Few weeks ago I wrote an article about Manifesting Kingdom lifestyle and in that post I made mention of the two types of kingdoms that exist in the world which are: the Kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. See 1 Peter 2:9. And today we will be looking at how to put to a standstill the oppression of the kingdom of darkness and put into full expression the life of the kingdom of light.
Please note that the world system, influence and attitude towards the believer apart from Mr. Flesh is another reason why Jesus instructs every disciple to take his cross daily. The world system affects your daily practice of your faith as long as you are living in the world.
The world system is an organized system of doing things. It is the culture and manner of life developed by successive men who have lived in the flesh and under the control of the devil. It is the system of doing things as agreed upon by men obeying their human nature as influenced by the devil. This system is set up by the devil using the men controls their lives because of sin to live contrary to God’s own way.
The world system has always been in opposite to God, causing men to forget or neglect God while diverting their attention to material and visible things of this world thereby the spiritual and invisible things of God are unnoticed to them.
The world system is a global issue; it does not depend on colour or race and affect every man born of a woman. It is the world’s lifestyle and Satan is the head and brain behind this system. Anybody that does not comply with this system is subject to persecution, ridicule and intimidation.
The three basic issues that a form the pillars around which the world system contains is sustained are:
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eye
The pride of life
“For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life- is not of the father but is of the world”. 1Jn 2:15-16
THE LUST OF THE FLESH
The lost of the flesh is all about what to eat, what to put on, shelter and whatever will satisfy the human nature. The world system keeps the flesh going because he is comfortable with it. This deceitful lust has been the strategy of the devil from the beginning and it continues to corrupt man on a daily basis.
THE LUST OF THE EYES
This is the second thing the devil used in the beginning to wreck men’s lives. He is still using it even now both in the world and the church. The eye is not tired of seeing flashy, beautiful and appealing things. The natural man’s eye is spiritually blind so the devil devises every means to make sure he satisfies the natural man’s eye with what he sees. Man wants to go in for the latest in town, not minding the durability, strength and quality of the latest compared to the former.
These days, some women almost walk naked on the street with indecent dressing, their hair do call for attention. Some outstanding men in the Bible fell victims for the lust of the eye. Examples are Solomon and David the kind.
Solomon married seven hundred wives and three thousand concubines made this statement.
“Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them, I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure”. Eccl. 2:1-10.
David also fell for Uriah’s wife because she was beautiful to look at.
The world system has seriously crept into the church, there is competition, rivalry and personal advertisement in the church. The world system is never in agreement with God’s system, so if the world system is allowed to settle in the church, it will obscure God’s system and distract people’s attention to error.
THE PRIDE OF LIFE
The pride of life is the third thing that sustains the world system. Pride is the feeling of self-impression, self-worth, self-achievement and self-superiority.
Everybody has a way of boasting about himself, the unenlightened sinner will boast of his name, background and achievement, the believer will boast about his exploit in God’s work even though he does this by God’s grace upon his life, the timid man makes sure he avoid all the avoidable so as to appear strong before men.
Every believers greatest problem is to overcome the flesh because this is the same which put man in separate environments with God. So God's greatest desire for man is that we strife at all cost to put the flesh under subjection. Nothing limits God from manifesting Himself through us like the flesh.
my prayer is that through this article God will help us put under control the flesh.