—- “THE WHOLE WORLD Lieth in Wickedness.”1 John 5:19

—- DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR or condemn the brothers and sisters who are being slandered …. NO instead, in light of what God’s Word tells us, you’d better check (“examine”) your own life to see if you are truly in Christ if you are not being personally hated, slandered, and attacked by satan’s many children! (2 Corinthians 13:5) WHAT did Jesus promised in Matthew 10:22 and Matthew 5:10-12? Find out below.

Be not surprised when you are shunned, shut out, lied about, shorted, scorned, and persecuted in other ways. Why? Because “the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19

Be aware that many who profess to know Christ are also of the world and that’s why they shun and persecute you. They are of “the spirit of antichrist.” (1 John 2:18; 4:1-3) – —– “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20)

Meditate upon this saint. The LORD just may begin to change your whole perspective on this whole matter which will help you to walk in His peace in this fleeting, adulterous world.  In  Matthew 12:39 we see Jesus calling this this worlds people, “an evil and adulterous generation.”

Do not expect to be loved by the world. In fact, based on Bible truth, begin to learn to “rejoice” – to wear as a badge of honor – the fact that those not of Christ do not love you and that’s most people (Matthew 7:13-14). Perhaps we should learn to get our love from God’s people whom Jesus repeatedly told to “love one another.” (John 13:34-35, etc.) Study prayerfully the subject of love in Holy Scripture. Love is at the top of priorities in the divine economy.

“Ye are the light of the world” says our LORD (Matthew 5:14, 16). The light of Jesus in you shines into their yet darkened, unregenerate hearts and they react by persecuting you (John 3:19-21).

Jesus told us exactly why the world’s people will not love or honor you. – Jesus said: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.”

When those in darkness hate you, that’s the occasion to “rejoice” according to Christ.

The world does not love you – Because you are Christ’s!!!! Now, “Rejoice”!

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Just what did Jesus tell us in the above passage will happen to us for His “sake”?

• “persecuted for righteousness’ sake”
• “revile you”
• “persecute you”
• “say all manner of evil against you falsely”

Beloved, are you learning to obey the Savior by rejoicing when you are attacked by this sinful world’s people who still lie “in wickedness”? (1 John 5:19)

Being a “friend of the world” actually makes us the enemy of God, so we must be discerning and be careful who we take into our close company.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4

The root cause of all sinful hatred is rebellion and enmity against our Maker who “is light”and who is the Judge of our eternal souls (Genesis 6:5, 12; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc.).

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

Don’t take it too personal. The prophets of God under the Old Covenant, John the Baptist, Jesus, Christ’s apostles, and all true disciples of Jesus have been hated by those not of God. Jesus promised us that we would also be “hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) If we are not being “hated,” we should examine ourselves very prayerfully and with much Bible study to see whether we are in walking in the light of Christ (John 8:12; 1 John 1:7).

The World Loves His Own

Just what does it show you that the world’s people who are in darkness, do not love you? What is proven by such a fact?

Our precious Savior was hated by those He was getting ready to die for (Romans 5:6-8). He laid down His life for men He had no guarantee would turn to Him and receive His salvation offer.

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. ” John 7:7

The world first and foremost hates our blessed LORD. We are only hated by the world due to our association and oneness with Christ the only Savior!

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15:19-20

If you are loved by the world, fret. If you are hated by the world, obey Christ and “rejoice.”(Matthew 5:10-12)

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1 John 3:13

Cease being surprised by the persecution. Learn to get glad at it, pray for those persecutors, and keep abiding yet more and more intimate with Christ, who was hated unto crucifixion for our sins (Matthew 5:44).

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14

“Think it not strange.” – The blessed fact that Christ is in you is underscored and confirmed by the persecution you are receiving! Expect it! “Rejoice!” Fellowship with Christ’s true remnant daily (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25). Cease to limit your interaction with believers to a Sunday morning time frame. Die to that old religious formula, get your own life with Christ, and love His beloved saints! “Daily”! Get in and remain in His presence and Word. Develop a life of prayer. Spread His Word daily.

Now, for those of you called out to serve the LORD whom our LORD has matured and seasoned, take heart.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:1-4

—- IF YOU are called out of God, you must know that NO WORK or occupation on this earth is within the same universe of importance as the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All else pales at best. Walk in “the fear of the LORD” and His “strong confidence” will fill your heart through the good and difficult times (Proverbs 14:26-27).  There is no work as important as that work which our LORD came and began and that He has sent us to carry forth in our generation – in this final generation!

“Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel…” 1 Corinthians 9:16

We must be possessed with this divine revelation as was our beloved brother Paul. You are on a mission from Heaven. You must not cease to communicate the Word of God. You must “endure hardness, as a good solider of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

Great and blessed eternal rewards are coming to those who overcome and “endure to the end,” abiding worshipful with Christ (Matthew 24:10-13; John 15:1-6; Revelation 2-3).

Just how much do we authentically love the LORD? Does His will prevail? Is our love for Him growing daily and is it greater that our love for self? Are we losing our lives/reputations in this fleeting world? (John 12:24-26) Those who choose to love the LORD with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength shall be with Him in that New Jerusalem! Read Revelation 21-22 every day this week.

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Coming to the Light [podcast]

“Walk While Ye Have the Light, Lest Darkness Come Upon You” [podcast]

“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven”

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]