The Scriptures clearly makes a distinction


 between friendship with God and friendship


 with the world. According to James 4:4, 


"friendship with the world is enmity with God." 


"Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the 


world becomes an adversary of God," he 


continues.


James uses strong words like "hatred" and


 "enemy" to emphasize that we can be in the


 world or the kingdom, but not both... because 


they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.


Absolute reliance on worldly pursuits and


 comfort leads people away from God and


 to disaster. If there is one god worshiped in


 our society today, it is the god of money, fleshly


 pleasures, and the comfort money can buy.



Many people want to be rich and powerful. The


 goal of government is economic growth and 


wealth, with the belief that if this goal is met, 


we will have everything we need. We may 


crave it, but possessing it does not provide the 


security and peace we expect.



Money can never buy life,


 happiness, or promote good 


in the heart of man.


The government, and even the church, fail to


 recognize that there are more important things


 than temporal wealth, and that such prosperity 


should be viewed as a byproduct of 


righteousness and godliness.



Riches alone cannot satisfy. They take you 


away from God. In the long run, they promote


 emptiness and eternal suffering.

Believers are not of this world, but sent into it. 


We are physically present, but not of it, not 


part of its values. 


John 17:14-15



Believers should make every effort not to live,


 think, or act like unbelievers. This is a grave 


disservice to God.



We are not to participate in the evil, depraved,


 and wicked activities that the world exalts, 


encourages, and prefers, nor are we to harbor


 the mundane, half-hearted, spiritless, corrupt 


minds that the world produces.



Our hearts are capable of deception. Our 


hearts will eventually deceive us. The Bible 


says of a heart that is disconnected from God, 


"The heart is more deceitful than all else and 


desperately sick; who can understand it?"


17:9 Jeremiah



The point is that evil-doing taints our hearts,


 dreams, desires, and desires. This point of view


 may not be politically correct or popular, but it


is Biblical, and until we understand it, we will 


never be truly satisfied or content. For everything


 in the world leads one from fad to fad, idol to idol,


relationship to relationship, and eventually breaks 


one down, frustrates them, and leaves them alone.




As Believers, we should be different from the rest


 of the world. We are no longer of the world, we are


 not ruled by wicked behaviors, and we are not 


bound by worldly practices.




We are not of the world, but instead sent into the 


world. Many people have lost their spiritual 


direction as a result of their carnal choices, and


 as a result, they are living a defeated life.




We are sent into the world to be a light to those


 who are in spiritual darkness. We've been saved 


from the darkness and given the Light not just to


 flee it, but also to help lead our steps as we return


 to the highways and byways to help relieve others


 of worldly burdens.




Some people ignore God's Word and go their own 


way, which leads to despair when they should be 


living a resolute and spiritually rewarding life. As 


Jesus did, we should have a liberating connection


 with humanity.



Being "in" the world also means that we can 


appreciate the things of the world, such as the


 beautiful creation that God has given us, but we


 must do so in a responsible manner.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, 


but let God transform you into a new person by 


changing the way you think. Then you will learn to


 know God’s Will for you, which is good, pleasing 


and perfect.


Romans12:2


We are reminded to detach from


the world. Avoid the world's traps,


allurements, and pretensions.

The world is ruled by Satan, and when we 


choose the world, we join his evil army and 


become enemies of God.

Jesus is specifically states 


that we are not to be... 



“of the world.”

Those who choose worldliness choose to live in the 


enemy’s camp because all that is of the world is under


 the control of Satan. 


1 John 5:19


We are traveling through a wicked, perverted, 

fallen, and troubled world filled with treacherous

entanglements, perilous places, and corrupted foes 

out to destroy our close fellowship with God.
The world-system consists of mankind

 and society operating independently of God. 

The universe is filled with spiritual darkness

 and an underlying nature that pervades the 

human race. With its evil; yet, elementary 

principles, it can influence every aspect of 

one's thoughts and behaviors in such a way

that the morally corrupt and wicked nature

of man is made to appear increased/greater...

while God is purposefully decreased and/or

 completely excluded.

To attract and occupy people, Satan uses anything


 and everything as part of his system. When 


something takes over our lives and causes us to 


exclude God, we must recognize that it has 


become our world.

