Be Not of this World
Hi Everyone,
Today I am sharing a vision the Lord gave me recently. The Lord has been speaking to me of consecration, and being separated from the world, set apart for God. God is asking us to be willing to be different, to not buy into the world’s values, or to take our cues from the world. He wants us to stand in agreement with him, to love what he loves, and to hate what he hates.
The Vision
The Corn Cob
In this vision I saw a single ear of yellow corn with a few blue kernels scattered among the yellow ones. Blue in the Bible generally represents heaven, God or godliness. Yellow on the other hand can represent prosperity, as in the color of yellow gold. Yellow can also represent sickness or disease as described in Leviticus.
"If a man or woman has an infection on the head or chin, the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard." Leviticus 13:29-30
Yellow can also represent judgment as was the color of sulfur (brimstone) raining down on Sodom and Gomorrah.
What the Vision Means
I believe that the Lord is making a distinction between the people of the world and believers within the world. We are supposed to be different, set apart for God. If we are truly born again, then what we have, the world does not possess: the Holy Spirit. When we are regenerated, born again, our spirits are made alive, and we have a desire to please God. We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world.
I believe that the corn cob represents the world, and its people groups and cultures. The yellow kernels represent those who belong to the world, and do not have the Spirit of God. By far, this is the great majority of people. The blue kernels represent those who have been born of God and belong to him. They have in inner witness of the Holy Spirit, and are able to hear and discern the voice of God.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:27-28
Jesus compares and contrasts these two groups throughout his teachings. He wants the gospel to reach the ears of all who will listen and follow him. It is not his desire that any should perish. His message of forgiveness of sins, the restoration of fellowship with God and the hope of eternal life goes out to all, but not all will receive him or his message. He describes the people in the world as following two different roads:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
In the vision there were many kernels of corn on the stalk that were yellow, but only a few that were blue. We should not expect that everyone will be saved. For people love darkness and do not want to come into the light.
Probably the most famous line in scripture is John 3:16 which precedes the explanation of why not all will be saved. Here is the passage in context:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” John 3:16-21
Jesus calls us, his church, "Children of the Light," for we choose to walk in his light.
Years ago, after I was saved, delivered and baptized in the Holy Spirit, I began having dreams where I was going in the opposite direction of everyone else. I know that the Lord was showing me that the Christian life would be diametrically opposed to the world. God values things that the world dismisses as nominal or unimportant, and the world values things that are abhorrent to God. That is why the Word of Truth, (the Bible) speaks of the world being an enemy of God.
"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
Jesus used the Pharisees as a prime example of those who oppose God, for they did not accept his teachings and even claimed that "he had a demon." This next passage of scripture speaks of this very thing:
Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come. Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:21-35
Notice here that not only did the Pharisees not believe Jesus, but his own family members took issue with him. But everything changed after the resurrection, James, Jesus' half-brother, became head of the church in Jerusalem and was killed by the Pharisees for his faith. Jude also Jesus' half-brother became a disciple and wrote the book of Jude in the Bible.
The world follows the prince of this world. The believer follows Jesus. These two groups will always be at odds, for God's ways are not the ways of the world. Jesus did not mince words but declared the truth openly without fear. All those who accepted his words would come to believe and those who refuted them would be condemned. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees in the following passage:
I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you. I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
“Abraham is our father,” they replied.
“If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. You are doing the works of your father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:37-47
One must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He and the Father are one, in order to be saved. Unbelief leads to condemnation, but faith in the Lord means salvation and eternal life.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:16
We believers who love the Lord are considered children of God. And we are to walk with him, and be like him. We are to be united with him in purpose and in submission to his will, as the Lord was in submission to do the Father's will. He considered it to be his purpose and his very food or sustenance.
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." John 4:34
Those who do not belong to the Father, but belong to the world have no desire to seek the Lord. Jesus referred to those who belong to the world as being dead. A young man who Jesus told to “Follow Me,” was hesitant, making an excuse:
The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60
Paul also spoke of those without the Lord as being dead. He also called them children of wrath.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3
The Lord is asking us to separate from the world and to be a witness giving testimony to the Lord’s goodness, mercy and gifts of salvation and eternal life. We are to be different from the world, for we are filled with his Holy Spirit and our purpose is to make him known to those who will receive him. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, the word says:
The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:17
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
We as believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and are to remain in him. It was Jesus who said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Without God and without the Holy Spirit we are not able to please God. As children of God we are to go and bear fruit for him. To the Lord, bearing fruit is to take on the character traits that belong to him and the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Years ago, while praying I heard the Lord speak to me. He said, "I don't want you to do, I want you to be."
He had already asked me to give up my design business, and then my masters degree in physiology, which was about 90% complete. The Lord did not want me to work outside the home, but to homeschool my children and focus on the Lord. I believe that I was called to intercede and to be used however and wherever the Lord might send me.
In the Lord's instructions to me, he said he wanted me "To be." We are made in the image of God, so I believed that he was speaking of character. To be like him - not that we can ever attain such a thing, but we can allow the Holy Spirit to have his way in our lives. We have to choose God's will over our own. Just as Jesus said, "Not my will, but yours be done." For Jesus, to do the will of God, he had to be willing to die for the redemption of mankind. For us, we are to be living sacrifices, for God. The twelfth chapter of Romans is all about living a life pleasing to God, so I decided to share the highlights:
Romans 12 - Highlights
Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment.
If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another.
Keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God is good and he wants the best for us. He said if you love me, you will obey my commands. He wants us to enter his rest, to not do works out of our own efforts and from our own motives. He wants us to be, to allow his character to become who we are.
Just Be, Just Be. That is his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. Let us let go of our striving and being driven by the world and its values, its ideals of success, and live for God. He is our healer, our provider, our all in all. Let us allow God to use us as he wills, and not follow our own desires, lusts and cravings. Let us live in the Spirit by giving the Holy Spirit free-rein to do as he pleases.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Thanks for reading. Please share this with others who will benefit. God bless you all!
