TEXT: 1 Cor. 2:12-14
By Bro. Timothy Ejenavi

The serpent ‐ it deceived me (Genesis 3:13) with those few words the first woman, Eve endeavour to explain why she had embarked on a course of rebellion against Jehovah God. What she said was true, although it did not excuse her wrongdoing.
The apostle Paul was later inspired to write that Eve was thoroughly deceived and therefore was in the transgression (1Tim.2:14). She was deceived into believing that an act of disobedience ‐ eating the forbidden fruit ‐ would benefit her, making her be like God. She was also deceived about the one who deluded her. Little did she know that the serpent was merely a mouthpiece for Satan ‐ the devil?

Since the time of Adam and Eve, Satan has continued to deceive people. He is infact misleading the entire inhabited earth (Rev.12:9). His tactics have not change significantly. Though he no longer employs the literal serpent, he continues to conceal his identity. Through parts of the entertainment industry, the media, and other means, Satan misleads people into believing and doing what is ungodly.
The devils campaign of deception has produced in people everywhere a spirit of rebellion against Bible laws and principles. The Bible calls this “The spirit of the world” (1 Cor. 2:12) “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit of which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God”. This spirit powerfully influences the belief, attitudes, and behavior of those who do not know God. How is that spirit manifested in
our world today ‐‐ moral valves are fastly on the decline.

In modern times the spirit of the world has become increasingly manifest. (2 Tim. 3:1‐5) In every way the devil endeavors to mislead if possible even the chosen ones (Matt. 22:24).
As God’s chosen people we are his target. He strive to destroy our spirituality so that we will lose God’s fellowship and the prospect of the Heavenly home.

As children of God we cherish and treasure the Bible, we know that it is the inspired word of God. (1 Thes.2:13) say; ‘for this cause also thank we God, without ceasing because when ye received .the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” while 2 Tim. 3:16 says “All scriptures is giving by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly finished unto all Good works”.

Satan’s world however would have us think differently, for example the preface of a book that attacks the Bible states “There is nothing holy about the Bible, nor is it the word of God. It was not written by God’s inspired saints, but by power seeking priests”. Those who are led to believe such claims may easily fall prey to the misguided notion that they can worship God in any way they choose or not to worship him at all (Prov. 14:12) says “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end there of are the ways of death”.
Direct and in direct attacks on the Bible, along with the religious hypocrisy of those who claim to support it , have. resulted in a growing number of ungodly people. It comes as no surprise therefore that people are straying ever further from God’s standards and principle.

For example the bible describes homosexual relationship as “obscene” Romans 1:26 ‐ 27 which says ‘for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use ‐into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward one another, men with men working that’ which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet“. It also states that those practicing fornication and adultery will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1Cor.6:9). Yet, in many climes, not only are those sexual practices considered acceptable, but they are glamorized, in books, magazines songs, movies, and TV shows.

Those “Who speak out against such practices are viewed as in tolerant, judgmental and out of touch with enlightened thinking. Rather than seeing God’s standard as expressions of loving concern the world view them as bottlenecks to personal freedom and fulfillment, Prov.17:15 says He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just, even they, both are abomination to the Lord” and Jude 4 say; “for there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old, ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness”. Amidst the world that is becoming increasingly entrenched in its opposition to God’s will, it would be wise for us as Christians to look at our own attitudes and values. Periodically, we should prayerful and honestly examine ourselves to make sure that we are not drifting away
from God’s thinking and standards.

The need to constantly reflect on our spiritual growth is very paramount, does the way I live show that I put kingdom interest first in my life. Such reflections will help us to resist the spirit of the world. Fellow Brethren to avoid drifting use should therefore strive to resist the spirit of the world. Apostle Paul wrote it is necessary for us to give the more earnest need to the things which he have heard lest at any time we should let them slip ‐ (Heb. 2:1). A ship that is a drift may not reach its destination. If a captain is inattentive to the wind and current, his ship might easily drift past a safe harbour and run aground on a rocky shore. Similarly, if we are inattentive to the precious truths of God’s word, we might easily drift away from God and suffer spiritual shipwreck drifting is a gradual process and not sudden and before one realize it, one has become deeply involved in sins and disobedient to God.

Consider, the life course of Solomon, God entrusted him with kingship Over Israel. Blessed him abundantly with wisdom, (1 kings 4:21, 29‐30). Wealth, fame and a peaceful reign yet he ignored God’s instruction not to take wives from foreign land who serve other gods. This led Solomon to drift into apostasy. How tragic for Solomon it was earlier wrote in proverbs 27:11 “My son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
The spirit of the word is very powerful, Solomon’s example teaches us that it is dangerous to reason that because we know the truth, worldly influences will have little impact on our thinking, just as physical food affects our body, mental food affects our minds, what we feed our minds with shapes our thinking and behaviour.

Like an advertiser of goods Satan promotes his ideas by putting them in attractive settings knowing that with time he can win adherents to his way of thinking with so many devices. Satan deceives people into believing that good is bad and bad is good. (Isaiah 5:20) “woe unto them that call evil good, and Good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter”. Even Christians have fallen prey to Satan’s campaign of misinformation (1 Tim 4:1) “now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in a latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devil”. None of us are immune to the spirit of the world. The wind and current of Satan are powerful. The Bible wisely admonishes us, “do not be misled, evil communication corrupt good manner “(1 Cor. 15:33, Prov. 13:20) said he that walked with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

To counter the spirit of the world we must associate with wise people, those who serve God truly. We must fill our minds with things that build up our faith. The apostle wrote in (Phil. 4:8) ‘finally brethren whatsoever things are true, are honest, are just, are pure, are lovely and of good report, if there be virtue and if there be praise think on these things”. As free moral agents, we can choose the things that we consider May we choose those things that draw us close to God.

Although the spirit of the world is powerful the spirit of God Almighty is much more powerful. True Christian who are guided by God’s Holy Spirit can never be misled by the spirit of the world (1 Cor. 2:12).
To have God’s spirit however we must do more than resisting the spirit of the world. We must also regularly study and apply God’s word in our life so that our spirit, our mental disposition is attuned to his thinking. If we are able to do this, God will fortify us to withstand any tactics Satan may use to destroy our spirituality. The Bible says that though we are not part of the world we are in the world.

To therefore completely resist or subdue the spirit of the world the spirit of God must continually guide us. In a world that is alienated from God and deceived by Satan we are blessed with the knowledge of the truth. We thus experience the joy and peace that the world does not have (Isa. 57:20, 21) “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when he cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is not peace, saith my God, to the wicked“.

We cherish the marvelous hope of everlasting fellowship with our creator in heaven were the spirit of this dying world will be no more. May we therefore treasure our previous relationship with God and be vigilant to correct any tendency to drift spiritually. Let us draw ever closer to God, and he will help us to resist the spirit of the world (James 4:7‐8). “Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil, and he will flee away from you. Draw high to God and he until draw nigh to you”