The world-system, the mortal 


world, the cosmos:



In general, the term "world" in the Scriptures refers to 


the evil world-system that is controlled by Satan. It leads 


many away from worshipping God. It is by nature apart 


from and in opposition to God.



So, while we are commanded to love the people of the 


world, we are to be wary of anything that competes with 


God for our highest affections.


The world includes people indifferent or hostile to God,


 the God-hostile environment generally, and in the widest


 sense, corruption and evil summed up under the general


 term "The world." The world rejects God and God's


ways. 


Satan's world-system tries to pressure, influence, and 


tempt Believers into compromising their faith in God. The 


devil would love nothing more than to see a Believer 


compromise under pressure and deviate from following 


God's standards and instructions.


The world, with its spiritually dark and hostile system is 


ruled by Satan, the god of this world. The world-system 


does not acknowledge or have any consideration for God. 


It was established by Satan and consists of those 


philosophies and values that invariably effect the 


character, development, and behavior of humanity. Satan’s 


blatantly corrupt world-system perpetually influences the 


human race to embrace the evil values and attitudes of this 


world and live independently from God and God’s Word.


Before the flood nearly all the people of the


 world became corrupt.


Genesis 6:11


In Jesus' time the world hated Him (John 7:7) 


and will hate His followers (John 15:18-19 ). 



The world, ungodly people cannot accept God,


 because it neither sees God or knows God. 


John 14:17


Who rules the present world?

Jesus refers to Satan as the present ruler 


of the world... not Ruler of the world.


(John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)



Satan, the god of "this age" is god of the


 unbelieving world. He has blinded the minds


of unbelievers with his false philosophies which


 people are deceived by. The unbeliever follows


 Satan's agenda. 



Although Satan is currently god of this world... 


he is NOT in control of this world. 



Satan and the army of demons that he has at 


his disposal can do nothing without God's


permission. Throughout the Scriptures there


 is one character mentioned who is said to 


be the enemy of God and God's people. He


 is known as Satan, Lucifer, the devil, the


 adversary. He is currently the god of the


 world.


 He is the one in Scripture who is called the 


“Evil one.” Satan is also called the devil. He 


possesses abhorrent qualities. 



The Scriptures describe Satan as one who exists in the 


invisible spirit realm.


(Job 1:6) 



Scripture tells us about Satan's vicious and ruthless 


qualities as well as his evil actions. 


(Job 1:13-19; 2:7, 8; 2 - Timothy 2:26)



Satan is referred to in Scripture as the accuser, 


the slanderer, the adversary, the enemy, the father


 of lies, the murderer, the wicked one, and the


 deceiver who leads humanity astray by seducing


 humanity into the ways of lies and sin.



Satan is also described as a malicious, hostile, evil-


intentioned, evil-minded, venomous, vindictive,  


accuser and adversary who is opposed to God and 


man.


Satan is obsessed with diversions and exterminating 


God and God's people. Satan's lies are cleverly 


mixed with truth. He can be convincingly logical. 


He even had the audacity to quote Scripture to 


Jesus.

 


Satan tries to shape every aspect of thought and


 behavior in such a way that the corrupted man is 


exalted and God is ostracized and rejected.


Was there always a Satan? 


No! 



Satan, Lucifer, was an archangel, one of the chief 


angels, who, along with Michael and Gabriel, 


served at God’s throne in heaven. He was created


 by God as beautiful, wise, and perfect in his 


ways, and God withheld nothing from him... 


he had it all. 



Lucifer was blameless until unrighteousness 


was found in him. He was not content in his 


position and turned away from God. He did


 not remain true to God.



Feelings of pride and rivalry toward God


 grew within this spirit creature. His desire


 was for others to worship... him.



He became arrogant in his beauty and status

 and decided he wanted to oppose, slander,

 and sit on a throne above God.

(Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15; 1Timothy 3:6)
 


Lucifer became envious of God! Pride led to 


Satan's fall. Satan became envious of God's 


authority over the universe and desired to be


 God. He became jealous, deceptive, rebellious, 


selfish, prideful, corrupt, a cancerous satanic


 spirit of discontent... he was the personification 


of evil. Lucifer and a third of the angels


 (Revelation 12:3–4) rebelled against God and 


attempted to take the throne of God.


