Will You Draw Closer To God By Daily Deprived of the World

by Pastor Noriel Marzan last July 26, 2017

The Bible says in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”. If we are already saved, we cannot live according to the system of this world. That is why we have to die daily from the world. We have to deny it. So the question I will throw to you today is “Am I going to Love the World?” the answer must be no. Why?

First, because you are already saved. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” That means we are already transformed, our minds must have already been renewed. However, sometimes, there are some graduates of our Bible School who loved the world more than the ministry. Remember that we surrendered our life to the Lord. That must mean that we should love the cares of the Lord than the cares of this world. It doesn’t go directly that being in the Bible School means we are saved. Maybe some of here are not. It is now high time to be saved for a truly saved person has a submissive attitude. Submissive, especially, to the work of the ministry. We cannot say we are Bible students but we cannot obey our pastors. We must look for what we can do in the church. Find a prospect for Bible study because soul winning is the work of a pastor. Now, if you do not aim to become a pastor, then don’t do it. But if you do, then set yourself that you will become one. Submit to your God-ordained pastors.

If you love the world, then you are an enmity against God. If you do not read your Bible being a Bible student, then you are loving the world. We are in the Bible School. Let us train ourselves to read the Bible. In the Bible, we rest our conviction. By the Bible, we practice what we believe. In the Bible, is our integrity. So that when we preach to others, we can defend our faith. If we are indeed saved, let us not love the world.

Secondly, we must not love the world because this world passes away. Nothing is permanent in the world. Your shoes. Your beloved cellphone. It will all soon pass away. But the word of God will not pass away. The God whom we serve will not pass away. If you love God more, you will appreciate the things He can give, whether great or small. I remembered when I was yet a Bible student, I only have 50 pesos in my wallet. No allowance nor fare for that week. But we have an assignment to pass in our Old Testament Survey. I wanted to comply to it. So what I did, knowing I have no money to even come at the seminary, I just did my assignment and prayed to God for provision and He supplied. I shouted with joy, “Thank you, Lord.” See? I enjoyed the ministry a lot. When you love money, and you cannot handle it well, you cannot trust God. You will even fear to give your tithes and offerings.

Lastly, we must not love the world because it will ruin us. If you are a Bible student and you love the world, it will destroy your testimony. It will destroy your relationship with the Lord. Consequently, it can also destroy your relationship with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. You know, if you really want to be used of God in the ministry, have one ministry and be faithful there. Then afterwards, God will entrust you to more ministries. He knows how to use your life for the ministry. That is why I thank God so much He entrusted to me a mission work. God entrusted to this face a mission work. Before, I am nothing before my relatives. I was treated as a nobody. But when I became a pastor, God changed their perspectives and they entrust to me to render prayers for the Lord in their behalf. And they gave gifts I did not ask. I tell you, you will really enjoy the ministry, especially if you love it.

Don’t assume that because you are a Bible student you already have a future in the ministry. If you are not careful and you will love this world, it will be the ruin of you. I remember one time, when the computer game Clash of Clans or COC became trending, I tried to play a little, and then a lot. And I saw that it was not good. So I erased all the games I have in my tablet. I will rather enjoy the ministry because all these things in the world will pass away. Our lives must be an encouragement to others that they will want to surrender their lives to the Lord in the full-time ministry. So, are we still going to love the world? There are a lot of things to do. Your Bible to read, the Bible School and your classmates to pray for, we have so many things before us. Turn our eyes into serving God.