Anchor Scripture: John 14:30: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. [King James]
I’ll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry—he has nothing on me, no claim on me. [The Message]
. [NIV]
Introduction:
The Holy Scriptures have a lot to say about the world. In this study, we shall consider what they say the world is, who is its god, and its influence on the people it controls. In the anchor scripture above, Jesus Christ makes an astounding declaration, alluding to Satan as the “prince of this world.” We know that the everlasting God made all things by Jesus Christ, and that there is only one God, the LORD of heaven and earth. So what does Jesus mean when He calls Satan the prince of this world? First, take note that He says, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you.” There are some Christians who desire visions where “Jesus Christ would talk” with them. Sorry, Jesus said about 2000 years ago, “I’ll not be talking with you much more like this…” There is no need to expect Jesus Christ to talk to us like our friends and neighbors do every day. All He wants us to know and know about is in the Holy Scriptures. If only we gave ourselves to the study of His word we would hear Him clearly talking to us—warning, correcting, instructing, and comforting us. In fact, He has sent the Comforter (His Spirit) to be with us forever. It is a sign of gross unbelief to seek after visions, dreams, and “direct communications” with God; this opens up people to deceptions, manipulations, and control by Satan-sent men and women masquerading as “men and women of God.” Secondly, the scriptures never refer to Satan or any creature as the “god or prince of the earth.” The term “world” refers to the system that is anti-Christ, anti-God, and anti-holiness, which is Satan-inspired. The prince of this world therefore inspires all kinds of inventions from corrupt minds that spite God and His word. Inventions such as gay marriage, polygamy, polyandry, witchcraft or Satan worship, abortion, marriage to animals, body piercings and tattooing, sensual movies and music videos, ritual money-making, political witch-hunting and betrayals, etc., all constitute the “world” as world system, where men choose their leaders without God, decide how they should be governed without God, decide how to run and manage their economy without God. In short, the world system enthrones man as his own god, while Satan owns the throne! And did not Satan himself boast thus to Jesus Christ: “And the devil, 4uuitaking him (Jesus) up into a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours”? [Luke 4: 5-7]
What agreement have you entered into with Satan in order to gain the power and the glory that come from him?
A. According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, who blinds the minds of those who don’t believe the gospel? --------------------
B. Acts 19: 23-28: How does the world react when it is challenged with God’s word? ---------
C. Romans 12: 2: How does God expect a Christian to relate to the world; should a Christian copy some of the ways of the world in business, politics or family? -----------------------------
D. 1 Corinthians 1: 20; 3: 19: Compare the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. What response can you make to world’s philosophers and scholars who claim there is no God?
E. 2 Corinthians 1:12; James 1: 27: What is or should be the testimony of the Christian believer in this world and how can they keep themselves unspotted by the world?
F. According to Galatians 1:4, why did Jesus Christ give Himself for our sins?
CONCLUSION: The evil of this world required the death of Jesus Christ to fetch salvation for mankind. This underscores the danger of the world system. The rejoicing of the Christian believer is rooted only in the testimony of a good conscience, filled with the grace of innocence and godly sincerity, always bearing witness that they are the children of God; not using worldly wisdom to appropriate for themselves anything worldly and transient, but leaning wholly on God’s will that must be done on earth even as it is done in heaven. Leaning on worldly wisdom is a costly proposition. Truth of God’s word saves from this present evil world.
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