“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:19.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Jesus spoke of the world and the Kingdom as two very different realms, and yet when I made the world it was to be one with and a reflection of the Kingdom. For My Kingdom encompasses all. But because of Adam’s rejection of My Word, that is, of My authority and input into the dominion I had given him in the stewardship of the earth, he allowed another realm of authority to rule his life and that of the world. The authority he chose to submit to was hostile and in opposition to Mine. Everything I am and stand for became the opposite to what the world is and stands for. And this is how Adam reframed the world from a system of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, to unrighteousness (lawlessness), rebellion, unrest, violence, and sorrow in the evil spirit. But I gave all of you dominion authority of your own lives, and though Adam gave his rulership of the earth over to an evil spirit, you, in your own life, can choose a different rulership, that is, a different jurisdiction, to which you personally belong. You have free will and that is what each person must answer for. You have responsibility and you cannot live in default and expect to overcome and live the life of the Kingdom even now.
And that is what Jesus is speaking of in His Words to you at the Last Supper that we are considering today.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:18-21.
When Adam rejected My Word, which is rejecting Me, he became devoid of spiritual insight. He was limited to who he was in the flesh and that plunged the world that had been filled with My light, which is life, into a place in darkness and death. And so it is today for you are all born biologically from the seed of Adam, which is perishable because it has grown from a lie. My Word and the words that line up with it are truth. When you are born again from above by faith in the truth of My Word, a new seed is planted in you, and it is the seed of My Word which is truth and truth never perishes it is incorruptible and is forever. And that seed puts the eternal life back in you that Adam lost (murdered by rejection). Because My Word in you gives life it is a dangerous thing to reject it because the only other path is death.
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:23.
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5:24.
“The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and caught; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, and what kind of wisdom do they have?” Jeremiah 8:9.
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Since you have rejected this word and have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a sherd will not be found among its pieces to take fire from a hearth or to scoop water from a cistern.” Isaiah 30:12-14.
But there is a remedy and Jesus spoke it of old:
For thus the Lord (Adonai) LORD (Yahavah), the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance, return, and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15.
And when you reject the Word you are seeking to kill it within you and all messengers of it that come to you. Jesus spoke that to the religious leaders that rejected His Word, the result was their hostility to the truth was so great, they murdered Him. And it is the same to this day. You know who are Mine by the way they treat My Word.
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. John 8:37.
Why is there such hostility to words of light, life, love, peace, justice, righteousness, generosity, forgiveness, and joy? Because of the one they have chosen to follow, he has blinded their minds for they chose not to believe in the truth. Jesus explained:
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” John 5:42-47.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:19-21.
There is, however, good news that Jesus came to bring, and I have told to you from of old. Even though you are in this world, you do not have to be of the world. You can be living as one under the protection and provision of another jurisdiction when you make Covenant with Me by receiving My Word as the truth and making it your final authority in all the arenas of your life, and being washed clean of all sin by the blood of the Lamb. And that distinction makes you ambassadors of My Kingdom while on your assignment in the world.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
What are you to do about the world, the flesh and the devil?
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17.
What must you do in the world then? As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends you.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22.
And what did He come to do that He has instructed you to do? Preach the Kingdom, undo the works of the devil by casting out demons and healing the sick, and seeking out and saving the lost, and even greater works.
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38.
Look again what Jesus told you at the Last Supper. It is very strong words.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:18-21.
No one wants to be hated, rejected, and cast out but Jesus tells you that the world hates Him and those who follow Him. The world is deceived. They call evil good and good evil. So what can you do? Follow Him. I make all things work together for good for those who love Me and are called according to My purposes. And those who love Me, love My Son, and those who love My Son, love Me. We are one. And it is what I told Abraham and everyone to this day who comes to be in Covenant with Me.
I love you. When you find what I tell you to do more important than anything else you had at hand, I will lead you and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3. When the dust settles, you will be the victor. I have made you more than a conqueror. Never back down and never give up, just keep standing on My Word. And sing it. The answer in the songs of deliverance with which I surround you.