Being no part of the world and persecution.

 

Being not part of the world means we will be persecuted. Some is obvious and some like with Job is not obvious. Being no part of the world means the world will hate you. We have to remember those who choose God as their king instead of man will be opposing the world. In doing so the world will hate you.

(Hebrews 10:32-39) ³² However, keep remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle along with sufferings. ³³ At times you were publicly exposed both to reproaches and to tribulations, and at times you shared with those who were having such an experience. ³⁴ For you expressed sympathy for those in prison and you accepted joyfully the plundering of your belongings, knowing that you yourselves have a better and an enduring possession. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your boldness, which will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ For you need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise. ³⁷ For yet “a very little while,” and “the one who is coming will arrive and will not delay.” ³⁸ “But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,” and “if he shrinks back, I have no pleasure in him.” ³⁹ Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives. . .

(Matthew 5:11, 12) ¹¹ “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. ¹² Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you. . .

Nothing has changed as a matter of fact the end of this system is near so Satan and his people will increase in badness and also in their persecution of those who choose to follow our king Jesus instead of man. This is nothing new they have always persecuted those who chose to be not part of the world.

(2 Chronicles 36:16) But they kept ridiculing the messengers of the true God, and they despised his words and mocked his prophets, until the rage of Jehovah came up against his people, until they were beyond healing.

(Acts 7:52) Which one of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced in advance the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become

Jehovah did not forget what they had done in his name. In his word he even declared that the world was not worthy of them. They remained faithful and God remembered what they had done and what they endured.

(Hebrews 11:37-40) ³⁷ They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slaughtered by the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in need, in tribulation, mistreated; ³⁸ and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and dens of the earth.

We have born witness to them and delivered the good news of the kingdom. When it is time to flee there blood is on their own hands. We will have no guilt because we have warned them and tried to show them there is a better future hope. Their actions towards us shows who’s side they have chosen. We need to shake the dust from our feet and spend time with those who receive the message in a favorable way. We all want to be loved but we have been warned about the love of the greater number cooling off so hatred would abound world wide. But we do know that our heavenly father and his son Jesus love us and even death cannot separate us from their love.

(John 15:17-22) ¹⁷ “These things I command you, that you love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. . .

(Romans 8:35-39) ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We know that all the signs are in place and that deliverance is near and our heavenly father is ready to give his son the command to set matters straight.

(Luke 21:26-28) ²⁶ People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”

We are in the final minutes of this system and the end will be sudden so we must stay alert and draw even closer to Jehovah now more then ever.

(Luke 21:34-36) ³⁴ “But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you ³⁵ as a snare. For it will come upon all those dwelling on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that must occur and in standing before the Son of man.. . .

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) . . .. ² For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. ³ Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness. ⁶ So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But as for us who belong to the day, let us keep our senses and put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet ⁹ because God assigned us, not to wrath, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or are asleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore, keep encouraging one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.

Our endurance will be rewarded if we do not give out.

(Romans 5:3-5) ³ Not only that, but let us rejoice while in tribulations, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; ⁴ endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the approved condition, in turn, hope, ⁵ and the hope does not lead to disappointment; because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit, which was given to us.

(James 1:12-15) ¹² Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving Him. ¹³ When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death. . .

Some of us will walk through the great tribulation into the new system, and some will be resurrected into the new system. We can let sin have master over us or Jehovah. The promises of sin  is death. God gives hope of life if we are a slave for him. Either way we will be a slave, which master we choose determines if we have a future hope or not.

(Romans 6:15-17) ¹⁵ What follows? Are we to commit a sin because we are not under law but under undeserved kindness? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks to God that although you were once the slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over.

(Romans 6:22, 23) . . .. ²³ For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord. . .

(Matthew 25:46) These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life

Being No Part of The World.

Because we cannot entirely be no part of the world we must do our best not to imitate the world or get caught up in worldly things. We need to learn to balance things.

(John 17:15-19) ¹⁵ “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. ¹⁶ They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth.

Following Jesus example will help us in being no part of the world. He set such a good example to followed that the bible tells us he conquered the world because no matter what persecution, or harm he experienced he never lost faith and never became a slave to sin. There is a lot of deception in the world , now more then ever the line between right is wrong has been severely blurred. We have to remember it is Jehovah God who determines what is right and what is wrong. We are seeing the final result of mans rebellion against God which started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided that man would decide what was right and what was wrong for themselves.

