Saying the world is the enemy of the Christian is sometimes hard to believe. Do you mean this beautiful world? But then again the world and its system of operation are under the control of the devil. Eph 2:1 -3 aptly describes him as the prince of the power of the air. Compare John 12:31
The Christian however has been delivered from this world and the wrath which is to come – Gal 1:4. He is no longer conditioned to walk according to the course of this world because he has been set free – 1st John 5:4. It is in this glorious state of freedom that we are able like John to identify the true state of this world.
What do we mean by the world? I John 2:15-16 (MSG) – “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world–wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important–has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him”.
You cannot live meaningfully as a Christian when you seek to use the world order as a guiding light -Rom 12:2, Gal 6:14. This is because all that is in the world is enmity to God.
These values of the world have been woven into every fibre of its system. It may sound farfetched: and I assure you it is not, when you fail to realise that there is no zone of comfort. God’s perspective of science, education, finance, health, politics, entertainment, etc is different. Let’s use love as an example. Besides being built on a sensual foundation, love in the world does an assessment of the object that would be benefited using various measures e.g. wealth, fame, profitability, beauty, etc But the love of God is the volition of God expressed irrespective of the object that would benefit nor it’s attribute. This is also how the Christian has been called to love. This however is stupidity to any person in this world.
But you are not of this world anymore – 1st John 2:6. Finance sees constant giving as leakages but God thinks differently. Health says it is impossible but God thinks differently. Education determines wisdom, God thinks differently. Till you realise the standards of this world are not the standards of God, you would live short of who God has called you.
Realise that in all this we have not talked about the people in this world because it is not primarily people or what they have done as much as the thinking that has influenced him/her to do what he has done. This is only identified and done away with in Christ Jesus. 2nd Cor 10:4 – 6
Only a believer conscious of his heavenly citizenship upholding the values of the country that He belongs to would shine in this crooked and perverse generation – Phil 2:15 – 16. I leave you with this advice from Paul under inspiration of the Holy Ghost….those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For the world in its present form is passing away.1st Cor. 7:31
Dr. bolaji akanni
Who do you consider your enemy? Do these make the list?
That lady
That guy
That man
The devil
My boss
My neighbour, etc
Remarkably, from the bible, only 3 entities make the list. The man born again has not been called to wage war against his fellow man for any thing. Hear scripture:-
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matt 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.
2nd Cor. 10:3 – 4 For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh. For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh,
Eph 6:12a For our fight is not against flesh and blood…
It is misplaced priority and a vain task for any Christian to hold any person he sees as his enemy even if the person has been pronounced a witch or wizard. Our fight is not against flesh and blood!!!
But worthy of note are these three entities in order of importance:
The flesh
The world
The devil
We would be dealing with the first and most important today – Your flesh. Your body had long been the instrument through which sin achieved its deadly purpose and like a zombie, your body had been habituated to this. Ephesians 1:1 – 3
When you became born again however, you were identified in the death of Jesus i.e you died in Christ Jesus and rose with him unto newness of life. Now you have power in your inner man. Your spirit has been renewed, made in the very image of God. Your body however is very much the same. With the same cravings. This would not be changed till the day of redemption.
The cravings and desire of your body had been that which had been worked up by the old sinful nature. Because of this we are called to bring our body under subjection. The outlet through which we get to view the desires of the body is through the mind. The body cannot be handled directly through whatever means, however, the passions of the body can be put in check through a renewal of the mind. Romans 12:1 – 2
No wonder scriptures say as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. The issue is not about the body “corpus” so no amount of harsh treatment would help the body rather it is about what the mind is built upon which is a direct reflection of the issues of the ongoing passions in the body.
