Overcome Evil with Good
Notes
Transcript
Last week I walked out of here extremely unbalanced. God stepped all over my toes and I felt as though I was in this place last week sitting on the front row with God speaking to me. Last week if you were not here we discussed overcoming falsehood with truth. We discussed how the evil in this present age is driven by an evil overseer the devil who desires that everyone in this present age suffers and is blinded by their desire to get even and to do things for themselves. We discussed how we can change our perspectives to ensure that we are seeing who is really to blame for our struggles in this world. This week we will learn how to overcome that evil. In Romans 12 Paul introduces us to the Christians life. Not just some good guidelines, not just some ideas on how you can live, but the lifestyle that is expected of the believer. In this scripture there is a ton to go through so we are going to break this up into three sections. First we will Overcoming Evil with Love, Second Overcoming Evil with Opposition, and lastly Overcoming Evil with Trust. Overcoming evil is not easy and is something that takes a daily reflection of who we are and how we are called to live. It takes intentionality in our behaviors.
A brother in South China had a rice field in the middle of the hill. In time of drought he used a water-wheel, worked by a tread-mill, to lift water from the irrigation stream into his field. His neighbour had two fields below his, and, one night, made a breach in the dividing bank and drained off all his water. When the bother repaired the breach and pumped in more water his neighbour did the same thing again, and this was repeated three or four times. So he consulted his brethren. ‘I have tried to be patient and not to retaliate,’ he said, ‘but is it right?’ After they had prayed together about it, one of them replied, ‘If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right.’ The brother was much impressed. Next morning he pumped water for the two fields below, and in the afternoon he pumped water for his own field. After that the water stayed in his field. His neighbor was so amazed at his action that he began to inquire the reason, and in course of time he too became a Christian.
Is it easy to overcome evil with good? No absolutely not. Turn with me in your Bible to Romans chapter 12 verses 9-21. In these passages Paul encourages us to live out our faith.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Lets pray.
Overcome Evil with Love
Overcome Evil with Love
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Paul starts off with the foundation of overcoming evil and it is with love. We cannot overcome evil with good intentions, nice words, good thoughts. Overcoming evil only happens when it starts from a place of love. The scripture tells us that our love must be genuine. What does it mean to have genuine love?
When studying counseling I learned of something called love bombing. Do you know what love bombing is? Here is what love bombing sounds like. “You complete me”, “I will never find someone like you”, “you are the only person who has ever understood me”. These phrases sound like lines out of a movie. Love bombing is a tactic used to draw someone into a relationship, After establishing the relationship the person switches to a very selfish mindset. Have you ever experienced relationships like this?
Genuine love starts off less intense and stays consistent. Genuine love lays down the needs of one for the needs of the other. Love bombing is all about the needs of the person showering with comments. They are only loving until they can get what they want. Paul says that our love must be genuine. We must start with a love that is real and is not self serving. Paul then continues on to let us know what that love looks like. Listen to what he says.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Love one another as brothers and sisters, outdo each other in sowing honor. Don’t be slow in doing your best. Have an enthusiastic spirit, do everything for the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in difficult times, pray constantly, and help others in the faith do the same. This is what love looks like. Love looks like living your life selflessly. It is a difficult life but is one that we are called to live.
In Ernest Gordon's true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, Through the Valley of the Kwai, there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of soldiers. The man's name was Angus McGillivray. Angus was a Scottish prisoner in one of the camps filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons who had helped build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. The camp had become an ugly situation. A dog-eat-dog mentality had set in. Allies would literally steal from each other and cheat each other; men would sleep on their packs and yet have them stolen from under their heads. Survival was everything. The law of the jungle prevailed...until the news of Angus McGillivray's death spread throughout the camp. Rumors spread in the wake of his death. No one could believe big Angus had succumbed. He was strong, one of those whom they had expected to be the last to die. Actually, it wasn't the fact of his death that shocked the men, but the reason he died. Finally they pieced together the true story.
The Argylls (Scottish soldiers) took their buddy system very seriously. Their buddy was called their "mucker," and these Argylls believed that is was literally up to each of them to make sure their "mucker" survived. Angus's mucker, though, was dying, and everyone had given up on him, everyone, of course, but Angus. He had made up his mind that his friend would not die. Someone had stolen his mucker's blanket. So Angus gave him his own, telling his mucker that he had "just come across an extra one." Likewise, every mealtime, Angus would get his rations and take them to his friend, stand over him and force him to eat them, again stating that he was able to get "extra food." Angus was going to do anything and everything to see that his buddy got what he needed to recover.
But as Angus's mucker began to recover, Angus collapsed, slumped over, and died. The doctors discovered that he had died of starvation complicated by exhaustion. He had been giving of his own food and shelter. He had given everything he had -- even his very life. The ramifications of his acts of love and unselfishness had a startling impact on the compound.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12).
As word circulated of the reason for Angus McGillivray's death, the feel of the camp began to change. Suddenly, men began to focus on their mates, their friends, and humanity of living beyond survival, of giving oneself away. They began to pool their talents -- one was a violin maker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinet maker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the "Church Without Walls" that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital, and a library system. The place was transformed; an all but smothered love revived, all because one man named Angus gave all he had for his friend. For many of those men this turnaround meant survival. What happened is an awesome illustration of the potential unleashed when one person actually gives it all away.