Isaiah 14:13-14 



Their attempts to overthrow God failed... and 


as a result... Satan and his troops were cast 


back down to the Earth. 


Isaiah 14:12



Lucifer (Latin for “light-bringer” or 


“morning star”) was cast out of heaven and 


became Satan (Hebrew for “accuser” or 


“adversary”). He became the ruler of this 


world and the prince of the power of the air 


(John 12:13; 2Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). 



Satan still seeks to be worshipped and 


elevated above God. He is currently 


designated as the prince of the cosmos and


 greedily, pridefully, selfishly, and devilishly 


heads the office God gave him, on earth. 


Satan has no remorse for the evil he has


done or is doing. Satan still hates and opposes


 God and anyone who loves and follows God.



Satan is an evil, lying, deceptive, rebellious thief who


hates and opposes God. However, in due season he will


 be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur and be 


tormented day and night forever and ever. 


Revelation: 20:10



Ironically, Satan is still instrumental in God’s plan. 


Those who are in the world and of the world, living


 their own way, are grossly influenced by Satan’s 


spirit of selfishness. His influence encompasses 


worldly philosophies, ideals, opinions, lies, 


deception, and evil. 



The world is still living in rebellion to 


God’s way.


Satan is a manipulator, a deceiver, the god of this age, and 


a master in sowing discord and hate.


He roams the earth seeking out 


someone to attack.


We should never underestimate the influence that Satan 


and his demons have. They are wicked and have 


brought many good people down.


When the word "World" is used in the New Testament, 


it's a translation of the Greek word cosmos. "Cosmos" 


most often refers to the planet earth and its human 


inhabitants.



The cosmos... “The world” is a vast order or system that 


Satan has promoted which conforms to his patterns, 


direction, and practices.



Satan is the Prince of this "Cosmos."



"The whole world is under the control of the evil one".


1 John 5:19


It is not unusual for Believers to encounter difficulties 


by belligerent and worldly minded people who make it 


their goal to pressure Believers into abandoning their 


Biblical values and compromise with evil.


Do not be surprised that the world hates you. 


1 John 3:13


Those of us who follow a hated Savior cannot be surprised 


when we encounter hatred, scorn, hostility, tormenting, 


antagonistic, contentious circumstances. We who put our 


faith in God must bear the cross of Jesus and expect to be 


crucified... there are no exemptions.


The more we love and honor God, the more we expose 


and unmask the evil of those who dishonor and reject 


God. They will hate us because of who we love and 


resemble. They hated Jesus and they will hate those 


who are trying to be more like Jesus.


This present evil cosmos, headed by Satan, makes it 


difficult to find relevant and edifying messages that can 


enhance and appeal to the heart, teach right from wrong,


 and add value to our society. Satan employs every device 


in his army to harass, hurt, divert, confuse, and tempt 


God's people.

  

Satan notoriously usurps our legitimate needs and 


will have people consumed, distracted, and attracted 


with his systemized sinful pleasures that ends up 


hindering people from living for God and His purpose. 



We only have to look around to see all the 


advertisements, products, activities, and inventions


 vying to attract us. We may need these things, but 


the world makes us want more than we really need.


Let us be careful to understand that Satan’s world-system 


entices and offers something for everyone who rejects 


God, whether he is upright or evil, spiritual or hostile 


towards God, well-informed or simple, affluent or 


poverty-stricken. Satan is careful to make sure 


there’s even something for the Believer in his 


world-system. 



Those who are in the world and of the world stand 


in opposition to the Kingdom of God. Their actions,


thoughts, and values are focused on pleasing self for


 people and they are usually focusing on earthly, 


fleshly, and temporal life activities, values, and/or 


plans as opposed to heavenly, spiritual, and eternal 


activities, values, and/or plans. 



Let us be careful not to be taken captive through


 Satan's philosophy and empty deception. We are 


wrestling against principalities, powers, the rulers


 of the darkness and wickedness in the spiritual 


realm. 



The devil is trying to pin us down to keep us from 


serving God, by bringing temptation and tribulation 


against us. He is trying to keep us from serving God 


wholeheartedly by distracting us with the worries


 and cares of this world.



This is why the Bible repeatedly warns the believer


 not to love the world or the things in the world. 


