Things done without faith is a sin.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.

The bible tells us without faith we cannot please God. The bible tells us things done without faith are a sin. So we need to ask ourselves do we truly have faith in God and trust Jesus as our king who is sitting on the throne in heaven. How can we be certain of our faith and how can we acquire faith. What is faith? The bible defines faith as assured expectation of what is hoped for, even though we cannot see those things we will believe them and expect them. Abraham believed the promises God had made him and lived his life according to God’s will even though he knew the promises would not be fulfilled in his life time he still believe and trusted God setting an example of faith. You can read about Noah’s faith also. Before the great flood the earth was watered with a mist, not rain showers. Since this had not occurred before Noah could have had doubts but he did not , he lived his life according to his faith and built the ark saving those that God found to be righteous.

(Romans 14:21-23) . . .. ²² The faith that you have, keep it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who does not judge himself by what he approves. ²³ But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because he does not eat based on faith. Indeed, everything that is not based on faith is sin.

(Hebrews 11:5-7) . . .. ⁶ Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. ⁷ By faith Noah, after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith.

(Hebrews 11:1-3) 11 Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen. ² For by means of it, the men of ancient times had witness borne to them. ³ By faith we perceive that the systems of things were put in order by God’s word, so that what is seen has come into existence from things that are not visible.

For a person to develop faith they first must hear about God and Jesus. By writing God’s word on our hearts and then teach others we build up our faith. If we find our faith is not what it should be we need to ask God and believe he will answer our prayer. We also must remain in union with Christ so we have to put off fleshly things of the world and set our minds on the things above. When we pray to God we need to ask me for these things in Jesus name. I doing so we are showing we know he was our ransom sacrifice and he is now sitting on the heavenly throne. We must observe all the commandments Jesus has given us. We also must keep our eyes on the things unseen which is the heavenly kingdom, God , Jesus and the future promises. The things unseen are God, Jesus, the angels because they are spirit persons and we cannot see spirit people. The unseen things are the future promises God has given us that the heavenly kingdom with Jesus as the king will restore the earth to the original paradise and that death will be done away with. We are told the things seen will be done away with but the things unseen will be forever. So that means the promises will also be forever. We also know death will be done away with. Though we cannot see it by believing there will be a resurrection and death will be no more we are showing our faith. By obeying God and doing our best to imitate Jesus we are showing our faith. By putting our trust in God by taking in his word and letting it guide all we do instead of putting our trust in the world or ourselves we are showing God our faith.

(Romans 10:17) ¹⁷ So faith follows the thing heard. In turn, what is heard is through the word about Christ.

(Romans 10:8-10) ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart”; that is, “the word” of faith, which we are preaching. ⁹ For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.

(1 Corinthians 9:16) ¹⁶ Now if I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe to me if I do not declare the good news!

(John 15:7-10) ⁷ If you remain in union with me and my sayings remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will take place for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified in this, that you keep bearing much fruit and prove yourselves my disciples. ⁹ Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love.

(2 Corinthians 4:17, 18) ¹⁷ For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing greatness and is everlasting; ¹⁸ while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.

(James 1:17) ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of the celestial lights, who does not vary or change like the shifting shadows.

We can be sure that the future promises God has given us will be fulfilled because not a single promise of his has went unfulfilled. God does not change so when he makes a promise he keeps it. There is no one wiser then God and no one more powerful so what he promises he has the wisdom and power to bring it about. So we have no reason to live in fear of the things happening or of death. It gives a freedom that those who lack faith do not have. Soon all the wicked will be gone and all suffering will be done away with. If we keep our eyes on the things unseen the things happening in our lives or in the world will not cause us excess anxiety or stress because we will be certain that this is temporary and much better time are very near. This world will be gone soon and so will those who put faith themselves or the world instead of God. This is why Jesus warned many would claim to be following him but he would tell them get away from me you workers of lawlessness. So we must not only learn about God and believe in him but we have to let his word guide all we do. In doing so we are showing God our faith.

