Christian Living

Overcoming Self Evil

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
09/23/21
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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

The problem we all have is that evil is resident in our hearts. I don’t believe we officially asked for it, but it is there as we are children of the fracture. We had inherited the infection from our parents back to the beginning when sin entered into humanity. There are ways to combat evil within, but Satan will invade and plant the temptation in the unguarded moments. My wise counselor has told me to fill my heart with God’s Word and leave no room for evil. James said, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) The key is to submit to God; our lives are meditation and our labors. Satan will flee as we have not given him an opening to attack.

There is another way that my Grandma spoke to me long ago. I once thought she said this, but I have heard many times from people who never knew my Grandmother. Naturally, I thought then it was a scripture from the Bible. For many years I thought that, but it is not. What Grandma said was, “Idle hands is the devil’s playground.” That is a truthful statement, but I think Solomon brings out the point more fully. “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.” (Proverbs 21:25-26)

What does the righteous never hold back? There are many answers that one can say, and they would be correct. My immediate response would be returning the blessings the Lord has given to us for His purposes. Our time, talent, and treasure. My point here is to drive the evil out and overcome it with good. My thought comes from what Paul wrote the Ephesians in this passage. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

When God created humankind, there was a purpose each of us was created to accomplish. Isaiah has an interesting insight into what happened to all those who had a predestined purpose. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.” (Isaiah 53:6) People naturally want to be their own masters and control their fate. Self-pride or selfishness is the root of humanity’s disobedience. Our heart’s intentions are built around self. People who have gone their own way are accountable to themselves, but in the end, when the judgment comes, they will be accountable to God. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

When I read that verse of Solomon, it takes me right to Paul’s word to the Corinthians, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) To do all for God’s glory places the focus where it always belongs to God. When focused on God, what we are doing is empowered by His Spirit from within us, and it is a good work that we walk in. Some of and maybe most of the things I do are simple. Do I need God’s empowering Spirit to lead me through it? I could do these simple things myself, and it would be for myself. Its accomplishment would be my reward. I depend on God for my welfare and work for the prize in Heaven, which is far better than my imagination. If I can take my simple stuff and trust the Lord to help me through it, then it becomes His good work through me and places the glory where it belongs to God. If the Lord’s good work for me is prepared and ordained, then those works lead to life. “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”  (1 John 2:17.)

People ask me what good work is? My answer is living in His Word and being the message we all come into contact with. I know this is a scary thought, as I am not a conversation piece myself. I have trouble starting a conversation with someone I do not know. I can engage in any conversation that comes my way, and rather it be questions or criticism, I am not shy about what I believe. In truth, the Lord guides me through any challenge. He has always been faithful, and I have never been left without an answer. The reason is Christ sits on the throne of my life, and I follow His Spiritual lead. “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1Peter 3:15) My defense is scriptural, as the Word of God is where the power is.

That is faith, boldly living in what you believe is true, and relying on His Spirit to guide your every thought. It is not just believing the word but living its truth by faith. That takes the good work of being a living testimony of God’s Kingdom and the gospel message to receive it. Without that, you will never fully understand what you believe. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22)

Good works do not save you; God’s grace saves you through faith. But what is faith if it accomplishes nothing you believe? Faith produces results, but good works have to bring it out of the unseen into reality. “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14) I am not saying that people who sit at home and never venture out to the mission field around them are dead weight. Some of the most faithful people I know have never reached anyone. But they are rocks of the Church. They do the work of caring, providing, giving, and, most of all, are prayer warriors. That may be their calling, and all they do is for the glory of God. Amen!.

The basics of faith are living as citizens of God’s Kingdom openly in the world. How else would they be convicted of their sin? How else would they desire a change in their life? How else could they be drawn to Jesus and seek Him? Without good work, we are no different. “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

Good work is being subject to the authorities that God has put in place. Good works are being obedient to the laws of the land to set the example for others to see and follow. God is a God of order, and this world is out of order, and unless we instill obedience and accountability back into the world, there will be nothing close to peace. Christian who love their neighbors as themselves are good work to care for those in need, especially in need of spiritual revival. “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” (Titus 3:1-2)

Every Christian follower of Jesus is to continue the ministry to seek the lost and share the good news of the Kingdom of God. We are the body of Christ His Church, and we all have various tasks that He has given us to accomplish. In doing this good work, we are distracted from the distractor and his temptations of evil. If our minds are filled doing all for His glory, there’s no evil thought in our minds. Is that foolproof? No, but in our daily struggle, we can find victory in His Word. In His Word, we can engage the world boldly, doing the good work that is profitable towards our inheritance. “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.” (Titus 3:8)

The idle times we face in life are the dangerous ones that Satan will want to fill. The worst for me is when waiting for sleep to arrive in the evening. What do I think, and what do I do with a mind that drifts downward? Paul answers the question for the Philippians. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, July 5, 2020