We are to be set apart. 


(Colossians 2:8; James 1:27; 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16).



We do not war according to the flesh. Scripture tells us 


“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against 


the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of 


this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in 


the heavenly places.” 


Ephesians 6:12


To be "Not of the world" requires us to be free 


of worldly influences. It means that we do not 


act as the material world does.



Material possessions, money, fame, fortune, 


prominence, drugs, sex, neediness of acceptance, 


approval, validation, or applause from people 


may gain ground with people, for a while, but


 Jesus taught that our focus should be away


 from this world… and placed upon the things 


of God’s kingdom... which have real value and


 will have no end.



Yes, our relationship with God is of much greater 


value than any cravings for power, spotlights, 


partying, playing, or superficial-worldly 


allurements.



As believers, we should be set apart from the

 world… living a more righteous life... walking

 in God's Will and not engaging ourselves in the

 dark activities the world promotes, nor should

 we desire to retain the tasteless, corrupt, dark, 

and murky environments and mindset that the 

world creates.

The lotus flower is also seen as a metaphor for


 the human who rises from the darkness of the 


world... striving through the difficulties, and 


embracing a more godly way of thinking and 


living.


The Lotus Flower


is one of the most ancient and auspicious 


symbols of our planet. It is the symbol of 


purity of the heart, mind, and body. It is a 


symbol of spiritual attainment.



The lotus flower has the ability to beautifully


 blossom and become detached.


The roots of a lotus are in the mud. The stem of


 the lotus flower grows up through the water, and


 the fragrant flower, which can be described as 


having a rich, warm, and tropical forest smell, 


rises above the surface of the water, where it 


can sunbathe in the sunlight. 



This gorgeous, blooming flower emerges from


 the dirty, murky, and muddy bottom of a pond,


 but still remains untouched and unstained by


 the murky waters surrounding it.



Just like the lotus... we also have the ability to 

rise from the mud and bloom out of this corrupt 

world. The lotus flowers pattern of growth 

symbolizes the breakthrough of the soul from 

the primeval chaos of materialism, through the 

waters of experience and understanding, and 

into the light of wisdom, creativity, knowledge,

 refinement, and edification. 



The lotus flower grows from the mud and finds


 its way through purifying waters to open up to 


the light.


Being “in” the world and not "of" the world also 


means we can enjoy God's amazing creation, and


 not get caught up in the mindset of what the world


 values. We are set apart from the wickedness of


the cosmos as we seek to live a holy, righteous life. 



We are in the world, in contact with the world; yet,


we must retain our distinctive Kingdom character... 


refusing to allow the Cosmos to trick us into its 


corrupt and emptiness.



God wants us to become actively involved “in” 


the world so that we can fully accomplish all of


His perfect Will for our lives. God desires that we 


walk in our calling, our missions, our divine 


assignments.



Again, we cannot properly walk in our calling 


and accomplish our divine assignments if we 


are not willing to get actively involved “in” 


the world to some degree and to some extent.



 Jesus Himself went full scale into His 


surroundings. Jesus was constantly preaching, 


teaching, healing and delivering people. He 


was in the world, but did not allow the corrupt


 world to get in Him.



Jesus is telling His Father not to take us out 


of the world, since we all have a great commission


 and call from Him to share the Good News and


 help as many people as we possibly can.




We cannot “reach” the lost, the downtrodden, 


the helpless, the poor, the sinners, and the people 


who are being held in some type of captivity if 


we are not “in” the world trying to witness, 


teach, and reach them with the Good News.




We live in a world of darkness, but we are not 


part of that darkness. 


"We are ambassadors for Christ" 


(2 Corinthians 5:20),


spreading His fragrance 


(2Corinthians 2:15-16


through the world.


Our hearts will be less interested in the things


 of the world as we strive to be more like Jesus.



Separate from the world!


And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of 


darkness, but rather reprove them.


Ephesians 5:11



James 4:4 says, 


“Don’t you know that friendship with the 


world is enmity with God?”


God gave us a strong and unequivocal command


 concerning the world in... 


1John 2:15:


“Do not love this world nor the things 


it offers you, for when you love the 


world, you do not have the love 


of the Father in you.”



Set your affection on things above, not 


on things on the earth.


