B2B: Overcome Evil

We live in enemy-occupied territory. And it’s easy to grow so battle-fatigued that we’re tempted to retreat. But instead of giving up and giving in, as soldiers of Christ, we simply must overcome evil.

Any student of warfare will tell you the importance of recognizing the enemy and his tactics. In light of that, the topic I want to address in this Back to Basics (B2B) blog series post is how to live in enemy territory without completely succumbing  to evil.

But it’s way too easy to assume that evil is somewhere outside us. That’s not the case. It’s important for us to understand how evil manifests itself, and we have the capacity to be our own worst enemy.

Evil Within

It’s common knowledge among believers that we are sinful creatures. Since Adam’s fall, evil has become a part of our genetic makeup. Apart from Christ, there would be no good in us at all.

To make matters worse, we’re easily swayed and blinded. The Pharisees considered themselves good and godly people. Jesus warned His disciples that those who persecuted them would think they were doing God a favor. Even some of our God-believing forefathers were blinded enough to think that human slavery was okay.

My point is that we have to keep a careful check on ourselves and not allow ourselves to be blinded by the evil within. This next verse sums up the evil within each and every one of us: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Evil Without

In addition to the evil within us, there is evil without us as well. The world is an evil place. Don’t believe me? Watch just a few minutes of your local or national news, or for that matter, a few minutes of prime-time TV.

Things haven’t changed or progressed as much as we’d like to think. Even as far back as the book of Genesis, we see the plight of this world in which we live.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

The Evil One

At the root of all evil is the evil one, the devil, who is known as a murderer, liar, destroyer, and thief. His motto? “Steal, kill, and destroy!” (John 10:10) His plan has always been to defeat God and take His place. Now he knows his days are numbered because of the victory of Christ over sin and death at the cross. So what does he do with his limited amount of time? He wages war against believers in an attempt to make them stumble and turn away from God.

The Danger of Evil for the Church

Because of the prevalence of evil, believers need to be aware of the affect it can have on us as the body of Christ. When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, He said this:

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13)

It’s not a pretty picture, but I’m grateful Jesus gave us these words so we know what to guard against. Brothers and sisters, don’t turn away from the faith. Be careful of betraying your faith family. Don’t allow hatred a place in your heart. Evil will increase, as mentioned in this passage, but don’t let your love for Christ and His church grow cold. Stand firm!

Think of Jesus and His church as a fire blazing brightly with the gospel message. Think of evil/wickedness as a big bucket of water. Think of yourself as one coal among many. If you move away from the flame, you can know for a fact that the enemy will see to it that your heart grows cold. Fight back!

Overcoming Evil – Action Points

The Bible gives much instruction on how to overcome evil–the evil within, the evil without, and the evil one:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  (Ephesians 6:11)
They triumphed over him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)


You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (Ephesians 4:22)
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(James 4:7)

Lord God, thank You that You do not leave us to fend for ourselves against the evil within, the evil without, and the evil one. Instead You’ve given us Your Power-packed Spirit and Your Word. Because of the work of Christ on the cross, death and sin are defeated, and we have everything we need to live godly lives. As Jesus prayed in the model prayer, “Deliver us from evil.” Open our eyes to see it and defeat it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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