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(1 Corinthians 15:24-28) ²⁴ Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. ²⁷ For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. ²⁸ But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

(Daniel 7:13, 14) ¹³ “I kept watching in the visions of the night, and look! with the clouds of the heavens, someone like a son of man was coming; and he gained access to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him up close before that One. ¹⁴ And to him there were given rulership, honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, nations, and language groups should all serve him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.

Another way we show God our faith is by being no part of the world and avoiding associating with those who do not believe in God. A yoke is put between two oxen so they can share the work. If one of the oxen is weak then it puts more of a burden on the stronger oxen. If we associate with those who are of the world or who do not believe in God we are becoming unevenly yoked and will add more burden spiritually on ourselves. This in turn can wear on us and rob us of our faith. The bible says those who practice sin are workers of lawlessness. Those who are lawless will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So it is very important to do all God requires of us if we want to continue to have hope in the future promises and to have God here our prayers. When we obey all God’s word and see the positive effects it has on us as a person and the strength and endurance we are given it helps to build our faith in God. Those who have faith in God can endure much much more then those who are part of the world. The bible warns if we are friends with the world we make ourselves an enemy of God. So we cannot be complete in our faith if we are friends with the world. If we show more love for the world then the things of the world the bible tells us the love of God is not in us. So we cannot have faith if we are living by flesh and not by spirit. Our faith is what will save us because it imparts endurance.

We need the endurance to do the will of God because of the way the world is it can be difficult to keep our eyes on the things unseen. This takes endurance that we receive because of our faith and hope in God. Those who endure to the end will be saved. As we see things rapidly winding down our faith will protect us and keep us from shrinking back in fear. The bible warns those who shrink back in fear will be destroyed. If we lack faith then we will see it as a minor infraction of God’s commands and we are telling God we do not trust his word to guide and protect us. All things we do must be guided by faith. As I mentioned earlier if it is not then it is a sin. I once was offered a job that would pay very well. I knew it would interfere with my worship of God because it would make it very difficult for me to have the time to take God’s word in daily and to apply it in my life. Though it would have been nice to have less struggles, I knew if I took the job it could erode away at my faith. By me turning down the job I showed God that he was first in my life and not the world or things in the world. In doing so I demonstrated my faith in him. It is by faith that were are declared righteous.

Things are rapidly winding down. If we see areas where we need to strengthen our faith whether it bad avoiding being a part of the world, learning to persist in prayer, learning to read Gods word daily and meditate on it and apply it in our lives. We should do our best to work on building our faith because the end of this system of things is very very near. If we fear the things that are coming then we need to work on our faith because we should be seeing them as signs things are going to be much better very soon. That is why Jesus told us when we see these things occur to raise ourselves up.

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18) ¹⁴ Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ “‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.’” ¹⁸ “‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty.”

(1 John 3:4-6) ⁴ Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know, too, that he was made manifest to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. ⁶ Everyone remaining in union with him does not practice sin; no one who practices sin has either seen him or come to know him.

(Matthew 7:21-27) ²¹ “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. ²² Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’ ²⁴ “Therefore, everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them will be like a discreet man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house, and it caved in, and its collapse was great.”

(James 4:4-6) ⁴ Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that for no reason the scripture says: “The spirit that has taken up residence within us keeps enviously longing”? ⁶ However, the undeserved kindness that He gives is greater. So it says: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(Matthew 24:13, 14) ¹³ But the one who has endured to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

(Hebrews 10:35-39) 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.

(Revelation 21:7, 8) . . .. ⁸ But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.”

(Luke 21:25-28) ²⁵ “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. 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.”

(Romans 5:1-5) 5 Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we also have obtained access by faith into this undeserved kindness in which we now stand; and let us rejoice, based on hope of the glory of God. 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.

Is the world fond of you or is God?

Is the world fond of you or is God? It is not those that the world speak highly of like powerful politicians or those who have wealth or even those who put on a big show that have God’s approval but it is those that the world looks down on and those that Satan and his people attack that have God’s approval and it is the very reason we will go through trials and tribulation.

(Luke 6:26) 26 “Woe whenever all men speak well of you, for this is what their forefathers did to the false prophets.

