Living in the World, and Dealing With It

LIVING In and DEALING WITH the WORLD
By: Joe McClure; Sermon #449; Text: I Cor. 2.14
Today, I want to try to help you to live as Christians in a world that does not have the same mind as the Christian is supposed to have.

We live in a world composed mostly of non-Christians. The unconverted sinner just does not understand the mind of Christ, and should really not be expected to understand, at least not in their current state of mind.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Have you ever tried to explain to someone who is not yet a Christian why you cannot do the things they do, and they look at you as if you belong in an insane asylum?

They laugh at us because they simply cannot understand those things which must be spiritually understood, from a study of God’s will through the Word of God.

The natural man considers our spiritual principles as foolish.

**As members of God’s family; as children in the Kingdom of Christ; as priests and kings; we face a dilemma of how to deal with those we interact with in the world, with those who are outside.

Every day you are in the presence of non-Christians, you are being forced to deal with the world, its temptations, its urges, its desires, its lust, its sexual influences, and all that the world is so proud of.

While we are constantly being tempted to violate the principles of God’s Word, wherever we are, Satan has his best chance at hurting us in the world.

1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

The devil was a reality in the 1st century AD, just as he was present in the Garden of Eden, and we need to be aware that the devil is real today.

We cannot see God, nor Christ, nor the Holy Spirit.

We believe in them by our faith in the Holy Word of God.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

We may see the evidence of the devil in the world, just as we see God’s evidence; but we must not doubt the existence of the devil, just because we cannot see him.

He is real, and a danger to every soul on earth.

Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

These are just a few Scriptures that warn us of the devil, but we can see from them that he is real, and that the devil is our adversary in our Christian lives.

It is not my purpose to list today every sin that the devil would have us submit to do; but simply to try to help you understand how to deal with him.

The devil is opposite of God, and is promoting everything that is contrary to the righteousness of God, and we must resist the devil, who is seeking to destroy our faith.

If we have Christ fully expressed in our lives, we will be able to overcome the temptations of the devil.

The very purpose of the coming of our Saviour was and is to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

When you go out into the world, and mix with your friends in the world; you will at times give in to the tempter.

As a Christian, then you will experience guilt for giving in to the devil. You will probably experience sadness, and then repentance.

I want you to always keep in mind that we have someone on our side, sitting on His throne in Heaven.

God understands that you will not always be successful in withstanding temptation.

1 John 1:8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

However, it is not always necessary for us to fail.

I want to talk to you about winning a victory over the devil in real terms.

1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.

While we may simply say that we can win our victories due to our faith in Christ; we need to understand how this can become a reality for us in our everyday lives.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

As we can readily see, God understands the reality of the devil, the reality of our temptations in the world, the reality of our failures, and also that there is a way to escape the temptations.

From just these two passages of Scriptures, we can say that the way of escape can be found in our faith.

First of all, you must not be fooled into thinking that you will never fail Christ.

You must realize the truth of Satan, that he is just as present in our world as God.

In order to prepare to win the victory over the devil, when he comes into our daily lives, we must prepare to face any temptation which might come upon us.

God understands how easy it is to be tempted by sin.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

To prepare for the temptations to sin, we must educate ourselves about our world, and the natural man.

Consider your particular environment.

Who are the people you regularly interact with? List in your mind your friends, your peers who you respect, and even family members who are non-Christians.

Are the people in your circle rooting for you to win out over sin?

Are they for you or against you?

We need to become aware of the fact that most of those within our circle of acquaintances are not Christians.

Jesus said:

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

There are some who are more actively involved in attacking the church of our Lord Jesus Christ than others; but the fact remains true that a person is either saved or lost; is either a Christian, or not; and is either for your success as a child or God, or against your victory, by faith in Christ.

Next, consider:

*Are you strong enough to relate to those, in your circle, who have rejected Christ in their lives?

Maybe you are not strong; and that may be as it should be at your state of spiritual growth.

The point is that we need to ask ourselves if we are ready to face those who are against the will and pleasure of Christ, our Lord.

Are you even aware of the dangers?

Do you realize that you are a warrior against everything which is contrary to God?

