(tm) Day 17

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)

God’s elect are in the world. Now His Word has come to them and separated them from the world, just as the Word of God called out Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees.

To what extent are the elect not a part of the world system? To the extent the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is not part of the world system.

The Lord’s people always have resisted this separation, this uniqueness. God warned the Israelites repeatedly that if they did not keep themselves separate from the Canaanites they soon would be worshiping demons and would come under the wrath of God. The Jews refused to cleave to the Lord and sought continually to enter alliances with the tribes and nations around them.

This stubborn refusal to be separate is true also of the Christian churches. The Lord’s people are determined to be accepted by the world and to be a part of the world. Some scholars believe the involvement of the Christian churches in the world is the "deeds of the Nicolaitans," mentioned in Revelation 2:6. The believers fall into sin and come under the wrath of God when they do not keep themselves separate from the world.

Jesus prophesied that the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations and then the end of the age would come. The time of the worldwide witness is here now. Now is the hour of the Kingdom testimony.

Jesus prophesied also that whoever believes in Him would perform the works He performed, and greater works, because He was returning to His Father. The time for the same works and the greater works is here now.

The Lord’s army of witnesses are to keep themselves separate from the world. We are not part of the world system. Whoever would seek the world’s friendship makes himself or herself the enemy of God.

We do not seek the help of the world or the friendship of the world.

Our help comes from God. Our help and comfort come from the Spirit of God. We need no other assistance, no other comfort.

Our availability to the Lord to work such miracles of grace depends on our willingness to come out of the world system and stay out of the world system. If we will remain separate from the world there is no limit to the glory the Lord can channel through us.