(John 15:19)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.

(James 4:4)Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God.

(1 John 4:5)They originate with the world; that is why they speak what originates with the world and the world listens to them.

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. The bible says they will lie about us and do many wicked things to us.

(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.

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

Some Methods And Types Of Persecution.

1. There will be a belief that the teachings of the truth is a new teaching. (Mark 1:27) (Acts 17:19)
2. Because you do not choose the way of the world but choose God’s way and do not pursue wealth or material things or whatever else the world has to offer people will be confused, even to the point of thinking you lost your mind. (1 Peter 4:34) (Mark 3:21) (2 Corinthians 4:11-13) They will even look down on a true worshipper. Jesus own family thought that he lost his mind.
3. Because true worship does not get caught up in the commercialism of worship by using idols and symbols which by now most people know is not permitted by God, or getting involved in traditional celebrations that were not ordained by God. Or because Jesus followers refuses to bow down to those idols or images the world will hate and be angered by it. (Collossians 2:18) (Jeremiah 10:2-5) (Acts 19:23-28) For some their greed over rides their reasoning so they get angered because when people stop buying their images for false worship they lose money.
4. Because followers of Jesus try their best to obey God and share the truth as he did it exposes false worship. Also those who want to continue in false worship do not want their sins exposed. They will have a form of Godly devotion like the pharisees so they will oppose true worship. (Jeremiah 20:10)
5. Just as Jesus has done, true worshippers will follow his example. They will not tickle peoples ears but will tell them what they need to hear. Satan’s seed will not want to hear the truth. (2 Timothy 4:3) Because of the demonic influences in the world many peoples minds have been molded by them. (James 3:13-16) Others will persecute just because they have the power to. So they will scheme things against true worship. (Micah 2:1)
6. Some would view disobedience to God as sport. So persecuting Jesus modern day followers would be sport to them. (Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 14:6-9)
7. The world does not want reminded that they will be held accountable so they reject God, so they are going to reject his messengers. (John 8:42-44)
8. Most of the world would view God’s warnings as a joke. (Genesis 19:14) So just as in times previously they would not seek to know God but get caught up in the world and the destruction will come on them before they have a chance to do anything to protect themselves. (Matthew 17:28-30)
9. They will try to discredit true worshippers by contradicting everything they say. (Acts 13:45)
10. Because the world lacks faith they would put their confidence in the world. So they do not desire to pursue spiritual things. (1 John 4:4)
11. People will try to publicly humiliate those who worship in truth. They will attempt to make a spectacle of them to cause embarrassment. (Hebrews 10:33) (1Peter 4:16))
12. When they can’t get Jesus followers to give in to the world and it’s ways they will mock, beat, imprison, kill them and even force them to live in poverty. God is aware of what his worshippers are enduring and God won’t forget what they have done for his names sake. (Hebrews 11:35-38) (1 Peter 4:16)
13. Some will persecute just because they have the power to. They scheme things against God’s people. (Micah 2:1)

Jesus showed us how to conquer the world and not let the world conquer us.

How to use.

 

To learn to conquer the world in the context Jesus was talking about we need to understand what he was referring to when he referred to the world. When you read in the bible often times you see it is referring to the people in the world and the rebellious system of the world which is run by the people and influenced by Satan.

(John 1:29) ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said: “See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

(1 John 2:1, 2) 2 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. ² And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s. . .

Since Adam and Eve who were perfect brought this sinful rebellion into the world it took a perfect human to show us the way out and for a ransom of a perfect human to be provided to cover those sins.

(2 Corinthians 5:18, 19) ¹⁸ But all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of the reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was by means of Christ reconciling a world to himself, not counting their offenses against them, and he entrusted to us the message of the reconciliation.

(Romans 5:18, 19) ¹⁸ So, then, as through one trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation, so too through one act of justification the result to men of all sorts is their being declared righteous for life. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one person many will be made righteous.

So when the bible says the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one it is referring to the people and this system of rebellion of man choosing to rule themselves and decide right from wrong for themselves. So it is referring to man and man’s system of things.

