells us to resist Satan being steadfast in the faith knowing that all who are called have sufferings in this present evil world, and that through faith knowing that God through Jesus Christ will bring us to perfection.

1 Peter 5:8-10
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

On our path to perfection as we live within this evil world knowing that Satan seeks to devour us, we have a common objective, to overcome. Overcoming is a common message to the churches of Revelation. Each of the churches shares that message of overcoming, meaning that each of the churches faces difficulties and challenges. Most of the churches are chastised, and some seem to be severely chastised, and yet all are told to overcome. With the church of the Laodiceans, they are told that those who overcome will sit at the throne of Jesus Christ, and are reminded that even Jesus had to overcome.

Revelation 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To the church at Philadelphia, those who overcome will be made pillars in the temple of God, will have the names of God and New Jerusalem, and a new name from Jesus.

Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Those from Sardis who overcome will be clothed in white raiment and will have their name written in the book of life.

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Those who overcome from Thyratira and who keep the works until the end will be given power over the nations and the morning star.

Revelation 2:26-28
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

In Pergamos, those who overcome will eat of the hidden manna, receive a white stone and a secret new name.

Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Those who overcome from Smyrna will not be hurt by the second death.

Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

With Ephesus, those who overcome will eat of the tree of life.

Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Jesus proclaimed to the Laodiceans that he overcame, but it wasn’t sin that Jesus overcame, because Jesus is without sin. We are given insight into what Jesus overcame in John.

John 16:32-33
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In reminding us that we will have troubles in the present evil world, Jesus reminds us to be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world. We, too, must overcome the world. Overcoming the world begins by keeping the commandments of God through an act of love knowing it is our faith that overcomes the world, and what is our faith centered on? Our faith is centered on Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1-5
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

What we overcome in the world is the spirit of antichrist whether that be brought to us by Satan the devil who seeks to devour us or by others in this world who do not know God and Jesus. We overcome the world through our faith in Jesus Christ because greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. What is in the world is the spirit of error and we have the spirit of truth. The world is a world of error and with God is truth.

1 John 4:1-6
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

We are to overcome the world, not be conformed to this world. It is through the mercy of God that we need to be living as a living sacrifice proving what is good, acceptable, perfect, and the will of God that we overcome by the transforming of the renewing of our mind.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Paul wrote of our victory through Jesus Christ when writing his first letter to the Corinthians. We are familiar with this passage and often overlook that all spiritual victories are acts of overcoming. When we have victory, we have overcome. There is nothing in this world that can bring us the victory we seek. All that this world can bring us is the sting of death.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We live in this world where we will have troubles. We live in a world where many do not know Jesus or God, where Satan seeks whom he may devour. We will see evil and we will see people who do evil. As we reflect on our life looking in faith to Jesus to bring us to perfection in salvation, we must have that continuous faith that He who is in us is stronger than he who is in the world. There is no person or spiritual entity that can take on the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, or God the Father. It's not going to happen. With that in mind, we are to abhor that which is evil, not people who practice evil. By hating the evil that comes from Satan we are more able to hate that which is evil and not the person who does evil. With this perspective we are better positioned to live at peace with all people uniquely positioning ourselves to overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

As we overcome evil with good knowing we overcome this world with good, knowing that this world is evil, we must come to the realization that we are either with God the Father or this world. We cannot be friends of God and friends of this world. We cannot profess love for this world while also professing love for God the Father. It is this world that is the source of our troubles. Why would we love the world that brings us trouble when we have the Father and Jesus Christ who bring us peace?

By not loving this world, we begin the process of resisting the devil, and we complete that process as we draw near to God the Father through humility. We cannot be boastful and proud in our calling while we demean those who are not called, because being boastful and proud is not found within humility. We resist the devil by drawing near to God the Father through humility by examining what we need to do better in our own individual lives.

We are not to judge others because humility and judging others don’t sync very well on this side of eternity. James clearly shows us that if we are focused on what is wrong with others, it is like we see ourselves above the law, sort of like that Laodicean who had need of nothing being already rich and increased. Instead of focusing our spiritual efforts on what others are not doing, we need to remain focused on what we individually are doing knowing that it is not our place to judge. We are to do good and have faith in what God the Father and Jesus Christ will do for us as we live in this evil world.

