100:00:00,840 –> 00:00:03,280One Good Message200:00:03,440 –> 00:00:05,320When God says,300:00:05,480 –> 00:00:08,680”Do not be overcome by evil.”400:00:09,080 –> 00:00:12,000The implementation of the fact that he says that500:00:12,160 –> 00:00:15,080is that this is something that can happen.600:00:15,440 –> 00:00:16,840Something that does happen,700:00:17,000 –> 00:00:20,639and that he is saying to you to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.800:00:20,799 –> 00:00:23,320Welcome to ”Open the Bible” with Pastor Colin Smith.900:00:23,480 –> 00:00:25,840I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could join us today.1000:00:26,000 –> 00:00:29,080And Colin, everyone listening to this will be thinking,1100:00:29,360 –> 00:00:31,799”Yes, I want to be sure that doesn’t happen to me.”1200:00:31,959 –> 00:00:33,439But how do I do that?1300:00:33,599 –> 00:00:35,759Well, there’s multiple ways in which it does happen.1400:00:35,919 –> 00:00:37,279Let me give just one example.1500:00:37,439 –> 00:00:39,240I mean it is possible, for example,1600:00:39,400 –> 00:00:42,799to absorb wall-to-wall news coverage1700:00:42,959 –> 00:00:46,200and to end up absolutely in the grip of fear.1800:00:46,360 –> 00:00:49,040For a Christian to be in the grip of fear1900:00:49,200 –> 00:00:50,240in a way that is, perhaps,2000:00:50,400 –> 00:00:53,040even more than is the case with other people in the world.2100:00:53,200 –> 00:00:56,279And what is that but to be overcome by evil?2200:00:56,439 –> 00:00:58,240So there’s one example2300:00:58,480 –> 00:01:00,720of a very simple way2400:01:00,880 –> 00:01:04,000in which all that is around us can end up overcoming us.2500:01:04,160 –> 00:01:07,519And the Lord is saying to us, do not be overcome by evil.2600:01:07,680 –> 00:01:10,040Instead of being overtaken by fear2700:01:10,199 –> 00:01:12,559and by a sense of gloom and pessimism2800:01:12,720 –> 00:01:14,400with everything that is around us,2900:01:14,559 –> 00:01:17,839we’re those who are called to point the way of faith3000:01:18,000 –> 00:01:19,400in the Lord Jesus Christ3100:01:19,559 –> 00:01:21,480and putting our confidence in Him.3200:01:21,639 –> 00:01:22,720So we’re learning how to do that3300:01:22,879 –> 00:01:25,440and we’re learning it together from Romans and chapter 12.3400:01:25,879 –> 00:01:28,559Join us, if you can, in Romans 123500:01:28,720 –> 00:01:31,879as we continue the message overcoming evil with good.3600:01:32,040 –> 00:01:33,879Here is pastor Colin.3700:01:34,040 –> 00:01:37,320Shortly after the book of Romans was written,3800:01:37,480 –> 00:01:41,000false charges were brought against the Apostle Paul3900:01:41,160 –> 00:01:44,919in a place called Caesarea, and he was arrested.4000:01:45,559 –> 00:01:48,120Serious charges that people wanted4100:01:48,440 –> 00:01:51,199that the death penalty should be applied to him.4200:01:51,360 –> 00:01:54,160They wanted to stop him from preaching the gospel.4300:01:54,919 –> 00:01:57,320But Paul was a Roman citizen.4400:01:57,959 –> 00:02:00,919Any Roman citizen, charged with a crime,4500:02:01,160 –> 00:02:04,400had the right of appeal to be tried in Rome,4600:02:04,559 –> 00:02:08,279rather than in one of the provinces conquered by Rome.4700:02:09,080 –> 00:02:12,880So, having been arrested, the Apostle Paul said,4800:02:13,039 –> 00:02:15,440and this is recorded in Acts 25,4900:02:15,600 –> 00:02:17,679I appeal to Caesar.5000:02:19,399 –> 00:02:21,720The local governor said5100:02:22,279 –> 00:02:25,360To Caesar you have appealed and to Caesar you will go.5200:02:26,360 –> 00:02:28,440So you can read this at the end of the book of Acts.5300:02:28,600 –> 00:02:31,679What followed was that Paul was taken by an armed guard,5400:02:31,839 –> 00:02:35,279on a ship to Rome, the ship got shipwrecked.5500:02:35,440 –> 00:02:37,600But finally, in the last chapter of Acts,5600:02:37,759 –> 00:02:42,240the Apostle Paul actually arrives in Rome itself.5700:02:42,800 –> 00:02:47,000And the book of Acts ends with two years5800:02:47,320 –> 00:02:49,320in which we are told Paul was effectively,5900:02:49,479 –> 00:02:51,479under a kind of house arrest,6000:02:51,720 –> 00:02:57,039in Rome, and these would have been the years 60 and 61.6100:02:58,199 –> 00:02:59,639Two years after that,6200:02:59,800 –> 00:03:02,960we know that the apostle Peter was in Rome6300:03:03,399 –> 00:03:05,279and while he was there6400:03:05,440 –> 00:03:08,039he wrote what we have in the New Testament,6500:03:08,199 –> 00:03:09,759the first letter of Peter.6600:03:10,679 –> 00:03:13,279And moved by the Holy Spirit while he was in Rome,6700:03:13,440 –> 00:03:14,960he writes these words.6800:03:15,880 –> 00:03:17,080Chapter 4 and verse 12.6900:03:17,080 –> 00:03:22,639Do not be surprised at the Fiery Trial7000:03:23,279 –> 00:03:25,839when it comes upon you to test you.7100:03:27,160 –> 00:03:29,800Now he speaks prophetically there, surely.7200:03:30,119 –> 00:03:32,279The Fiery Trial when it comes upon you.7300:03:32,440 –> 