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

(2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) ³ If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, ⁴ among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

Jesus Conquered the world.

In order to conquer the world we need to follow the one who conquered the world, God’s only begotten son Jesus. The ruler of this world has already been defeated and judged. Jesus stayed focused on the things above and not on the worldly things.

(John 16:33) 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.. . .

(John 16:8-11) ⁸ And when that one comes, he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: ⁹ first concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; ¹⁰ then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. . .

(Colossians 3:1, 2) 3 If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Keep your minds fixed on the things above, not on the things on the earth.

Things that can cause us to be conquered by the world.

Pride has been the downfall of many and it was the downfall of the king in Babylon in Daniels time. God does not take pride lightly. It has caused the downfall of many kings.

(Proverbs 16:18, 19) ¹⁸ Pride is before a crash, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. ¹⁹ Better to be humble among the meek Than to share the spoil of the haughty. . .

(Daniel 4:30-32) The king was saying: “Is this not Babylon the Great that I myself have built for the royal house by my own strength and might and for the glory of my majesty?” ³¹ While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from the heavens: “To you it is being said, O King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar, ‘The kingdom has gone away from you, ³² and from mankind you are being driven away. With the beasts of the field your dwelling will be, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants.

(Acts 12:21-23) ²¹ On a set day, Herod clothed himself with royal raiment and sat down on the judgment seat and began giving them a public address. ²² Then the people who were assembled began shouting: “A god’s voice, and not a man’s!” ²³ Instantly the angel of Jehovah struck him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten up with worms and died.

So we can see those who become haughty from pride Jehovah opposes but he favors those who are humble.

(James 4:6) ⁶ However, the undeserved kindness that He gives is greater. So it says: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones. . .

(Proverbs 3:34) ³⁴ For he mocks those who ridicule, But he shows favor to the meek. . .

(Psalm 37:11) But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.

(Psalm 138:6) Though Jehovah is high, he takes note of the humble, But the haughty he knows only from a distance

Jesus set a pattern of humility for us to follow and he demonstrated this by washing the apostles feet something that a servant usually would do. Even though he knew he would be seated on the thrown in the heavenly kingdom and was the only begotten son of God he did not let that go to his head and remained humble and was happy to serve others in a way that pleased his heavenly father.

(John 13:14-17) ¹⁴ Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also should wash the feet of one another. ¹⁵ For I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should also do. ¹⁶ Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, happy you are if you do them. . .

(Luke 9:48) and said to them: “Whoever receives this young child on the basis of my name receives me also; and whoever receives me also receives the One who sent me. For the one who conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one who is great.

Avoid being conquered by hatred.

Our actions show whether we are filled with love or filled with hatred. We know we are in the last days and that men will do many hateful and selfish things. The bible has warned us what the last days would be like many times.

(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.

Hatred is a very serious sin. If we have hatred in our hearts it forfeits our chances of eternal life.

(1 John 3:14, 15) . . .. The one who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him. . .

This contrast the fruits of the spirit in which love is one of them.

(Galatians 5:22-24) 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. . .

Love would be an identifying mark of those who worship in truth. This love would be so deep if necessary they would give their lives for each other.

(John 13:33-35) . . .I now say it also to you. ³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.. . .

(John 15:11-13) ¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full. ¹² This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.

We are not to show impartiality, Jesus demonstrated this in his treatment of the Samaritan women. Samaritans were very good at counterfeiting legal documents. They would counterfeit documents of their human linage. So no one was certain if they were really jews or gentiles. They were not trusted and for the most part avoided. The Samaritan was aware that the gentiles would also be welcomed to worship the true God and be considered part of the nation of Israel. Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman would be a spiritual nation he also revealed to her that he was the messiah who would fulfill the things she had mentioned.

