Behind Enemy Lines

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 The bible reveals to us here in the texts that satan is the prince of this world.

 Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy Satan. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God

..A doubt of God's goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character. Christ Object Lessons Chpt 4 - Tares

 If satan is the author of evil, (that being sin) and he is the prince of this world then do we as Christians have a place here within this world?

Trapped Behind Enemy Lines. We are within foreign territory; a land or home that is not our own.

How do we survive in hostile territory?

Need to remain hidden, to remain unspotted from the enemy.

 James 1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jude 1:24: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 The main point I want to highlight in that text is unspotted. God desires that we remain unspotted from the world.

 The literal aspect of it is that God does not want the world to see us engaging in the same sinful activities as those that have no light
The spiritual aspect which is linked to the literal aspect is that, when we engage in the sinful practices of the world we become tainted and blemished, and spotted. God wants us to be spotless and pure, why?

 Leviticus 3:6: And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

 We to need to present ourselves before the great high God without any defects any sin, but we need a covering. We need to be covered.

 We stated that to remain hidden or spotless as soldiers behind the enemy lines we need to cover ourselves. What can we be covered with that will allow us to be unspotted, in that the enemy that seeks us cannot devour us?

 Hebrews 10:19 & 20: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Matthew 26:28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 Is it safe to try and blend in, so that you could survive and not be caught and killed? Many Christians do not like to stand out for fear of being jeered or ridiculed Some believe it is ok to mingle error with truth Some are just ashamed of the Gospel

 It is dangerous to try to live the best of both worlds for the bible states that it cannot be done. For each world has its own master, and the bible states that we cannot serve two masters.

 Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness

 Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Where is Our Place, our home?

John 14:2 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also

 Matthew 6:19 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Summary
Who is the prince of this world ? How do we survive in hostile territory? Where is our home?

 God wants the best for His creations. He gave us the best as described in the first two chapters in Genesis. However, we gave up that best when we accepted a sinful life from satan in the garden of Eden. So never think that God holds back the best from us, but sin distorts, and because of that some of us cannot handle riches or bounty as we may idolize it in terms of making it a priority and thus shelving God.

 So I encourage us to place God first and things of his kingdom, and let us trust God to add everything, that He deems fit, unto us.