Truly Overcoming Evil Begins Inside, Not Outside

The flesh is always trying to be God. It gives itself license for lawlessness when it thinks it is right and others are wrong. This is a common error in following Jesus.

Paul addressed it like this:

Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV — Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

To know what is right, but then handle that correct understanding lawlessly is to completely contaminate any true witness of God's heart! It's vanity because no one is saved by being right, we are only saved by grace, faith and the humility and obedience (love) it produces.

Disputing is serious error.  Complaining is serious. It is a false witness when combined with true revelation.

Those who know God obey Him.  Satan has revelation.  He handles revelation lawlessly for his own selfish purposes and doesn't consider that his revelation is partial.  He doesn't realize that co-opting what the creator has allowed him to know is detrimental to his OWN existence!

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV — But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan wants everything God wants except his own obedience.  He wants to be God!  Wanting to be right is very different than a willingness to be holy in the face of error.

Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJV — “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

If you, believer, want to be godly, but don't take your own lawlessness seriously, you are becoming like Satan, not God!

Disputing and complaining, especially as it takes the form of accusation against other believers, doesn't help God get a righteous people. No! It increases iniquity by corrupting the very beauty of holiness with fleshy impatience and selfish ambition.

Revelation 12:10 NKJV — Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Pride comes before a fall. We don't overcome evil by accusing those we think are wrong.  We overcome evil by patiently living as Christ.