1 Timothy 4: 1,6 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…… In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, {constantly} nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.”

In the world but not of the world.

The world! Some love it and try to include it in their worship. Some hate it and run away in fear from the world and all that it offers. The Bible teaches very clearly that we are supposed to be in the world but not a part. How do we do this?

God loves the world! John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” He loved the world and all of His creation enough that he sent His only begotten Son to bring light and life to the world. Jesus did not approach the world in fear, did not engage in the activities of the world but walked boldly among sinners and proclaimed His love by dying for them.

Having been sent by His Father into the world, Jesus now sends us to do the very same thing that He did, present the love of God to a lost and dying world. Mr 16:15 “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” John 17:18 -"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” We are under orders to go into the world under the same mandate that Jesus received from His Father. The Father sent Him, He sends us. Some argue that this is not for everyone but I think it is. Some argue that we are supposed to be separate from the world and not be in the world at all. Listen again to the scripture. Joh 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person.” I am not arguing for worldliness; God forbid! But I am arguing for holiness in the midst of a perverse and dying generation. I am arguing for a walk of faith that brings light and life to those who are dying.

God’s purposes are obvious in this area. Again, listen to the scripture. Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;” Joh 6:33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." Ro 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.” Ga 6:14 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” 1Co 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” Php 2:15 “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,” 1Jo 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” We are supposed to be light and life in a dark and dead world. Our faith is supposed to be practiced and demonstrated in such away that we are like a light on a hill, that the world knows of our faith. We are supposed to be overcomers, walking in a different Spirit then the spirit of the world. All of this is to be done in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, not hidden away behind our church walls. We are supposed to be in the world over coming the world by faith.

The scripture warns us of the dangers of this task. Mr 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” Ro 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” 1Jo 2:15 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, ] is not from the Father, but is from the world.” These dangers are real. The enemy of our souls would like nothing better then to scare us back into our churches and destroy God’s plan for reaching others with the good news.

Some questions we might ask ourselves in prayer might help us to evaluate where we stand in regards to the world.
1. Are you afraid of the world?
2. Do you have a burden for the lost?
3. How many unsaved people do you talk to every week?
4. Are you obedient to the command to go into the world or do you insulate yourself and your family as much as possible from the world?
5. Have you fallen into any of the dangerous traps that scripture warns us about concerning the attractiveness of the world?
6. If a letter was written about you like Paul’s letter to the Romans, would the letter contain a testimony of your faith being proclaimed throughout the world?
7. Do your fellow workers know that you are a Christian?
8. Are you preparing your children to go into the world?

Radio News
We are again broadcasting live and you can still listen to us via the internet no matter where you are in the world. The live program can be heard on www.wsho.com or www.fellowshipofbelievers.org. We began a study of Islam 2 weeks ago and will continue our study of Islam for the next several weeks. I am preparing some written material that I hope to have available in the near future. I still need to get some permission for copying materials prepared by others. I will let you know as soon as it is ready. We will also be interviewing Steve Atkerson of NT Restoration Foundation some time in Feb.

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