Good vs. Evil: In the Midst of Evil

Preached on September 8, 2024

In the battle of good and evil, we must understand the environment of the battle and every tactic of our enemy. Join Pastor McCrary this week as he takes a look at the cunningness of the wicked and the evil as we dwell in the midst of evil. You must not be enticed in this battle – remain vigilant in faith.

Introduction

In the battle of good and evil, the roaring lion has made himself known – we must be sober and vigilant.  At the same time, we have been sent into the midst of wolves in our calling.  This spiritual battle we are in calls on us to surround ourselves with a good company of fellow soldiers.  With this being the case, you must be weary of the company you keep.

In the Midst of Wolves

“Do not walk in the way with them (the sinner), keep your foot from their path,” is what we read in my key verse.  In the battle of good and evil, we must truly understand the environment of the battle, along with the enemies we face. 

Over the course of this series, we have gotten a glimpse at the environment and the way the enemy attacks.  The wicked and evil will try to force their way onto others.  When that fails, they will turn to fearmongering to stir up fear, anxiety, worry, stress, and doubt.  Satan, as Peter stated, is like a roaring lion in the world we live in.

Living in a hostile environment

In Luke 10, Luke wrote about an occasion where Jesus sent out 70 other disciples after sending out the twelve on their first assignment.  When Jesus sent out the seventy, He gave them the same warning that He gave the twelve (Matt. 10:16).  Jesus warned, “I send you as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3).”  Now, why did Jesus use this figure of speech on both occasions?

In this figure of speech, the sheep represent His disciples.  Sheep are herd animals that are considered to be meek (lowly).  Sheep are mostly defenseless animals that are unable to protect themselves against predators.  While they are intelligent, their curiosity causes them to stray into danger if they’re not watched.

Wolves, on the other hand, are considered apex predators.  They are highly intelligent pack animals that will use their numbers to their advantage.  Like most predators, they seek to consume easy prey.  In this figure of speech, the wolves represent the wicked and evil.

For Jesus to say He was sending them as lambs into the midst of wolves would speak of Jesus sending His disciples into a hostile environment.  They were heading into an environment that Jesus knew firsthand would be unwelcoming.  They would be surrounded by those that would seek to tear them apart.  One might wonder why Jesus would send them into such a hostile environment?  

Well, all He was doing was sending them out into the world, right?  The world is a hostile place, especially for those that move by and with the grace of God.  Jesus lived and moved in the same environment and a servant is not greater than their master (John 13:16)!  So, Jesus was preparing the disciples for the environment they would encounter.  We must be prepared to encounter the same environment.  

Success of the disciples

When Jesus sent them out, He sent them out without a money bag, knapsack, and not even an extra pair of sandals!  So, one might wonder, how were the seventy supposed to succeed in such a hostile environment with nothing?  Did they really have nothing?

As He had done for the twelve, we will see that Jesus did the same for the seventy.  We are told that Jesus gave the seventy power (authority) to heal the sick (Luke 10:1; cf. Matt. 10:1).  When Jesus sent out the twelve, He told them not to worry  because the “Spirit of the Father” would speak through them (Matt 10:20).  These disciples were not sent out alone because God was with them.

Even more, Luke 10:1 shows us that they weren’t sent into the midst of wolves alone, physically. As with the twelve, Jesus sent the seventy into the midst of wolves two by two.  Then, Jesus gave them an encouraging word – they were to be wise and harmless (Luke 10:16).  In other words, they were to go by the grace of God into the midst of evil.

How did they fare behind enemy lines?  Scripture shows us that like the twelve, the seventy went out and came back unharmed.  In Luke 10:17, we are told that the seventy came back from being in the midst of evil with joy in their hearts.  They said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”  This shows us that in the midst of evil, one can rejoice and be blessed by the name of Christ.

Facing Today’s Hostile Environment

Though time has changed, we must understand the environment of the battle of good and evil has not changed.  We are living in a hostile world, as the spiritual battle wages on.  

Beware the cunning wolf

Now, in Proverbs 1, we get to see the plight of the battle in a new light.  When we think of hostility, we often think of combativeness.  Yet, the spiritual battle is often more a battle of the mind and heart, than it is a physical battle.  In the first of my key verses, we are advised that if sinners “entice” us, we ought not consent (give in).

This notion introduces a vastly different approach to the tactics of the enemy in comparison to what we saw last week.  The roaring lion – Satan – seeks to create fear, anxiety, panic, worry, and stress.  Whereas, the notion of enticing, can’t be done by a roaring lion.

There is another effect that I want us to consider when the lion roars.  Yes, when the lion roars, it will get our attention, but something else has happened.  The roar of the lion will cause us to take our attention off of everything but him.  While Satan is roaring like a lion, he distracts us from his wolves – his hellhounds (demons).

