New Life in Christ – Prevailing over Evil
1 John 3:8 NKJV For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
After Satan’s great rebellion against God, the kingdom of darkness was in constant conflict with God and His kingdom.
When evil entered, Satan’s dark kingdom was in conflict with the Kingdom of God. As soon as God created Adam and Eve, Satan turned his attention to God’s creation. God uniquely created man and woman for fellowship with Himself and to have dominion over the earth. They were given the assignment to be God’s representatives to do His will on earth as it is in heaven. Early on, Satan came and enticed Adam and Eve to rebel and sin against God. When they did what God did not allow, sin, darkness and the curse entered. Satan took advantage by sin and gained authority and power, and from that moment, humanity was dramatically impacted.
Adam and Eve had been living in perfect peace and harmony with God.
There was no sickness, pain, suffering, aging, or death. These things came as a result of their sin and rebellion. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, Satan gained new authority and became the prince and ruler over this present world.
Ephesians 2:2 tells us that Satan is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
The reason bad things happen is because Satan is active and the kingdom of darkness is taking control of events.
1 John 5:19 …the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
You need to know that God is not happy with that.
The purpose for Christ coming to the world was twofold.
First, He came to bring about the salvation of man.
On a personal level, Jesus came to die for you and me to purchase our salvation and redeem us from the power of sin. Christ’s death on the cross accomplished much more than our personal salvation. His suffering and death addressed every area of distress and pain that was brought about by the fall of man and the curse of sin.
Second, Christ came to destroy the work of Satan.
Both the Old and New Testament cultures accepted the fact that evil existed and that Satan was the root of it all. Much of our culture and society want to deny the fact of the existence of evil. Throughout the Bible, every evil thing and trouble was attributed to Satan. Pay attention to how religious leaders did not question the power of Satan to bind and afflict.
Luke 13:10–11 NIV84 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
Luke 13:12–13 NIV84 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Luke 13:14 NIV84 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
Luke 13:15-16 NIV84 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Since there is new life in Christ, we should prevail over evil.
Our world and society has had a shift in attitudes and they are questioning if anything is really evil. Most of the world has been deceived to believe that there is nothing really evil. Although the world may accept the concept of Satan and evil spirits, they doubt that they are real evil beings and refuse to believe that the devil is involved in the affairs of humans. In relation to that, the existence of anything that is evil is unreasonable and impossible to define within our culture.
The Biblical view of evil has largely been lost.
Anyone who truly reads and understands the Bible knows that there is evil and that Satan is behind it. Anyone who has been a victim or survivor of an evil attack finds it easy to understanding the reality of evil. Evil is known in the personal spiritual and physical attack. It is known in violence, rape, and murder. It is known in the attitudes and actions of a depraved world that calls good evil and evil good. It is known in the personal experience of things that should bring shame. Those things are now being practiced in the open.
Satan’s kingdom of darkness is busy working.
In the gospel of John, Jesus referred to Satan as the prince of this earth three times, (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). This title speaks of Satan’s rule and influence. Satan is God’s enemy. Paul said “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing,” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). He is the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” (Ephesians 2:2). John said the “entire world is under the power of the evil one.”
Everyone questions why bad things happen to good people.
If you understand the Bible, it is not surprising at all. What is really amazing is that good things happen. The world has been seized by Satan’s evil power. Good and evil are in a constant battle in this world. Sometimes it feels that good will never win and that evil is going to reign.
When Jesus went to the cross, He knew that He was going to defeat Satan and take back what had been stolen.
He knew that when He finished with the cross and suffering, Satan would be defeated.
The world is divergent and in controversy between good and evil.
On one side, we see the glory of God.
Romans 1:20 Since the creation of the world, God’s glory has been clearly seen in what He has made.
When we look at the beauty and wonders around us, we can see the glory of God. Look at the intricate details of the human body and you can see the glory of God. Look at the heavens above and behold the glory of God.
On the other side, we see a world that is filled with evil.