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

If we can just realize what we face in the world, then we can begin to prepare ourselves to win the victory over the flesh.

Should we just form a commune of only Christians and stay away from all temptation from those in the world?

This is not the answer.

One of our purposes as Christians is to influence the world for Christ, and if we are not in the world, we have no chance of preaching Christ.

Notice the prayer of Jesus for His disciples:

John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

I earlier posed the question regarding your spiritual strength, and whether you think you are strong enough to withstand the temptations of your friends in the world.

*We all have our weaknesses, and these may vary per Christian.

We must be aware of what our weak points are, and what our strengths are.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Do you have any spiritual weaknesses when you are with the world?

*The devil would like for you to think that you have him under complete control.

Even in the day of the Apostles, and during which many had gifts from the Holy Spirit, they realized that Satan was against them.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The Apostles were not ignorant of the devices that Satan used against the church of Christ; and neither must we be ignorant.

If you are not aware of the various ways of the devil, and how the devil will attack us, then you will be off your guard; you will be deceived into going along with the crowd.

It is our calling to think before we act; to examine everything to think about whether we are being asked to do good, or something wrong.

Let’s talk about a real life example.

I hope that you are not in a peer group where this could happen; but according to my facts of our community, I know that it could.

If someone you know were to try to talk you into just trying cocaine, what would be your reaction? Of course, if Satan came at you in such an obvious way, you would be ready to reject such an idea quickly.

The problem is that Satan will attack us at the place where we are the most vulnerable, the weak places in our armor, so to speak.

In the OT, we have an example which might make this point. God sent a prophet to cry out against the king, who had sinned, and God had given a specific commandment to this prophet. You can read the entire story in I Kings 13, but we want just to note how this man of God was deceived. Notice:

1 Kings 13:9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.

There was another man, who had been a prophet as well in his life; who approached the prophet of God.

1 Kings 13:15-18 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 18 He said unto him, I [am] a prophet also as thou [art]; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him.

What was the temptation?

Although the good prophet of God had fulfilled his mission in delivering God’s message to King Jeroboam; he apparently is tired, hungry, and thirsty.

These were all temptations of his flesh.

His enemy is a man claiming to have a new message from God, through an angel.

He was easily deceived, and gave in to the desire to eat and drink and rest up for the return journey to Judah.

1 Kings 13:19-24 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which [the LORD] did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

While our natural man is faced with many temptations that are easily rejected, our flesh is easily deceived into sinning, especially if it is something that we desire, deep down, to do anyway.

We live in a world, in which there are a multitude of various belief systems, which claim to be the true way of God. We have many friends in the world who claim to be religious, even to be Christians, but have not obeyed the truth.

These friends may do their best to deceive us into believing a lie; and they may do this with an honest heart themselves.

God gives us various lists of sins to avoid. Let’s notice one of these.

Ephesians 5:3 ¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Most of these may be easily avoided for the Christian, even those who are just starting in their upward growth.

Having sexual relations outside of the marriage bed is evil. I will not fool you young Christians into believing that you won’t face this temptation. You will face it, and if you are strong in the faith, you will be able to withstand Satan’s temptation. You will show your love to Christ in keeping your bodies pure until you are married.

I faced this temptation as a young man, and it was a strong urge of my flesh; but I was able to overcome it.

However, some of the other sins are of the type that is not a frontal attack like the sexual temptation.

Notice in particular Ephesians 5.4, which commands the Christian to not engage in using obscene language. I know, as a young man, that most of my friends in the world used obscene words in their talk; and to fit in the Christian is tempted to use similar vulgarities.

We are not to talk with words that are unseemly to a Christian. We are not to use our words to abuse others.

We are not to use foul speech that might be considered indelicate, or with sexual overtones to get a laugh from our audience.

Many of our friends in the world may, at times, be vulgar in their talk.

We are tempted to engage in similar speech, and if not, to at least laugh at their dirty jokes.

How can you avoid the temptation to be one of the crowd?

The key is to have a mind that is thinking on good thoughts, and on how you might find an opportunity to share the gospel with these friends. If you are thinking on good thoughts, you will find that the temptations to use speech that is offensive to God easier to overcome.

