* Be of Good Cheer!

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.  
John 16:33

Although Jesus reclaimed the world from the power of the enemy, Satan does not yet acknowledge that claim. Satan still is at work in the world with his evil powers. Satan will not acknowledge the claims of Jesus over the kingdoms of the world until the final conflict.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.    (Colossians 2:15)

The present situation is similar to military conditions that often occur in the natural world. A political or military power will take control of a nation but their claims will not be acknowledged by rebel troops within that nation. The rebel troops continue to war throughout the country. They try to take possession of territory not rightfully theirs and overpower the citizens. They often use tactics of terror to accomplish these purposes.

The situation in the spirit world is similar. Jesus reclaimed dominion over the world, the enemy, and his evil forces. But Satan and his rebel troops still war throughout the world. They try to take possession of territory not rightfully theirs and influence men and women for evil. This battle, which is our "spiritual warfare," will continue until the final conflict.

But God, in His infinite wisdom, lets us now about the world so that we can brace ourselves against its ungodly influence over us.  The world structure is in direct opposition to God, His plan, purposes, and people:

 

®        The present world system is evil:

 

Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.  (Galatians 1:4)

 

®        The present world system is without God:

 

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)

 

®        There is much deception in the world to ensnare believers to become part of the world system:

 

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)

 

®        The world is already judged and under condemnation by God:

 

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)

 

The "elements of the world" refer to the elementary principles that govern the world and that lead to bondage:

 

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. (Galatians 4:3)

 

The principles of the world are the regulations on which the world structure rests. They are different from the principles upon which God structures His Kingdom:

 

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. (Colossians 2:8,20)

 

®        The spirit of the world is in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit:

 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  (I Corinthians 2:12)

 

Philosophies are principles of knowledge. The bible tells us to be weary of worldly philosophies because they are not based on Christ:

 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

(Colossians 2:8)

 

®        Worldly wisdom is not God's wisdom:

 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. (1 Corinthians 3:19)

 

The "course" of the world is the cycle of the present world, its routine, the way in which it operates:

 

Wherefore in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2)

 

®        The many "voices" in the world are contrary to the voice of God:

 

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (1 Corinthians 14:10)

 

There are many voices in the world and they all mean something to someone. Some to pull, lure and attract.  You have to know the difference.  

 

®        The peace of the world is temporary, fragile, & sometimes deceptive:

 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (John 14:27)

 

®        Godly sorrow differs from that of the world:

 

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

 

®        The world hates God:

 

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.              (James 4:4)

 

®        The world hates believers:

 

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 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. (John 15:18-19)

 

Think about the ways, the actions, the thoughts and ideas of the world.  They are under the influence of the enemy.  The world is not in the image nor the likeness of God and neither are we if we align our self with the principles and standards of the world.    Is there any wonder that God says to come out from among them?  

 

Knowing all of these things, you can effectively brace yourself from the impact of the satanic influence of this world and wage a defensive and offensive warfare against the enemy based on the strategies of God.  He tells us everything we need to know and everything we need to do and not do according to His word!

(Biblical Studies)