In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 13:
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
We are at war with worldliness and we must get the “world” out of us as we go forth in the coming days, weeks, and months. The beast is the carnal nature that would attempt to eliminate us being led by THE SPIRIT and succumb to worldly pleasures and actions. The world is increasingly becoming polarized and is causing many to focus on worldly issues rather than Spiritual Truths and realities.
In chapter 4, James by THE SPIRIT wrote:
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
An adulterer is one who is not faithful toward GOD and this person is called an enemy. An enemy is one who opposes and is hostile and hateful toward FATHER as well as those who walk in HIS Divine Intent. We are not to flee the world but are instructed to flee worldliness which happens to be our enemy. The war is waged within us and we must not let the carnal man strengthen and overpower the Spiritual man. Worldliness must not creep in and take hold for it is hostile toward our communion with FATHER and will cause us to grow dull in hearing and seeing.
Jesus prayed for His disciples and this prayer is applicable to you and me as well. Being the Son of GOD, Jesus knew better than anyone else the importance of prayer. We too should embrace this same reality that prayer is critical to our welfare. In John chapter 17, Jesus spoke to FATHER and prayed on behalf of those who are called to spread the Gospel:
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.
8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.”
Jesus prayed that we keep FATHER’S Word and not let it depart from us in any manner. FATHER confirmed and is still confirming HIS Word among the Sons. Jesus clearly states: “I have given them (and us) the Words which YOU have given Me”. This is why I believe it is critical for us to consider and focus on the Words of Jesus. If they were not important, Jesus would not have spoken them for our benefit. We cannot be fully mature without that focus and FATHER found it necessary to send forth HIS Son on our behalf. We should not underestimate that value for we are at war. Jesus continued:
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”
You and I are HIS therefore this prayer applies to us as well. We are to be one and in unity with FATHER and each other. Jesus is ONE with FATHER and we are called to walk in the same manner. Jesus was no longer in the world and we must accept that same path fully and completely. The world must not enter in and take hold just as we would not let a strongman in our house and take it away from us. We must not let the enemy slither into our presence but instead cast it out. Jesus went on to pray:
14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
We have been sent into the world to redeem it. The enemy must be fought within and defeated so that we can be a light to the world. Jesus did not pray to remove and isolate us from the world but to go forth in HIS NAME. We are to overcome the carnal nature first in ourselves and then minister to all who HE places before us. The enemy is the carnal nature, not the man. Love will overcome the enemy and convert men, not kill them. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 by THE SPIRIT:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
The overcomers will win the war by THE SPIRIT and Love.