Overcoming the World.

 Do you want to overcome the world? What does it mean to 'overcome the world'? Why would you want to overcome the world? 

In the world we are going to have tribulation, a lot of tribulation. In the world we have temporary existence only. Everything around us is temporary, we are temporary on this world. We put our affections on the temporary and when we do that, we are not putting our affections on the eternal.

We must love one another- for we all have the possibility of the eternal. 

We must love God- He is the eternal. 

The world we live in has so much that takes our eyes and our hearts off the eternal. We need to overcome the world and all it's temporary distractions and enticements - and there are so many of them. They are here today, gone tomorrow- without any real substance. If you live for the temporary- placing all that is temporary above all that is eternal, you will be temporary, you will not overcome the world because you see no need to do so. 

Jesus overcame the world and He said-

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

We read-

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

No, we can't be taken out of the world, and we aren't supposed to hide ourselves away- each individual completely alone- we can't love one another if there are no others to love around us. We must live God's love as we live in the world. Jesus was our example when He lived upon the earth- loving. People might think to not love the world is anti-love and therefore anti-God, but that's not true at all. This world has its beauty- but it also has so much pain. Overcoming the world, is overcoming our attachment to the temporary- not actively despising everything in the world- flowers, animals, plant-life etc. Overcoming the world while living in the world is overcoming all things that threaten your relationship with Christ in any way. Is there anything in your life you would not give up if your Savior asked you to? Before you answer this remember if you died tomorrow you take nothing with you- nothing at all, not a single solitary thing in this world- other people included. We take nothing with us and we cease from living in this world, and sleep until our Savior returns. Yet, we place so much value on clinging to things refusing to even consider giving them up should we be asked to do so. Paul counted everything DUNG but Christ Jesus. 

Php_3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

Paul overcame the world. Paul lived in the world and loved others with the love of God. Paul overcame the world like Jesus overcame the world and like we are to overcome the world.

We overcome by faith.

1Jn_5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

More on faith tomorrow by the grace and will of our Lord and Savior, In Christ Jesus' name! Amen!!!!!!!