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First, I agree with you. The world around us does seem
to be negative and ugly. Second, it is easy to get sucked into it. So
how do we stop this process? In a word, obey.
Remember the three rules of life for firstfruits:
For every action you take and every decision you make, use these three
rules:
1] What does the Word of God say?
2] What would Christ do?
3] Do everything as if Jesus Christ were standing next to you...because
He is standing there.
These three rules have one common foundation: Obey Almighty God.
Let us see what the Word of God and Jesus Christ say:
1 John 5:19
...confirming the premise of the question
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Romans 12:2, 9
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to
that which is good.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.
John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of
this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered
to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 15:19-20
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore
the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater
than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the
world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.
John 3:19-20
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 1:5
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Isaiah 5:20-21
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness
for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight!
Matthew 16:23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art
an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God,
but those that be of men.
Psalm 40:4
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not
the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge
of God: I speak this to your shame.
Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 4:14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil
men.
Philippians 2:21
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Luke 8:11-15
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and
taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and
be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word
with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time
of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have
heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of
this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with
patience.
2 Timothy 3:1-14
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the
truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest
unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium,
at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord
delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
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Firstfruits are in the world physically. However,
spiritually they are in the Kingdom. That is, they are immersed in the
Word of God, which is the Kingdom book. Firstfruits are in the world,
but they are not part of it.
John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent
me, even so send I you.
John 15:18-21
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore
the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater
than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake,
because they know not him that sent me.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.
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Those who refuse to love the world face hostility.
John 17:14-18
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because
they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them
into the world.
John 16:2-3
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,
and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved,
and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other
the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Isaiah 66:3-4
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a
lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if
he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an
idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in
their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon
them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not
hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I
delighted not.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.
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Choose your position - whom will you follow?
Ephesians 5:8-18
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk
as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of
them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom
ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on
the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet
the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the
things which are not seen are eternal.
Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
So, what was the answer to this question again? Obey!!
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