(John 4:7-26) ⁷ A woman of Sa·marʹi·a came to draw water. Jesus said to her: “Give me a drink.” ⁸ (For his disciples had gone off into the city to buy food.) ⁹ So the Sa·marʹi·tan woman said to him: “How is it that you, despite being a Jew, ask me for a drink even though I am a Sa·marʹi·tan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Sa·marʹi·tans.) ¹⁰ In answer Jesus said to her: “If you had known of the free gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ She said to him: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket for drawing water, and the well is deep. From what source, then, do you have this living water? ¹² You are not greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well and who together with his sons and his cattle drank out of it, are you?” ¹³ In answer Jesus said to her: “Everyone drinking from this water will get thirsty again. ¹⁴ Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may neither thirst nor keep coming over to this place to draw water.” ¹⁶ He said to her: “Go, call your husband and come to this place.” ¹⁷ The woman replied: “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her: “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ ¹⁸ For you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. This you have said truthfully.” ¹⁹ The woman said to him: “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews. ²³ Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him: “I know that Mes·siʹah is coming, who is called Christ. Whenever that one comes, he will declare all things to us openly.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you.. . .

(Acts 10:34, 35) ³⁴ At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, ³⁵ but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. . .

Jesus also set the example of love by praying for those persecuting him. He commanded us to love our enemies, many love those who love them that is easy but to truly follow in Jesus foot steps we must love those who hate us.

(Luke 23:34) ³⁴ But Jesus was saying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Furthermore, they cast lots to distribute his garments.

(Matthew 5:43-48) ⁴³ “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? ⁴⁸ You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Galatians 6:10) ¹⁰ So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.

Are we to pray for all sinners? The answer is no. There are sins that incur death and they are sins against the holy spirit. We are not to pray for those who are sinning against the holy spirit.

(1 John 5:16) ¹⁶ If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. . .

(Mark 3:29) But whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever but is guilty of everlasting sin.

Love the only begotten son and our heavenly father Jehovah.

The way we react to the bibles teachings and apply them in our lives shows whether we love Jesus and our heavenly father. It will not be easy because being no part of the world means you will be hated and persecuted by the world. Jesus warned us many times of this. By following Jesus teachings and applying them in our lives we will be in union with Jesus and our heavenly father.

(John 14:21) ²¹ Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.”

(John 15:17-20) 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.

(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. . .

(John 16:27, 28) ²⁷ For the Father himself has affection for you, because you have had affection for me and have believed that I came as God’s representative. ²⁸ I came as the Father’s representative and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.. . .

So observing God’s commands and having faith we can conquer the world.

(1 John 5:2-4) . . .. ³ For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, ⁴ because everyone who has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith. . .

Jesus did not say it would be easy.

Jesus warns those living in harmony with him and our heavenly father will be persecuted. He tells us the student is no better then the teacher. If the world hated him they would also hate those who loyally follow him.

(2 Timothy 3:12, 13) ¹² In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. ¹³ But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. . .

Many will not heed our warning and will ridicule us.

(2 Peter 3:2-4) . . .. ³ First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires ⁴ and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning. . .

(Jude 17-23) ¹⁷ As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ how they used to say to you: “In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.” ¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, animalistic men, not having spirituality. ²⁰ But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, and pray with holy spirit, ²¹ in order to keep yourselves in God’s love, while you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. ²² Also, continue showing mercy to some who have doubts; ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while you hate even the garment that has been stained by the flesh.

We must be careful this ridicule can cause us to let down our guard and we could be lured into the world. This is also why we are warned not to become unevenly yoked with the world.

(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. . .

(2 Corinthians 6:14-17) ¹⁴ Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ “‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.. . .

The world views people by their status in society if we pursue things of the world and we risk becoming like them which can cause us to become bias towards those who are in need and develop an incorrect view of them. They even show favoritism towards those who are well off, something we are warned not to do.

(James 2:1-4) 2 My brothers, you are not holding to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ while showing favoritism, are you? ² For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing comes into your meeting, but a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, ³ do you look with favor on the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You take this seat here in a fine place,” and do you say to the poor one, “You keep standing” or, “Take that seat there under my footstool”? ⁴ If so, do you not have class distinctions among yourselves, and have you not become judges rendering wicked decisions?

