3 Ways to Avoid the World’s Evil
Have you ever felt an evil presence lurking in the dark shadows, been frightened by the violence all around you or had your sleep interrupted by night terrors? We all have felt uncomfortable with evil forces in the world, crime, riots, murder, abuse, and wars. So, how do we combat or defeat the evil in the world? We have found in our Christian Counseling Ministry there are “3 Powerful Ways to Avoid the World’s Evil”.
ONE: Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior
TWO: Realize Your Allegiance IS to God, Not the World, Your Flesh, or the Devil’s Systems
THREE: Know the Schemes of the Devil and Focus-On God
We will unpack the “3 Powerful Ways to Avoid the World’s Evil” in detail but first, we must define the world’s evil. We will begin with the startling fact that Satan is the god of this world.
Satan is the god of this World
Before we explore the “3 Powerful Ways to Avoid the World’s Evil,” we must define the evil in this world. First of all, Satan is the God and power of this world.
“If you were to give your allegiance to the (godless) world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you. I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine” (1 John 5:19).
He uses deception, delusion, and a lying spirit over the world’s inhabitants to project a voice, a pull, an influence, and anything that tells you that life can be fulfilling and satisfying apart from Jesus Christ. Satan uses the things of this world to blind your mind so you can’t see the light of Christ.
“But the sorcerer stood up against them and tried to prevent the governor from believing their message” (2 Corinthians 4:4). (2 Corinthians 4:4) [ii].
He takes the word of God out of your heart and tries to control you.
“Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved” (Luke 8: 11-12). “But the sorcerer interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Paul and Barnabas said, trying to keep him from trusting the Lord” (Acts 13:8).
He has the power to trap and hold you captive to do his will.
“You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands” (2 Timothy 2:26).
He is a deceiver.
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
He continually tempts everyone to break God’s moral code.
“Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:5).
His purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy you and the human race. Therefore, it’s easy to see that being a friend to this world is being a friend to Satan and an enemy of God.
Friend of the World, Enemy of God
"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
Satan tries to influence the way you feel and think, and his purpose is to change your behaviors and belief systems through world systems and your flesh. The most effective way he does this is by LIES! He simply lies to you, and you believe it. He likes to tickle your ears by telling you what you want to hear. He uses false teachers and false prophets to do his bidding. If you think a lie is true it influences the way you act. The truth will set you free, the lie will keep you in bondage. Satan's lies are called strongholds in the Bible.
"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44, NASB).
World systems that promote evil
He uses world systems and philosophies to promote his lies. These world systems speak to your carnal self, ego, and pride. A self-absorbed focus where you worship, obsess, and love yourself rather than God. He uses world religions, new age and secular philosophies, ideologies, cultural norms, and isms to promote his anti-god message.
"Beware that no one distracts you or intimidates you in their attempt to lead you away from Christ’s fullness by pretending to be full of wisdom (philosophies and empty deception) when they’re filled with endless arguments of human logic. For they operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system, and not the anointed truths of the Anointed One-Jesus” (Colossians 2:8).
World religions are based on performance and work to be righteous and holy, not the finished work of Jesus. New-age philosophies are based on human goodness and that illumination ushers in a new and enlightened world that will live in harmony apart from Jesus. Secular ideologies like saving the planet, being tolerant, no absolute truth, believing your own truth, historical revision, social engineering, and political correctness change Biblical truths and become idolatry and eventually false gods (paganism). Cultural norms pit race, nations, classes, genders, politics, divisions between people groups, wealth, poverty, and controlled social media against each other.
Insidious False Religions – ISMs
The most insidious false religions are the isms. These isms include Materialism, Secularism, Socialism, Marxism, Totalitarianism, Communism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Pantheism, Paganism, and even feminism. They all lead to idolatry, worshiping anything before God—political parties, addictions, strategies, wealth, comfort, media, music, poverty, controlled social media, creation, sexuality, etc. Idolatry leads to demonic deception and false hopes apart from God. All of these try to replace God and His truth. They all lead to chaos and anarchy and social injustice.
