Series: Spiritual Warfare .
Pastor’s Pen
Pulpit
September 26, 2004
THE CHARACTERISTICS
We have looked at the hub of spiritual warfare. Last week we examined the origin – and now in this pen pulpit we shall take a look at the characteristics of the world system.
• It is an authoritative, spiritual kingdom (Colosians1:13a;
Acts 26:18). The Greek word used here means “authority or jurisdiction” a
sphere where unrestrained authority
is exercised over its subjects.
• It is a kingdom characterized by spiritual
darkness (Col 1:13b; Eph. 6:12).
The makeup of this kingdom is darkness as opposed to light. Darkness here means all that is not of God
(I John 1:5). Doctrinal heresy, moral corruption, gloom, despair,
confusion, hatred, ignorance, bondage, blindness abound. The problem is that men in this darkness
don’t realize their blindness but think that they can see (John 9:39-41;
Revelation 3:17).
• It has a ruler/prince (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; II Cor. 4:4;
Ephesians 2:2).
ARCHON from a root word meaning “beginning or first” and then
“chief or leader.” This world system
had beginning with Satan – he rules as its prince.
• It has subjects (Ephesians 2:1-3; I John 5:19, John 8:31-44).
Gentiles – Ephesians 2:1-3
The whole world – I John 5:19
• It has a basic system of philosophy, ethics, morals and values
(I Corinthians 1:20; James 3:15; I John 2:15, 16; Ephesians 2:1-3).
The wisdom of this world is the wisdom that
originates and emanates from the minds and hearts of fallen men who exclude God
totally. It is an understanding that
expresses the philosophies of life apart from Divine revelation. This wisdom regards Divine priorities as
foolish and nonsensical and is totally opposite from God’s priority
system. Man esteems materialistic
security, comfort, educational achievement, pleasure and prestige as the
supreme values of life. In Luke 12:15-21
Jesus rips the props from under the very thing that binds this system together.
• It is anti-God (John 15:18; I John 2:15). The world system has no
place for God in its scheme of values.
The Destiny of this World
System (I John 2;15-17; I Corinthians 7:31).
PARAGETAI = “Is being caused to pass away”. All that is included in this
world system is continuously passing away.
It is not permanent. Men are
dying, and their dreams, their goals, their ambitions, their empires and their
values are dying with them. The glitter
and glory of yesterday is gone. The
glamour of today will be gone. One day
the god of this age will be judged finally; his emissaries will be judged and
the subjects of his kingdom will be judged. WHEN ALL OF THESE ARE REMOVED FROM THIS
SCENE THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT. THE
WORLD WILL HAVE COMPLETELY PASSED AWAY.
The
wonderful thing for believers is that those who accept Jesus’ payment for our
sins, seek His forgiveness and do the will of God, will abide with Him
forever. Are you a believer in Jesus
Christ today? Have you put your full
trust in Him as your Savior from sin?
If not, I urge you to do so today.
God bless.
In
Jesus’ Love,