Living in the World
Throughout the Bible we are encouraged and warned to come out of the world. There is a distinct contrast in the scriptures about those that truly are living for God and have His Spirit and those that are of the “world”. One of the big problems with Christianity and how it is viewed by non-believers is the apparent hypocrisy in how Christians live. They don’t walk the talk. Most professing Christians look and behave no different from non-believers, except that they profess a faith in God and belong to a church. A true Christian will stand out from those not born of God. Jesus told us we are to be the light of the world and are to let that light shine before people.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put in under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everything in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, that they may see your good deeds and praise your God in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Sadly most Christians live like the pagans and the heathen. The warnings Paul gave the Galatian’s, Ephesian’s and the Corinthian’s have rung hollow today. I have blogged extensively on the destructive heresy and general state of apostasy in the church. Most that claim to be of faith are deceived or under a God sent delusion or both. They are not setting the example to bring others to a saving faith. Everyone is trying to make everybody happy and not rock the boat. Most believe our sins have no eternal consequences and there is no fear of God. Isn’t this how the pagan and heathen live?
Peter warned the early church about falling into this trap extensively in his two epistles. If we do this, we aren’t a light for God, instead we walk in darkness.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
(1 Peter 4:1-6)
Think about all the people that live to party or are ensnared by various sexual sins. Anything that we put in front of God is an idol. Is God first in our lives or does He take a back seat to our job, career, hobbies, TV, music, sports, desire for power, fame, fortune or even friends? These things can easily become idols and these are clearly things those of the world love instead of God.
James 4:4 do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
These are very strong words that have been heavy on my heart as I look into my life and the life of my community. I just don’t see much distinction in how Christians are living and how non-believers are living. I believe it is time for an examination of this by the church and its leaders who for too long have not preached the entire counsel of God. I read a study by Barna that showed while 80% of Americans say they are Christians, research has shown no discernable difference between the professed Christians and the non-believers when it comes to morality.The Apostle John in his first epistle also had much counsel for us on the subject of living in the world.
1 John 2:15-17 do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world, the cravings of the sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will (obeys) of God lives forever.
This is a powerful and sobering message. The stuff of the world will be eaten by moths and will rust away. These are not the heavenly things God wants us to focus on. I will end this post by referencing a few things to Lord had to say on this subject.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. John 17:13-15
Because we, the true brethren hate the things of the world, Jesus tells us the world will hate us, just as it hated him. If we aren’t getting persecuted or criticized for our walk with Jesus, it is a pretty good bet; we may be living with one foot in the world, not fully surrendered to Jesus. I will be brutally honest here and tell the reader that I myself am still evaluating why I continue to do some things that provide no distinction between me and non-believers. I continue to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and I am being purified and these dark things are being burned up. I encourage you to examine yourself and seek His spirit who will guide you in all truth regarding what you need to change.
May God Bless You Richly!!!!
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:42-46
Pete, Brothers and Sisters,
Just want to say, I love the brothers and sisters in Christ.
This site, and the way it is structured with all its participants, reminds me of an old one room school house similar to the little house on the Prairie.
We are all in different grades or levels of understanding.
Because of those different levels of understanding, it is sometimes hard to establish communication with each other, but, compassion for one another and towards the Father is the best form of communication ( 1 Peter 1:22 ).
Love is not to be selfishly held onto, it is to be shared, and it can be the conduit that spans the different levels of understanding. Thought I would share that.
I know we have written posts about “Living in the World” but, it is such a danger for Gods chosen to conform to this world that maybe more signs need to be posted around this pit of Quick sand.
Maybe God can show us the story of the prodigal son, who conformed to the ways of the world, but then came back to the Father, as an example.
Luke 15: 11-32, starting with verse 11 we can see two sons of the “Father” who are “with him”, untested at present by adversity.
Verse 12, we see the one son who asks for a natural inheritance of his wealth from the “Father” ( sound familiar, Word of faith people, etc. ) . This is the Esau Company of counterfeit believers who are selling their birthright for material things of this world.
Verse 13, this son gathers natural things for a spiritual journey in a “Far Country”.
This country is this natural sinful, earthly world, the opposite of the “Fathers spiritual realm” that operates on faith in his “WORD”. This far country is temporal, the Fathers realm is eternal.
Verse 14, when he had “Spent all”, this eternal flesh man can never be satisfied, he always has to consume, he is never is satisfied. True joy in the Lord is internal and not external.
Verse 15, this “citizen of the country” is of a lost and dying world of self. He belonged there, and this prodigal son tried to attach himself to him. We cannot join ourselves to the earthly, godless people of this world? Fellowshipping and being joined spiritually to the people or things of this world is in relation to “feeding the swine”.