00:03:34,880There’s going to be a fiery trial, he says.7400:03:36,039 –> 00:03:37,399That’s AD 63.7500:03:37,559 –> 00:03:39,360What happened one year later?7600:03:40,000 –> 00:03:41,440The Great Fire of Rome.7700:03:41,919 –> 00:03:44,160Rome, the whole city, set ablaze.7800:03:44,679 –> 00:03:46,639And the Roman historian Tacitus7900:03:46,720 –> 00:03:49,720records there were 14 precincts in the city.8000:03:50,119 –> 00:03:52,679Only 4 of them were unaffected,8100:03:52,960 –> 00:03:55,759the rest of the city utterly devastated.8200:03:56,559 –> 00:04:00,360And Tacitus also records that at the very time Rome burned,8300:04:00,800 –> 00:04:03,639Nero got on his platform and was singing.8400:04:04,479 –> 00:04:05,880See, he was happy about this,8500:04:06,160 –> 00:04:08,800Why? Because the fire was giving the opportunity8600:04:08,960 –> 00:04:12,320for the building of a grander and more glorious city.8700:04:13,440 –> 00:04:14,919And that’s by the way where you get the phrase8800:04:15,279 –> 00:04:16,799fiddling while Rome burns,8900:04:17,079 –> 00:04:19,119because he was rejoicing while the city9000:04:19,239 –> 00:04:21,079was being destroyed. Extraordinary thing!9100:04:22,799 –> 00:04:25,600Now of course people perceived and quickly got9200:04:25,880 –> 00:04:29,040that actually Nero himself was behind the fire9300:04:29,279 –> 00:04:33,160and that was widely believed and widely spread around.9400:04:33,720 –> 00:04:36,160And so Nero needed a scapegoat,9500:04:36,320 –> 00:04:40,079someone else to blame for starting this fire.9600:04:40,880 –> 00:04:46,480And the scapegoat that he chose was Christians.9700:04:47,359 –> 00:04:49,320Now the Roman historian Tacitus,9800:04:49,320 –> 00:04:51,799again, no friend of Christianity records9900:04:51,959 –> 00:04:54,600and I quote his exact words,10000:04:55,119 –> 00:04:57,559To scotch the rumour ,10100:04:57,559 –> 00:05:00,679Nero substituted as culprits10200:05:00,880 –> 00:05:03,559and punished with the utmost10300:05:03,760 –> 00:05:05,959refinements of cruelty ,10400:05:06,160 –> 00:05:08,679a class of men whom the crowd10500:05:08,839 –> 00:05:12,799styled Christians.10600:05:12,839 –> 00:05:15,519Christusa, from whom they got10700:05:15,679 –> 00:05:18,600their name, had been executed10800:05:18,720 –> 00:05:20,799by the sentence of the procurator10900:05:21,000 –> 00:05:23,720Pontius Pilate when Tiberius11000:05:23,920 –> 00:05:25,119was the emperor.11100:05:26,160 –> 00:05:28,279First then, those who confessed11200:05:28,440 –> 00:05:30,440themselves Christians were arrested.11300:05:31,559 –> 00:05:34,079Next, on their disclosures,11400:05:34,279 –> 00:05:37,200a vast multitude were convicted.11500:05:38,880 –> 00:05:41,440Not so much on the charge11600:05:41,640 –> 00:05:42,480of arsonlessness,11700:05:43,600 –> 00:05:45,679because of course there wasn’t any evidence whatsoever11800:05:45,880 –> 00:05:47,320that any of them had been involved in the fire.11900:05:47,519 –> 00:05:48,200None of them were.12000:05:49,839 –> 00:05:51,920A vast multitude of them12100:05:52,119 –> 00:05:54,200were convicted, not so12200:05:54,399 –> 00:05:56,760much on the charge of arson12300:05:56,959 –> 00:05:59,600but for hatred12400:05:59,799 –> 00:06:02,000of the human race.12500:06:03,079 –> 00:06:03,399Ho!12600:06:05,000 –> 00:06:06,839Any echoes coming to your mind there?12700:06:06,959 –> 00:06:09,440You see the Christians12800:06:09,640 –> 00:06:11,959weren’t going in the direction of the culture.12900:06:12,160 –> 00:06:13,600And so what did the culture say about them?13000:06:13,799 –> 00:06:14,880You folks must be haters.13100:06:17,160 –> 00:06:19,640You must just be people who hate everyone else.13200:06:21,200 –> 00:06:23,160You must be hitters of the human race13300:06:23,359 –> 00:06:24,880and if you’re haters of the human race there’s13400:06:25,079 –> 00:06:26,839no place for you here in the human race.13500:06:29,000 –> 00:06:30,920I continue to quote Tacitus as their death13600:06:31,119 –> 00:06:32,440was made a matter of sport.13700:06:33,679 –> 00:06:36,040They were covered in wild beasts skins13800:06:36,040 –> 00:06:37,839and torn to pieces by dogs13900:06:38,519 –> 00:06:40,239or were fastened to crosses14000:06:40,440 –> 00:06:41,799and set on fire.14100:06:42,000 –> 00:06:44,000In order to serve as torches by14200:06:44,200 –> 00:06:45,279night when daylight fell.14300:06:46,299 –> 00:06:46,880Hence,14400:06:47,880 –> 00:06:50,200and this is Tacitus the Roman historian14500:06:50,399 –> 00:06:52,839Hence there arose a feeling14600:06:53,040 –> 00:06:53,760of pity,14700:06:54,239 –> 00:06:56,920ordinary people had pity towards Christians14800:06:57,440 –> 00:06:59,920because it was felt14900:07:00,119 –> 00:07:02,000that they were being sacrificed15000:07:02,200 –> 00:07:03,720not for the common good15100:07:04,720 –> 00:07:06,559but to gratify the savagery15200:07:07,760 –> 00:07:08,679of one man.15300:07:10,359 –> 00:07:11,399Now notice how quickly the15400:07:11,600 –> 00:07:13,399world changed