Overcoming Evil With Good - Pt 1 & 2 | Overcomer Bible Study | Mike Prah

Mar 16, 2022 | by Mike Prah

OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD – Pt 1 | OVERCOMER BIBLE STUDY | MIKE PRAH

Ephesians 6:14

INTRODUCTION

In this world, there are good and evil, but God is good. He always does what is right. God wants us to become like Him by repaying an evil done to us with goodness, so that we can reward us.

GOD IS AWAYS GOOD

In this world, there are both good parts and evil parts, but God is good

“Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone” (Luke 18:19, NIV).

The Bible says, “God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all” I John 1:5, NLT

God’s intentions and motivations are always good, He always does what is right, and the outcome of His plan is always good.

“You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened” Genesis 50:20, NLT

There is nothing unpleasant, evil, or dark in Him. The Bible teaches that God’s goodness extends from His nature to everything that He does (Psalm 119:68).

“You are good and do only good; make me follow your lead” Psalm 119:68-69, LB

“The LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” Psalm 100:5, NIV

OVERCOMING EVIL WIT HGOOD IS A MARK OF MATURITY

“To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” Luke 6:27-28, NLT

“Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return” Luke 6:31-34, NLT

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked” Luke 6:35, NLT

GOD'S GOODNESS SHOULD LEAD US TO GOODNESS ON OUR PART

God wants us to move into the evil parts of the world with righteous confidence by truly “repay evil with good.” God wants us to become like Him by repaying an evil done to us with goodness.

OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD IS A DEFENSIVE POSITION: Putting On The Breast Plate of Righteousness

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Ephesians 6:14, NIV

So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate” Ephesians 6:14, NCV

GOD WANTS US TO GROW TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

“God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness” 2 Corinthians 9:10, NCV

“May the Lord make your love grow more and multiply for each other and for all people so that you will love others as we love you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12, NCV

“Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God” 2 Peter 1:5-6, NCV

WE DEFEAT EVIL AND ARE BLESSED BY RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL

“My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,” says the Lord. But you should do this: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:19-20, NCV

“Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good” Romans 12:21, NCV

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” Proverbs 25:21-22, NCV

“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy” Luke 6:35-36, NCV.

PART 2: NEXT WEEK: HOW TO DEFEAT EVIL

OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD – Pt 2 | OVERCOMER BIBLE STUDY | MIKE PRAH

Ephesians 6:14

INTRODUCTION

In this world, there are good and evil, but God is good. He always does what is right. God wants us to become like Him by repaying an evil done to us with goodness, so that we can reward us.

PART 2: NEXT WEEK: HOW TO DEFEAT EVIL

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Ephesians 6:14, NIV

1. HOW WE COVERCOME THE EVIL WITHIN US

“We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! 21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with Him we might share the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20b-21, GN

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have put aside all else, counting it worth less than nothing, in order that I can have Christ, and become one with him, no longer counting on being saved by being good enough or by obeying God’s laws, but by trusting Christ to save me; for God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith—counting on Christ alone.” Philippians 3:8-9, LB

2. HOW WE OVERCOME THE EVIL AROUND US

A. Refuse To Retaliate

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.” Romans 12:16-17, NLT

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him” Matthew 5:38-39, 42, GN

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil” Matthew 5:34-45, GN

“See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15, GN

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you His blessing.” 1 Peter 3:19, NLT

B. Immerse Yourself in Doing What's Right

“Do not let mercy and truth leave you. Fasten them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and much success in the sight of God and humanity” Proverbs 3:3-4, GN

“We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this” 2 Corinthians 4:2, NLT

“Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others” 2 Corinthians 8:21, GNT

“If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good” Romans 12:17, GNT

C. REQUEST RECONCILIATION

“Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.” Romans 12:18, GN

“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” Matthew 5:9, NLT

“Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14, GW

D. RECEIVE GOD’S RESPONSE

“Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19, GW

“The Lord will take revenge and punish them; the time will come when they will fall; the day of their doom is near.” Deuteronomy 32:35, GN

“We know the God who said, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back.” God also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” Hebrews 10:30, GW

E. DEFEAT EVIL BY DOING GOOD

“On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21, NIV

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” Proverbs 25:21-22, NCV