Ephesians lays out the complete way to protect ourselves by putting on the complete armor of God. The belt of truth with is the truth in God’s word will protect and guide us. Be remaining blameless it protects us. Our faith is our shield, and putting our faith in our redeemer and the hope of salvation is our helmet. Also taking in God’s word and applying it is the Sword of the Spirit. And praying and asking God in times of trouble help us.

(Ephesians 6:10-13) . . .. ¹¹ Put on the complete suit of armor from God so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; ¹² because we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places. ¹³ For this reason take up the complete suit of armor from God, so that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and, after you have accomplished everything, to stand firm.

The bible does not promise wealth or that we would live in comfort. We must remember if we follow in Jesus foot steps will will be falsely accused, many will hate and turn on us. Many of us will go without food. All these things would not stop us from enriching people spiritually.

(2 Corinthians 6:3-10) ³ In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, so that no fault may be found with our ministry; ⁴ but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties, ⁵ by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy, ⁷ by truthful speech, by God’s power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, ⁸ through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report. We are regarded as deceivers and yet we are truthful, ⁹ as unknown and yet we are recognized, as dying and yet look! we live, as punished and yet not handed over to death, ¹⁰ as sorrowing but ever rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

When we endure patiently it may draw others to the bible truths. We must do our best not to let the world shape who we are but to let Jehovah and his word shape us, it will protect us from being conquered by the world. In doing so we conquer the evil with the good.

(2 Timothy 2:23-26) ²³ Further, reject foolish and ignorant debates, knowing that they produce fights. ²⁴ For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, ²⁵ instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will. . .

(Romans 12:9-21) ⁹ Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another, take the lead. ¹¹ Be industrious, not lazy. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah. ¹² Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. ¹³ Share with the holy ones according to their needs. Follow the course of hospitality. ¹⁴ Keep on blessing those who persecute; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Have the same attitude toward others as toward yourselves; do not set your mind on lofty things, but be led along with the lowly things. Do not become wise in your own eyes. ¹⁷ Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” ²⁰ But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good. . .

Our endurance and faith shows our love for Jesus and his father. In remaining faithful and strong we set on example for others. Jesus did not say it would be easy he warned that to follow him we would have to endure the same things as he did. Just as they falsely accused him , persecuted him in many ways so those who follow him in truth will be treated. God did not promise us wealth as a matter of fact Jesus did not have a home to sleep in.

(James 1:2-4) ² Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, ³ knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything. . .

(Matthew 10:24-31) ²⁴ “A student is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the student to become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If people have called the master of the house Be·elʹze·bub, how much more those of his household? ²⁶ So do not fear them, for there is nothing covered over that will not become uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, preach from the housetops. ²⁸ And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna. ²⁹ Two sparrows sell for a coin of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows. . .

(Matthew 8:20) But Jesus said to him: “Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.

Those who put their faith in the world and things of the world cannot put faith in God and will not learn to love him. It can hinder their relationship with God. These things will all be gone soon and all we will have is our relationship with God. If we do not have a relationship with God we will not fair well when this system collapses.

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. . .

Exercising Faith.

The bible tells us to exercise faith showing we have to work to build our faith. In doing so we will receive the power from God to endure the things that will occur. Many had faith in Jesus but did not want to lose their status in society so they would not acknowledge him. Jesus warned them that the things he said were given as commanded to him by God. To disobey his commands we would be disobeying God which shows a lack of faith.

(John 14:1) 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me.

(John 12:42, 43) ⁴² All the same, many even of the rulers actually put faith in him, but they would not acknowledge him because of the Pharisees, so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the glory of men even more than the glory of God. . .

(John 12:47-50) ⁴⁷ But if anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I came, not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ Whoever disregards me and does not receive my sayings has one to judge him. The word that I have spoken is what will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I have not spoken of my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment means everlasting life. So whatever I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me. . .

(Romans 3:28-31) ²⁸ For we consider that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law. ²⁹ Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of people of the nations? Yes, also of people of the nations. ³⁰ Since God is one, he will declare circumcised people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by means of their faith. ³¹ Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith? Not at all! On the contrary, we uphold law. . .

We can see that exercising faith means that we adhere to the teachings of Jesus and follow his example.