Colossians 3:2


Some misinterpret what God is trying to tell them 


when He says that we are not to be “of” the world. 


Some may think they should be retreating from 


life and everyone in general becoming a recluse... 


hiding away from as much of the world as they 


possibly can.


So, when the Bible says that Satan is the "god 


of this world," it is not saying that he has 


ultimate authority. It is conveying the idea that 


Satan rules over the unbelieving world in a


 specific way.



The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of 


this age”) indicates that Satan is the major 


influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes 


and views of the majority of people. 



His influence also encompasses the world’s


 philosophies, education, and commerce. The 


thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions


 of the world are under his control and have 


sprung from his lies and deceptions.



This is not to say that he rules the world 


completely; God is still sovereign. But it does 


mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has 


allowed Satan to operate in this world within 


the boundaries God has set for him. When the 


Bible says Satan has power over the world,


we must remember that God has given him


 domain over unbelievers only. Believers are


 no longer under the rule of Satan.


God wants us to remain unspotted from the world... 


not becoming too friendly or attached to the ways


 and material things of this world.


We are to stay “in” the world. We have a holy 


mission and calling from God on what it is He 


wants us to accomplish as we journey through 


this life.



Our number one goal in life should be to accomplish, 


to the best of our abilities, God’s perfect will for our 


lives.



Our goal should be to serve God and do what He 


wants us to do and not to chase after the world and 


all the material wealth and possessions of this world, 


which will do nothing but rot and perish the 


minute we leave and depart from this life.



We have to keep all of our priorities straight, 


and our number one priority should be to want


 to serve God and accomplish His perfect will


for our lives. 



If we make that our number one goal and 


aspiration in this life, then God will appropriately


 reward each one of us in due season. And those


 rewards will far surpass and exceed any of the


 material wealth and possessions that we could


 have gained in this fallen world.


Scripture warns us about being taken in by the evils 


of this cosmos. We must come out from among them


 and not get our worlds mixed up.


Ships and boats are designed to drift, glide, hover, 


and sail on top of the water... they were not designed


 to capsize and sink. Even though they are enveloped 


by water on all sides... an entire sea of water cannot 


sink a ship unless the water gets inside the vessel. 


It is good for the vessel to be in the water, but not 


a good thing if the water gets into the vessel... it 


only takes a small entry for that issues to unfold.


The same holds true for us being in the world, but 


not of the world. The wickedness of the world 


cannot pollute us except that we allow it to get 


inside of us. We cannot allow the world's 


ungodly morals, values, and bad behavior to


 infiltrate our lives and cause us to capsize, 


become fouled with grit and grime, be navigated


 by wickedness and sink us to this dark world's level. 


Like the ships and boats... they can be in the ocean, 


but they cannot be a a part of it.


If the Believer chooses to think like the world around

 him and become enamored with the world systems 

of evil, then he’s defeated and becomes a spiritual 

casualty. This is what we must separate from. We 

can associate and love those who are involved in 

the world without being contaminated, influenced, 

and swayed by it as we stay on the path of 

righteousness and draw nearer to God.

Separating evil from our lives has become even more 


essential since our homes are wired to bring much of what 


the Lord has condemned into our own living rooms if we 


are not vigilant.

Our youth are bombarded with all kinds of deception 

through media, movies, music, and basically everywhere 

they turn. The basic premise is “If it feels right, just do it.” 

This is basically what teens are spoon-fed from the culture 

in general. 

We cannot allow the world's sewage to shape our minds


 or contaminate our thoughts. We should be vigilant in


 adverse circumstances and avoid potential danger that 


compromises our decisions.

Young people, don’t allow the enemy to deceive you! 


God’s plan for your life begins now and not just 


someday down the road.

We live in a sin-sick world where humanity is plagued


with extreme indulgence in worldly pleasures, depravity,


suffering, and unrighteousness. The world seems to sweat


wickedness, evilness, fits of anger, division, strife, 


dissension, enmity, jealousy, envy, idolatry, rivalries, and


highly unrighteous and immoral behavior from its pores. 



In today's society, people are being swamped, influenced,

and distracted by mainstream broadcast media, on-the-

loose, with a never-ending stream of unrestrained worldly

programming.