(John 16:32, 33) . . .. ³³ I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.. . .

(1 John 4:4-6) ⁴ You originate with God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in union with you is greater than the one who is in union with the world. ⁵ They originate with the world; that is why they speak what originates with the world and the world listens to them. ⁶ We originate with God. Whoever comes to know God listens to us; whoever does not originate with God does not listen to us. By this we distinguish the inspired statement of truth from the inspired statement of error. . .

(Genesis 3:4-6) ⁴ At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. ⁵ For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” ⁶ Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it. . .

Jesus was humble and did not act superior to others. Even though he knew he was God’s only begotten son and would be seated on the throne in the heavenly kingdom he never acted superior. He even washed the apostles feet which was something servants usually did.

(Luke 22:24-27) ²⁴ However, there also arose a heated dispute among them over which one of them was considered to be the greatest. ²⁵ But he said to them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. ²⁶ You, though, are not to be that way. But let the one who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one taking the lead as the one ministering. ²⁷ For which one is greater, the one dining or the one serving? Is it not the one dining? But I am among you as the one serving. . .

(John 13:2-10) . . .. ³ So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he came from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the evening meal and laid aside his outer garments. And taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. ⁵ After that he put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry them off with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him: “Lord, are you washing my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” ⁸ Peter said to him: “You will certainly never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. . .

Many look down on others because of their gender, race, origin and even their financial status. We are to never imitate that behavior.

(Philippians 2:3, 4) ³ Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you, ⁴ as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.

(Galatians 3:27-29) . . .. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. ²⁹ Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s offspring, heirs with reference to a promise. . .

We are to treat others as we would want to be treated, many will go through the gate that leads to destruction. We must do our best to keep on the path to the narrow gate. We give witness to God’s glory when we love those hating us and when we endure the wickedness directed towards us with humility. Anyone can love those who love them but knowing God and writing his world in our hearts will teach us to let love guide all we do. We are not to hate anyone. We can hate what they do but if we hate them we are judging them. We cannot read their hearts Jesus is the judge and our king he earned that position and there is no one better qualified other then God himself. It would be arrogant on our part if we believed we could read what is in another’s heart and judged them. We must learn to be merciful just as Jesus was. The apostles made many errors. He kindly corrected them , he never struck back at his enemies or harmed them.

(Luke 6:27-36) ²⁷ “But I say to you who are listening: Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, ²⁸ to bless those cursing you, to pray for those who are insulting you. ²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold the inner garment either. ³⁰ Give to everyone asking you, and from the one taking your things away, do not ask them back. ³¹ “Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them. ³² “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. ³³ And if you do good to those doing good to you, of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. ³⁴ Also, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may get back as much. ³⁵ On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. ³⁶ Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful. If we do not show mercy how can we expect to receive mercy from God?

(James 2:13) For the one who does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We must learn to forgive others keeping in mind we are also imperfect.

(Matthew 6:15) whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses

There is a contrast between the world and those who have been blessed with the spirit. The fruits they produce are very clear and those producing the fruit stand out because of the blurred lines between right from wrong most are oblivious that the are sinning against Jehovah but our behavior will separate us from others.

(2 Timothy 3:1-7) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. ⁶ From among these arise men who slyly work their way into households and captivate weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

(Galatians 5:19-21) ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, ²⁰ idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

(Galatians 5:22-26) ²² On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we are living by spirit, let us also go on walking orderly by spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.

What About Politics? Should we get involved?

We need to follow Jesus example. He knew that human rule was in opposition to God but he did not act disrespectful towards it because he knew our heavenly father had reasons for letting human rule over man continue. He also knew that mans rule would never solve all the problems on the earth. Man neither has the insight nor power that God has to make sure the things he promises gets fulfilled. Jesus put his faith in the heavenly kingdom but respected human authority. When they tried to seize him and make him king withdrew to the mountains. Jesus made it very clear that his kingdom was no part of the world. Even those with good intentions will not be able to see the whole picture as God can and will make decisions that will not be best for everyone. If they do things to help others , they will eventually die and what they have done will be undone by another. God is eternal so his kingdom will be everlasting.

(John 6:14, 15) ¹⁴ When the people saw the sign he performed, they began to say: “This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Then Jesus, knowing that they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain all alone. . .

(John 18:36) ³⁶ Jesus answered: “My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.”