for Christians in15500:07:13,600 –> 00:07:15,399the late 50s Paul could15600:07:15,600 –> 00:07:17,119say I appealed to Caesar15700:07:17,320 –> 00:07:19,079and be very confident that if15800:07:19,279 –> 00:07:21,200he was in Rome even15900:07:21,399 –> 00:07:23,519under a bad emperor the16000:07:23,720 –> 00:07:25,760Roman system of justice was sufficiently16100:07:25,959 –> 00:07:27,760strong that it could protect his16200:07:27,959 –> 00:07:29,480liberty to preach the Gospel.16300:07:30,820 –> 00:07:31,760He says, I’ll be tried there,16400:07:32,440 –> 00:07:33,320I’ll get a fair trial there.16500:07:34,519 –> 00:07:35,980Within about six years,16600:07:36,179 –> 00:07:38,000five or six years of the Apostle Paul16700:07:38,200 –> 00:07:40,119saying that what do you have?16800:07:40,320 –> 00:07:42,239You have Christians being thrown to the lions16900:07:42,440 –> 00:07:42,779in Rome.17000:07:43,980 –> 00:07:45,839And here’s where it comes home for us today17100:07:46,040 –> 00:07:47,839because you have heard many resonances17200:07:48,040 –> 00:07:49,459in the account that I’ve given to you.17300:07:49,779 –> 00:07:51,760When you find yourself saying17400:07:52,079 –> 00:07:53,959it seems that our freedoms17500:07:54,160 –> 00:07:55,140are under threat.17600:07:56,440 –> 00:07:58,200When you find yourself saying17700:07:58,799 –> 00:08:00,540the morality as we have known17800:08:00,739 –> 00:08:02,760it seems to be swept away.17900:08:03,040 –> 00:08:04,140Remember this Friends,18000:08:04,339 –> 00:08:06,839Christians have been here before.18100:08:08,559 –> 00:08:10,399The church has been here before18200:08:10,600 –> 00:08:12,079and you know what? The church is alive18300:08:12,279 –> 00:08:14,040and well today and the Roman Empire18400:08:14,239 –> 00:08:14,640is not.18500:08:15,500 –> 00:08:16,000Remember that.18600:08:17,480 –> 00:08:18,720You’re listening to Open the Bible18700:08:18,920 –> 00:08:19,940with Pastor Colin Smith18800:08:20,140 –> 00:08:21,779and we have to pause the message briefly there18900:08:21,980 –> 00:08:23,779but we’ll be back shortly so do stay19000:08:23,980 –> 00:08:24,279with us.19100:08:24,880 –> 00:08:26,760Message is called Overcoming Evil19200:08:26,959 –> 00:08:28,579With Good based on Romans19300:08:28,779 –> 00:08:29,579chapter 12.19400:08:30,279 –> 00:08:32,260It was originally part of a series19500:08:32,260 –> 00:08:33,599called Overcoming Evil19600:08:33,960 –> 00:08:35,500and it’s one of the messages that’s been19700:08:35,700 –> 00:08:36,840most popular19800:08:37,039 –> 00:08:38,659and the most downloaded of the past19900:08:38,859 –> 00:08:40,460year. We’ve bundled it together20000:08:40,659 –> 00:08:42,659with the other most popular messages20100:08:42,859 –> 00:08:44,140into a series we’re calling20200:08:44,400 –> 00:08:46,580Listener Favorites 2026.20300:08:47,080 –> 00:08:48,739If you ever miss one of the series20400:08:48,940 –> 00:08:50,580you can hear them all by20500:08:50,780 –> 00:08:51,979going to our website that’s at20600:08:52,179 –> 00:08:52,619Openthebible.org.uk20700:08:54,619 –> 00:08:56,880also by finding us on a podcast20800:08:57,080 –> 00:08:58,799site and you can do that by searching20900:08:59,000 –> 00:09:00,559for Open the Bible UK.21000:09:01,400 –> 00:09:03,179Back to the message now here again21100:09:03,380 –> 00:09:04,440is Pastor Colin.21200:09:05,619 –> 00:09:07,340Do not be overcome by21300:09:07,539 –> 00:09:09,580evil but overcome21400:09:09,780 –> 00:09:11,739evil with good.21500:09:13,099 –> 00:09:14,780Now what I want you to see is we take21600:09:14,979 –> 00:09:16,640this journey through Romans and Chapter21700:09:16,840 –> 00:09:18,50012 then over these weeks21800:09:18,700 –> 00:09:20,479is that these are the very words21900:09:20,679 –> 00:09:22,359of God that were spoken to22000:09:22,559 –> 00:09:24,140his own people after they had22100:09:24,340 –> 00:09:25,780endured all the excessive22200:09:25,979 –> 00:09:27,580Caligula and while22300:09:28,140 –> 00:09:30,179they were in the middle of the nightmare22400:09:30,200 –> 00:09:30,799of Nero.22500:09:31,780 –> 00:09:33,500How were Christians to respond to22600:09:33,700 –> 00:09:35,719days of rapid social change.22700:09:36,320 –> 00:09:37,859What does God say to them22800:09:38,059 –> 00:09:39,700and therefore what by definition does22900:09:39,900 –> 00:09:41,880He say to us as we face particular23000:09:42,080 –> 00:09:42,880challenges today.23100:09:43,080 –> 00:09:44,960Here we have at the living word of God23200:09:45,159 –> 00:09:47,080do not be overcome by23300:09:47,280 –> 00:09:48,859evil but overcome23400:09:49,059 –> 00:09:51,039evil with good.23500:09:52,440 –> 00:09:54,359Now these words are a kind of summary23600:09:54,559 –> 00:09:56,659the bottom line that23700:09:56,859 –> 00:09:58,859sums up everything that has been23800:09:59,340 –> 00:10:00,979said from verse 9 through to verse.23900:10:01,179 –> 00:10:01,53921.24000:10:01,960 –> 00:10:03,659And if you look back to verse 9 you’ll24100:10:03,859 –> 00:10:05,820see that these verses are almost24200:10:06,020 –> 00:10:07,659like bookends on24300:10:07,859 –> 00:10:09,619the word of God that24400:10:09,820 –> 00:10:11,559is given to direct24500:10:11,760 –> 00:10:13,099his people at this time.24600:10:13,580 –> 00:10:15,400They say almost exactly the same thing24700:10:15,599 –> 00:10:16,280you see verse 9.24800:10:16,520 –> 00:10:18,140Abhor what is evil24900:10:18,340 –> 00:10:19,799and cling to what is good.25000:10:20,599 –> 00:10:21,440Verse 21.25100:10:21,640 –> 00:10:23,340Do not be overcome by evil25200:10:23,539 –> 00:10:25,020but overcome evil25300:10:25,219 –> 00:10:25,880with good.25400:10:26,640 –> 00:10:28,919So although this last25500:10:29,119 –> 00:10:30,979statement because it is a kind25600:10:31,179 –> 00:10:32,200of summary statement.25700:10:32,479 –> 00:10:34,659I’m regarding it almost as a headline.25800:10:35,080 –> 00:10:37,039This is what the whole section is about25900:10:37,239 –> 00:10:38,919and what we’re going to look at over these26000:10:39,119 –> 00:10:40,599weeks as an unpacking26100:10:40,840 –> 00:10:42,859of what it looks like to overcome26200:10:43,059 –> 00:10:44,679evil with good.26300:10:46,880 –> 00:10:49,200Now notice that in this wonderful26400:10:49,400 –> 00:10:50,679word from God26500:10:51,479 –> 00:10:53,520there are two possibilities quite26600:10:53,719 –> 00:10:54,780clearly announced.26700:10:55,960 –> 00:10:58,479The first is that it is possible26800:10:58,919 –> 00:11:00,900to be overcome by26900:11:01,099 –> 00:11:03,340evil when27000:11:03,539 –> 00:11:05,400God says do27100:11:05,599 –> 00:11:07,679not be overcome by evil.27200:11:08,799 –> 00:11:10,799The plain implication of the fact27300:11:11,000 –> 00:11:12,859that he says that is that this is something27400:11:13,059 –> 00:11:15,479that can happen something27500:11:15,679 –> 00:11:16,559that does happen27600:11:16,760 –> 00:11:18,239and that he’s saying to his people make27700:11:18,440 –> 00:11:20,020sure that it does not happen to you.27800:11:21,640 –> 00:11:24,039Do not be overcome27900:11:24,260 –> 00:11:25,739by evil.28000:11:27,719 –> 00:11:29,739Now what would it look like for a person to28100:11:29,940 –> 00:11:31,179be overcome by evil.28200:11:31,700 –> 00:11:33,020Let me give you some examples.28300:11:34,479 –> 00:11:36,760Here is a person who at28400:11:36,960 –> 00:11:39,099home fills28500:11:39,299 –> 00:11:40,659her mind and her heart28600:11:40,859 –> 00:11:42,900with the drip feed fearmongering28700:11:43,780 –> 00:11:45,619of the news channels.28800:11:46,520 –> 00:11:48,320It’s all was on in her house28900:11:49,940 –> 00:11:51,780and over time though she doesn’t really notice29000:11:51,979 –> 00:11:53,880it herself she becomes increasingly weighed29100:11:54,080 –> 00:11:55,659down more and more burdened29200:11:56,200 –> 00:11:58,200more and more gripped by fear.29300:11:58,400 –> 00:11:59,760It’s all in her conversation29400:11:59,960 –> 00:12:01,840and gradually she loses29500:12:02,039 –> 00:12:02,460her peace29600:12:02,659 –> 00:12:03,760and she loses her joy.29700:12:03,960 –> 00:12:05,820What is that but to be29800:12:06,020 –> 00:12:07,239overcome by evil29900:12:08,760 –> 00:12:10,679so subject yourself to a drip30000:12:10,880 –> 00:12:12,719feed of fear mongering that you actually30100:12:12,919 –> 00:12:13,460imbibe30200:12:13,659 –> 00:12:15,559and become a kind of embodiment30300:12:15,760 –> 00:12:16,559of fear yourself.30400:12:17,059 –> 00:12:18,479That is to be overcome by evil.30500:12:18,679 –> 00:12:19,539Don’t let that happen.30600:12:21,840 –> 00:12:22,960Here is a student30700:12:23,859 –> 00:12:25,659on a sports team at school.30800:12:25,859 –> 00:12:27,880Most of the team are pursuing a completely30900:12:28,080 –> 00:12:29,520different lifestyle from31000:12:29,739 –> 00:12:31,580what this lad has learned at the31100:12:31,780 –> 00:12:33,159home in which he’s been raised31200:12:33,380 –> 00:12:35,159but he feels a lot of pressure to31300:12:35,359 –> 00:12:36,880conform now that he’s on the team.31400:12:38,760 –> 00:12:40,080So he goes to the parties31500:12:40,280 –> 00:12:41,719and he tries the drugs31600:12:41,919 –> 00:12:43,440and the experiments in different ways31700:12:43,640 –> 00:12:44,080with sex31800:12:44,280 –> 00:12:45,479and what is that31900:12:45,679 –> 00:12:47,400but to be overcome by evil.32000:12:49,739 –> 00:12:51,059Here is a person at work.32100:12:51,940 –> 00:12:53,500The culture is brutal32200:12:54,859 –> 00:12:56,140in this company.32300:12:57,059 –> 00:12:59,059It’s dog eat dog in this32400:12:59,260 –> 00:13:00,739business it’s devour32500:13:00,940 –> 00:13:02,159or be devoured.32600:13:03,299 –> 00:13:04,919Pride fills the air32700:13:05,299 –> 00:13:07,119in that office cynicism is32800:13:07,320 –> 00:13:07,619rife.32900:13:07,859 –> 00:13:08,719Understanding33000:13:08,919 –> 00:13:10,500and compassion are hardly to be33100:13:10,700 –> 00:13:10,940found.33200:13:11,219 –> 00:13:12,219And