( A Bible study by brother Tarran Dookie)

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THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD

Lk.4:5-7 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Jn.14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

2 Cor.4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Eph.2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Eph.6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

See also Jn.16:11; 1 Cor.2:12.

Ever since the fall of man Satan has been called the prince of this world. His desire is to keep as many as possible in bondage to sin. The god of this world has blinded the eyes of the people and kept them in darkness. Only the light of the gospel can remove the scales of blindness. Satan, the prince of the power of the air and his hosts of wickedness, the rulers of the darkness of this world, have enveloped this world with evil and animosity against God.

1 Cor.1:20-21 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Jn.5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Rev.12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev.13:3-4 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

See also 1 Cor.3:19; 2 Jn.7.

The whole world lies in wickedness under the sway of the evil one. The old serpent has deceived the world and the wisdom of this world has rejected the counsel of the Lord. The Lord Jesus declared that the few would enter the narrow way that leads to life but many would enter the broad way to destruction. All the world but the elect has believed the lie, having received not the love of the truth. And in the tribulation period all the world but the elect shall worship the dragon and the beast, that is, Satan and the antichrist.

HATED BY THIS WORLD

Jn.7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Jn.15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:19  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.

1 Jn.3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

See also Jn.16:20; Jn.17:14.

The Lord Jesus declared that the world hated Him. Why? Because He pronounced the works of the world to be evil. The servant is not above the master. As this world hated Christ so shall it hate Christians. If we are true to the faith the world will oppose us.

Jn.16:33 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.

1Pet.5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1Jn.3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

See also Heb.11:35-38.

Christians who are uncompromising and faithful to the word shall suffer affliction and tribulation in this world. The world knoweth us not, because it knew not the lord. Since the time that Jesus built His church believers have been persecuted for their belief. Let us be of good cheer for the Lord overcame the wicked one and we shall overcome through Him.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Mat.5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jn.8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jn.17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Gal.1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

2 Cor.5:19-20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

See also Jn.3:19; 1 Cor.5:9-10; Acts 17:6; Rom.1:8.

The light in us must be a reflection of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. We are in this world for a purpose. We are to glorify God and be ambassadors for Christ in the work of reconciling men to God. God has chosen not to take us out of the world but to deliver and keep us from the evil one. God’s purpose is to redeem the world. Paradise has been lost but must be regained. We are God’s instrument in this grand purpose. We are the light of the world.

LOVE NOT THE WORLD

Rom.12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Cor.6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Js.4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1Jn.2:15-17 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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

See also Rev.18:4; Js.1:27.

Christians are called out of this world to be a separate people, a peculiar people, one that is not conformed to this world. This world has set certain standards for those of this world. Many a Christian has succumbed to such standards and live a very worldly life. Such worldliness has crept into the church and is now well entrenched. Many believers dress like the world, sing the songs of the world, are engrossed in the entertainment of the world and have the ambitions of the world. The very assemblies of many churches are stained with this friendship of the world. The music in some assemblies is hardly distinguishable from the music of the world. The influence of the world has corrupted the programmes of many churches, where worldly concepts and methods are used to attract people and mere lip service is paid to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Is our mission edification or entertainment?

God did not give permission for us to love the so-called good things of the world. He made no such distinction. We are to ‘love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.’ Too many believers are attached to their houses, their vehicles, their possessions, their fine education, their wealth, and worldly success and achievements. May God deliver His people from the love of the world.

Mat.16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Jn.12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

2Tim.4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Tit.2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Demas forsook Paul because of his love for this present world. Many will be shocked when they hear the words of Christ ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.’ He who clings to the life of this world will lose eternal life. Let us endeavour to live a sober and godly life in this present world.

Lk.8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

1Cor. 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

See also Mat.13:22.

The cares and riches and pleasures of this world choke the word of God and there is no growth in the believer caught up in these things. Many Christians know the joy of the television but know not the joy of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is grieved and quenched by the things of the world that absorb the hearts and minds of so many Christians. Too many a believer is like Martha caught up in the cares of this world, the rat race, the pressure to keep up with others. Many are zealous in earning a living but lukewarm with respect to working out their own salvation.

Jn. 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jn.18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Gal.6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

1Jn.4:4-5 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

See also Jn.17:6, 9; 1Jn.5:4-5.

We are pilgrims in this world. Do we know what it is to be crucified to the world and the world crucified to us? The kingdom of our Lord Jesus is not of this world. There is pressure to conform and compromise and be of this world. But we will overcome the world if we allow the Holy Spirit to rule our lives. May God give us a spirit of detachment so that although we are in this world we will not be of this world.

JUDGEMENT OF THIS WORLD

Jn.12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

2Pet.3:7,10-12  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men…But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Rev.3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev.11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

See also Is. 24: 4-5; Is. 34: 1-2; 2 Pet.2:5; 1Cor.6:2; 1Jn.4:17.

A day is coming when this world and the prince of this world shall be judged. The kingdom of darkness shall fall. This world and all its vanities shall be consumed. But judgement must begin at the house of God ( 1 Pet.4:17). God will keep those who have kept His word and not denied His name and whose lives are holy and godly, unspotted from this world.

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