Materialism— (material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values and becoming a god)
Secularism— (human knowledge, enlightenment, and science are ultimate truths and replace God)
Political Systems Replace God
Socialism— (a political, economic, and social organization of production, distribution, and exchange owned or regulated by the government where it becomes God)
Marxism— (a Godless system of social and economic analysis using a materialistic interpretation of historical development to understand social transformation)
Totalitarianism— (a form of government that prohibits opposition parties and individuals with high degrees of control over public and private life, the ruler is god)
Communism— (a government where all property is state-owned, and each person works according to its needs; the state is god)
Yes, these are Religions
Atheism— (there is no God, therefore I am god)
Agnosticism— (skepticism, maybe there’s a God, but it can’t be proved, so I don’t know, the decision becomes god)
Feminism— (putting the rights of women above the life of innocent babies and demanding the citizens to pay for it through taxes, women become god)
Paganism— (demonic gods of the ancient world, such as Baal-who takes possession of individuals and nations when Jesus is denied; Ishtar-sexual, hedonist, gender blurring, waring, fertility, and vengeful goddess; Molech-god of murder and death, esp. children and what the gods promise leading to your idols becoming a god)
Pantheism— (believing that creation is Divine, nature, animals, oh guess what, that makes you a god)
Christian Are Not of the World
What does Jesus say about this world? Jesus answered (Pilot) before He was sentenced to death,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm (not of this age)” (John 18:36).
The world not only hates Jesus enough to kill Him, but it hates God’s people—Believers, and His Holy Scriptures.
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19).
Christians are not of this world.
“I have given them (Jews) Your word (Bible); and the world has hated them (believers), because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one (Satan). They (Christians) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:14-17).
All true believers are visitors or sojourners just passing through on their way to eternal glory.
“Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul” (1 Peter 2:11, Message).
Therefore, God calls you to abstain from fleshly lusts, worldly desires, sensual urges, and evil pleasures that wage war against the soul.
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers (you are only visitors here) to abstain from fleshly lusts (worldly desires, sensual urges, evil pleasures) which wage war against the soul (heart, mind, will)” (1 Peter 2:11).
The battle is for your heart, mind, and will. What is there to gain when you have everything the world offers but lose your eternal soul?
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Remember, a friend of the world is an enemy of God. God’s love does not reside in the world or those of the world. All that the world has to offer brings out the fleshly lust, covetousness of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves 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 boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts” (1 John 2:15-16).
God is calling you out of the world unto Himself. If you refuse, you will die in your sins.
“And He was saying to them (Jewish Religious Leaders), You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He (I AM who I AM, John 8:24 and Exodus 3:14–God), you will die in your sins” (John 8:22-24).
If you accept Jesus, who came from above, you will live forever in His presence.
“but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17, NASB).
Jesus said do not be afraid in this world for I have overcome the world. Jesus is the light in this dark and evil world.
3 Ways to Avoid the World’s Evil
As we have said there are 3 powerful ways to avoid the world’s evil and Satan who rules it behind the scenes. One, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Two, realize your allegiance is to God, not the world, your flesh, or the devil’s systems. Three, you are to know the schemes of the devil and then focus on what God is doing not what the world is doing.
ONE: Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior
The first way to avoid the world’s evil and lies leading to sin would be to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is who God says He is! It is recorded in the Holy Scriptures! Jesus took part in creating the world. He was God in Heaven before He came to earth (Immanuel-God with us). Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit making Him fully God. He was born of a virgin making Him fully man. Jesus was tempted in every way by Satan but without sin. Jesus never sinned giving Him the right and power to save the human race from sin and death. He died on the cross to save your sins. Jesus rose from the dead to give you eternal spiritual life. He revealed Himself to hundreds of people showing that He defeated death and Satan. Jesus ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. In a nutshell, this is why Jesus is Lord and Savior!
