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Scripture Reading: John 17:14-19

 

Overcome Worldliness

 

Intro.

1.  Jno. 17:14-19: As we live by the word of God we are 1) "not of this world", 17:14; 2) Kept "from the evil one", 17:15; 3) In fellowship with Christ, 17:16); and 4) Sanctified, 17:17, 19.
2.  Are these songs we sing a true reflection of our heart? (
Col. 3:16)
  -"This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through…"
  -"Anywhere with Jesus…is home sweet home"
  -"Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims"
  -"I've a home prepared where the saints abide, just over in the glory land. And I long to be by my Savior's side, just over in the glory land."

3.  Worldliness is rampant among God's people!
  a.  Frightening thought: Worldliness makes us God's enemy…lost! 
Jas. 4:4
  b.  Forceful temptations: Struggle with Satan, 1 Pet. 2:11.
  c.  Fortunate timing: Time to examine and repent,
2 Pet. 3:9.
  d.  Faithful transformation: From darkness to light,
2 Pet. 1:3-4.
4.  Are we guilty of worldliness? 
2 Cor. 6:14-7:1
  a.  Some indignantly respond, "No!"
  b.  Lacking confidence, some answer, "I don't think so"; "I hope not."
  c.  Some may even answer, "What do you mean by worldliness?"

 

I. GOD'S DEFINITION OF WORLDLINESS.
  A.  World: System Of Evil in Opposition to God, 1 Jno. 2:15; Jas. 4:4. The dominion of Satan, 1 Jno. 5:19.
    1.  When our motives, attitudes, values and conduct are shaped and molded (patterned) after the world, then we are worldly! 
Rom. 12:2
    2.  Our objective: In Christ, we overcome the world, live for Jesus and please God,
Jno. 16:33; Rom. 8:37; 1 Jno. 5:4
.

 

II. THE THINGS OF THE WORLD, 1 Jno. 2:15-17.
  A.  All Sins of the World Broadly Fall into these Categories:
    1.  Lust (desire) of the flesh: Carnality.
      a.  God has given some desires that are good within themselves:
        1)  Desire for food: Good and natural, but gluttony is sinful (
Prov. 23:20-21).
        2)  Desire for drink: Good and natural, but drunkenness is sinful (
Eph. 5:18).
        3)  Desire for sleep: But laziness is sinful (
Prov. 6:10-11).
        4)  Desire for sexual pleasure: Lawful place, but without marriage it is sinful (
1 Cor. 7:2; 1 Ths. 4:3).
      b.  Desires of sin lead to spiritual death,
Jas. 1:14-15.
    2.  Lust of the eye (wanting what the eye sees): Covetousness.
      a.  Look to lust after,
Matt. 5:28
.

      b.  Selfish consumption to please self, Jas. 4:1-3.
      c.  Life is not the things we possess,
Lk. 12:15; Matt. 16:26
.

    3.  Pride of life (desire to impress, be noticed, admired): Conceit.
      a.  The drive of selfish ambition and self-interest,
Phil. 2:3-4.

      b.  Must seek honor from God, not people, Jno. 5:44 (Lk. 14:11).

 

III.  THE CARES OF THE WORLD, Luke 8:14 (Mk. 4:18-19).
  A.  As Thorns Choke a Good Plant, there are things that Choke Out Spiritual Life.
    1.  Cares (anxiety, distracting care) of this life (over physical needs),
Matt. 6:25-33; Phil. 4:6-8
.

    2.  Riches (deceitfulness of riches, Mk. 4:19), Materialism, Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:10, 6 (Col. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13).
    3.  Pleasures of life,
1 Tim. 5:6 (Heb. 11:25
).

      a.  Some pleasures are wrong because God declares them wrong, 1 Pet. 4:3-4 (Heb. 11:25). [Licentiousness, lust and that which leads to it: Pornography, immodesty, media filth, social drinking, dancing, etc.]

          -The world views such things as the normal way of life!
      b.  Some pleasures are not sinful unless we put before God, cf.
2 Tim. 4:10. Many are too busy to pray, study, visit the sick, have home classes, come to all worship services -- What we choose shows what we take pleasure in, and whether we are pleasing God! Jas. 4:17 (Josh. 24:15; Heb. 2:2-3)

 

IV. VICTORY OVER THE WORLD, 1 Jno. 5:4-5.
  A.  You have Control Over Your Mind, Rom. 8:5; Col. 3:1-3.
    1.  Choose to occupy minds with spiritual things; word of Christ.
    2.  Declare war on worldly thoughts!
Phil.4:8; Col.3:16; 2 Cor.10:4-5
  B.  You have Control Over your Body,
Rom. 6:13-14 (what you do).
    1.  Obey the will of God,
1 Jno. 2:17.
    2.  Glorify God with our body,
1 Cor. 6:19-20.
  C.  You Must take Inventory of Yourself,
2 Cor. 13:5
.
    1.  What is on our mind most of the time: evil or good?
    2.  On what are we spending our time: temporal or eternal?

 

Conclusion
1.  The spiritual mind is key to overcoming worldliness, Rom. 12:2.
2.  Jesus died to save us from the present evil world,
Gal. 1:4.
3.  We escape the pollution of the world "through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ",
2 Pet. 2:20. Both initially and how we continue to do so.
4.  Reap what we sow; Don't stop doing good - Eternal life.
Gal. 6:7-9

 

 

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: July 3, 2014