(John 3:16-21) ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever exercises faith in him is not to be judged. Whoever does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. ²⁰ For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that his works may be made manifest as having been done in harmony with God.”

We need to work towards strengthening our faith because it will help us to endure. The things we endure teaches and strengthens us and those who lack faith give up but we endure things through our faith that is beyond normal.

(1 Peter 5:6-11) ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, ⁷ while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. ⁹ But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world. ¹⁰ But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. ¹¹ To him be the might forever. Amen.

Exercising faith means we would have such a deep love for God and his son Jesus that we will give testimony about them even if it may cost our lives.

(Acts 20:24) Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God

(Luke 9:24) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake is the one who will save it.

(Revelation 12:11) And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death.

We have a helper.

Jesus told the apostles he would send a helper. This helper is the spirit of truth from God.

(John 14:25, 26) . . .. ²⁶ But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. . .

(Matthew 10:19, 20) 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

(John 14:16, 17) ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, ¹⁷ the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees it nor knows it. You know it, because it remains with you and is in you.

If we do not have the spirit of truth we cannot worship God in spirit and truth because our minds will be set on material things.

(Romans 8:5) ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit.

Getting too caught up in the world can lure us in and we may start drinking of the cup of the devil which would inhibit our receiving the spirit.

(1 Corinthians 10:20, 21) ²⁰ No; but I say that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. ²¹ You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons.

We do not just receive the spirit we must ask for it. How would a parent know your needs if you do not ask. We have to let God know we desire and need his helper.

(Luke 11:12, 13) . . .? ¹³ Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!. . .

How do we know when we have received the spirit? Because we will produce the fruits of the spirit. Love will guide all we do, we will find joy even though we will be heavily persecuted and have to endure much tribulation, we will have an inner peace , we will be more patient , we will strive to be good, our faith will increase, we will be known for our mildness and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22, 23) 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. . .

Of the fruitage of the spirit love is the most important one. It can cover a multitude of sins. Love should guide all we do. It is the love God has for us that drove him to provide a ransom sacrifice for us. If we do not love we cannot know God.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7) ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, ⁵ does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. ⁶ It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. . .

(1 John 4:8-10) ⁸ Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. ¹⁰ The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. . .

(1 Peter 4:7-9) ⁷ But the end of all things has drawn close. Therefore, be sound in mind, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. ⁸ Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Our salvation depends on the fruits we produce. It is an expression of our love for Jehovah and his only begotten son Jesus Christ.

(1 Peter 1:8, 9) ⁸ Though you never saw him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹ as you attain the goal of your faith, your salvation. . .

(Romans 6:21-23) ²¹ What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. ²² However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life. ²³ For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can see it is not the status of someone that determines their status with God but the fruits they produce and it is an identifying mark of those worshiping in truth. False prophets will produce bad fruits. We learned this in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 which speaks of the last days and the results of false teachings.

(Matthew 7:15-20) ¹⁵ “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men.

Jesus promised us peace.

Jesus promised us peace but it would not be peace as man knows peace but it would be an inner peace because of our faith and the hope in the future promises. We would have an inner peace because we would not live in fear as many others do now days. Fear can be used to deceive people and manipulate them. Because we do no live in fear it cannot be used as a weapon against us. We also have the peace of knowing all can now worship God in truth through the ransom sacrifice of God’s only begotten son Jesus Christ. This ransom sacrifice removed all barriers.

(John 14:27) ²⁷ I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I do not give it to you the way that the world gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor let them shrink out of fear.

(Ephesians 2:13-18) ¹³ But now in union with Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, the one who made the two groups one and destroyed the wall in between that fenced them off. ¹⁵ By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, in order to make the two groups in union with himself into one new man and to make peace, ¹⁶ and to reconcile fully both peoples in one body to God through the torture stake, because he had killed off the enmity by means of himself. ¹⁷ And he came and declared the good news of peace to you who were far off, and peace to those near, ¹⁸ because through him we, both peoples, have free access to the Father by one spirit.