James 4:1-17
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Those who overcome the evil of this world are not put into subjection by the evil of this world. Satan is evil and focuses on selfish desire without having regard for others. We cannot be put into subjection by the evil of this world that has us reduce our thinking to selfish desire having no regard for others. Jesus gave an example of this in telling the disciples what would happen when He returns with the angels. Jesus described a time when people would be sorted like a shepherd might sort sheep from goats. The sheep are compared to those who have regard for others, who see the needs of others and do their best to have those needs met. These sheep did not do what they did to curry favor with Jesus instead being interested in helping those in need. The goats on the other hand do what they do to curry favor with Jesus and never consider the needs of people in need. The story concludes by showing the sheep, those who helped people in need go into eternal life, and the goats, those who only sought to curry favor with Jesus get tossed into the lake of fire. It is the sheep who overcome the world and the goats who are overcome by the world.

Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

John reminds us not to love the world or the things of the world. We know from Matthew twenty-five, we won’t ignore people in need, as they suffer like we suffer. The physical realities of this world and the comforts of life we can physically enjoy on this side of eternity are of this world. While being grateful to God for what we have been given, we should not be confused with any idea that what we have physically is any type of a sign from God that we are spiritually right with God, that we have what we have physically due to some type of a quid pro quo obligation owed to us by God. Instead we are to live our life so that the word of God lives in us and through this we overcome the world.

1 John 2:12-17
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Paul wrote of this concept to Timothy, explaining that we need to withdraw from those who equate physical possessions with godliness. People who do this look at what they have and believe that they must be a righteous person because God has given them what they have. This is a significant departure from being grateful for the blessings in your life, including blessings of physical possessions. One is self-righteous and the other is thankful. People who consider themselves righteous because they have physical possessions have not overcome the world, they have been overcome by the world. Money is one of those physical possessions that can cause problems for people leading people to err from the faith. If we love money, and look to the money we have, and other physical possessions as payment for our righteousness, we have been overcome by this world. Instead we are to overcome this world by following after righteousness. Following after righteousness implies not seeing oneself as righteous, because if we were already righteous we would have no need to follow righteousness. Similarly we are to follow godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Those who overcome the world never see themselves as having arrived, not until they actually become spirit at the resurrection, and continuously fight the good fight of faith. Knowing we have to fight for faith means living a life of faith is not always easy. Sometimes the life of faith will be hard as we keep the faith never surrendering to this world knowing we answer only to Jesus and God the Father. Those who are rich should never consider themselves to be righteous. Having wealth is not a sign that God and Jesus Christ have stamped you with a seal of righteousness. Paul wrote that these people should instead trust in God, not the money that is in their hand. Rich is a relative term. What is rich in one country may be poor in another country, and what may be poor in one country may be rich in another. Even within countries the cost of living can vary greatly making people with the same amount of money better off in some areas of the country, and financially struggling in other parts of the country. As we have the ability to share the physical blessings we have been given, again as we have the ability to share, we should share what we are able to share. Those who share as they are able to share are overcoming the world. Those who overcome the world stay focused on the mission they are given, to continuously overcome the world, to overcome evil with good through the return of Jesus Christ. We don’t confuse gospels of speculation with what our mission is, nor are we sidetracked by teachings and ideas of this world.

1 Timothy 6:1-21
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

As we defend ourselves from the attacks of Satan, as we seek to endure to the end and overcome the evil of this world through good, we are reminded of our spiritual responsibilities in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We are to encase ourselves in God knowing we fight a spiritual battle, so that in an onslaught of evil, we will stand victorious. To help us in the victory, we will be familiar with the word of God so that we stand in truth, and not be deceived by this world. Righteousness and the hope of eternal life we have through Jesus will guide us in what we do as we use faith to deflect the attacks of Satan, and many of these attacks will be manifested through the evil that is in this world.

Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Overcoming evil with good means we are never distracted by what we see around us. We know we are in for the long haul, that we must endure to the end and complete the race that is before us running it with patience.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is when we are spirit at the return of Jesus Christ that we know we have conquered the world and the evil that is in it, through doing good. At that point we will know we have overcome. Right now we are in the process of overcoming. We are in the process of conquering and we can take comfort in knowing that if God be for us, who can be against us, that nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:31-39
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must overcome evil with good and never allow evil to overcome us.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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