In Matthew 7:15 Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets that come to us in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”  (Reminder: this battle is not of flesh and blood but what lies within the heart.)

Now, Jesus’ description of the wolves is very fascinating.  Yes, we know that wolves are ravenous – aggressive.  In nature, wolves don’t necessarily hide themselves when they hunt.  Wolves love the chase and have great endurance for chases.  When their prey is finally worn down, that is when they use their numbers to surround it and take it down. 

Now, what’s interesting about Jesus’ figure of speech is Him saying to beware of wolves that will come in sheep’s clothing.  What’s going on with a wolf coming in sheep clothing?  This figure of speech denotes some cunningness rather than the all out aggressive hostility.  In its cunningness, the wolf is trying to fool you to make you think they’re like you so that they can make you comfortable and get close.  

Our great adversary lives by the old saying, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”   So, once again, we must remain vigilant (mindful) of this tactic by our enemy.  Why?  Because the enemy wants you to feel comfortable with them so that they can get close.  What happens when they get close? They’re still that ravenous wolf.

Worn down by today’s environment

So, we look back to my key verse, and the proverb warns us not to consent to the enticing of the sinner.  We live in an environment where, sadly, many have been beaten up and worn down by its hostility.

The good fight of faith is not easy – it can be taxing and in all we go through physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  We have to face those demons that the roar of Satan stir up in us.  We have to face the demons we stir up in ourselves when things aren’t going our way.

In all our trials and tribulations, some of us get disenfranchised and stop being mindful of God’s word.  Some of us may stop being mindful of things in our weakness.  In all that we go through, we can lose focus of the wolves that’s trying to get close to us.  

If we’ve let the adversary get close, they will start to entice us.  They will whisper words of “comfort”.  I am reminded, again, of Job and his “friends” that supposedly came to help him but only made matters worse.  You have to be conscious of the company you keep.  Our souls are like sponges and we can absorb the spirits of those that are around us, whether good or bad.

Proverbs 1:11-14 shows us that sin, in the end, seeks for you to lie in wait and shed blood (destroy); to lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.  Sin desires for you to ambush innocent lives, to rob and consume them just to fill your homes with riches.  If you look at this, sin’s enticing is of selfish gains that move opposite of God’s love.  

Sin’s promise is that of riches and glory – wealth, power.  It offers an “easier” and quicker way to riches and glory.  However, do you think such a way is healthy for the soul?”

While we are in the midst of wolves, the modern day disciples must carry on as Jesus did.  We should fight the good fight, even if it’s difficult, rather than join the wicked in their way!  Don’t consent, don’t conform!  In Proverbs 22:4, it is said that by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.  

How to Succeed in the Midst of Evil

So, do you believe that success can be achieved in the midst of evil?  Do you believe that you can succeed in a time such as this?  To be clear, when I speak of succeeding, I am not talking about worldly gain but in the gaining of heavenly riches.  Jesus has already shown us through the twelve and the seventy that success can be achieved in the midst of evil.  So, how do we go about achieving success in the midst of evil?

Beware of ravenous wolves

To succeed in the midst of evil, Jesus, again, told us to beware of the ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.  To beware means that one is taking measures to be on guard.  Consider that if we’re supposed to be sober and vigilant about  the roaring lion, we should definitely be looking out for the movements of the wicked.  

Proverbs 27:12 calls on us to be prudent (wise).  Those that are prudent foresee evil and hide (turn away) from it while the simple pay no attention.  To succeed in the midst of evil, your spiritual discernment lenses must always be on.  

As John said, we need to be testing every spirit that seeks to get close to us by the Holy Spirit which dwells in all of us (1 John 4:1).  You have the Spirit of truth and error abiding with you, so why not lean on Him?  Again, when you are discerning good and evil by the Holy Spirit, success will come your way.

Don’t give in to temptation

To succeed in the midst of evil, we must not give in to the temptation to act wickedly.  A lot of time when we think about wicked acts, we think of murder, fornication, and sexual immorality.  However, I want to point to the ones we don’t consider too often – lying, deceiving, and simply disobeying instructions from God.

The adversary, you should understand, entices in several ways to get you to stray further and further away from Christ.  Again, consider the sheep and how the sheep needs the guidance and protection of the shepherd.  You see, sheep are only as wise and as protected as their shepherd guides and keeps them.  Sheep that strays away from its shepherd is a sheep that’s putting itself in grave danger.

So, in order to succeed in the midst of evil, you need to make sure that you’re being disciplined!  You need to make sure that you’re remaining close to Christ – the good shepherd.  Where other shepherds may flee when the wolves (danger) approaches, Christ gives His life for His flock (John 10:11-13)!  Stay near to Him at all times and success will certainly come your way.