 Television, radio, news media outlets, print media, etc.,


 are increasingly cluttered with tons of suggestive stage-


crafting... than most unsuspecting people realize. The 


entertainment media is fostered by the cosmos. This 


relentless stream of content overload makes it extremely 


difficult to cut through and not get entangled in all of the 


noise and folly.


Many media outlets are under the influence of the cosmos 

and have a tendency to produce and defend lifestyles

 characterized by envy, material success, selfish pleasures,

 the pride of life, strife, competition, opposition, division, 

and the exclusion of God. 


Most of their systemized entertainment and/or 

programming saturates and tends to gravitate towards

promiscuity, sexual exploits, and almost any other kind of 


glorified perversion that corrupts, distracts, and deceives 


viewers, listeners, and readers. This is the world God 


warns us about.


Worldly pressures come through Satan 


in the form of sin and temptation. 


Every person has struggled with temptation. Even walking 


with God for many years does not eliminate or even 


minimize the dangers of temptation. 



In whatever sphere of life we discover ourselves to be in 


and whatever task we are employed… let us never forget:


 Satan’s desire is to steal, kill, 


and destroy. 


He uses temptation and sin to destroy Believers. Satan's


 hostile world-system makes every attempt to put pressure


 on us in every sphere of life in an effort to get us to 


conform to the patterns of the world. 



Believers will often find themselves faced with 


tormenting, antagonistic, hostile, and contentious 


circumstances from those who live and walk in Satan's 


kingdom.

We live in a worldly culture that lacks self respect, 


dignity, compassion, kindness, and love. Many 


wandering souls have been influenced by the pleasures 


and influences of the world. Some seem adrift 


morally, spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Some 


may be lost to drugs, alcohol, greed, sexual promiscuity,


 gambling, and have no regard or respect for human life.



Satan's job is to blind the minds of unbelievers, that they 


might not see the light of God. Many unsuspecting 


individuals are blindsided by Satan's Spiritual attacks.



Far too many have chosen to live in the world apart 


from God and have grown hostile towards people and 


God. Their only goals and ambitions in this life is to try 


and gain as much of the material and lustful things out of 


this life as they possibly can. They seem to purposely


entangle themselves in worldly pleasures and materialism 


which are absolutely contrary to righteousness. 



Those who are in the world and of the world stand 


in opposition to the Kingdom of God. Their actions,


thoughts, and values are focused on pleasing self for 


people and they are usually focusing on earthly, fleshly,


 and temporal life activities, values, and/or plans as 


opposed to heavenly, spiritual, and eternal activities,


 values, and/or plans. 



Unfortunately, some have knowingly allowed the culture’s 


ungodly morals, values, attitudes, and behaviors to


infiltrate their lives... on every level. These worldly 


pleasures have kept many apart from knowing God and 


their true purpose in life.


Scripture speaks with absolute 


authority… it says because we’re in the world, 


we will have tribulation, temptation, and pressure.


It is an unavoidable part of life in this world, but as 


Believers… we must never compromise! We must 


be willing to fight on the battlefield, in this corrupt 


world, each day to survive.



We are not slaves to our sinful natures, but act in 


accordance with righteousness.


(Romans 6:6, 11)



We are told to


put to death things that are of our sinful 


natures and to flee from immorality.


(Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:16-


24; Ephesians 5:3-11)


The worldly person rejects God and seeks to live on 


their own, independently from God. They reject God 


as having any say over their life. They love things and


 people who are of the world, and despise those who are 


in the world, but choose not to be of the world.

The pride in one’s lifestyle is not from God, but is from 


the world. The wicked, greedy, prideful world-system 


chooses, either consciously or unconsciously, to function 


without God. 



For all that is in the world, the lust of the 


flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, 


is not from the Father, but is from the world. 


1John 2:16


In this age, in the hearts of many, the powers of evil, false 


doctrine, corrupt morals, strife, contention, persecution, 


greed, pride, opposition, competition, and fears abound 


and leading many into a lost eternity. 


There is an undercurrent in the cosmos... it runs against 


and in contradiction to the Way and Will of God. These 


currents are stirred and troubled by Satan. They are 


intended to entrap and ensnare God's witnesses.


