Critical Adversaries - 10 By Apostle George on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 7:11am Critical Adversaries – Lesson #.10: The World, Part 3 Yeshua, Jesus and the World Let us leave the issue of the world, epitomized by Egypt and Babylon and their insidious ways for a time and move on into the New Covenant. There is no better place to start than with the Author and Finisher of the New Covenant and King of the Kingdom. We therefore need to examine how Yeshua viewed the world and what He taught about it in relation to Kingdom citizens. We also need to see the political environment in which He lived, ministered and fulfilled His assignment. In these evil days when ‘men and women of God’ are using their star power and fame to urge saints to go all out to embrace and enjoy the best this world has to offer, it makes sense to take our bearing not from the words of mortals but from that of the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls! And this, we will do within the ambit of the Grace He has given and unction of Ruach Ha Kadosh, Holy Spirit released in and through us! Yeshua, Jesus was incarnated during the reign of the first Imperial Lord of Rome, Augustus Caesar. Rome had replaced the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great as the global ruler of the day. Continuing the tradition began by Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, Rome made possession of Israel a prized goal which it pursued with passion and achieved in a successful military campaign. In other words, the land of Israel was a vassal state of Rome by the time Yeshua, Jesus was born. Rome that ruled the world in the days that Yeshua was in the Body was the epitome of worldliness! Whether in terms of fashion, lifestyle, investment in public and private entertainment/amusements, construction of gigantic structures, Rome topped the charts. Its far flung colonies, including the Holy Land, felt the full impact of its worldly ways. It was in this environment that Yeshua was incarnated, grew up, and fulfilled his ministry. The incarnation made Him to be in the world but by election and personal choice, He was not of the world. The world recognized that He came to usher in an opposite way of life and roundly rejected Him! From Herod, who sought to snuff His life out as an infant to the Religious leaders of the day who clung to the veil that blinded them, Yeshua was an outcast of sorts. The ultimate rejection was reserved to the very end: He was rejected, stripped bare and crucified on the Cross in preference of a common criminal! In spite of that was stated above, Yeshua did not live in isolation. He rather engaged the world intensely and witnessed a good confession before them. From the religious leaders to Pilate who signed off His execution, Yeshua boldly declared the truth in wisdom. He sought out Matthew at the receipt of Customs, ministered to him and a career change occurred. From recording money, Matthew became His official biographer. He sought out Zacheus near Jericho and the man’s life changed forever. That mindset of engagement was grossly misunderstood by religious leaders of the day who accused Him of being a friend of sinners. Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 5:27-32 In the world but not of the world: The challenge of engagement, not the cop out of isolation Not One to leave saints at sea on matters of critical import, Yeshua, Jesus went into intense intercession for the disciples and indeed all saints. In crying out audibly to the Father, one major issue was for them and us to be kept from the prince of the world on the one hand and to be preserved from the system of this world on the other hand! John 17 (KJV) 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Both in terms of the personal example of Yeshua, Jesus, His teachings and His intercession for saints, these things can be discerned rightly: that two sets of people would co-habit this earth until the day when time would be swallowed up in eternity. If we examine the content of Yeshua’s ground breaking teachings, including the Sermon on the Mount and Parables, it is obvious that: 1. He came to announce the long awaited Kingdom of Yahweh, teach humans its ways which are different from the religious, social and political systems they were used to. Matthew 4:17; Matthew 13. 2. Those who would receive Him and His Words would receive power to become members of the family of Yahweh/sons like Him to live as citizens of the Kingdom. This power would give them the ability to live an ‘other worldly life’ which was outside the loop of Satan who rules the hearts of natural people. John 1:11-13 3. To that extent, they were going to be on assignment on behalf of the Father and the Kingdom before the kingdoms of this world. 4. Clearly, Yeshua did not teach or exemplify isolation! He demonstrated, taught and prayed for saints to engage with the world around them! May our eyes of understanding be opened to understand these facts outlined above so that we can walk in wisdom. We are citizens of the Kingdom and its Ambassadors in the earth realm! As Colossians 1:12-14 states, we have been translated from the lordship of Satan and conveyed in the Kingdom with inherent ability to live as Yeshua lived on earth! For that reason, the teaching on understanding the world as a critical adversary is not a call to run away or yearn to die when saved. It is a call to live the Zoe or Yahweh type of life which makes us refreshingly different to the decadent ways of our communities! When we get it right, our Kingdom lifestyles will pose to the world around us striking differences between what is clean and unclean; what is holy and the unholy; what is Love amidst an environment of hate; What is selfless amidst selfishness what is eternal contrasted with what is temporal; what is heavenly and what is hellish These contrasts when magnified by Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of those who are outside the Kingdom will have a double track effect: 1. To those appointed unto salvation, it will provide grounds for them to be convicted as they see this superior lifestyle and thus embrace the truth we offer for a better life. 2. For those who perish, their eyes will be blinded by Satan and flesh that they cannot discern the difference or even think they are better off. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 It is the plan of Yahweh to bring about this sharp difference in lifestyle and outlook between His own and those who are outside. These scriptures make it clear that we are to live differently and yet fully engaged with the world: Matthew 5:13-16 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Philippians 2:12-16 (KJV)12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 1 Peter 2:11-13 (KJV) 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; To be continued. Please share this freely so that the Lord may reach some people within your loop of influence with liberating truth! If you need clarification, please contact us. If you need prayer support, please write to frontlineprayer7@gmail and real prayer warriors will stand in the gap for you.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:15:35 +0000
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