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depending on where you go, they have a different list. They
say, “Don’t be worldly. Don’t’ smoke and don’t drink and
don’t gamble and don’t play contact sports and don’t use dice.”
Anyway, they all have their own standard of holiness. But God
includes more under the word “world” than Christians do. God
includes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride
of life.
On one side you have the world. What is the opposite of
the world? Listen to 1 John 2:17, “And the world is passing
away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God
abides forever.” It’s an amazing contrast. It’s either the world
or the will of God. Every time I don’t do the will of God, I’m
worldly. It’s not just a list that some people keep. It’s missing
the will of God.
2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always
leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the
sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” He
always leads us in triumph. Romans 8:37, “But in all these
things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved
us.” John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and
destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it
abundantly.” Is such a life possible? Are we in everything
conquerors, and not just having life but abundant life?
Let me share God’s provision for victory. Galatians 6:14,
“But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world.” The Apostle Paul saw
himself as crucified to the world. The key verse is John 16:33,
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I
have overcome the world.”
“Take courage. I have overcome the world.” Let me
break it down. “I have overcome the lust of the flesh. I have
overcome the lust of the eyes. I have overcome the pride of
life.” Let me say it another way. Jesus claimed that He has
overcome everything that stands between you and the will of
God. Do you realize what a provision that is? There is nothing