Overcoming The World and Everything That Is in It
Three Things
Continuation
The Bible says that
we are not of this world, though we live physically in this world and therefore
we should not love this world but should overcome all that is in it. (Read on John 17:6-19)
Back to the sermon
of the day. Believers, the moment we accepted Jesus Christ is the moment our
identity became of heaven and no longer of the world. (Philippians 3:20-21). Many at times we, as believers, tend to
forget our identity (that we are not of this world) and hence we let the things
of the world disturb our minds and hearts and for some it becomes a hindrance
in your journey of salvation.
Let’s look at the
main verse of today on the first letter of John.
1
John 2:15-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Do
Not Love the World
15 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. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Now the love of the
world means “allowing your mind and heart be focused on worldly things”. Is it
money, fame, a spouse, a job, a business or anything not in line with the Word
of God?
The Word of God talks
about avoiding these Three Things (Click here to see previous sermon http://teachingtransformationministry.blogspot.com/2019/07/three-things-by-pastor-mary-mugo-1.html
)
Let’s recap and
emphasize on the Lust of the Flesh using the Word of God.
Galatians
5:16-21 New King James Version (NKJV)
Walking
in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk
in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are
contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you
wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you
are not under the law.
19 Now the works of
the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries,
and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past,
that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now let’s use
operational definition (human meaning) of the works of the flesh to explain in
the human context:
·
Adultery- voluntary
sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their
spouse.
·
Fornication- sexual
intercourse between people not married to each other.
·
Uncleanness-
meaning "impurity", describes a state of ritual impurity.
·
Lewdness-to
be inclined to, characterized by,
or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious.
·
Idolatry-
the worship of idols/ extreme admiration, love, or
reverence for something or someone.
·
Sorcery- the
use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially
for divining: necromancy.
·
Hatred- an
extremely strong feeling of dislike.
·
Contentions-
an assertion, especially one maintained in argument/heated disagreement
·
Jealousies - a feeling of
unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want.
·
Outbursts of Wrath-
a violent expression of feeling an outburst of anger that expresses itself in a desire to punish
someone
·
Selfish Ambitions- motivation to elevate oneself or to put one’s own interests before
another’s
·
Dissensions - disagreement
that leads to discord.
·
Heresies -
is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs
or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious
organization.
·
Envy- a
feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's
possessions, qualities, or luck.
·
Murders
- is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid
excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought.
·
Drunkenness
- the state of being drunk; intoxication.
·
Revelries-
lively and noisy festivities, especially when these involve drinking a large
amount of alcohol.
So how do we
overcome this? The best answer is not by might
Romans
7:15-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 For
what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not
practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with
the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do
it, but sin that dwells in me.
How then?
Galatians
5:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Walking
in the Spirit
16 I
say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh.
Romans
8:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Free
from Indwelling Sin
8 There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are
in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to
the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
In
conclusion,
1.
Avoid
pride. Read James 4:1-4
2. Be content in your journey. 1 Timothy 6:6-11
This message was
brought to you and to be continued by Pastor Mary Mugo. A faithful minister of
God who teaches the Word of God and reflects His image to the world through
Love.
Be
blessed
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