God’s Plan – Overcome the World
Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4
When we overcome the world; it means the evil world has no control of our eternal soul. Our soul is our thoughts, personality, and will; and we are protected from the evil one through Christ. We can live with our soul closer to the Lord than it is to the world, because our soul can live in the Kingdom which is within us. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)
We pray that the Lord will enable us to separate our soul from our flesh, because or flesh is part of the world. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63) The Holy Spirit gives life to our spirit while our temporary flesh is used to interface to this world, just as the Holy Spirit interfaces our soul to Christ. The difference is the flesh is used during our short life on this earth, while our spirit is with Christ now and forever. Therefore, our life is guided by the Spirit, and not by the flesh.
If we don’t control our sinful fleshly desires, we will never overcome the world. If we are governed by the flesh then we are living backwards, because we are created to live by the Spirit. We live in the Kingdom through the power of the Spirit, and we control the flesh as we live to minister to lost souls Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20) The Lord’s divine power works in us as we minister to people from within the Kingdom. We live to save our soul because life is in our soul, and our flesh is the temple for the Spirit of God. No one lives for a temple, but for the Lord who lives in the temple.
Satan has deceived the world to live by their temporary temple, and not for their eternal soul. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13) When our soul is eternally content, it becomes much easier to control the flesh and Satan’s temptations, because things of the flesh don’t compare to the blessings of God that constantly feed our soul.
This is God’s plan for us, for our spiritual soul to live in the Kingdom, and control the flesh as we minister to the world. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28) Our focus is on our eternal soul, while we do our best to take care of our flesh, the temple.
Today understand God’s plan to overcome the world. Don’t let the world guide your spirit, only Christ guides our spirit as we minister to the world.
Prayer: Lord guide me to overcome the world and live for Christ, and my soul will always be guided by the Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen