How can I confront and combat evil?
Ephesians 6:16Hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
1 John 4:4The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
1 John 5:4Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
Our first line of defense against evil is to draw strength from the fact that God is more powerful than our problems and our enemies. Our faith in God is like a shield that protects us from the temptations and criticisms hurled at us every day. Without strong faith, the weapons of Satan and the arrows shot at us by our enemies would pierce and defeat us. When life feels overwhelming, we can hold tightly to our faith like a shield so we can withstand the dangers and discouragements Satan sends our way. Rejoice! Faith assures us that God has already won the victory.
Romans 12:9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
We can combat evil by resolving to hate everything that is sinful and evil. Instead, we should hunger for what is good.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 4:7Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We can combat evil by resisting temptation. God’s Word makes clear that sin always hurts us because it separates us from God, who is our source of mercy and blessing, and puts us in the clutches of the Enemy. Giving in to temptation puts us right in the middle of the road where evil hurtles toward us at high speed. The consequences of sin will cause great distress in our lives. The next time we find ourselves moving toward something we know is wrong, we need to get off the road of temptation before sin’s consequences run us over. God has promised to give us the strength to resist temptation.
Romans 13:14Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
We can combat evil by surrendering ourselves to Christ’s control. We should make sure not to put ourselves in situations where we know our resolve for righteousness will be tested. The closer we walk with Christ, the harder to be caught in the snare of evil.
Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Our own strength is insufficient to combat evil. With the armor God offers us, however, we can find the strength and protection to win the battle. We should take the time to put it on and learn to wear it well.
Matthew 5:44“I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! “
Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
We can combat evil with goodness. This is easier said than done, but ultimately, goodness is the weapon that softens the hardest hearts to God’s grace.
Matthew 4:5-7The devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
James 4:7Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The devil has less power than we think. The devil can tempt us, but he cannot coerce us. We can resist the devil as Jesus did by responding to the lies of temptation with the truth of God’s Word.
1 John 4:4You belong to God. . . . You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
We can combat evil by remembering that the Holy Spirit is strong enough to overcome any threat Satan brings against us.
John 8:32“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 16:13“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
Ephesians 6:14Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth.
When we believe the truth of God’s Word and live it out, we will have the upper hand in any battle against evil. The Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit are resources that can overpower our enemy. We must stand strong and confident in our faith, relying on God’s help. We can be confident that he will give us the discernment and protection we need.