This peace that we receive guards our hearts. If you read Psalm 27:1-14 you will see why Jesus had peace even though he was heavily persecuted. His faith was in Jehovah so it gave him the courage and strength to endure. This drove Jesus to teach the good news of the heavenly kingdom which give a future hope of better things to come.

(Philippians 4:6, 7) ⁶ Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. . .

(2 Timothy 1:7-10) ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of soundness of mind. ⁸ So do not become ashamed either of the witness about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but take your part in suffering adversity for the good news by relying on the power of God. ⁹ He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago, ¹⁰ but now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has shed light on life and incorruption through the good news,

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Destruction of the wicked.

We must be patient and endure because God desires none to be destroyed but wants all to have the opportunity to know him and to repent. So we must do our best to warn others and to teach them about the one true God while we patiently wait knowing that many of our spiritual brothers and sisters are still out there waiting for someone to show them the way out. Sharing God’s word, being persistant in prayer will help keep us awake so that we will be ready when the destruction of the wicked comes. We know it will happen suddenly and at a time people least expect.

(2 Peter 3:8-10) . . .. ⁹ Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. ¹⁰ But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed.

(Revelation 16:15) ¹⁵ “Look! I am coming as a thief. Happy is the one who stays awake and keeps his outer garments, so that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.. . .

(Matthew 24:43, 44) ⁴³ “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

Those who conquer the world their name will not be blotted out and they will be remembered. This will be those who have figuratively washed their robes. In other words they have repented from the ways of the world and have drawn closer to God.

(Revelation 3:4, 5) . . .. ⁵ The one who conquers will thus be dressed in white garments, and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. . .

(Revelation 22:13-15) . . .. ¹⁴ Happy are those who wash their robes, so that they may have authority to go to the trees of life and that they may gain entrance into the city through its gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.. . .

This gives us courage beyond what is normal because we do not fear those who can kill the body. We know the heavenly father and his son love us and would not forget the work we have done and the love we have shown for Jehovah’s great name.

(Matthew 10:28-31) ²⁸ And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna. ²⁹ Two sparrows sell for a coin of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

(Hebrews 6:10-12) ¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones. ¹¹ But we desire each one of you to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, ¹² so that you may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

This is why now more then ever we need to put God’s word into our hearts to better equip us for the work ahead. Just a while longer and the bad memories will be gone they will be replaced by the good memories of the fulfillment of the future promises.

(2 Timothy 3:16, 17) ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

(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. . .

(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. . .

(Psalm 37:28, 29) ²⁸ For Jehovah loves justice, And he will not abandon his loyal ones. ע [Ayin] They will always be guarded; But the descendants of the wicked will be done away with. ²⁹ The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.

We can find comfort in knowing nothing not even death can separate us from the love that Jehovah has for us and the love his only begotten son our heavenly king has for us.

(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 must remember to continue to pray for those persecuting us remembering that the apostle Paul also once persecuted those who worshiped in truth.

(Acts 7:54-8:1) ⁵⁴ Well, at hearing these things, they were infuriated in their hearts and began to grind their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, ⁵⁶ and he said: “Look! I see the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.” ⁵⁷ At this they cried out at the top of their voices and put their hands over their ears and rushed at him all together. ⁵⁸ After throwing him outside the city, they began stoning him. The witnesses laid down their outer garments at the feet of a young man called Saul. ⁵⁹ As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death. 8 Saul, for his part, approved of his murder. . .

(1 Timothy 1:12-16) ¹² I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who imparted power to me, because he considered me faithful by assigning me to a ministry, ¹³ although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and with a lack of faith. ¹⁴ But the undeserved kindness of our Lord abounded exceedingly along with faith and the love that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these, I am foremost. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, I was shown mercy so that by means of me as the foremost case, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his patience, making me an example to those who are going to rest their faith on him for everlasting life.

This link is a good article explaining how to recognize true worship so we do not make the same error Paul made.

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/recognize-true-worshippers/#?insight%5Bsearch_id%5D=80147093-0f96-400a-9756-6f29ef57a5d9&insight%5Bsearch_result_index%5D=2

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. . .