“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)
The world system has its kingdom. It’s the opposite of God’s kingdom. We are familiar with the world kingdom. It’s the kingdom of “me, myself and I.” And on the other hand is lenient with sin, especially sexual sin. It tolerates perversion and punishes righteousness which is anything biblical. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1John 2:16) We are warned in God’s Word not to love the world and to separate ourselves from the world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1John 2:15) The Lord is not only telling us to choose, but that we have chosen by our heart desire for it.
The world system is at war with God’s kingdom. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:18-19) Although the flesh loves the world, the world only brings trouble. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The flesh is of this world. This is why it fights constantly with the spirit in us which is from God and is pure, holy and righteous. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:17) But Jesus tells us to be courageous and comforted because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” (2Corinthians 1:3-5) The comfort and solace of Christ superabounds and is greater than our suffering in the world.
Many times, in our suffering instead of turning to the Lord, we complain, and our words betray us. It’s hard not to complain and say the wrong things that may give the enemy victory. Sometimes people think that saying the opposite is what God wants, but that’s not true. For instance, if you’re hurting, don’t say you’re not hurting. You can admit that you are hurting but quote a Scripture about God’s victory. We say it aloud for all the world, seen and unseen can hear your position. In this day and age of technology, it’s easy to turn to Google and search for the right Scriptures that we need. When we find our Scripture, we can say, “Yes, I am hurting, but God has said...”
Yes, we live in this world and live in this flesh, but we belong to a different world, God’s kingdom and have the God given authority to live in accordance with the rules of God’s kingdom. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2Corinthians10:3-6) God’s wisdom, knowledge and power are above all that is and was created. His is the victory. And we have the victory in Him. “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1Chronicles 29:11)
In the end of time, the world and everything in it will be destroyed. The flesh will perish along with the world. And everything the world desired and lived for will die. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1John 2:17)
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