A Present Help — Prevailing over Evil
God wants you to prevail over the evil you face. When Jesus came, He did not attempt to find a way to make peace with the devil or his work.
1 John 3:8 ESV The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
In Genesis, Satan came into direct conflict with the Kingdom of God.
After Satan’s rebellion against God, he remained in constant conflict with God and His kingdom. As soon as God created Adam and Eve, Satan turned his attention to the man who was created in God’s image. God uniquely made Adam and Eve for fellowship with Himself and to have dominion over the earth. Their assignment was to be God’s representatives on earth to do His will as it is in heaven. Within their assignment they were given special power, authority and dominion. Early on, Satan came to entice Adam and Eve to rebel and sin against God. When they surrendered to temptation and sinned against God, death and the curse entered. Satan took advantage by sin and gained authority and power. From that moment, all humanity and creation was dramatically impacted. Man had been in perfect peace and harmony with God and enjoyed His grace and mercy. There was no sickness, pain, suffering, aging, or death. These things came as a result of sin and rebellion. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, Satan gained new authority. The devil became the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in those who are disobedient, (Ephesians 2:2). The reason bad things happen is because Satan is active and the kingdom of darkness is usurping control of events.
1 John 5:19 NLT …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 of Christ coming to the world was twofold.
First, He came to bring about the salvation of man.
Jesus came to die for you and me and purchase our salvation. Christ’s death on the cross accomplished much more than our personal salvation. His suffering and death addressed every area of distress, pain, and the curse that was brought about by the fall of man.
Second, Christ came to destroy the work of Satan.
Biblical cultures accepted the fact that evil exists and that Satan is at the root of all of it. Throughout the Bible, religious leaders did not question Satan’s power to bind, afflict and cause all kinds of trouble, sorrow and anguish.
Luke 13:10–11 NIV 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 NIV 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 NIV 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 NIV 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?
Luke 13:16 NIV 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?”
Jesus was saying, “There is not a better time than now to be set free.” Satan and his kingdom of darkness were very active in the Bible. His kingdom and powers are still behind the evil in all of the hatred, violence, rape, and murder. Satan’s influence is recognizable in the attitudes and actions of this depraved world. It is known in all of the personal attacks from the principalities, powers and rulers of darkness. When the enemy attacks, we should take a stand in Christ’s authority and in the power of His blood.
- 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 shows Satan’s rule and influence and that he 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). Take note of his deceptive work with those who are perishing.
- 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.” It should be no surprise why bad things happen to good people. If you understand this Biblical principle, it is not surprising.
The world has been seized by Satan’s evil power.
This world is a war zone between good and evil. We are in a constant conflict.
When Jesus went to the cross, He knew that the action He was taking 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. He came to destroy the works of the devil.
The world is divergent and in controversy.
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.
Look at the beauty around us, you can see the glory of God. All of creation declares the glory of God.
On the other side, we see the whole world is filled with evil.
1 John 5:19 NKJV The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
We are all influenced by immorality, violence, racism, and hate that comes out of the kingdom of darkness. The whole world is filled with the influence of the wicked one. There is a real war going on between God and Satan, good and evil.
You need to remember that Christ came 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 began His earthly ministry, He immediately started conquering and defeating sickness, disease, and sin. His immediate response toward the pain and suffering of mankind was to go on the attack. He refused to accepted things as they were. He refused to accept the rule and power of Satan’s kingdom. Jesus had a doctrine of destruction against the works of Satan. Jesus Christ did not come to work out a compromise with 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.
Jesus revealed God’s will when He started healing people. He revealed God’s power by delivering captives and those abused by Satan. He healed all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. He not only had all the power to accomplish the Father’s will, Jesus actually released captives and healed the sick. He truly raised the dead.
The Psalmist prophesied about Jesus’ great ministry.
Psalm 103:3–4 NKJV Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction…
Luke 7:21 NKJV That very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
The word that is translated afflictions is the Greek word “mastix.” (Mark 3:10; Mark 5:29, 34; Luke 7:21) It means to whip, flog, plague, or scourge. The word used for infirmities “nosos” means diseases, sickness, plague, pestilence. When Jesus set people free from their infirmities and afflictions, He was breaking Satan’s power over their lives. Jesus set captives free and conquered death. He came to forgive sins and destroy the power of Satan.
1 John 3:8 NIV The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
John 12:31 NIV Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
Hebrews 2:14 He came to destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil.
1 Corinthians 15: 25 says “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”
Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Jesus came as an act of war against Satan and his dark 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 and the power of sin and destroy the principality and power behind all sin.
Jesus did not come just to heal our sick bodies.
When sin and death entered into this world, it brought the curse that causes sickness, weakness, and disease. Jesus came to heal all your diseases and sicknesses and destroy the principalities and powers that breed oppression and defeat. The LORD came to offer the solution for sickness and disease. He is the Healer of our bodies.
He did not come just to give liberty to captives.
He came to lead captivity captive and subdue the very forces of evil that bring people under the control of the powers of darkness.
He did not come just to raise the dead.
He came to destroy death and hell and give new life.
Jesus came to bring His kingdom and reign to this earth.
By coming and conquering death and the grave, Jesus Christ did everything that was necessary to drive out and destroy Satan’s kingdom of darkness and death. He came to introduce the kingdom and reign of God almighty and give life more abundantly.
Then Jesus included us in this ministry.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore… and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
His life, death, resurrection and ascension back to a place of honor in heaven has gained victory. Jesus, Who is King and Lord, is the One Who lives, and was dead, and is alive for ever and ever. As a result of what He has done, the Lord Jesus Christ holds and possesses the keys of death and the grave. Of His kingdom and reign there will be no end.
Now He expects us to come behind Him and pillage and plunder the house of darkness.
He expects us to take a stand with His authority and take back what Satan has stolen. He wants us to stand and prevail against the gates of hell.
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.”
Jesus is the strong Rock that the church is built upon.
None of Satan’s weapons shall prevail against the Church. Settle the fact in your mind and spirit that hell’s gates shall not prevail against the Lord’s church. What are “hells gates?” “Hell’s gates” represents the strength of Satan’s kingdom that brings death and destruction. The Lord’s Church is enabled to aggressively and offensively attack, resist, and conquer Satan’s kingdom of darkness and death.
Romans 8:37 NKJV In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Jesus Christ has conquered and we have been made more than conquerors through Him. You should take this personally. You are the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and you have been staged for victory. Since we are conquerors and more than conquerors through Him who loved us, we should prepare for victory. You are going to prevail over the evil that is staged against you and overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. None of the gates of hell will be able to hold us back.
Since we have a very present help in Jesus Christ, we can prevail over the evil that is in this world.
Hebrews 12:28 HCSB Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace.