(Jeremiah 10:23) ²³ I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step. . .

God cannot be bought or corrupted as man can.

(Micah 7:3)  ³ Their hands are expert at doing what is bad; The prince is making demands, The judge asks for a reward, The prominent one makes known his desires, And they work it out together.

As mentioned earlier man ruling over ourselves is in opposition to God. We are deciding what is right and wrong and we are seeing the finality of mans rule and the results of it. Our history has shown we do not have what it takes to know what is best for mankind we continue to make things worse and worse. It is clear that mans rule often times directly opposes God. One great final act of rebellion will be when all the kings of the earth join together with the wild beast which I have posted on who the beast is will join together in opposition to our king Jesus Christ and his people. We know Satan influences man and can easily manipulate them to oppose God. We also know he has already been judged so his destruction is inevitable.

(Luke 23:10, 11) However, the chief priests and the scribes kept standing up and vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod together with his soldiers treated him with contempt, and he mocked him by clothing him with a splendid garment and then sent him back to Pilate.

(Revelation 19:19) And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.

(Ephesians 2:1, 2) 2 Furthermore, God made you alive, though you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. . .

Satan had no hold on Jesus because he remained no part of the world. No one knows the father better then the only begotten son so he new that this system did not have what it would take to fulfill the future promises.

(John 12:31) Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

(John 14:30) I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me

(Luke 10:17-22) ¹⁷ Then the 70 returned with joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.” ¹⁸ At that he said to them: “I see Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Look! I have given you the authority to trample underfoot serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing at all will harm you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are made subject to you, but rejoice because your names have been written in the heavens.” ²¹ In that very hour he became overjoyed in the holy spirit and said: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have carefully hidden these things from wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children. Yes, O Father, because this is the way you approved. ²² All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.”

So by now you may be asking if they are in opposition to God why should we obey them and why does he tolerate them. We have to remember the original lie that man could decide what was right and what was wrong for themselves. If God interfered then there would still be doubt. Satan could still make that accusation and because things did not run their course the lie would not have been able to be proven to be the lie it is. Also by permitting human governments it does keep some sort of organization on the earth until Jehovah give Jesus the command to set matters straight. So opposing those authorities would be in opposition to God.

(Romans 13:1-4) 13 Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. ² Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves. ³ For those rulers are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you want to be free of fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; ⁴ for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword. It is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath against the one practicing what is bad.

It is common for many to speak bad things against those in authority but we are not to speak bad of anyone. We are to expose corruption but not to speak ill of other for example making accusations as to their reasons. We can expose evidence we find but we should not judge them or accuse them that would be for the courts or if the courts ignore it then they all will answer to Jehovah on his great day.

(Titus 3:1, 2) 3 Continue reminding them to be in subjection and to be obedient to governments and authorities, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak injuriously of no one, not to be quarrelsome, but to be reasonable, displaying all mildness toward all men.

There will come a time when we will have to obey God rather then men. God’s rule is over mans, very soon we will be given a choice to give obeisance to the beast or to obey God. God’s rule is always over mans if their laws go against God then he will have our backs. We have many examples of this occurring in the bible, Daniel is one of those times. We need to follow the examples of faithful ones in the bible , they did not get disrespectful or turn on the king but put faith in Jehovah.

(Acts 5:28-32) . . .” ²⁹ In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a stake. ³¹ God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy spirit, which God has given to those obeying him as ruler.”

(Daniel 3:17, 18) If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.

(Daniel 6:27) He rescues, saves, and performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for he rescued Daniel from the paw of the lions.”

So we need to stay alert but to do so in a way that would please Jehovah and our king Jesus. We do not need to be anxious we have God on our side. Many will walk through the great tribulation into the new system. Those who make it to the new earth will not remember the bad times. They will be replaced with good memories.

(Matthew 10:16) ¹⁶ “Look! I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves. . .

(Matthew 10:19, 20) ¹⁹ However, when they hand you over, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak, for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; ²⁰ for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you. . .

(Revelation 7:13-17) ¹³ In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. ¹⁶ They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, ¹⁷ because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”

(2 Peter 3:11-13) ¹¹ Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, consider what sort of people you ought to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, ¹² as you await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt in the intense heat! ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell. . .

(Isaiah 65:17) ¹⁷ For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart.

(Psalm 37:29) ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it. . .