1 Corinthians 2:12 says:
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
So there is a spirit of the world. What does that spirit command?
1 John 2:15-17 says:
“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.
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.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
We see here that the spirit of the world commands the activities of the lust of the flesh. It monitors, supervises, coordinates, and organises the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
Let’s look at Peter’s case in Matthew 16:22 of which says: “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”
Jesus was talking about the death He would die, and Peter, influenced by one of these negative spirits, began to rebuke Jesus!
Friends, the rulers of this wicked world, and the wicked spirits in high places, are the forces we are contending with!
These forces influence people to do things against God, so that they can fall under His judgement.
See Peter, who had just proclaimed Jesus as the Christ by revelation (“neither flesh nor blood has revealed this to you”, Jesus told him). The devil then decided to also reveal something to him. So Peter took Jesus and began to rebuke Him!
He was under a strange influence; strange influence from the pit of hell!
Anything that makes for spiritual arrogance and rebellion, is the work of the spirit of the world.
Matthew 16:23 says:
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
When the things of God don’t matter to you, you are under the influence of one of the rulers of this wicked world.
I see Peter’s rebuke of Jesus as blasphemous, seditious and rebellious!
What happened? Peter simply went wild under a satanic influence!
Every time you see your spirit not embracing the truth of life, know that there is a strange influence trying to tear down your destiny. So be smart to say, like Jesus, “Get thee behind me Satan!”
Luke 22:3 says:
“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”
Judas was also a victim.
Every rebellion is perpetrated by demonic influences. Rebellion is a demonic activity perpetrated by evil influences.
Satan entered Judas, and he went his way to betray the Master.
These are not natural forces. They are essentially spiritual, demonic, satanic forces, aiming at men’s destinies, to destroy them. You will not be destroyed in Jesus name!
The spirit of the world has destroyed many families.
The woman wants everything money can buy, until she wears the man out! That is the lust of the eyes!
For a man or woman to be wearing clothes on credit, he or she is under the captivity of the spirit of the world – the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes.
To look at a wristwatch that is worth thousands of dollars and go for it, while other pressing issues are left unattended to, is sickening!
Friend, these things work so subtly. You don’t hear the “footsteps” of a serpent, do you?
Now tell me, what is a man doing with two cars, when he’s only just starting a business? Meanwhile, he’s all over the place looking for capital. He is committing a capital sin!
Remote control! It controls from the realm of the unseen!
The spirit of the world puts people in bondage by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.
Some people are looking for what business to do, meanwhile the jewelleries they have on adds up to more than the capital they need!
The spirit of the world is what is tormenting your mind, that won’t let you be contented or be grateful to God, it keeps your mind panting after things!
Haven’t you heard that godliness with contentment is great gain? (1 Timothy 6:6)
Friend, you don’t have a problem, so don’t create one for yourself.
Whatever makes you tired of the truth is the devil!
Look at Ephesians 2:1-3 from your Bible,
It says, “the prince of the power of the air”. So wherever air is, that’s where he operates.
The prince of the power of the air is what moves a man into the lust of the flesh and all that follows it.
Now, look into the atmosphere and say:
“Christ has given me power against unclean spirits. Prince of the power of the air, hear my voice: I am not subject to your authority. Your influence will no longer find access to my life, nor my flesh, nor my mind. No! No more!”
When you look at what is in the world – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life – they are all machinations of the spirit of the world. And when you are captured by it, you become an enemy of God.
James 4:4 says:
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
No enemy of God has a future. Remember Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and others. It is the love of God that guarantees glorious living!
shalom!
#pstnath.
Jesus is Lord