Verse 16, this “far country of self “can only provide pigs food for consuming. He was already eating this “pig’s food” spiritually way before he got connected to these natural swine. What was on the inside was manifesting itself on the outside in relation to eating the pigs food.
Verse 17, It says “When he came to himself”, SELF examination of “where you are at” started occurring. The flesh man of self, that internal son of perdition, was revealed. Then he saw who was seated “In the temple of his heart” and realized he needed the “Bread, Fathers WORD “
Verse 18 And I will “ARISE” (lifted up spiritually), go to my Father (nobody but him to go to, no preachers, spiritual guru’s, has to be him) and confess that he is a “sinner” (first works of salvation). ROCONITION of our spiritual state has to occur first.
Verse 19, He had the spiritual attitude of a SERVANT, no self exaltation, that is reserved for the FATHER to bestow, not ourselves upon completion of spiritual restoration.
Verse 20, as we journey to the Father, he is “Looking” for our return. His grace and mercy are with us before the full restoration to sonship is completed.
Verse 21, the proud heart has been replaced by a heart of a servant, humbleness, meekness; SUBMISSION had displaced “the man of self”.
Verse 22, Bring forth the “best robe” (garment of protection without seam), and put on his hand the ring (unity, oneness with him, “the bride/son” ) and put shoes on his feet ( spiritual shoes of truth and understanding).
Verse 23 Sacrifice of the “beast” within had occurred and the inward consuming was manifesting itself in relationship to this fatted calf of self. This beast within wants to consume Gods children, we must consume him by faith in the Fathers WORD.
Verse 24, Spiritual death is being separated from the Father. In that “far country” that is the extreme reverse of oneness with God, there is only, hatred, bitterness, envy, strife, it is darkness, void of light. Angels in heaven rejoice over this repenting Son.
Verse 25, Eldest son hears this rejoicing, he comes to investigate why.
Verse 26, Wants to try and “understand” why this is occurring.
Verse 27, the eldest son is now given the reason for this rejoicing, the question in this writer’s opinion is, who really is this eldest son spiritually, and why doesn’t he understand or appreciate the return of his brother?
Verse 28, 29, He was angry with the Father because he couldn’t understand.
Hosea says that people parish for lack of knowledge, Brothers and sisters look at the spiritual reflection of who I believe this eldest son is, who has a lack of understanding, knowledge, and who has never “left” the “Fathers side”. Is this eldest son the spiritual example of Adam who never left the “garden”? The corporate man who never sinned and who was lacking in spiritual development because there was no adversity? How could Adam, before sin, develop and mature without the comparisons of love and hate, joy and bitterness, truth and lies, he had to experience the flipside of the coin in regards to adversity to be a well pleasing full stature son. Adam, before sin, was a spiritual infant who needed to grow and mature through the adversity of the world just like the youngest son experienced. Isn’t this young son a representative of corporate man who chooses to serve the father over the things of this world?
Verse 30, My friends, if that eldest son would leave his Father like the younger one did, experience the adversity that the world offered his brother, and then came back to his Father as the younger son did, the eldest son wouldn’t be having a conversation with his Father on trying to UNDERSTAND what all the fuss is about, he would be rejoicing / embracing his younger brother, because he had gained the fruits from adversity which give understanding. I hope that wasn’t to confusing, because I believe this could be the real spiritual meaning of this story between the eldest son and younger.
Verse 31, He said to the eldest “thou art ever with me” he never had left his side. It is painful fathers and mothers to see our children go out into a lost and dying world, but it has to be done.
Verse 32, “thy brother was dead, and is alive” spiritual death through sin, separated from the Father.
Friends, there is a reason for why the Father has structured this world of adversity, it is to develop and mature his sons and daughters like a purifying fire, it has all been done in love and is working itself out for our good.
God bless you in your search for his truth, Jer.33:3
Amen
@Charles Our day may be coming. It is almost shameful to think of us arguing over bible versions, doctrine, rules and the like when they risk their very lives to carry any Bible and assemble in any building with four walls. I hope we would stand on faith if suffering the same threats and persecutoin. Where I live it is still considered very noble to be a “christian” whether one actually lives like one or not.
Amen Charles, a reflection of the Waldensians.
Agape
Bill
Pete , I completley relate to the challenge of living in this world, in this country.
It can be a blessing and a curse to live in the wealth of a United States.
I was reading an article about our christian brothers and sisters in China.
They were telling about how most all of them are dependent by faith In our Lord for their food, clothing and shelte, their basic needs.
they are persecuted by the government if they worship the Father in truth and spirit, they do so in unlawful assemblies. They refuse to attend the state approved and controled churchs , because through their faith/depedency in the Father they have been shown his truth and can settle for nothing else..
