INTRODUCTION
The previous message introduced the concept of the ‘strength of evil’ as Satan’s world of sin, evil and a “disobedient spirit” that rules in the FLESH of mankind through carnal desires. This part explains the character of evil strength and its goal to oppose or challenge God’s word and His people.
1. THE STRENGTH OF EVIL
Opposition is usually motivated or occasioned by the “strength of evil”. This is the spiritual force in Satan’s world of sin and it is a “disobedient spirit” in mankind against the truth of God. This evil spirit works in the “flesh”, through lustful desires that gratify people materially or emotionally.
Satan is the father of lusts. His strength in evil manifests in lustful flesh desires including unbelief in the truth, lies, jealousy, envy, hatred, malice, strife, greed, wrath, witchcraft, reveling, stubbornness, pride, deceit, vengeance and so on. (John 8:44; Galatians 5:19-21).
These character traits are the strength of evil because they have no grounding in love, do not cultivate righteous intention or conduct, nor do they yield goodness or delight in peace. Those under these influence subject themselves to the evil passions to oppose those that love God to cause them to disobey God’s word and not rely on His strength.
2. EVIL STRENGTH OPPOSES GOD
The power of Satan’s disobedient spirit in mankind’s flesh has a goal to oppose God’s word and His people. (Mark 4:15). Below are some biblical examples of the strength of evil against God’s people:
- Cane slew his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s good sacrifice (Genesis 4:1-8);
- Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because his father loved him (Gen 36:3-4 & 37:12-36);
- The Gerar herdsmen strove with Isaac to covet his water wells (Genesis 26:18-22);
- Out of hatred Pharaoh refused to let the Children of Israel go with Moses whom God sent to deliver them (Exodus 1:11-14; 5:1-7);
- King Saul sought to kill David because the people sang his praise after he defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 18:6-12 & 20-26);
- Daniel’s colleagues conspired to cast him into the Lion’s den because he enjoyed the King’s favour (Daniel 6);
- Haman plotted to exterminate the Jewish race but for the King’s intervention (Esther4 & 7);
- The Pharisees conspire against Christ because he was doing the will of God contrary to their traditions (Matthew 26:3-4; John 10:30-40).
Brethren note that the evil passions of Jealousy, envy, covetousness, strife, hatred and pride in your adversaries as in the above cases can manifest as opposition against you. This may occur in situations where God favours you, or when you demonstrate the love of God, or chose to do His will; or when you create new things, chose new paths, or achieve success. “The spirit that dwelleth in [mankind] lusteth to envy” (James 4:5).
3. THE CHARACTER OF THE STRENGTH OF EVIL
a) AN UNSUSPECTING SNARE
The forces of the strength of evil are not always visible as weapons of attack because they are flesh and innate in the adversary. For example, one may not see the jealousy, that conjures the passion in the opposer to slander another or deal wickedly. They are often unsuspecting snares that could hit us or our interests very hard (Psalm 91:3).“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8; Proverbs 28:15).
Note also that when one is snared by the evil force, a compelling lustful force usually conjures in us the desire to react and match the attack or the attacker by an equal measure of fleshy lust of power. The reactive force is usually fuelled by one’s pride, ego, anger, revenge or the desire not to appear weak. Brethren let us not be ignorant of the evil devices of fleshly passions; “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
b) FLESHLY LUSTS AND MATERIAL DESIRES
Fleshly evil strength is often reliant on material or physical power that gratifies the individual wielding such power. The material aspects could be of possession, relational, authority, or a quest to achieve an unrighteous benefit, advantage, privilege, favour or revenge against another. For instance, from the examples above, Cane and Joseph’s brothers’ evil lusts was relational, while Pharaoh’s and Haman’s were of authority; the Gerar herdsmen were driven by the evil strength of desire for an unrighteous benefit, while Daniel’s Colleagues and the Jewish Pharisees lusts was of vengeance.
Brethren, often one may seek to rely on the power from people in authority or to employ ‘spiritual wickedness” to satisfy their lusts against others. This is evil! “Wars and fightings” among mankind come of the lusts that war in our ‘members’ (i.e. flesh). “[People] lust, and have not: [they] kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: [they] fight and war, yet [they] have not, because [they] ask not. [They] ask, and receive not, because [they ask amiss, that [they] may consume it upon [their] lusts” (James 4:1-3).
c) FLESH AND BONDAGE OF FEAR
Also, fear may compel someone to rely on the ‘strength of evil’ to fight back or deal unrighteously so as not to lose some material possession or gain, like a job, a marriage, or to seek to save one’s reputation or position in society. Consider that whenever you lust over material or emotional desires, you may be steeping deeper into flesh and you expose yourself to the influence and control of the strength of evil. (Job 1:11; 1 Chronicles 21:1,2); “Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7).
d) EVIL PASSIONS BREAK SELF-CONTROL
Evil passions give one the feeling of ‘power’ that could cause one to lose self-control. As mentioned earlier, the ‘strength of evil’ that rules in the FLESH is the influence of Satan’s “disobedient” or rebellious spirit which conditions one’s mind to exalt oneself against the Power and peaceful ways of God. Passions like hate, jealousy, envy, rage, and rivalry for example are lustful desires that stir up desperation and frustration in people to pursue and satisfy that desire at all cost.
4. FOOD FOR THOUGHT
My people of God, “though we walk in the flesh, we [should] not war after the flesh”. We must not rely on the weapons of power or warfare that are human and influenced by Satan’s disobedient spirit which exist as a stronghold of sin in mankind.
Be reminded that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Next week, we will distinguish evil strength from the ‘STRENGTH OF GOD’ and reveal the spiritual character of both sources of strengths.
PRAYER
Almighty father, thank You for Your word; we give You praise for your mercies (Psalm 136:1).
Gracious Father deliver us from the strength of evil (Matthew 6:13).
Jesus Lord who has power over all flesh, give us eternal life that we may know the only true God by Your GRACE (John 17:2).
Holy Spirit sanctify our minds. Cause us not to live after the flesh; mortify the deeds of our body from the lustful desires that keep us in bondage (Romans 8:13).
I make this prayer in Jesus name.
Have a blessed week!
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG), 03/02/2019
