Focus: John 17:14 - KJV
14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 15:18-25
There is a difference between the world and the Kingdom of God. The world is characterized with wickedness, hatred, strife and huge burdens; while the Kingdom is constituted with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Ironically, it is possible for the world and the Kingdom to coexist in the same space. As it is, on earth, there are people who are of the world and those who are of the Kingdom. Hence, there is a clear discord and dislike by the people of the world for those of the Kingdom. The Kingdom was reintroduced on earth by the Lord Jesus Christ who came, being King of kings to make the earth His domain for a brief season. Where the King is domiciled is called His Kingdom. Hence, by the incursion of Christ into the earth, the Kingdom was introduced to the earth. Unfortunately, the earth has always been used to the vices in the world as it never knew the Kingdom since Adam, until Christ.
The character of the world is to prosecute, persecute and cause pain for them that are of the Kingdom, who as strangers to the world are not desired on earth, by the world. Hence, when the King of kings brought His Kingdom, He was hated by the world and was sorely persecuted for it. Since the servant is not greater than the Master, all those who genuinely belong to the Kingdom, like Jesus Christ their Master, are susceptible to similar treatment as meted out unto the Master, in the hands of the world. We are therefore, to count it all joy when, like the Master, we face hatred, persecution and evil thrusts from the world. It is a clear indication that we do not belong to the world. As kingdom citizens, we are not to allow ourselves to be drawn out by the world to hate and do evil. No wonder Christ said we should not repay evil for evil for if we do, we are already identified with the world.
Beloved, please endure the persecution that the world is pushing your way for it is God’s way of showing you that you are not of the world, and, that is why they hate you. If you will just endure to the end, then shall you receive the crown meant for kings in the Kingdom. Those who fall by the wayside are no longer entitled to being crowned. As they forfeit the crown, they are no longer entitled to being identified with the Kingdom. Please, understand this: unless we eschew everything that is identified with the world, we become potentials of the world. Let us therefore, flee everything that is not loving or glorifying unto our God, and embrace the Lord’s commands to do them without wavering, even though we are hated for it. They will lie against you, spit on you, cheat you, present you for prosecution on trump up charges, do everything to strangulate or kill you and all manner of evil. Your victory is in standing firm in the Lord, without yielding to the world.
SOLUTION: Don’t give in to the world, to compromise because of their pressure. Stand firm in Jesus and receive the promise. You are to look up to Him always, and emulate Him.
Please pray: HELP! Please help me Lord, in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.
Comments