We are called to love others more than ourselves. When we love in such a way we overcome evil. What does the scripture say our love should look like?
34 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.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Love must be the foundation for overcoming evil. Paul then continues and tells us that not only is love the first step but opposition is the second step to overcoming evil.
Overcoming Evil with Opposition
Overcoming Evil with Opposition
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
I know when I used the word opposition some of you were thrown off. Some of you were like heck yeah and you were on your way out the door for your pitch forks and torches. Some of you were like, what is this guy talking about? I can say that both of those options are wrong. What I mean when I say opposition, is opposition to the flesh. Love is the foundation and opposition to the flesh is the next step. Are you willing to do the opposite of what you want to do? We are called to live lives that do the opposite of what our flesh wants to do.
I’ve told this story before but when I was a freshman in high school I was not a great student. I got in trouble quite a bit for doing stupid things. I made my English teacher cry and run out of class and spent the rest of the year working by myself in the hallway during her class. I threw a paper ball at a substitute teacher who was performing a chemistry experiment and caused dry ice to be thrown all around the room. I was not a great student at points in my learning. I also was not always a great person. I had an arch enemy in my freshman year. It all started at a middle school birthday party where we started competing for attention and we both felt like the other person was trying to take the spotlight. It carried over into high school. Me and this guy spent our time making each others lives miserable. I of course was going to win. I am not a good loser. We went back and forth with each other in the cafeteria. Then I found out that he was going to be in my science class and guess where he was sitting. That’s right, directly in front of me. He would try to trip me if I had to walk to the front of the class. Every day I would throw things at the back of his head. I would do anything I could to make his day miserable and he did the same for me. We went on spring break and when we came back something was different with him. He did not go out of his way to make me miserable. I still did with him though but it was not the same. Every time I did something he would walk away or not engage in the poor behavior. I remember he went to sit in his desk and I slid his seat out from under him and he hit the floor. He got up smiled at me and sat back in his seat. All the other kids who used to egg it on looked at me like I was a jerk. This guy did nothing wrong and even after I hurt him he did nothing. I learned that he had given his life to Christ and was living out his faith and loving his enemy. He as a matter of fact started helping me with Science which I was not all that great at.
Living the opposite of the flesh is what Paul is calling us to do. Read the scripture again,
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Bless those who persecute you, when is the last time someone was harming you and you though to yourself, I need to do something nice for this person? Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. You do not have to agree with why someone is happy or sad but as long as it is not evil in nature you should be happy with them or feel their pain and comfort them. Ever hear someone being happy about something and you find some reason to burst their bubble? Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly, never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Think about that for a minute, don’t return evil and think about how everyone else will respond to what you do. I find it that when people are going to do something bad or evil they always say, I don’t care what others think. If it is at all possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with others. We are called to live in opposition to the flesh.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
We are called to start with a foundation of Love, build on that with opposition to the flesh. And lastly to live in a life of trust.
Overcome Evil with Trust
Overcome Evil with Trust
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are called to trust God in all things. When our life is difficult and we cannot see very far in front of our face we are called to put the trust in God. All of this lifestyle of overcoming evil requires a trust in God. We cannot put ourselves in the seat of the Judge or the Jury. We are called to put trust in God and to live our lives in peace with all around us, even our enemies. We are called to love our enemies and and to trust God with the outcome. It is not our place to judge. I will tell you that I have been extensively studying Romans. I have read chapters 1 an 2 over and over and over. Here is what I struggled with. In Romans 1 Paul begins to list out all these sins and all these things that sinners do. In chapter 2 he starts off by saying therefore you have no excuse. I’m reading it and I’m like yeah! Paul is right! Sinners have no excuse!!! Get them Paul. Then his next choice of words rips the carpet out from under me.
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
The man who judges puts himself in condemnation. What does this mean? It was confusing at first. Now though that we combine chapter 12 with chapters 1 and 2 we find that Paul is not saying that evil people will not be judged rightly by God. He is saying you and I are not God and we are not to be the judge. We condemn ourselves when we become the judge and the jury. We are to trust that God will Himself judge rightly and issue His condemnation to all who deserve it. This is how we live with love for our enemies. First in a heart that seeks their salvation, second in a heart that seeks to not see them face the condemnation that God will one day issue out. We must trust God with every aspect of our lives especially when it comes to those who oppress us. We live in love and we trust Him to handle the rest.
In his little book Illustrations of Bible Truth, H.A. Ironside pointed out the folly of judging others. He related an incident in the life of a man called Bishop Potter. "He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, 'It's all right, bishop, I'll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!'"
The scriptures tell us about trusting God’s judgment
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We overcome evil when we start with a foundation of Love, live in a life of opposition to the flesh, and trust God with the things that God must handle. Judgment is completely and wholly God’s . Are you willing to live in a way that overcomes evil with good? Are you willing to take the steps to overcome evil?
