Not of This World: by Andrew Murray

“And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. They are not part of this world any more than I am.” John 17:14, 16

In His last night Jesus took pains to make clear to His disciples the impassible gulf between Him and the world and also between them and the world (John 16:16-21).  He had said of the Spirit: “The world at large cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him.” (John 14:17).  “The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don’t. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you.” (John 15:19)

One great mark of the disciples was to be as little a part of the world as Christ was.  Christ and the disciples had become united in the cross and the Resurrection; they both belonged to another world, the kingdom of heaven.

WHY IS IT THAT FAITH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRACTICED SO LITTLE BY CHRISTIANS?

The world rules too much in the lives of Christians.  The “world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in possessions” (1 John 2:16) – all this robs the heart of its desire  for that true self-denial necessary for receiving the Holy Spirit.