1 John 5:19 NKJV The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
The evil in this world is immoral and dehumanizing. The world is filled with the influence of the wicked one. The evil in the world does not glorify God. Wars and terrorism do not glorify God. The death and violence does not glorify God. Genocide and abortion does not glorify God. Homosexuality, transgender and sexual deviancy does not glorify God. Violence and hate do not glorify God. The wickedness all around us does not glorify God.
There is a real war going on between God and Satan, good and evil.
Christ came to into this world to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 NKJV For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
When Jesus started His ministry, He immediately started conquering and defeating sin, sickness, and disease. His immediate response toward pain and suffering of mankind was to go on the attack. He never resigned Himself to accept things as they were. Jesus had a doctrine of revolt against the power of evil that was predominant in the world. He did not come to work out a compromise, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
Acts 10:38 NIV God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and… He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.
He revealed the will of God when He started healing people, delivering captives and those Satan abused. He revealed God’s goodness through the many wonderful things He did. He went about healing people and freeing them from Satan’s oppression.
In Luke7:11-17 Jesus went to a city called Nain.
A large crowd of people were following Him and His disciples. When He came near the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, and his mother and a large crowd of people were following. Jesus was filled with compassion for her and said, “Do not weep.” Then He turned His attention to the open coffin and said; “Young man, I say to you arise.” Immediately, he who was dead sat up and began to speak. The report of what happened went about throughout all Judea and the surrounding region. Some of the disciples of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Luke 7:21 NKJV And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
The New Testament word for “afflictions” is “mastix” (Mark 3:10; Mark 5:29, 34; Luke 7:21) and it means “to whip, flog, plague, or scourge.” The word used for “infirmities” (nos-os) means diseases, sickness, plague, pestilence.
Luke 7:22 NKJV Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
Jesus Christ is God’s promised Redeemer.
Psalm 103:3–4 NKJV Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction…
When Jesus set people free from their infirmities and afflictions, He was releasing them from the beating of Satan.
He was wounded, bruised, chastised, and beaten to bring our salvation, victory, and healing. Jesus came with the vengeance of God Almighty to save the lost, release captives, open the eyes of the blind, unstop the deaf ears, cause the lame to leap like a deer, cause the tongue of the mute to sing and conquer death.
1 John 3:8 NIV The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Hebrews 2:14 He came to destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil.
Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross
1 Corinthians 15: 25 says “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”
Jesus came as an act of war against Satan and his kingdom.
Why did Jesus Christ come into this world?
He did not come into the world just to conquer our individual sins; He came to conquer sin itself. Sin and the power of sin have been defeated because He came to destroy the principality and power behind all sin. He did not just come to heal our sick bodies; He came to conquer the power that makes us sick. He came to destroy the principalities and powers that breed oppression. He did not just come to give liberty to captives; He came to lead captivity captive. He did not come just to raise the dead; He came to destroy death and hell.
He came to make this earth His kingdom.
Then Jesus included us in this ministry.
Matthew 28:18-19 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection binds the strong man who has come to steal, kill and destroy.
By Christ’s cross and sufferings, He has conquered. His resurrection conquered death and the grave. His ascension settled the fact that He is King and Lord.
Now He expects us to come behind Him and in the power of His authority pillage and plunder the house of darkness.
John 14:12 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The Lord expects us to come behind Him and take back what Satan has stolen. Jesus expects us to combat the forces of darkness in His power and through His Spirit.
Matthew 16:18–19 NKJV Jesus said: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
He is the Rock that the Church is built upon.
His Church is strong enough to destroy and take back everything Satan has claimed. Satan’s weapons cannot prevail against the Church. Settle this fact in your mind and spirit. Neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril nor sword will prevail against us.
Romans 8:37 NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
We have been made more than conquerors through Christ, Who strengthens us.
You are the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and you have been staged for victory. You are going to prevail over every evil that the enemy of your soul has staged against you. You are going to overcome every one of Satan’s attacks through the blood of Christ. None of the gates of hell will be able to hold us back.
