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Overcome
Evil With Good
by
Ray Prinzing
"Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with
good."
(Romans 12:21)
There are two words in the Greek
for evil: kakon, speaking of
evil in the abstract sense; and
poneros, which refers to evil in
the concrete sense. That which
is abstract is that which is
generalized, while that which is
in the concrete sense is that
which is specific, names the
thing.
In the generalized term we all
have had evil in our nature, for
we "were by nature the
children of wrath, even as
others." (Ephesians 2:3).
Praise God, with the receiving
of the Christ-life within, there
is a progressive dying out to
the realm of the old carnal
nature, and a coming alive to
the new, to live HIS LIFE.
"Neither yield ye yourselves as
instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves
unto God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of
righteousness unto God."
(Romans 6:13).
To yield ourselves as
"instruments" - Greek, "hopla,"
weapons, armour. If we yield
ourselves unto evil, we become a
part of that weapon used by evil
to war against good. If we
yield ourselves to God, we
become His instrument of war to
overthrow evil. We are going to
be used one way or another,
there is no neutral ground.
Either, we are being used for
the establishment of good, or
for the operation of evil. This
gives added challenge to our
yielding!
And there are many specific evil
things that are found in our
pathway for overcoming - deeds
done against us, words spoken
against us, etc. How do we
overcome these things?
"Overcome evil with good."
Apart from God Himself, Who we
know is GOOD, there is only one
realm which is spoken of as
good. "It is GOOD to give
thanks unto the Lord, and to
sing praises unto Thy name, O
most High." Psalms 92:1).
Praise, giving thanks, is the
realm of GOOD! This is positive
realm, and just the opposite
from that negative realm of
complaining, grumbling,
expressing negative reactions.
"In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you."
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Overcoming through priase - try
it, it works!
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