The Attractive World
1 John 2:15-17
The world is an environment that we dwell in. We have families, jobs, we own things and involve ourselves in worldly activities.
Though there is maybe nothing wrong with any of these things they make it easier for us to become attached to the world beyond that God has intended us to.
Mention: James 1:27 We are to remain unspotted from the world
Also: James 4:4 A friend of the world is at enmity with God
See: John 17:14-19 Jesus in His prayer asked the Father to set us apart from the attraction of this world.
Text: “Love not the world”
Where are how do we draw the line from a biblical perspective?
Mention: 2 Tim. 4:10 Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world
I sure Demas was once a close servant of the Apostle Paul, but someone he now has been taken by the things of world.
There are three things that clearly we need to personally examine our hearts concerning:
1. His Preeminence
See: Col. 1:15-19 All things of this world consist because of Him that He might preeminence
Question: What or who is given top priority?
Point: It is important that we as children of God keep things in its proper order
I established early in my relationship with the Lord that things, activities etc.., would not be placed over Him.
• Trust
• Time
• Treasure
Ask yourself does God have the preeminence is these area of your life and if not what do you need to change that.
Point: No one can truly be happy if He is not given the preeminence
2. Our Passion
John said under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “love not the world”
See: Matt. 6:21, 24
The question for us all is simply where is our heart (passion) at?
Point: Could it be that in this present church age our passion has become worldly as it seems more and more we are gravitating to worldly possessions.
Solomon in all his wealth tells us his conclusion of it all “Vanity”
Mention: Matt. 22:37 We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind.
Our passion certainly should be directed toward Him and if He chooses to give us material things along the way praise God.
If it is your desire to build a fortress in this world, I would ask you why?
Jesus in Matthew 6 tell us that these things have no eternal value
Mention: 1 Tim. 6:5-7 Paul in writing to Timothy emphasizes that fact that we cannot take the materialistic things of this world with us.
1 Tim. 6:17 God says through Paul that we should not trust in these things but in Him, the living God who gives what we need to enjoy.
3. The People
Mention: James 1:27 Just before telling us the we should keep ourselves unspotted from the world he says there is a world of people out there that needs our true religion
Also: John 17:20-21 Jesus prays that our sanctification would bring others to Himself
People like D.L. Moody, George Mueller and many others spent their lifetime minister and reaching out to the lost for the cause of Christ
Point: Everything perisheth or has a temporary state in this life. As presage marriage and family is they even will not exist in heaven as we know it here.
In Conclusion I would like to remind us the world our Lord inspired Paul to write in Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...