TWO: Realize Your Allegiance is to God, Not World, Your Flesh, or the Devil’s Systems
The second powerful way to avoid the world’s evil and lies which lead to sin and death would be to realize your allegiance is to God, not the world, your flesh, or the Devil’s systems. Allegiance is your loyalty, subjection, and devotion to the Sovereignty of God. He alone is worthy of worship and praise. God alone can save, transform, satisfy, and perfect you. The world can only offer you an illusion of happiness and contentment only to disappoint you time and time again. God offers you renewal, transformation, and discernment in your soul. This leads to a heart of worship. Therefore, your appropriate response to Jesus would be to worship and adore Him.
"Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture (world) around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes” (Romans 12: 1-2).
Your allegiance is a privilege, and it looks like worshiping, loving, and adoring God first and foremost. Worship pleases God when it is done out of thankfulness, a surrendered life, filled with awe and knowing you belong to Him.
"And realize what this really means— we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord our God. For he is our Creator, and we belong to him. We are the people of his pleasure” (Psalm 100:3) "Since we are receiving our rights [(you are an heir) to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
THREE: You Are to Know the Schemes of the Devil
The third way to avoid the world’s evil and lies which ultimately lead to sin and death would be to know the schemes of the Devil. He uses temptation to introduce his lies and deceptions. As you see Satan’s schemes you have the opportunity to let Jesus remove the idolatry (false gods) in your heart and mind. Now you can focus on Him.
Each of the following words describes your mortal foe, the devil, and his schemes to destroy you.
Craftiness – adept in the use of subtlety and cunning.
Cunning – characterized by wiliness and trickery.
Scheming – given to making plots; shrewdly devious and intriguing.
Strategies – careful plans or methods.
Stratagems – a trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy.
Tactics – the science and art of disposing and maneuvering forces in combat.
Trickery – the practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat.
Wiles – attractive tricks carried out with the intent to entice, ensnare, deceive, or allure.
In short, the schemes of the devil have calculated plans specifically designed to bring the downfall of God’s people and His kingdom.
"If you freely forgive anyone for anything, then I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I did so for you before the face of Christ, so that we would not be exploited (taken advantage) by the adversary, Satan, for we know (are not ignorant of) his clever schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).
The Devil is Real
I like the way evangelist Franklin Graham puts it.
"The devil is real, and he will do everything he can to deceive us and turn us away from God. The Bible urges us to be alert to the devil’s schemes, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. The devil has many tricks up his sleeve—but surely one of his most successful is to make us believe he doesn’t even exist. We may admit that evil is real—but then deny that behind it are demonic spiritual forces bent on our destruction and death. Or we may deny the devil’s true nature by turning him into a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and pitchfork. But Jesus said,
“He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him” (John 8:44).
Focus On What God Is Doing Not the World
"Someone has said that the devil doesn’t need to think up any new tricks—because the old ones still work! It’s true; lust, pride, power, discouragement, doubt, money, escapism, pleasure, hate, anger, jealousy, selfishness—the ways he attacks us are almost endless. If one temptation doesn’t work, he’ll try another—and he’ll keep on trying. But listen: The most important fact about Satan is that he is a defeated foe! By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered death and Hell and Satan—and someday His victory will be complete. In the meantime, make sure of your commitment to Christ, and turn to Him every day for the strength you need.
Therefore, you are to focus on what God is doing, not what the world of Satan is doing.
"Looking only at Jesus (fix your eyes on Jesus), the originator (author) and perfecter (finisher) of the faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Paul teaches the religious men of Athens:
"For in Him (Jesus Christ) we live and move and exist (have our being)” (Acts 17:28).
Truth of God
"These things I have spoken to you so that in Me (Jesus) you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). "And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world, you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I (Jesus Christ) have conquered the world!” (John 16:33, MESSAGE).
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer
The following comes from Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer for those who believe in Him, at that time and in the future. To many, this is the New Covenant Lord’s Prayer.
"But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart and make them Holy} in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:13-18).
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We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.