[Music] grace is one of the most beautiful birds in the world it has completely white plumage which makes its beauty even more admirable it lives in rivers, lakes and swamps but what most calls our attention to this bird is its habitat manages to live in the middle of the dirt without getting dirty without being contaminated by the mud its plumage remains White the Life of this bird teaches each of us a great lesson which Read together with me the book of John Chapter 17 Verse 16 says they are not part of the world just as
I am not part of the world Jesus Makes it clear that all who wanted to be his followers just like him should not be part of the world but what is this world that Jesus refers to in the text the word world refers to unjust human society far from God people who don't want to live up to the standards of the Bible But why couldn't we be part of this world See the answer in the first book of John Chapter 5 Verse 19 we know that we originate from God now notice but the whole world
is in the power of the evil one the whole world is in control of satan the devil or as the text says in the power of the evil one this world influences people to imitate the attitudes of the devil and not of God that's why the The world around us has adopted attitudes as John 8:44 says, such as lying , falsehood, dishonesty as a way of life. In addition, Ephesians Chapter 2 Verses 1 to 3 say that sexual immorality, pornography, adultery is everywhere in the world. the world also encourages each of us there against what
God says is right they say living by the moral standards of the bible is old fashioned outdated doesn't apply anymore they say we need to adopt the new morality to be happy the current trend is to be tolerant not critical everything is considered relative there is nothing absolutely right or absolutely wrong is as declared The Prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah Chapter 5 Verses 20 and Verse 21 woe to those who say in which good is evil and evil is good in those who put darkness for light and light for darkness Those who put
bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and discreet even in their own eyes Faces so each of us needs to adopt the attitude we need to behave like Jesus Jesus and not be part of the world note that the theme of this speech is imitate Jesus and not be part of the world Jesus was a perfect example of someone who was not part of the world jesus did not get involved in politics he stayed away from the political system of his day see jesus' own words
in the biblical book of john chapter 6 verse 15 so jesus knowing they were coming to get him in order to make him king withdrew again to the mountain alone Jesus refused to have any involvement in politics now see the book of John Chapter 18 Verse 36 Jesus replied my kingdom is no part of this world if my kingdom were part of this world my partners Christians would have fought to keep me from being handed over to the Jews but the fact is that my kingdom is not from here can we really believe that Jesus
and his disciples were not involved in politics secular history provides Ample evidence that the early Christians were politically neutral and did not participate in wars the book The Beginning of Christianity says the founders of Christianity were extremely careful not to develop any tendency to directly interfere with the established political order likewise the book on the road to civilization notes first century Christianity was understood and frowned upon by the rulers of the Pagan world Christians refused certain duties of Roman citizens they did not accept political office with respect to early Christians and military service German theologian
Peter mayrold said Being a Christian and at the same time a soldier was considered incompatible in his research essay on whether war and christianity are compatible the religious affairs writer Jonathan Damon wrote that for some time after the death of Jesus his followers refused to participate in them even though they knew that for doing so they could be vilified arrested or killed Damon added no one can deny these Only when Christianity becomes corrupted said another writer is that Christians have become soldiers therefore just like Jesus and being disciples each of us must be neutral in
political matters not get involved in politics not have any connection with the political system Jesus also led a simple life he did not pursue material goods Jesus did not care concerned about always having the best the most important thing the most beautiful the most outstanding no what was most important to Jesus was doing the preaching work and helping people to have an intimate relationship with his father with our God Jehovah We too we need to have that same mindset we need to put the kingdom of God first in our lives because Jehovah promises that if
we do this as Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 says all other things will be added to us it is also very important to be content with what we have so that we are not running after unnecessary things so that our attention our focus is to seek first the kingdom and do the most important work of preaching and helping people Jesus didn't let the world influence him he took a firm stand and rejected all the advances of satan the devil We also shouldn't love the world and its wrong things see why reading with me the book
of first John Chapter 2 Verse 15:16 love neither the world nor the things of the world if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him because everything that is in the world the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the display of possessions does not originate from the father but comes from the world he who loves the world he who has a Strong Desire for the things of the world becomes an enemy of God because as we have seen everything that has in this world the ruler
Satan the devil and Jesus showed how we can reject the temptations of this world he did not allow normal physical needs such as food and rest to dominate his way of thinking Jesus did not allow himself to be carried away by what the world could offer he did not use the power he had to show off to show that he was almighty that he was the son of God no Jesus had the strength to reject all temptations when he faced the temptations of the devil Jesus quoted the scriptures he had the word of God very
clear in his mind when he replied it is written again it is written go away Satan for it is written it is Jehovah your God you tend to worship it is your mind to him that you must render sacred service it was love for Jehovah and his word that moved Jesus to reject the enticements the tempter presented after Jesus had resisted temptations again and again Satan left him If Jesus relied on Scripture to resist the devil's temptations How much more to us do we really owe our ability to reject the devil and his agents begins
with a determination to know God's standards well and to adhere closely to them many felt if they are induced to live according to the standards of the Bible after they have studied it and come to value divine wisdom and justice, the word of God really exerts a force capable of discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart in addition to knowing the scriptures Jesus resisted temptations because he was filled with the Holy Spirit for us to have similar strength and abilities we need to draw close to Jehovah by taking full advantage of his provisions that
aim to give us a great measure of his spirit among these Bible study prayer association with our brothers many have also benefited from keeping a wide schedule of Christian activities which helps to occupy the mind with uplifting spiritual thoughts have you ever tried to affect someone other than your spouse if you are single Have you ever had a strong desire to hang out with an unbeliever on television or the internet the Christian may be suddenly tempted to see something unclean has this ever happened to you if it happened how you reacted it would be wise
