By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

There is a very real pressure to conform to the pattern of the present world system and be squeezed into its mold on many different levels. This pressure must be firmly resisted by true believer.

2. The reason we must resist conforming to the present world system is that it is under Satan’s rule (see John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 John 5:19), is hostile to God and His people (see John 7:7; 15:18-21; Jas 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17), and is built upon human wisdom and values (cf. 1 Cor 1:17-25) and upon an unbiblical worldview (see 1:18-32; Col 2:8.

3. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world (John18:36). This world’s kingdom is full of darkness, deception and seduction (cf. Mat 5:14-16; Eph 5:8-11); on the other hand, believers are exhorted in the scripture to resist the temptation to yield or conform to the many forms of worldliness surrounding the church, such as greed, self-centred living, principles of expediency, humanistic thinking, political maneuvering for power, envy, hatred, revenge, impurity and lust, filthy language, ungodly entertainment, fashionable clothes that are immodest and sexually seductive, immorality, drugs, intoxication, worldly companions and unrighteous things like these cf. Eph 5:3-16; 1 John 2:15-17).

4. The alternative to conforming to the world’s values and lifestyle is transformation. Transformation results when Christ and His word renew our minds so that our vision, values and plans are governed by God’s revelation and eternal truth, rather than by the world’s temporal and deceptive pattern.

“Will of God.” By having a renewed mind and living a transformed life in Christ, we are able to test, prove and affirm that the Will of God is good, desirable and perfect.

Whereas Satan slanders God’s will as being not good, undesirable and imperfect, transformed believers know and embrace God’s will as the highest and best way of life.
(5.3)The stillness of the spirit during adoration may lead to revelation,

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven,” (2Cor 12:2).

“A man in Christ.” Paul refers to himself as “a man in Christ” who was taken up to heaven to receive revelations, probably concerning Christ’s gospel and the unspeakable glories of heaven reserved for believers (v.7; cf. Rom 8:18; 2Tim 4:8). This great privilege and revelation given to Paul strengthened him, enabling him to endure the long and severe sufferings during his apostolic ministry.

See the example of Moses.What was Moses’ desire?
Read Exod 24:8-18;33:18-34:8. Moses desires to see God’s glory.

“And he said: ‘Please, show me Your glory.” (Ex33:18). See how God revealed Himself to Moses (Ex 33:19-23; 24:17; 34:5-7.

• Email: [email protected]. Facebook: Yetunde Mercy Olumide