POINT #1 – DO NOT BE OVERCOME “BY” EVIL
The Bible tells us in Romans 12:21 (NKJV), “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by doing good.” Can you remember what the word OVERCOME means? (Allow your child to answer: to win, or beat something). In the Bible, Paul is writing this to the Romans. He uses the word OVERCOME twice in this sentence. He tells them to not be overcome BY evil. And for them to overcome evil WITH good.
Paul says that we should not be overcome BY evil, and the word BY in this sentence means to be held down or put underneath. That’s what the enemy tries to do to us. He tries to overcome us with evil. He doesn’t want us to be free. He doesn’t want us to be free of fear or worry, stress or anger or loneliness. He will try to hold us down to his evil tricks and plans. He will try to keep us afraid, worried, stressed, angry. But, the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 28:13 (NLT), “If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.” The Lord says we are the head and at the top, when we listen to His commands and obey them. It’s like, when we obey Dad and Mom, we get to spend time enjoying our toys, playing games and talking with our friends; but if we disobey, we may not be able to get to talk to our friends or play with our toys or games because we disobeyed. Following God’s commands and doing what He tells us allows us to not be held down by the enemy, but to be free. We want to be determined, and have our strong mind made up to not let the enemy try to make us the tail. We want to fight the enemy to keep him from stealing from us all of the good promises God has for us. Just in the same way that we would work, play and try out hardest to beat the other person or team to win that game!
Discussion Questions
- What do you think it means to be overcome BY something? (That something won or beat you.)
- Can you remember a time when someone tried to keep beating you at something, and they did for a while? (maybe a video/sport game?)
- How did it make you feel? Did it make you want to work hard to win and beat them/it?
- Have you ever been overcome by something from the enemy (fear, worry, anger, feeling alone)? (Examples: you have been too scared to sleep in your own bed, because you were overcome by fear. Maybe you couldn’t sleep because you kept thinking and worrying about something.)
- How did it make you feel? Did it make you want to work hard to overcome it?
Scripture Memory Verse
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 NKJV
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for your truthful words in the Bible. We are so thankful that we can read them and know how we are to follow you, what we are to believe and say and do, and live our life. Thank you for showing us the lies and tricks of the enemy, so we can know when he is trying to hold us down and win against us. Holy Spirit, we ask you to help us have a strong mind and to stand strong against the enemy and to do our very best to follow you and what you say, so we can be free from the enemy’s evil tricks and plans. Jesus, we love you so much and we thank you for the example you have given us in how to beat the enemy in our own life. We bless your holy name, Jesus. And, it’s in your name that we pray, amen.
Coloring Page
https://fromvictoryroad.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/rom-12-21.png
Worship Song
“Undefeated”