Three Unholy Agents Against The Christian

Three UNHOLY Agents Against the Christian

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

There are three unholy agents that is against every Christian.

That is the world, the flesh and the devil.

I believe your flesh is the worse of the three.

The reason is that it is simply attached to you and it is always so near.

It is easy to go the way of the flesh -because it is so natural to do so.

the devil gets far more credit than he deserves.

He is blamed for lots of things that is the fault of our flesh.

The devil did not make you do it.

You sinned against God because you wanted to.

First, let’s look to some verses to encourage you in this walk of faith:

1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 5:4-5 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Joshua 1:9 (KJV) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Matthew 28:20 (KJV) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

In some ways, it is more difficult to defeat the world than the devil.

No one really wants people to dislike them.

It is a basic human desire to be liked.

This world did not like Jesus!

Think of all the good that He did.

Anyone who came to Him in childlike faith was healed of disease

whether it was physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Jesus said in John 6:37 "him that cometh unto me, I will in wise cast out."

What a precious promise given to us today!

But Jesus knew the realities of this world.

He warns His disciples of this truth in several places in the garden just before his arrest.

John 15:18-20 (KJV) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 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 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Even John reminded us of this in his epistle.

1 John 3:13 (KJV) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

What happens when the world defeats you?

You turn worldly.

When you are worldly, you are not godly.

Worldliness is manifested in what we say,

the things we do or don't do,

the places you go or don't go -and other ways…