“Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:20-21 NKJV)
God is not the source, author, or originator of evil. Everything that God created was perfect.
Genesis 1:31 – NKJV
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.
James 1:17 – NKJV
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
How, then, did evil and corruption come into the world?
Through the sin of the first man, Adam!
When Adam yielded to the devil, he surrendered himself to evil, for the devil is the source, author, or originator of evil.
Since the first man’s fall, evil has begun to reign and thrive in the hearts of men. It reached a point in Noah’s days when God could no longer put up with the spread of evil on the earth. Consequently, God wiped off that corrupt generation by the flood.
Genesis 6:5-13 – NKJV
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Until Satan (the source, author, or originator of evil) and all those who have yielded to him as instruments of wickedness are judged and cast into hell fire at the end of this dispensation of grace, evil cannot be eliminated from this world.
Therefore, it is not out of order in this present evil world for the righteous to suffer unjustly, for you to be denied your rights, for your good deeds to be repaid with evil, or for you to be persecuted and maltreated or maligned for the sake of Christ.
Nevertheless, God does not expect you to be overcome or overwhelmed by evil; instead, as a born-again believer, you are expected to contend against evil and overcome it with good earnestly.
Paul admonishes, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21 NKJV).
The believers have overcome the evil in this world by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has overcome the world, and Satan, the evil prince of this evil world.
By His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome or triumphed over evil. Christ’s complete victory or triumph over evil belongs to all who belong to Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV).
John testifies, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NKJV).
As a believer in Christ, you have been raised together with Christ and made to sit with Him in the heavenly place, far above all evil forces (Eph. 2:6).
Moreover, you have been divinely invested with the power and authority of Jesus over all the power of Satan, the evil one.
Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 NKJV).
The believers don’t contend in spiritual warfare for victory over evil but to appropriate, enforce, proclaim and demonstrate Christ’s victory over evil.
By your faith in Christ, you have already overcome the evil one in this world (1 John 4:4). Therefore, you are not expected to fear any evil while you live in this present evil world.
Like David, your confession should be: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4 NKJV).
Unfortunately, today, many ignorant or spiritually immature believers spend many days fasting and praying, running from one prophet to another and moving from one Prayer Mountain to another because of fear of demons and their supposed human enemies.
Many believers today are being exploited, violated, manipulated, and defrauded by “wolves and foxes in shepherd’s clothing” because they are ignorant of their spiritual identity, status, position, power, and authority in Christ.
Every believer is in spiritual warfare. However, our battle is not against our fellow humans, regardless of how wicked they are or how bad they treat us.
Paul clearly states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12 NKJV).
Therefore, it is sheer ignorance and a waste of good time and strength in spiritual warfare for any born-again believer to set himself or direct his prayers against his supposed or imaginary human enemies. God is never in such a battle!
How, then, should believers deal with evil people?
Overcome evil with good!
The force of love and goodness is the only potent weapon to employ and deploy against evil people. No one can overcome evil with evil; you can only overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19-21 – NKJV
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 5:43-48 – NKJV
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Beloved, love is God’s way or means of overcoming evil and evil people in this hostile world. Seeking to overcome evil with evil will only result in frustration, failure, and defeat. Therefore, arise today and begin to wield this potent weapon in your battle against evil people.
But how can you practically overcome evil with good?
Find out in the second part of this piece!
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, teach and help me to begin to appropriate Your grace to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hurt me, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.