Worldliness

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Luke 16:8

8

"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light."

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Most Christians come to Christ sincerely when they have already been subject to the worldliness that surrounds them first. Yes, some are raised in households where they are shown the light and how it applies to their lives. But how many children must reach out to the candle flame in order to know for themselves that it burns? So there are very few who are raised in the light whom remain in the light. Most  seek out Christ sincerely when they come to realize the world has labelled them for judgement.

The children of the world rely on their learned understanding and on their instincts. They become cunning, and like the verse said, they are shrewd. As they expect those they deal with to be in opposition to them. This is why they rely greatly on trust in one another, and why they follow through with those who have proven they can be trusted. Otherwise, they look for an advantage, to capitalize on the errors of others. To eat or be eaten.

The children of the light, have the same understanding. But they have put that understanding aside if they are part of the body of Christ. They do not look for trust, nor expect it. They instead act in loving ways, providing for themselves no advantage. The children of the light deny themselves, in order to supply the love they themselves would have. Beacons of selflessness, fearless of consequence. Yes, they could be shrewd because that is in their nature from the time of their worldly development. But instead, the children of the light suffer the outcome of their faith, which in worldly terms; means persecution, abandonment, and loss.

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Matthew 10:22

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You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

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Our daily bread is this suffering. It is what reminds us that what fills our spirits, is not what fills our belly. Truly the joy of being persecuted is spiritual, and it is an affirmation of sorts. It affirms that we are hated for the purpose God has placed on us. This is not our home, we die of this flesh, unwanted, and neglected; so we can be celebrated and collected in eternal ways. Our home is elsewhere, and our daily bread is of the same quality. Unseen.

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Philippians 1:29

29
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

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It is grace that suspends sin so we can see the light. That grace is real, as none who have been or are of the body of Christ, could be of the body of Christ without him first paying for their sins. Grace is the doorway, faith is the key. Those who believe in him and seek the Father through His Truth, find the way to eternal life. And a believer who is of the body of Christ, has Christ in him/her also. And the world no longer recognizes you as its own. You are alien to it, and this is why the children of the world prey upon us. We are defenseless to their worldliness, when we act in faith of love. And we would not have something to believe in that is holy, if it weren't for the grave we received through the blood of the Lamb of God.

There are individuals, and even some communities, who in the name of Christ; still act in worldly ways. They see grace as a kind of tool to do their own will in the confidence of their salvation. But these people honor the world and delude themselves, while spreading false doctrine. Their doctrine is a combination of the old testament mediation and their take on the Truth. They prosper in worldliness and call it God's favor. But it is not favor, as it was before the time of John the Baptist. It is the world recognizing them and them returning to what they came from.

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2 Peter 2:20

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If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

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Worldliness is not the wealth of an individual or the poorness. Money and possessions are not worldliness. Worldliness is what we act upon that comes from what have inside ourselves. Worldliness is supplied by our reliances. If we rely on our understanding of the knowledge of good and evil, then that is how we make our choices. If we rely upon our emotions and our logic, then that is how we derive the choices we make. If we rely solely upon our animal instinct and the trust we have in like minded individuals, then that is how we make our choices. But the path that observes none of these, but instead denies them in order that the Holy Spirit can work through us, shows we recognize the Father as what is righteous. Worldliness is a string of choices that define a soul for judgement.

Now that this has all been shown to you and clarified; you should be reminded that you and I are not perfect. We make mistakes, we stumble when tempted, we react to what is placed in front of us, instead of allowing faith to shine through us. But we persevere, we become alert to our circumstance, knowing what to expect from the world will not favor us. We constantly are renewed in the spirit, finding our strength comes from our weaknesses.

The children of the world will continue to dominate and subdue it. They will continue to serve themselves, and further separate themselves from the unseen qualities of God. They will commonize, and unite in their so called greatness, and will wonder why we do not join them. Christians will be seen as evil. They cannot trust us. They can only learn the ways of love by its truth, or they can deny the kingdom upon them. We are here to show that the will of God was shown to us through the son of God. And the will of God is to believe in His Son. And the Son of God commanded us to love the Father and one another. And the ascension of the son is proven by the fruits of holiness that come through us by the Holy Spirit. And those fruits are of that tree and are recognized as of God, by God. But the children of the world will claim what is of the kingdom as their own. They will see their peace as holy, see their love as true, honor themselves as righteous.

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Luke 13:27

27
"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

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Have faith, and pray. Pray for thanks when you are persecuted. Thanks, because you recognize it is the worldly who hates the truth in you. They destroy what they do not understand. And in the darkness, they do not see the light. Shine a light and they will witness it. But a house on top of a hill can be seen for miles, and can be attacked from all sides.

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