Overcoming the world is both something past and present. The world is the system on earth that does not have Christ as it’s God. Instead, “the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). There are two results: the world overcomes us, or we overcome the world.
Warning, And One Of The Upmost Importance
The Apostle John warned, “Little children 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,” and the Apostle James said also, “Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (1 John 2:15, James 4:4). The world is a serious subtle threat to us. “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” are in the world, and not of the Father, but of the world. The world contaminates us, draws us away from Christ—making us enemies of God, and lures us into ultimate destruction. We not be friends with the world, but even if we “wish” to be, we make ourselves enemies of God…
At times we can be “standing tall” and think we are doing well at hating the world, and loving God. But, I can honestly confess that like Lot’s wife, although all my “possessions” are left in “Sodom” I nevertheless still “look back” within my heart from time to time. My soul clinging to self-preservation and self-seekingness that the world offers. It’s been my constant battle to overcome the world, but in order to presently overcome, I need to look at what has been overcome.
Believe It Or Not, You Have Overcome
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith” (1 John 5:4). 1) If you are born-again you have overcome the world by God’s gift of salvation given to you and 2) the faith He gave you to believe in Jesus Christ “is the victory that overcomes the world.” This is where you must first stand, in order to overcome the world. Next, “But far be it from me,” the Apostle Paul says, “to boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:4). This is the next ground to stand, personal crucifixion to the world. Notice Paul says, “to me”? Paul considered the world crucified to him, and him to the world. You personally must embrace the world crucified to you, and you to the world— more importantly, realize that it has been at the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he says “by which.”
Don’t Forget There Is A Present Overcoming
Since you have overcome, there is now an “overcoming” to fulfill. “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever,” this is why the Apostle Paul says, “Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that by testing you may be able to discern what the will of God is; what is good, perfect and acceptable” (1 John 2:17, Romans 12:2-3). 1) You must recognize the world’s lusts, and pride are not eternal substances. There is nothing the world has that lasts, but everything in it is perishing 2) You must first, stop conforming to the world by resistance, then submit your mind to be renewed in the truth and Word in order to understand with testing what God’s will is and 3) Once you know His will, do it and you will “abide forever.”
Simplicity In Overcoming
This really is the simple essence of overcoming the world: 1) Being born again 2) God’s faith given to you to believe in Christ 3) United in Christ’s death at His Cross, realizing your personal crucifixion to the world and the world to you 4) Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed in mind and 5) Do the will of God.
Pam Sheppard Ministries has such rich experience in how to overcome the world. We offer exhortation, counsel, and wisdom to bring light and truth to your walk in the world and not being of the world. The Lord prayed that His disciples not be taken out of the world, but that the Father keep them from the evil one (John 17:15). We cannot run away from the world and live in a cave. We must be in the world and do the will of God. Contact 888-818-1117 if you are struggling with the world, temptation, and oppression. We can help!
Saints, continue to be found, “overcoming the world.”
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