Dealing With The World Series

Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Dealing with the World” -- John 15:18-16:11

I. The public teaching and ministry

II. The Private teaching and ministry of Jesus 13-17

It is not too difficult to discover the purpose behind the principles taught by Jesus in theses last days and hours before his crucifixion.

13:19 He said I am speaking these things before they happen so that you might believe.

15:11 I have spoken these things that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full.

14:29 I have spoken these things that you might believe and your faith be strengthened when they come to pass.

14:31 I have spoken the things commanded by my father so the world may know my love for the father.

16:1 I have spoken these things in order to keep you from stumbling.

16:4 I have spoken these things so that you might remember how I predicted.

16:33 I have spoken these things that you might have peace I the midst of tribulation

14:25 The Holy Spirit will continue to speak

16:12 They couldn’t bear to hear everything at once.

16:13-15 The Holy Spirit will continue to speak

16:25 Sometimes spoke in figurative language.

A. Forgive as Jesus forgives

B. Love as Jesus loves

C. Practice pertinent truths that soothe the troubled soul 14:1-31

D. Stay connected to the True Vine to bear lasting fruit 15: 1-8

E. Receive and reciprocate God’s love

Jesus next alerts them to the trouble ahead of them as his faithful followers. Mainly that w\they will continually have to contend with a hostile world. There are some essential things necessary to face that kind of opposition.

Looking back through this passage one can easily identify the necessary resources for living in a fallen world.

1. A settled realization of the depth of God’s love for them.

2. A deepening understanding of His word (My words abide in you)

3. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides and empowers.

4. Unity among other followers.

We will find that it is just these things that Jesus prays in his prayer for them in John 17. Jesus addresses our dealing with the world in the rest of this section and on into chapter 16.

F. Deal wisely with the World

Jesus addresses the “R” section of our CPR mission statement. Resist the evil of the world the flesh and the devil.

1. Defining and describing the “world”

John employs the Greek word “kosmos” which includes a broad range of meaning from the created “earth” to the group of beings holding to a common philosophy or following a common ruler.

• The entire universe as created by God

• Mankind in general

• The theatre of human history

• A devil-directed society of beings dedicated to devil-dictated philosophies, principles and practices.

In this last sense it may be the same concept as a “kingdom”. Jesus does not refer to the earth but to the collection of beings committed to a philosophy or view entirely opposed to Jesus. We have been inundated with a barrage of verbal and visual political propaganda.

Each party holds to a philosophy or way of government they deem to be the best. They continue to push that philosophy though all means in order to win the minds and hearts of those listening and watching. Satan is the ultimate politician. Promising everything delivering nothing. Paul indicated that everyone born on earth is born a citizen of this kingdom.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Eph 2:1-3

Jesus spoke of this world ruler’s agenda earlier in chapter 12.

"I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; John 14:30

The world in this sense is a society of devil-deceived and devil-directed beings.

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 Joh 5:19

The world operates according to a particular philosophy and course energized by Satan.

Satan dictates a philosophy that goes against everything God stands for and peddles and promotes it through an elaborate system. Everything in that system is designed to appeal to the fallen fleshly nature. It results in a society of people based on self-exalting, self-glorifying independence rather than God-exalting God-glorifying dependence and service

It is a society based on self-satisfying desire and lust rather than self-sacrificing devotion and love. Satan appeals to these fallen fleshly drives of the soul.