What You “THINK & DO” About Evil Matters!(Part 8)
Spiritual warfare has been a subject that I have studied since I got converted back in the late 1960s. To me, it is so obvious that humanity is in a war with Satan since the beginning of creation and, if your eyes are open, it can seems that he is winning. In the book of Revelation, God will overcome Satan but not before there is great sorrow in the heart of God over so many being lost to Satan’s schemes. In the last article we discussed being converted and acquiring elements of Jesus character in our lives as a direct result. We talked about how America stalled in confronting evil before WWI and WWII which cost not only America but the rest of the world greatly. Too often, Christians in particular have taken a number of passages of scripture and made them say more than they were meant to say with regards to standing up to evil or being a pacifist. If Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan as the book of 1 John 3:8 states, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out there is and will be warfare between God and evil.
1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
In fact, when Jesus returns, evil and corruption will be challenged and overcome. John uses language that reveals great violence both to the earth and everything in it. He defines the method of overcoming by “Great Fire” burning up everything to purge evil and corruption and then warns about the kind of people we should be in order to survive and overcome with Jesus.
2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. [11] Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
In article seven I mentioned discussing the book of Revelation and specifically the seven churches. From the beginning of this last book of the New Testament the apostle John says this book is actually a revelation about Jesus and what his intentions are for humanity and for those who refuse the lordship of Christ. The main theme of the book of Revelation is Jesus’ return to rule the nations.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Some have said that the book of Revelation is a continuation of the work of the Holy Spirit from the book of Acts. It is in that it reveals the work of the Holy Spirit during the last stages of war against Satan and those who follow him. For that reason, I wanted to briefly look at the seven churches listed in the first three chapters. Jesus reveals his thoughts and future action with these seven churches in that these seven churches represent the attitudes and behaviors of the much of the early church. Many times teachers of scripture refer to the greatness of the early church. However, Jesus reveals to John that the church has learned to compromise for one reason or another in their earlier walk with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To me, it is amazing how we can start out so strong in our walk with Jesus and then, after a number of years, start to take him and our Christianity for granted. We end up compromising so much that only human religion is left in our daily lives. Let’s just briefly look at the error of the churches in dealing or not dealing with evil.
In chapter two of Revelation, Jesus starts with the church of Ephesus. Jesus commends how the church doesn’t tolerate evil men yet he says they have “Left Their First Love”. The point? We can stand up to evil but if we don’t nurture our love for God we compromise our faith.
Revelation 2:2-4 Church of Ephesus I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; [3] and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. [4] ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
The second church Jesus addresses is Smyrna. Jesus doesn’t rebuke this church but rather prepares it for a period of testing through suffering. Many in America would crumble and fall away from their trust in Jesus if they experienced persecution. Why? It is partly because they haven’t learned to stand up to evil in their souls and thought Christianity is mostly about experiencing joy and peace.
Revelation 2:10 Church of Smyrna Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The third church is Pergamum. This church lives right in the heart of Satan’s territory where about 200,000 people live. They are commended for not denying their faith yet they had compromised their lives by engaging in idolatry and immorality. How is that possible? It happens when we have a lopsided faith that only believes in comfort, healing and restoration and not standing up to evil so we yield to any kind of pleasure because we believe our faith is predominately about us and not about the Lord.
Revelation 2:13-14 Church of Pergamum I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. [14] ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. [15] ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans [16] Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Faith that is not biblical understands that healing and restoration is offered by God to all who repent and the other side of faith is taking a stand against evil regardless of how or where it is found.
William Wilberforce lived in England from 1759-1833. He was a politician who saw the slavery movement in Great Britain as evil and thus spent his life trying to turn English opinion about it for most of his life. For 18 years he introduced anti-slavery into parliament until one day they abolished it. May God help us to see how we can stand against the evils of our day and change the culture we live in.
In the next article, I will finish with the seven churches in the book of Revelation.
Questions:
1) Have you allowed your faith to become more about your well being and comfort rather than about standing for Jesus against evil? Consider the seven churches and what Jesus said to them as a warning of compromise.
2) Are you seeing what the Holy Spirit wants you to see and be the champion God calls you to be? It starts with surrender to His will.
Pastor Dale
I am really enjoying this look at the teachings in Revelation. Thanks! God is Moving mightly, even in my own life transforming my heart and doing a beautiful work. Be encouraged. He is definitely on the move in the hearts of believers!!!
Hi Melanie
Although I just scratched the surface of the book of Revelation I wanted to bring attention to the fact that so often the church – we the people – drift in our faith because of dinging little to nothing with regards ro confronting evil. Had our founding Father failed to confront the evil of king George there would be no United States. Thanks for your comments and passion to be all that God desires.
Pastor Dale