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In the world not of the world
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IN THE WORLD
What does it mean to be in the world? I said last week that the world does things to us. But we live in the beauty of an ordered creation, whose amazing life and substance bless us, and which must be appreciated for what it is, and be enjoyed and given thanks for what God provides for us in it. It was faultless in the beginning – a gift, a garden, where something bad happened, and all creation suffered.
The world’s problem is that there are people in it. There is the disorder of human minds alienated from the life of God. But there is also in those same people the wholesome gift of a conscience, the gift of the image of God in people of no faith, who do good and virtuous things in the world (Romans 2:15(%?).
Nonetheless the whole world lies in darkness – and that is the dark veil of a mindset of separation from God that was set firm at the moment of the fall of man, and which only light and truth, grace and faith and love can remedy. Hence you, in it! So while the world does things to us, we can do something for it.
Ecclesiasties 9:11 the race is not to the swift… but time and chance happen to all men.
NOT OF THE WORLD
John 17:14… They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…
We are not of (ek – source, origin, cause) the world in the sense that we do not get our origin, our spiritual roots or identity or meaning from the world. The things of the world must not shape our spirit. They can bless our souls by all means. But only the Spirit gives life and our spirit belongs to God. (1John 4:4) This means that we cannot think of ourselves as merely the product of our culture and environment and experiences that have set us on a course that we think controls us. Not so.
John 8:14 Jesus said I know where I am from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh (You think external things are what is REAL)
The story of humanity is in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). It starts with being loved and at home, but he did not know or appreciate the love of the Father.
1John 2:15 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
He pursues his own goals and takes from Dad what he can. He runs out of money (hope) and wants home (everyone’s journey is different). The big surprise comes when he reaches home. He realizes that Father’s love, and home, are both waiting for him and that’s what matters. Were there any material possessions left for him? He had what matters, the Fathers love.
John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world despises them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. As You sent Me into the world, so I send them into the world.
That is what we are sent into the world with, like Jesus was. All the power, purpose and healing come from his merciful love, and we are armed with unshakable faith – Father is calling people home, and Jesus is bringing home his sheep. Just as Jesus came not to condemn but to save. Your un-condemning faith as a co-labourer changes you to change your world. All things are being shaken. Not all things will be changed, but many things will be broken down so change can occur.
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