over time33300:13:12,599 –> 00:13:14,619as you work in that environment33400:13:14,820 –> 00:13:16,840almost unnoticed there is a growing33500:13:17,039 –> 00:13:17,340hardness33600:13:17,539 –> 00:13:18,780and a growing cynicism33700:13:18,979 –> 00:13:21,000that is creeping into your own heart.33800:13:21,140 –> 00:13:22,880What33900:13:23,119 –> 00:13:24,840is that but to be overcome34000:13:25,039 –> 00:13:25,500by evil.34100:13:27,419 –> 00:13:29,039I mean I ask you please think about this34200:13:29,239 –> 00:13:30,900with me what evil have34300:13:31,099 –> 00:13:32,239you suffered34400:13:32,840 –> 00:13:34,260in you or life34500:13:35,099 –> 00:13:37,020that might threaten to overcome34600:13:37,219 –> 00:13:37,320you.34700:13:39,020 –> 00:13:40,820Have you suffered violence.34800:13:42,460 –> 00:13:44,140Have you been discriminated34900:13:44,340 –> 00:13:45,260against.35000:13:46,400 –> 00:13:47,739Have you been abused35100:13:48,940 –> 00:13:49,580verbally35200:13:50,580 –> 00:13:52,020physically sexually35300:13:54,400 –> 00:13:56,419I’ve been preparing for today I’ve been thinking35400:13:56,619 –> 00:13:58,419about and praying again for people35500:13:58,619 –> 00:14:00,320whose names and faces come to mind35600:14:00,520 –> 00:14:01,479and this congregation.35700:14:02,780 –> 00:14:04,700Members of the orchard who have been35800:14:04,900 –> 00:14:06,380scared by neglect35900:14:06,580 –> 00:14:08,419or abuse from parents who should have loved36000:14:08,619 –> 00:14:08,659them.36100:14:09,979 –> 00:14:11,859I think of people who have been wrongfully36200:14:12,059 –> 00:14:12,659accused36300:14:14,059 –> 00:14:15,260falsely accused36400:14:16,619 –> 00:14:18,020wrongfully imprisoned.36500:14:19,739 –> 00:14:22,099And I think of people in our own congregation36600:14:22,299 –> 00:14:24,340whose own loved ones have been violently36700:14:24,539 –> 00:14:24,859killed.36800:14:26,419 –> 00:14:27,979These are great evil.36900:14:30,299 –> 00:14:32,700Now whatever is the greatest evil37000:14:32,900 –> 00:14:34,780in your life the greatest evil that you37100:14:34,979 –> 00:14:35,739have experienced37200:14:35,940 –> 00:14:36,780and encountered.37300:14:37,820 –> 00:14:39,919You will know that the toughest challenge37400:14:40,119 –> 00:14:41,859you face is to make sure that it does37500:14:42,059 –> 00:14:43,219not overcome you.37600:14:44,739 –> 00:14:46,859How easy it would be to live37700:14:47,059 –> 00:14:49,219off a hatred37800:14:50,260 –> 00:14:52,479of a person who has done37900:14:52,679 –> 00:14:54,099this or that to you.38000:14:55,719 –> 00:14:57,880How easy it would be to move through38100:14:58,080 –> 00:15:00,419life with a kind of inner rage38200:15:01,179 –> 00:15:03,260that never really is at peace.38300:15:04,619 –> 00:15:06,599How easy it would be to move through38400:15:06,799 –> 00:15:08,719life with the wounds38500:15:08,919 –> 00:15:11,179that you have experienced defining38600:15:11,380 –> 00:15:13,640you so that you lose confidence38700:15:13,840 –> 00:15:15,599to go and do things so that you lose38800:15:15,799 –> 00:15:16,460your peace38900:15:16,659 –> 00:15:17,780and you lose your joy.39000:15:19,700 –> 00:15:21,659To be overcome by evil.39100:15:24,119 –> 00:15:26,520Do not let that happen39200:15:26,719 –> 00:15:28,599to you God says because there39300:15:28,799 –> 00:15:30,119is another way that you can go.39400:15:32,260 –> 00:15:33,799You don’t have to be overcome39500:15:34,000 –> 00:15:35,440by evil because there is39600:15:35,640 –> 00:15:36,940another possibility.39700:15:37,140 –> 00:15:39,359There is another path that by39800:15:39,559 –> 00:15:41,460his grace is a possible39900:15:41,659 –> 00:15:42,280path for you.40000:15:44,359 –> 00:15:47,000Do not be overcome by evil.40100:15:48,140 –> 00:15:49,479Here’s what you can do.40200:15:49,580 –> 00:15:52,200You can overcome evil40300:15:53,200 –> 00:15:53,880with good.40400:15:55,099 –> 00:15:56,219Now remember again that the40500:15:56,419 –> 00:15:57,739apostle Paul here is writing40600:15:57,940 –> 00:15:59,520to these Christians in Rome40700:15:59,719 –> 00:16:00,739under Nero.40800:16:02,059 –> 00:16:02,739And you see what he’s saying.40900:16:03,900 –> 00:16:06,080The evils that you have41000:16:06,280 –> 00:16:08,000suffered he’s saying do not41100:16:08,200 –> 00:16:09,099need to define you.41200:16:10,539 –> 00:16:12,239The evils of this culture in41300:16:12,440 –> 00:16:13,880which you live do not need41400:16:14,080 –> 00:16:15,099to shape you.41500:16:16,080 –> 00:16:18,460You can overcome41600:16:18,679 –> 00:16:20,080overcome that’s the word he41700:16:20,280 –> 00:16:21,880uses you can overcome41800:16:22,440 –> 00:16:24,340what has been done against41900:16:24,539 –> 00:16:25,960you and you can overcome42000:16:26,159 –> 00:16:27,780this awful evil that is42100:16:27,979 –> 00:16:29,359around you so do you see42200:16:29,559 –> 00:16:30,880this is the most marvelous42300:16:31,080 –> 00:16:31,719message of hope.42400:16:31,919 –> 00:16:33,760This