Overcome Evil with Good
Small Group Session 8 Notes and Overview
Overcome Evil with 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)
KEY PRINCIPLE: Overcome Evil with God.
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we will not make progress in a relationship. Christians are persecuted and attacked not matter how righteous they are ... just like Jesus was slaughtered despite being the Ultimate Peacemaker.
We must remember: As Christians we NEVER CLOSE THE BOOK! Keep the Bible open! We might not see the results we want, but we will never lack direction or help from God's Word. These will give us things we can do to keep on trying, keep on pressing.
1. We Have Divine Weapons
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV)
What weapons did God use to win you?
Not condemnation, but the hope of the Gospel.
The ultimate weapon God used on us was Love. He communicated it through the Bible and through other Christians.
God used the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts.
Our most powerful weapon is to imitate Jesus. To talk they way He talked and walk the way He walked.
2. Control Your Tongue
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14, NIV)
In a conflict it is tempting to speak ill of someone. Unfortunately, the more we talk negatively, the more negative our heart becomes. Instead we need to speak the truth in love.
3. Seek Godly Advisors - And Listen to Them!
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (Romans 12:15-16, NIV)
This is very important during a prolonged conflict. Stay accountable to people so that we don't give up and fall into negative patterns. A common dynamic in marriages is that they begin to pull away from Christian friends as a way to slowly inch their way to the door of divorce. The more we distance ourselves from good advisors, the more we harden our hearts and chart our courses towards the two ends of the slippery slope (denial and attack).
4. Keep Doing What is Right
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." (Romans 12:17, NIV)
There is only one definition of "what is right" and that is what God tells us to do in the Bible.
In 1 Samuel 24, David has a chance to kill Saul. David refuses and says that he will not lift his hand against the anointed one of the Lord. This didn't seem like a good strategy, but God defines what is right, not our tactics and circumstances.
If we do this well, then anyone objective who looks at the situation will say, "What you did was right. You gave it your best effort. I admire the way you handled this."
In the video Ken Sande talks about a time he was running and saw a blind woman with a seeing eye dog. In front of her was a car that hadn't pulled all the way into the driveway. It was blocking the sidewalk. The blind woman walked towards the car, and the dog stopped. Then he put his shoulder against her leg and pressed her to move around the car. The woman thought the dog wanted to sniff something, so told it just to go. The dog persisted in trying to keep helping her around the car, but the woman kept telling him to go forward. Finally the woman kicked the dog, kept pulling on the harness, and tried to force the dog to go forward. Despite all this, the dog kept trying to help her around the car. Giving up on the dog, the woman walked forward and bumped right into the car. Realizing what the dog had been doing, she fell on her knees and hugged the dog. You can only imagine what she was saying to him.
As Christians, we don't have to stay in abusive situations, but we are called to defy the pain and the odds and to keep on doing what is right.
5. Recognize your Limits
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." (Romans 12:18-19, NIV)
God alone is God. He is the one who will bring justice and peace where it is needed. God has set up structures in this world, like civil authorities and the church, to help bring justice and peace to the world.
At times we have to appeal to church discipline. Other times the civil authorities should intervene.
6. The Ultimate Weapon: Deliberate, Focused Love
"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)
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:27-31, NIV)
How did Christ win you?
""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
Jesus' pure, deliberate and focused love is best shown on the cross. It was this love that won the hearts of rebels like us.
Now, this love may include confrontation and discipline, but love is still the driving force.
Pray, "Lord, show me a need in this person's life that I can meet and thereby give glory to your name."