Realise that walking by the proceeds of your flesh is tantamount to an opposing walk in the spirit. Gal 5:17 – 18
Your flesh is always with you. You could resist the devil and he would flee from you. But your flesh is always there. The way to walking in victory over the flesh is by acknowledging who you are in Christ Jesus and walking in the light of the same. No wonder scripture says we should reckon ourselves dead to sin and dead indeed. i.e. consider yourself truly dead to sin. Rom 6:12. You are not under bondage to the motions of the flesh now because your existence is not in the flesh but in the spirit. Rom 8:9 This is your new plane; your identity. Because of this Galatians 5 and verse 25 says that if you and I live in the spirit, let us walk also in the spirit. A walk in the spirit does not allow the contradictory desires of the flesh to be satisfied. Gal 5:16
A walk in the spirit is a walk giving heed to God’s word which is spiritual. John 6:63
A walk in the spirit is walk giving heed to the spirit man within who does not go at variance to God’s word since he is birthed by the author of the word.
Learn dear friends to walk in the spirit now and always. This is the way to fight the war of the flesh.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2nd Tim 2:22
– bolaji akanni
Make yourself accountable. Know that accountability is a sign of strength not weakness because it means that you have a good character. Understand that no one is beyond the need for accountability. The more you attempt to do for God, the more you need to be accountable. Trust God to help you do the right thing in private as well as in public. Think and pray about other people you can ask to be your accountability partner. As partners, ask each other the hard questions and be willing to challenge one another to remain faithful in all areas of lives. Accountability will help protect your testimony as a Christian and make you a successful witness for Christ. Be accountable to someone else before you require the same from any other person.
Pay attention to life’s details such as returning phone call or writing thank you notes. Know that if you are great in little things you will build integrity with others. Be loyal to Christ and to the people you have important relationships, such as your spouse, sibling, children and Christian friends. Show people that they can rely on you. Work diligently at your tasks, giving everything you undertake your best efforts.
-gabriel ajibade
Keep confidences. Strive to be a person other people can trust. When someone gives you some information on the condition that you don’t share it with anyone, make sure you don’t. Offer other people wise counsel. Live with integrity. Nurture a passionate devotional life, spending time daily reading and meditating on the Bible. Balance your life with fun. Let it be visible that you aren’t one of those stereotypical, overly serious and no-fun religious people. Give yourself permission to enjoy life and laugh at your at your own foibles.
Have courage. Refuse to back down when taking a stand is necessary. Refuse to keep quiet when speaking up is necessary. Refuse to look in the other direction whenpressing on is necessary. Never compromise your convictions. Be willing to confront people lovingly when necessary. When facing a problem or challenge, concentrate only on finding solutions. Forgive others and seek to be a peacemaker.
– gabriel ajibade
Being a person of influence to those around you require that you are a little kinder than is necessary in every situation. Treat people the way you want them to treat you (Luke 6:31). Ask God to give you genuine care and concern for people. Commit to being available to people in need and express God’s love to them. Never look down on anyone. Realize that by underestimating a person, you’re de-valuing his creator. Expect God to give you plenty of opportunities to touch people’s life. When God presents an opportunity, take it or it will be lost.
Learn to say ‘no’ with sensitivity to people’s feelings, so as not to offend them. Refuse to be negative; always strive to embrace the positive in your attitude and relationship with people. Ask God to help you discern the appropriate way to encourage people in every situation you come across. Everyone thirsts to have a taste of God’s love; this love is what you have and what you can give.
We live in an age where most believers are only committed to their education, ordination and profession, but God expects you to be committed to people.
– gabriel ajibade
No matter your station in life, you can update yourself so that you can be a person of influence to those around you. In the next few weeks, you will receive a series of articles designed to challenge you to leave “the rest” behind and move on to higher level in your walk with God. This is the first part:
Update your life by taking cognizance of how God has directed your steps, orchestrated your schedule and allowed you to experience certain things to make you more usable and stable in your walk. Understand that your only assignment is to be in God’s will at all time.
You don’t have to be particularly smart, strong or rich for God to use you. Know that God looks for faith, purity, holiness and obedience. Seek to develop those qualities. Surround yourself with the very best people, listen to them, learn from them and let them be a challenge to excite your passion to live for God. See, the world does not remember the rest, it only remembers the best.
– gabriel_ajibade