to meditate on how one false step can lead to another and then a serious transgression think of the hurt that an act of unfaithfulness would cause Jehovah the congregation heart and your family read a clear conscience but it results from Loyalty to divine principles the apostle Paul was also an excellent example for us he was tempted to the limit of his strength see his words in second to the Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 8 to 10 three times I begged the Lord asking it to depart from me but he told me my deserved kindness is enough
for you for my power is being perfected in weakness with much joy so I will boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may remain over me like a tent so takes pleasure in weaknesses insults in privations in persecutions in difficulties Christ for when I'm weak so I'm powerful so that each of us can have the strength to imitate the beautiful example of our Lord Jesus Christ and not be part of the world Jesus gave us a guarantee that helps us to have more determination to keep fighting and not to do part of
the world but what a guarantee was this analyze with me reading the book of John Chapter 16 Verse 33 I have told you these things so that through me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation but courage I have overcome the world although we are imperfect Jesus guaranteed that we can win the world just like he won but to win the world it is necessary to fight with all our strength not to enhance a character sistic that the world exalts pride it is vital that we overcome pride with humility it is
very wise not to get involved in the pursuit of fame power opposition because As the Bible says God is opposed to the proud or proud but deserved kindness to the Humble Jesus also taught his followers to be humble and to be willing to help other people see what he said in the book of Luke Chapter 22 Verses 24 to 27 however they also got into a heated argument about which of them was the greatest but he told them the kings of the Nations lord over them and those who have authority over them are called and
benefactors you but you should not be like that but let the greatest among you become like youngest and he who is in charge like the one who serves for he who is greater is he who is at the table or the one who serves is not the one at the table but I am among you as the one who serves the world encourages us to seek success fame highlight power But we need to be strong and resist this influence to this way of thinking and again the life of the apostle Paul teaches us a powerful
lesson in this regard the life of the apostle Paul was very different from the life of King Solomon Paul had no Ivory Throne nor feasted with Kings he faced the period of famine thirst cold and nakedness After he accepted Jesus as the Messiah Paul no longer had any position of honor in the Jewish religion on the contrary the Jewish leaders hated him He was arrested flogged beaten with rods and stoned Paul recognized that he and his Christian brothers were reviled persecuted and defamed the apostle When Paulo was young, his name was Saulo, he had a
family with good prospects, he was born into an apparently prominent family, he studied with a respected instructor, gamaliel, he was fluent in Hebrew and Greek, he had citizenship , Roman citizenship, which gave him much coveted privileges and rights, if he had preferred, he would continue to seek success from the world's point of view probably would have achieved prominence and fame power and financial security Paul loved Jehovah and desired his approval more than riches and prominence among men having acquired an accurate knowledge of the Truth he came to value the ransom and the Christian Ministry and
also the hope of living in heaven things that the world widely despised no matter what trials he faced Paul was determined to be faithful to God and persevere in True Worship so each of us needs to have the same determination as Paul did to overcome this world We also have to be very careful not to give glory to the stars sports or famous people many people desperately give glory to football stars football teams and famous people they express this love this desperate attachment on social media and also many other places if we want to win
the world we need to be different in this matter we can't giving honor or glory to anyone or anything other than our creator the all God mighty Jehovah Christians also refuse to hate others fear ignorance and prejudice has caused much division in the world on the other hand true Christians are United by sincere love and No interest see the words of Jesus in the book of John Chapter 13 Verses 34 and 35 I give you a New Commandment Love one another as I have loved you I love one another by this all will know that
you are my disciples If you love one another Jesus said that Christians should love even their enemies emphasizing that love would be the basis of your behavior, your way of thinking, your way of acting now Jesus showed that in order to overcome the world it was necessary to have a quality see what that quality is reading with me first from John Chapter 5 verses 3 and 4 because the love of God means the following that we obey his commandments however his commandments are not heavy because everyone who was born of God has overcome the world
and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith faith is an indispensable quality for us to overcome the world in reality it is fundamental because because we need to have faith to believe that Jesus is reigning in heaven and that he will soon destroy this evil system ruled by satan the devil faith too it will help us to obey our creator it will also help us not to imitate the wrong things in the world or its way of thinking faith will help us live by God's standards now Imagine the following scene a
dangerous high rise criminal his cell meanwhile behind him the guards say something very strange dead man walking why do they say that at all Prisoner doesn't seem to have any health problems in fact the guards are taking the prisoner to be executed so it's like he's already dead in a sense the world today is like that man who is going to be killed this evil world has been condemned a long time ago and its end is near we can be sure that this world will be destroyed but there is a big difference between the end
of this world and the execution of the prisoner in the case of the prisoner someone can still try to change the sentence by questioning himself The decision is fair Furthermore a judge can postpone or even cancel the sentence but in the case of world the sentence was determined by the sovereign of the universe and his justice is perfect Jehovah will not back down and no one will question his decision after this happens everyone in heaven and on earth will agree that justice has been done imagine how this will be well soon the ruler of this
world will no longer be able to deceive the people of this world and His bad influence will cease to exist see the first words of John Chapter 2 Verse 17 Besides, the world is passing away and so is its desire But who does the God's will endures forever instead of stress and anxiety what we will feel in the future the Psalms and number 37 Verse 11 answers we will have great joy in the abundance of peace do you not get emotional reading these words and this is the life that Jehovah wants for you so do
all you can to strengthen your friendship with God and stay well as your organization arrives in these last stressful days focus on hope and let your life live keep your mind in your heart and always talk about it to others also be determined to always do the will of Jehovah if you do this you can only be sure that you will never be destroyed along with this evil world on the contrary you will go on living happily and forever eternity
