DELIVERED

 
October 18, 2020                                             DELIVERED
Galatians 1:3-5 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
We will be delivered, and we have been delivered; one day we will be delivered out of this world physically to be with God forever in heaven, but we have also been presently delivered spiritually from this world system. The thought and the realization that we have already been delivered from this world system is an amazing, awesome thought. Sad to say, but believers can find themselves battling with this world system and being spiritually defeated by it. The contrast between the ways of the world and the ways of the kingdom of God is an amazing contrast. If you were to list some of the evidences or characteristics of the ways of the world, it would include: self-centeredness, materialistic (focus on acquiring things), addictions, envy, broken relationships, corruption in high (and low) places, unfaithfulness, greed….and the list goes on. A list of the evidences and characteristics of life in the kingdom of God would include: peace, joy, unconditional love, forgiveness, encouragement, faithfulness, purpose in life, caring for one another, confidence, strength to endure trials, patience, contentment…and the list goes on. This list describing life in God’s kingdom is accurate, is based on scripture, and available to us; however, it is not automatic and perhaps many believers would confess that this list does not describe their life-AND that is the issue and the reason for the letter to the Galatians (and to us as well). Believing and experiencing what the scriptures tell us about being delivered from this world system is a major deal with alarming consequences. It may sound radical, but as believers, we have been exposed to lies and have been misinformed (mostly by well-meaning ‘religious’ leaders) about our true identity as believers. We often hear believers conversing about their failures, their sins, and how all too often they let their flesh dominate. In reality, many believers find themselves often living according to the ways of the world instead of living as overcomers in the world. There is no greater news for the believer than that of our being DELIVERED from the ways of the world-we no longer have to live according to this world system. The use of the words ‘world system’ is not a reference to the physical, natural world that God created for us to enjoy, but a way of life that is based on the lies and deceptions of our enemy, Satan. May we have our spiritual ears opened that we might come to know and experience our deliverance from the ways of this world; God has placed us in His kingdom here on this earth and now we can live according to His ways.
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  
Blessings,
Buddy