is bringing to us42500:16:33,960 –> 00:16:35,400the light of hope in the42600:16:35,599 –> 00:16:36,840darkness of this world.42700:16:37,559 –> 00:16:39,280You do not have to be42800:16:39,479 –> 00:16:40,960overcome by evil by the42900:16:41,159 –> 00:16:41,979grace of God.43000:16:42,179 –> 00:16:43,880There is another possibility43100:16:44,080 –> 00:16:45,739here. Now what does it look43200:16:45,940 –> 00:16:46,440like.43300:16:47,320 –> 00:16:49,179To overcome evil43400:16:49,380 –> 00:16:50,119with good.43500:16:51,299 –> 00:16:52,080While43600:16:52,919 –> 00:16:54,760that’s what we’re going to learn together over the43700:16:54,960 –> 00:16:56,099next seven weeks right.43800:16:56,299 –> 00:16:58,179Because that’s what Romans 12 943900:16:58,380 –> 00:17:00,039to 21 is it’s an unpacking44000:17:00,900 –> 00:17:01,940of what it means.44100:17:02,260 –> 00:17:03,679Step by step44200:17:04,439 –> 00:17:06,000to overcome evil44300:17:06,199 –> 00:17:07,880with good so I do hope that you will make44400:17:08,079 –> 00:17:09,900the commitment to be part44500:17:10,099 –> 00:17:10,900of this journey44600:17:11,199 –> 00:17:13,160and that together as we immerse44700:17:13,359 –> 00:17:15,339ourselves in this wonderful44800:17:15,339 –> 00:17:17,079part of Scripture44900:17:17,579 –> 00:17:19,359that God will enable45000:17:19,560 –> 00:17:21,219us to overcome our fears45100:17:21,420 –> 00:17:22,680and renew our hope45200:17:22,880 –> 00:17:24,579and that in His great mercy he will strengthen45300:17:24,780 –> 00:17:26,500our resolve. But I can’t just leave you there.45400:17:26,699 –> 00:17:28,300So let me just in these last few moments45500:17:28,560 –> 00:17:30,680let me just give you a trailer just a trailer45600:17:30,880 –> 00:17:32,380OK as to what’s to come.45700:17:33,560 –> 00:17:35,199Everything in Romans 1245800:17:35,400 –> 00:17:37,479is written to people who are in Christ45900:17:38,739 –> 00:17:40,699and notice right at46000:17:40,900 –> 00:17:43,000the beginning of the chapter you have the word therefore46100:17:43,199 –> 00:17:43,880I appeal to you.46200:17:43,979 –> 00:17:45,979There are four brothers46300:17:46,180 –> 00:17:47,819so everything in Romans46400:17:48,020 –> 00:17:49,56012 is to be read not46500:17:49,760 –> 00:17:51,479only against the awful background46600:17:51,680 –> 00:17:52,880of what was happening in Rome46700:17:54,099 –> 00:17:55,920but against the wonderful background46800:17:56,119 –> 00:17:58,040of everything that is taught in Romans46900:17:58,239 –> 00:18:00,079chapter 1 through 11.47000:18:00,280 –> 00:18:02,300And if you want a quick summary of everything in Romans47100:18:02,599 –> 00:18:04,540chapter 1 through 1147200:18:05,020 –> 00:18:07,239it would be just two words in Christ47300:18:07,439 –> 00:18:08,239in Christ.47400:18:08,680 –> 00:18:10,719All the time Paul is talking about that47500:18:10,920 –> 00:18:12,739he talks about the righteousness of faith47600:18:12,739 –> 00:18:14,819that is in Christ Jesus the redemption47700:18:15,020 –> 00:18:16,040that is in Christ Jesus.47800:18:16,239 –> 00:18:18,300No condemnation for those who are in Christ47900:18:18,500 –> 00:18:18,859Jesus.48000:18:19,739 –> 00:18:21,479He makes it very clear that faith48100:18:21,680 –> 00:18:23,260joins you to Jesus48200:18:23,819 –> 00:18:25,540in the bond of a living union.48300:18:25,739 –> 00:18:27,520And when you’re joined to Jesus Christ48400:18:27,719 –> 00:18:29,699what you wear is buried48500:18:30,219 –> 00:18:31,439because of his death48600:18:31,719 –> 00:18:33,520and now you’re brought into a new life48700:18:33,719 –> 00:18:35,079because of his Resurrection48800:18:35,380 –> 00:18:37,060in which the power of His spirit48900:18:37,260 –> 00:18:38,920the Holy Spirit is given to you49000:18:39,119 –> 00:18:40,579to give you the hope of living anew49100:18:40,780 –> 00:18:41,719and a different life.49200:18:42,660 –> 00:18:44,479Therefore the evils that you have49300:18:44,680 –> 00:18:46,739suffered may define what you wear.49400:18:48,160 –> 00:18:50,400But if you were in Christ49500:18:51,079 –> 00:18:53,000they cannot possibly define what49600:18:53,199 –> 00:18:53,819you are49700:18:54,719 –> 00:18:56,520because what you are is49800:18:56,719 –> 00:18:58,439defined by being in49900:18:58,640 –> 00:18:59,439Christ50000:19:00,199 –> 00:19:02,060and nothing can separate you from50100:19:02,260 –> 00:19:04,079the love of God that is in Christ Jesus50200:19:04,280 –> 00:19:04,859our Lord.50300:19:06,599 –> 00:19:08,239And no one ever50400:19:08,439 –> 00:19:10,180faced more evil50500:19:11,180 –> 00:19:12,020than Jesus did.50600:19:13,900 –> 00:19:15,780I mean think about the evils50700:19:15,979 –> 00:19:17,540that were perpetrated against him.50800:19:17,739 –> 00:19:19,040I mean some of you have been thinking50900:19:19,239 –> 00:19:21,219about the injustice that you have suffered51000:19:21,420 –> 00:19:22,420and the great evil51100:19:22,619 –> 00:19:24,739that is. Think about the injustice he