Some that were in prison for long periods of time for their faith ,counted it pure joy to have suffered for God and his WORD.
These brothers and sisters physical hardships, persecutions, had brought them into a closer relationship with the Lord.
All of these people who were afflicted physically were smiling in the pictures, they had truly come into the JOY of the Lord.
And they love us so much that they pray for American Christians to come into adversity, so we can enter into the Lords Joy.
They what the obstacle of wealth removed so we can draw closer to the Lord.
They in their simplistiic child like faith , know what American Christians need more than we do.
Instead of sending American christian missionaries to China , China needs to send Christian missionaries to us , in preperation for what is coming.
They are seasoned troops of faith, fighting the good fight.
Brothers and sisters , God has it all covered to work it all out for our good.
Having faith in him , knowing that we have a God whose escense is love, and who is in complete control, gives us peace beyond the understanding of a lost world.
God has not brought us this far , to see us fail, God bless , jer:33:3 l
@Charles This “living in the world” has been my biggest personal struggle in seeking to do the will of God in my life. The world has inverted the things of God and mixed up the truth. I have come to realize why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It is because we will trust in something besides God for our security, comfort and life — we will trust in ourselves. This is not true faith.. We put on the Lord Jesus not for the comfort of this life, but for the salvation for eternity. The prosperity gospel sells Jesus as an easy road with carnal blessings, yet the gospel says the walk of a Christian will be full of trials and persecutions and tests.
I heard a story one time that stuck with me. Our role is like that of a flight attendant handing out free snacks and drinks. They are happy and joyful to give out things for free that they do not even own. Everything on this earth is the Lord’s, and whatever we have, it belongs to Him. He gives it, He takes it away. We are to give as He instructs and not store up here treasures that moths eat and rust away.
It is a divine exchange between the believer and Jesus. Beauty (God’s Spirit) for ashes (flesh). The parable of the pearl of great price. Sell all, surrender all, forsake all, remember Ananias and Sapphira who kept back part of the price. Spiritual power (faith) is more precious than fine gold in these troublesome days. The flesh always opposes the spirit. It is important to eliminate all the inexpedient things in one’s life than to add what is good.
Praise The Lord, I am encouraged.
Thank you Brother Pete,
Dear friends, a tremendous work on the cross has been performed By Jesus. He has provided his precious blood for the cleansing of our sins , and the truth of his Word for regeneration.The water that poured fourth from his side when he was pierced was symbolic of the Word. The blood that also came from his side when pierced was for the washing away of our sins. Both of these life giving fluids fell upon the EARTH . This symbolizes what is mean’t by ” ye must be born of spirit and water when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus.
If we want this WORD to transform our lives, and if we want this blood to cleanse us of all sin we must go to him by faith.
Can you imagine the price that Jesus paid so that we can go directly to God , using him as the mediator ?
Can we imagine how Jesus feels after establishing this direct approach to God and for us to be dependent upon men first before him?
Jesus said suffer not the little childern for such is the kingdom of God.
We have to go to him for all of our needs first as trusting childern by faith.
For the knowledge and understanding that we want , we must ask him.
That knowledge and understanding when we ask him first will then come one of two ways , through revelation knowledge in which he reveals to your heart, or he will send a Pete Wilson or another servant to tell you. But we must go to him first. There has been a proper order established.
When we do this by faith we are like Moses walking towards the burning bush by faith
It is a holy ground walk towards the light of Gods WORD without any dependency upon man .
Thats why these dependency shoes of man were set aside.
Remember when the disciples were in the vessel with Jesus and the seas raged and the winds blew ?
He was asleep within the vessel and in that condition he could not do them any good.Is jesus asleep in your vessel ?, or do we just arouse him when things get to adverse in our lives ?
Friends it is easy to trust in someone that we can detect with our five senses , but Jesus says we must believe in him by faith.
It is the only approach that he will accept from us.
My friend was offering eternal life through our Lord and saviour to a young man .
The Holy Ghost just simply let me watch and observe this encounter betwwen the two of them.
The young man understood perfectly what was being offered through my friend in regards to acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord of his life.
The young man refused the gift of eternal life saying he wasn’t ready yet to live the life of a chrsitian.
My friend pulled from his pocket a one dollar , and a one hundred dollar bill and asked the young man that if he had a choice which one would you choose ?
The young man choose the one hundred dollar bill but was then told by my friend that in the spiritual realm of choice you have just choosen the one dollar bill.
People sometimes think that being a christian is a minus and not a plus.
It most certainly is addition and not subtraction.
It is our called duty to sacrifice this body with its lusts and desires by operating in faith to his WORD.
God bless, Jer33:3