THE WEEKLY WORD
Written by Pastor Sue Lynch
ARE YOU PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
With One Foot Still in the World?
1John 2:15,16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
We live in an hour and time, in which the Holy Spirit of God is calling out believers to get fully in the kingdom of God or run the risk of losing their salvation by flirting with the world. Let me explain what this means from the word of God in our scripture reading today.
The Spirit Himself writes through the apostle John: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Truth #1, clear as a bell, do not love the world or the things in the world. He is not talking about the earth and all its beauty that God the Father has given to us, He is talking about the system of man and the culture that we live in. Satan is the god of this world at the present hour and is using the system of man to be his puppet to keep mankind oppressed, blind to Jesus, and trapped in sin. He even uses religious systems that are not the true church of Jesus Christ to declare that they are the only way to heaven and they don’t even preach the true gospel of Jesus; but rather their own set of doctrines (teachings). The world’s entertainment of many different means, things that bring pleasure to man such as pornography, sinful violent movies, sensual entertainment, parties, luxury hotels with many sinful devices that even children partake of, the list is endless; these are the things the child of God is to have no part in. Truth #2, if one does take part in these things, the love of the Father is not in him. In other words, do not expect the Holy Spirit to be with you, guiding you, watching over you. You have shown Him that you still want the world and its pleasure. Social media is a big part of the take down of the child of God today. When mankind is allowed to have as much exposure and freedom that the internet gives today, they have proven that unchecked lust, greed, lack of moral restraint and even murder has been wrought through this media outlet. The child of God, if walking in the Spirit, should recognize this and listen to the Spirit of God and not be a part of this tool that wants to rob them of life in the Spirit of God.
In verse 1John 2:16, the Spirit gives a clear definition as to how the enemy uses the world and its system against the child of God. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” These three things that are a part of every human being, from Adam and Eve on down the line, has brought down many a child of God. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, should not be operating in the child of God, but rather the Spirit of God should be in control of the life.
The world system under Satan’s control and influence, will attack these three area’s of mankind and get them to do his bidding of evil. The lust of the flesh: is the self-seeking pleasure every human being graves. Entertainment, eating, drinking, self-indulgence of every kind of sensual pleasure; one cannot call himself a Christian if one is taking part in any of these. It is not of the Father, but is of the world and the god of this world will entrap you in them until you are put in shackles and your soul is trapped in iron. The lust of the eyes: is the desire for what you do not have but want, it is called covetousness. It is the one thing that will bring down the Christian very quickly to walking in the flesh again. The pride of life: is the thing that brought down the devil from his first habitation in heaven. The word tells us that God resist the proud and cannot walk with them, but will give His grace and mercy to the humble.
So how does one resist the world, or the things of the world? The glorious word of God tells us how: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:1,2.
Give yourself to Jesus completely, ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and wash the world system out of you. This is giving your body as a living sacrifice, to be made holy and acceptable to God. He will wash you and give you love, joy, peace and you will be renewed in your mind by the word of God and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. The things of this world will become ugly to you, you will not want to use them in any way shape or form. You will not want to partake of its luxuries and pleasure; simply because of the contentment and love of God that will flood your soul and being. You will have wisdom to see whose behind all of it and the enemy will no longer hold his persuasion over you.
Paul wrote to his co-worker and companion Titus and said this: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” Titus 1:1. Here is what Paul is saying: There is only one way to walk with God and serve Him, and it’s according to the truth of God’s word and that truth compels one to walk in godliness. There is no other way, no one person can pick and chose how he or she will walk with God: “according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” means just that. God’s true people come away from the world completely. They do not dabble in a few things of the world and leave the rest, no not possible “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” There is no room for the world in the true believer, all is given over to the Lord:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:1,2. Believer, it is your reasonable service to your King and Lord! Are you all in the kingdom of God yet?