suffered.51200:19:26,619 –> 00:19:27,719Think about the violence.51300:19:27,920 –> 00:19:29,800Some of you have thought about the experiences51400:19:30,000 –> 00:19:31,800of violence that have scarred your life.51500:19:33,219 –> 00:19:35,540Think about the violence that he suffered.51600:19:36,780 –> 00:19:38,099Think about the physical51700:19:38,300 –> 00:19:39,939and verbal abuse51800:19:40,660 –> 00:19:42,180that was poured out on him.51900:19:42,380 –> 00:19:43,180People mocked him.52000:19:43,380 –> 00:19:44,979People spat on him.52100:19:46,660 –> 00:19:47,699They took a stick52200:19:47,900 –> 00:19:49,739and they beat him over the head.52300:19:49,939 –> 00:19:51,500The Scripture says again52400:19:51,699 –> 00:19:53,020and again.52500:19:54,859 –> 00:19:56,579No one ever endured52600:19:56,780 –> 00:19:58,619evil in the way that Jesus52700:19:58,819 –> 00:19:59,260did but52800:20:00,660 –> 00:20:02,819Jesus was not overcome52900:20:03,020 –> 00:20:03,780by evil.53000:20:05,579 –> 00:20:07,260He overcame evil with good53100:20:07,300 –> 00:20:07,619and53200:20:09,420 –> 00:20:11,219the good with which he overcame53300:20:11,420 –> 00:20:13,500evil and tears where we’re going over these53400:20:13,699 –> 00:20:14,859next weeks the good53500:20:15,579 –> 00:20:16,540of faith53600:20:17,660 –> 00:20:19,420that even when he did53700:20:19,619 –> 00:20:21,459not know all that was happening53800:20:21,660 –> 00:20:22,579in that darkness.53900:20:22,780 –> 00:20:24,540He said My God My God54000:20:24,739 –> 00:20:25,599why.54100:20:27,380 –> 00:20:28,459There will be times when54200:20:28,660 –> 00:20:30,260in the darkness you say God why are you54300:20:30,459 –> 00:20:31,260allowing this.54400:20:31,459 –> 00:20:33,140What did he do then he said Father54500:20:33,339 –> 00:20:35,020into your hands I commit my spirit.54600:20:35,979 –> 00:20:37,979So he trusted the father54700:20:38,180 –> 00:20:39,739in the darkness in the middle54800:20:39,979 –> 00:20:41,699of this great torment54900:20:41,900 –> 00:20:43,660and all that he did not at that55000:20:43,859 –> 00:20:45,540moment grasp.55100:20:47,319 –> 00:20:49,260The good of faith the good of hope.55200:20:50,959 –> 00:20:52,979How did he get through all55300:20:53,180 –> 00:20:54,900of that appalling evil that was unleashed55400:20:55,099 –> 00:20:56,660on him. He endured the cross55500:20:56,859 –> 00:20:58,660for the joy that was set before55600:20:58,859 –> 00:21:00,140him. That’s how he was able to deal55700:21:00,339 –> 00:21:01,060with all the shame.55800:21:01,260 –> 00:21:02,819He was able to put it behind him55900:21:02,920 –> 00:21:04,819because he was looking ahead to what56000:21:05,020 –> 00:21:06,060would be accomplished.56100:21:06,479 –> 00:21:08,219The glorious outcome of all that he56200:21:08,420 –> 00:21:08,939would suffer,56300:21:09,739 –> 00:21:11,380the gathering together of the entire56400:21:11,579 –> 00:21:12,699company of the redeemed.56500:21:13,939 –> 00:21:15,500And he overcame this evil56600:21:15,699 –> 00:21:16,540with the good of love.56700:21:18,339 –> 00:21:19,920Nailing him to the cross56800:21:20,920 –> 00:21:22,260and out of agony,56900:21:22,500 –> 00:21:23,260what does he say?57000:21:24,319 –> 00:21:25,420Father forgive them.57100:21:26,839 –> 00:21:28,540They do not know what they are doing.57200:21:29,900 –> 00:21:31,300And with compassion57300:21:32,099 –> 00:21:33,420even in the face of such57400:21:33,619 –> 00:21:34,199great evil.57500:21:35,260 –> 00:21:37,300He prays to the Father and in that57600:21:37,500 –> 00:21:39,140prayer he creates a room57700:21:40,459 –> 00:21:42,660for evil men57800:21:43,540 –> 00:21:44,180to repent.57900:21:46,699 –> 00:21:48,579Now a good response to God’s word58000:21:48,780 –> 00:21:50,459today would surely therefore be for58100:21:50,660 –> 00:21:52,020every one of us to say something58200:21:52,219 –> 00:21:53,300like this Lord,58300:21:54,540 –> 00:21:56,819I don’t want to be overcome58400:21:57,020 –> 00:21:57,540by evil.58500:21:59,099 –> 00:22:01,140I don’t want to be overcome58600:22:01,339 –> 00:22:02,339by the fear of it.58700:22:03,699 –> 00:22:05,660I don’t want to be overcome by participation58800:22:05,859 –> 00:22:06,380in it.58900:22:07,800 –> 00:22:09,900I don’t want to be defined59000:22:10,099 –> 00:22:12,040by the evils I have suffered59100:22:13,900 –> 00:22:16,140and I do not want to be shaped59200:22:16,780 –> 00:22:18,699by the evils of this world in which59300:22:18,900 –> 00:22:19,420I live.59400:22:20,619 –> 00:22:22,619And as you come to that place as we enter59500:22:22,819 –> 00:22:24,180on this new series today.59600:22:24,380 –> 00:22:26,380The good news is there is hope for you59700:22:27,020 –> 00:22:28,739in Jesus Christ today.59800:22:29,699 –> 00:22:32,660Evil did not overcome59900:22:32,859 –> 00:22:33,219him.60000:22:34,979 –> 00:22:36,979And if this Jesus Christ is60100:22:37,180 –> 00:22:37,579for you60200:22:38,180 –> 00:22:39,099and with you60300:22:39,300 –> 00:22:40,060and in