Jesus warns that a person may "gain the whole world" (the 


material things of this passing age) yet lose life in the next 


(Matthew 16:26; parallels Mark 8:36 ; Luke 9:25). Paul 


expresses concern that believers may become so caught up 


in the affairs of this world that they will experience undue 


hardship in living for Christ (1Corinthians 7:29-35).


The present world is passing away even now (1John 2:17). 


Living in this transient world, one must not love it


(2Timothy 4:10), become conformed to its ways 


(Romans12:2), or fall in love with its godless "wisdom" 


(1Corinthians 2:6 ; 3:18-19; James 3:15). Instead one 


must live a godly life (Titus 2:12), avoiding the snares of 


the "present evil age" from which Christ's death has set


His people free. 


Galatians 1:4

We must stay awake and alert... increasing our awareness


 of the various influences in our lives.


Jesus says that His kingdom is 


“Not of this world.” 


John 18:36

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me  


before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world 


would love its own; but because you are not of the world, 


but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world 


hates you. 


John 15:18-19

Jesus recognized that Satan has a kingdom.


His kingdom is this world.


1 John 5:19  

Jesus meticulously called Satan a murderer from the


 beginning. Jesus identified Satan as the criminal 


mastermind behind the corrupt world we live in. He called 


him “the ruler of this world.” 


John 12:31; 16:11

In Matthew 10:16-22 God said that He was sending the 


Kingdom people forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.

God has given us a strong and unequivocal command

 

concerning the world...

`

Do not love the world."


As believers, we need to know clearly what is meant by 


"The world" and who rules the world... so we can guard 


ourselves from loving it and being deceived and distracted 


by it.

The World, as it is used in the 


Scriptures: 


God created the world and all things therein. God 


designed the world to be fruitful. God's creation includes 


provision for all creation. (Psalm 104:10-22)


For God so loved the world and the world's inhabitants. 



The Biblical concepts of world falls into five categories: 


*The physical world, includes the whole universe, 


the cosmos (John 1:9; Acts 17:24) or the creation. (Romans 8:20) 


*The human world, the inhabited earth created with 


delight by God's wisdom. 


Proverbs 8:27-31



*The moral world, refers to the people of the world... in a 


neutral sense... and the subclass of indifferent and hostile 


people who reject God. God's Will and His Ways.



*The temporal world, the present world is temporary.



*The coming world: 


Satan rules only this world 


( John 12:31 ; 14:30 ; 16:11 ; Corinthians 4:4 ), 


not the next one, while Jesus' kingdom 


is "not of this world," ( John 18:36 ) 


but belongs to the coming age. 



The believer may look 


forward to the new world, "a new heaven 


and a new earth, the home of righteousness."


2 Peter 3:13; Revelations 21:1-5


 See what great love the Father has lavished 

on us, that we should be called children of God! And that 

is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is 

that it did not know Him.

1 John 3:1

Jesus says that those who believe in Him are no longer a 


part of the world. Sin has no power over us, and we do not 


have to be trapped by the corrupt precepts of the world.


As we shed the garment of the world we have peace not of 


this world. Our peace in any situation comes straight from 


the Lord, the Prince of Peace: 


"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as 


the world gives do I give to you".


John 14:27


We are still in this world but we


are no longer of it.


John 17:14

We are still surrounded by all the horrors and tragedies of 


this life, but this is not our life (Philippians 3:8-14). The 


knowledge that we are not of this world gives Believers 


promise even in the darkest times (1 Peter 1:6-9); the 


promise that this world of darkness and despair will pass.  


God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there will 


be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall 


there be any more pain: for the former things are passed 


away. How different it will be from the condition in the 


world's system.

Overcoming the world-system can be  a proving ground 


for our faith. It can be the ideal soil for spreading the 


seeds of the Good News... not to reform or remake the 


world-system, not to hold it in contempt, but to proclaim 


the Good News that God loves the world, He created.



 Being in the world and not conforming to the world


 enables us to secure... higher ground... for our highest 


good.

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought.

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--

His hand the wonders wrought.


 This is my Father's world: The birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass I hear Him pass,

He speaks to me everywhere.


This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the Ruler yet.


This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let earth be glad! 

Positively Good's Recent Videos

264 views - 0 comments
303 views - 0 comments

Positively Good Visitors

Positively Good Members

Health & Well Being Gallery