Think: What is God thinking about this situation?

Does God approve of such speech?

Those who are worldly in their thinking and speech expect the same thing out of you.

When I went away to college, I found myself surrounded by many who seemed to have no other thoughts but vulgar sexual thoughts. They expected the same of me, and the temptation was there to deal with.

The key is to be aware of your environment, and the character of your peers, and go prepared. If you have just left your home, where you prayed to God to help you, and had just finished reading your Bible passages; then you will be more likely to be repulsed by filthy, foolish talking; and will find it easier to withstand the temptations.

It may not have happened to you yet; but it is certainly likely that at some point in your life; your friends will talk you into acting against your better impulses.

Hebrews 12:1 ¶ Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.

The battle is in your mind. If your mind is prepared, you can withstand any temptation.

Satan is going to tempt you to not prepare. When you think to yourself that you need to study your Bible tomorrow, the devil is going to tempt you.

The devil will offer you something to take up that time you thought to allocate to prayer and study.

Satan will put before you the idea that you need to rest, to relax, to play, to watch TV, or anything but studying God’s Word.

Consider that there is nothing sinful in relaxing. Even our Lord rested on the 7th day. So, it is easy to convince ourselves that we are doing nothing wrong in choosing relaxation over Bible reading and prayers.

Romans 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

What we must do is to set our priorities. If God, during the creation of all things, had rested all of the 7 days, there would be no creation.

If the Apostles had engaged in sightseeing in Jerusalem, instead of engaging in prayer and waiting on the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, there would have been a different result in Acts 2, when the church was established.

There is a time and a place for most everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ¶ To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Before you can hope to withstand the temptations of the devil while existing in a world of sin; we must build up our faith.

Sure, you can expect at times to fail, and to give in to various temptations. This is part of growing in your faith in Christ.

Even the Apostle Paul stated that he had experienced sin in his life.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 7:7 ¶ What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

God recognizes the struggle that goes on between the desires of our flesh, and the commandments of God.

God recognizes the process of growing stronger as we learn to resist temptations, and as we increase in our faith.

We see this in Paul’s letter to the church of Christ at Thessalonica. He prayed that he might be able to go there to help them increase in their faith.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

We too hopefully are on the upward path, growing and increasing in our own holiness before God.

You and I both have things lacking in our faith.

We must be aware of our weak places, because these are those where the devil will attack us.

**We must have vision of where we have come from, where we are currently, and where we hope to go.

Paul reminded the saints at Corinth of their past, and how that they had been made righteous by their obedience.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

God calls us to live a Holy life.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.

We must study the Bible to find God’s definition of what ‘holiness’ entails.

Our growth in Christ happens in the world, not just on Sunday, in church. As human beings in the flesh, we are actively learning and getting prepared to do the work of the Lord.

Christians are imperfect beings, but steadily becoming more pleasing to Christ as we continue forward in our lives.

2 Timothy 2:21-26 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Finally, I want to read a comparison that is made in the Scriptures of the Christian as a spiritual warrior, or soldier for Christ.

Ephesians 6:10 ¶ Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Why take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I am not going to go into great detail of all that this means, but I urge you to make this a part of your Bible study.

God has promised us the power to withstand the temptations that come upon us.

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

There are times when we must run away from situations in which we know that we are going to be tempted beyond our current ability to withstand them.

But the way of escape is to have our minds prepared, and our battle armor always on.

Be aware of the enemy.

Study God’s Word, to know what the truth of God teaches.

Know that you are saved. Realize your weaknesses which have been revealed to you by the Word of God, and work to increase in your righteousness.

Know the gospel, that you might one day fulfill the call to teach others who are headed to eternal destruction, that they too might be justified in the eyes of God, and be saved.

Life is full of pitfalls that await us all, but we can face them with hope, knowing that the Holy Spirit lives within, and that we are never away from the ear of our Saviour and God in Heaven.

I have only touched on this subject, but my hope was to at least give you some basic thoughts, and encourage each one of you to continue to stand with Christ, and to know His grace in your life and continue to grow in your knowledge of the Bible.