you.60400:22:41,380 –> 00:22:41,780Evil.60500:22:42,739 –> 00:22:43,900Will not overcome you.60600:22:45,380 –> 00:22:47,260Pastor Colin Smith reminding us that60700:22:47,459 –> 00:22:49,339evil did not overcome Jesus60800:22:49,540 –> 00:22:51,260Christ and because of him60900:22:51,579 –> 00:22:53,140it will not overcome us.61000:22:53,780 –> 00:22:55,739You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor61100:22:55,939 –> 00:22:58,060Colin Smith and a message called overcoming61200:22:58,459 –> 00:22:59,660evil with good.61300:23:00,540 –> 00:23:02,300If you ever miss one of our messages you can61400:23:02,500 –> 00:23:03,260easily catch up61500:23:03,459 –> 00:23:03,939or go back61600:23:04,140 –> 00:23:05,780and listen again online at our61700:23:05,979 –> 00:23:08,140website openthebible.org61800:23:08,619 –> 00:23:09,180dot UK.61900:23:09,859 –> 00:23:11,660Also available on all the62000:23:11,859 –> 00:23:12,699podcast sites62100:23:12,900 –> 00:23:14,540and you can find those by62200:23:14,739 –> 00:23:16,260searching on the podcast site62300:23:16,459 –> 00:23:18,219for Open the Bible UK.62400:23:19,099 –> 00:23:21,260Well as regular listeners will know62500:23:21,540 –> 00:23:23,739open the Bible is supported by our listeners62600:23:23,939 –> 00:23:24,500financially.62700:23:24,979 –> 00:23:26,979If that’s something you already do then62800:23:26,979 –> 00:23:28,859thank you so much for your support.62900:23:29,500 –> 00:23:31,459If you’re considering beginning to support63000:23:31,660 –> 00:23:33,099Open the Bible in the future,63100:23:33,300 –> 00:23:35,380this month we’d love to say thank you63200:23:35,699 –> 00:23:37,380by sending you a copy of63300:23:37,459 –> 00:23:39,140Pastor Colin’s brand new 3063400:23:39,339 –> 00:23:40,500day devotional book63500:23:40,819 –> 00:23:41,979Grow in Love.63600:23:42,420 –> 00:23:42,939Colin63700:23:43,219 –> 00:23:44,780why did you write this book?63800:23:45,979 –> 00:23:48,020This is the third in a series63900:23:48,219 –> 00:23:49,339on faith hope64000:23:49,540 –> 00:23:50,140and love64100:23:50,619 –> 00:23:52,459and of course the Bible says that64200:23:52,660 –> 00:23:54,260these are the three things that are going64300:23:54,459 –> 00:23:55,099to remain.64400:23:55,939 –> 00:23:56,859Very striking.64500:23:57,060 –> 00:23:58,780Paul says everything else is going to64600:23:58,979 –> 00:23:59,540pass away.64700:24:00,300 –> 00:24:01,420But faith hope64800:24:01,619 –> 00:24:02,339and love.64900:24:02,739 –> 00:24:03,819They’re going to abide65000:24:04,020 –> 00:24:05,859and the greatest of these is love.65100:24:06,060 –> 00:24:08,260So I’m absolutely convinced65200:24:08,780 –> 00:24:10,739that the greatest need of the Christian65300:24:10,939 –> 00:24:12,339Church today is a fresh65400:24:12,540 –> 00:24:13,939outpouring of faith65500:24:14,140 –> 00:24:14,739and of hope65600:24:14,939 –> 00:24:15,579and of love.65700:24:15,939 –> 00:24:17,060I mean think about it.65800:24:17,459 –> 00:24:19,180Everybody is looking for love.65900:24:19,500 –> 00:24:21,060Everybody wants to find hope.66000:24:21,260 –> 00:24:23,219Everybody needs someone to believe66100:24:23,420 –> 00:24:23,699in,66200:24:24,180 –> 00:24:26,339and God has given us these things66300:24:26,540 –> 00:24:27,939in Jesus Christ.66400:24:28,140 –> 00:24:29,859And the more we grow in faith the more we66500:24:30,060 –> 00:24:30,500grow in hope66600:24:30,699 –> 00:24:32,180and the more we grow in love66700:24:32,579 –> 00:24:34,339the more effective we’re going to be in the66800:24:34,540 –> 00:24:34,819world66900:24:35,020 –> 00:24:36,739and the more we’re going to be like our Saviour.67000:24:36,979 –> 00:24:38,680Well we’d love to send you a copy67100:24:38,880 –> 00:24:39,900of Pastor Colin’s book67200:24:40,099 –> 00:24:40,819Grow in Love67300:24:41,099 –> 00:24:43,180when you set up a new direct debit67400:24:43,380 –> 00:24:44,619to the work of Open The Bible67500:24:44,819 –> 00:24:46,380in the amount of five pounds per67600:24:46,579 –> 00:24:47,300month or more67700:24:47,579 –> 00:24:49,260or one off gift of sixty67800:24:49,459 –> 00:24:50,099pounds or more.67900:24:50,300 –> 00:24:50,699This month.68000:24:51,260 –> 00:24:51,979Full terms68100:24:52,180 –> 00:24:52,739and conditions68200:24:52,859 –> 00:24:54,540and to give online come to our68300:24:54,739 –> 00:24:55,140website68400:24:55,500 –> 00:24:57,339open the Bible dot org dot68500:24:57,540 –> 00:24:57,979UK68600:24:58,300 –> 00:25:00,060and don’t forget to leave your full68700:25:00,260 –> 00:25:01,939name and address so we can send you68800:25:02,140 –> 00:25:03,099your free gift68900:25:03,420 –> 00:25:04,479for open the Bible69000:25:04,699 –> 00:25:05,739and pastor Colin Smith69100:25:07,260 –> 00:25:09,219And I hope you’ll join us again next time.69200:25:09,260 –> 00:25:20,859You’ll never get serious about pursuing69300:25:21,060 –> 00:25:23,739contentment until you see this.69400:25:26,500 –> 00:25:29,420Find out what it is next time on Open the Bible.