Not of This World

Once upon a time the devil started a rumour.  He told a few Christians that as long as they lived in the world, they had to suffer as the world did.  He told them they had to share the diseases and the defeat, the poverty and the failure of those around them.

It was a crafty lie; and it worked.  Believers accepted it and began to spread it among themselves.  You may have even heard it yourself.  If so, we want to help you put that rumour to rest today.  We want to help you get the facts straight once and for all.

You see, despite what you may have heard, health, prosperity, and victorious living are not concepts some comfort-deprived and comfort-hungry believer selfishly dreamed up.  They are God’s ideas.

You may say, “That sounds good, but I have to be realistic.  I live in a world that is full of problems.  And as long as I live in this world, it seems to me that I am going to have my share”.

Yes, that is true.  Even Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration”.  But notice, He did not stop there!  He went on to say, “But be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world.  [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]” (John 16:33, AMPC).

Most believers do not have any trouble believing the first part of that verse.  We know all too well how many tribulations, trials, distresses, and frustrations surround us.  We seem to be less certain about the last part though.  We have not yet experienced for ourselves exactly what Jesus meant when He said He has deprived those things of power to harm us.

Why not?

Because we are still living as though we are part of the world.

But, listen.  Jesus said you and I are to be “sanctified,” or separated from the evils of this world.  How?  Through the Word of God (John 17:17)!

“For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.”  1 John 5:4 (AMPC)

The Word of God will separate us from the world.  His Word will set His dream for health, prosperity, and victory into motion in our lives.  If we will receive it and believe it, speak it, and act on it, that Word will set us apart from those around us.  It will take us from trouble to triumph again and again.

“Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus.  Thank you that I am in this world, but not of this world.  Thank you that although I may face trials and tribulations, You have overcome the world.  Thank you that in You I can have health, that I can prosper, and that I can be victorious in You.  Amen.”

Enjoy a blessed day, our LFM family, and may God’s Richest Love and Blessings be with you all.

André and Nicole Binneman

(P.S. – If you need any prayer or counselling in light of your current difficulties and circumstances, please reach out to us at https://lifestylez.co.za/contact-us/.)