“This World Is Not My Home”
I. Continually cultivate a dynamic relationship with God.
II. Persistently Pursue, develop and maintain meaningful community with the body of Christ.
III. Resolutely restore righteousness and Resist the world the flesh and the devil
A. Renew and purify Your heart
1. The Need for cleansing
Since we were born defiled and live in a defiled world and have made choices of our own which have defiled this temple, we need the cleaning crew of God to make us fit for habitation.
2. The Levels of cleansing
We all need cleansing of two levels. Deep cleaning and daily dusting.
3. The cleaning crew
Every member of the Trinity involves themselves in this powerful purification process.
God calls us also to be continually involved in the cleaning process.
a. The Father cleanses
b. The Holy Spirit cleanses
c. Jesus Cleanses
d. We cleanse ourselves
REPENT –realize personal defilement and the need for purification
CONFESS –assume personal responsibility for sin
BELIEVE
OBEY
WALK IN THE LIGHT
Just as we use several different cleaning agents and rags and brushes and such, so there are many essential elements designed by God for cleansing.
4. The cleansing agents
a. The suffering and death (blood) of Christ
b. The Truth
c. Prayer of faith
5. The motivation to maintain a pure heart
Remembrance of God’s past purifying work
A clearer vision of God
Fruitful teaching ministry
Unhindered prayer
Blessing of a clear conscience
The powerful promises of God.
Eternal perspective
Useful vessel for God
Visible righteous life
Promise of intimate relationship with God
Hope of seeing and being like Christ at his coming
Having addressed uncleanness in the soul, we are ready to take a firms stand against the agents who try to defile the soul. This morning I want to address the enemy called the world. What are the biblical principles that ought to direct our attitudes and actions toward the world?
III. Renounce and resist evil
A. Renew and purify the soul.
B. Refuse conformity with the World
1. A biblical view of the World
a. The entire universe as created by God
passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:23-28
b. Mankind in general
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
c. The theater of human history
Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
d. The devil designed society developed around devil dictated philosophies, principles and practices.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Ephes. 2:1-3
Reference here to a course or philosophy of this world, the ways of Satan and the lust of the flesh. These all work together to capture and defile the soul that it might not reflect the nature of the one who created it. The world in this sense is a society of devil-deceived people.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 Joh 5:19
It is a society based on self-exalting (glorifying) independence rather than God-exalting (glorifying) dependence. It is a society based on self-satisfying lust rather than self-sacrificing love.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
This devil designed system operates on basic lust or desire. John identifies the core longings of the fallen heart. All that is in the world appeals to unbridled pursuit of these appetites rather than the unrivaled pursuit of restored relationship with God.
Lust of the flesh
This is the unbridled pursuit of what feels good, what satisfies the passions. This is the pursuit of pleasure.
Lust of the eyes
This is the unbridled pursuit of what looks good, what increases material possessions. This is the pursuit of possessions .
Pride of life
This is the unbridled pursuit of what glorifies self, what promotes self importance and significance. This is the pursuit of prestige.
This is the desire not to do what we are called by God to do with what He gifts us but to be better than others and what they do. Whole world system is promoted and pursued out of a desire to feel alive apart from dependence on God. It is a man centered (although devil designed and directed) system of philosophies, principles and practices intended to glorify man. It started with Lucifer son of the morning who was not satisfied with His God appointed gifts and ministry. He wanted equality with God himself rather than subjection to Him. “I will be like the Most High!” The disease infected Eve and Adam with the temptation to be like God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve saw that it was good for food pleasant to the eye and able to make one independently wise. This destructive worldliness continued to Cain who refused to conform to God’s standard and enter into destructive competition an comparison with Abel. It wasn’t long until the human race became infected with this ungodly pursuit. Genesis 6:5 records that “the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” After God’s global judgment it didn’t take long for Satan’s’ infectious and destructive system to invade the heart of mankind once again. God’s instructions were to populate the earth abundantly (swarm in the earth) and multiply in it.
Man became more concerned about making a name for himself by congregating and building a great city than obeying God. God disrupted the project by confusing their languages and forcing them to spread out as He commanded. The place was called “Babel”
This wicked world system operates by a lust for pleasure, a lust for possession and a lust for prestige. It is this lust that continues to corrupt the earth and brings mankind under the wrath of God in need of rescue.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4
Once partaking of the divine nature through regeneration, deeply ingrained in the core of our being is a nature designed to live according to a new system which is strongly opposed to the world system. We think that certain activities are worldly and should be carefully eradicated from the church. I am much more concerned with the attitudes and thinking that draws its strength from the world. The desire to be entertained and feel pleasure. The motivation to get something from others. The desire to be better or more important than someone else. The desire to perform in order to feel worthy of more important.
These things are JUST as worldly as smoking or drinking excessively. Anything, anything that distracts us from living as fully devoted servants of Christ comes from the world and should be treated as poison from the world.
The godly are not of this world
"I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The core nature of Christ and those who identify with Christ does not embrace the principles, philosophies and practices of the world system. In fact, what we believe is strongly opposed to the beliefs of this world.
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:1-6
The world hates Christians
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19
Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, John 16:33
Jesus overcame the world
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. John 7:7
We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:18-21
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5
The final victory
And the seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,
"We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Your bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Rev. 11:15-18
When we talk about the world, we are talking about a system of philosophies, principles, practices and people dedicated to pursing life apart from dependence on God. It is really not that complicated. The world will resists devotion to Christ. It may tolerate including God and Christ and religion but not surrendering to Him as Lord. Thus, anything that promotes a pleasure, possession, prestige based life is of the world. Anything that prevents simple devotion to Christ is of the world. Anything that glorifies the creature rather than the Creator is a product of the devil directed world system and society.
Jesus said, as those who identify with Him in the very core of our being are in the world but we are not to be of it. What does that look like? How are we to live in this devil directed world?
2. Biblical instruction concerning our relationship with the World
Don’t be partners with the world but be separate as light and salt
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
"I will DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
"Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord.
"And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
"And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,"
Says the Lord Almighty.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1
"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Your sent Me. "And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You loved Me. John 17:14-23
Be God’s salt and light in Satan’s tasteless dark world
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and
put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. . Matthew 5:13-16
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. Philip. 2:12-18
How different to we really look from the world system? Are we living a faith that demonstrates devotion to Christ as our ultimate value in life? Have we become so mixed with other elements that we are no longer salty and worthless as source of flavor and facilitator of thirst for God.?
Does how we live block the light of truth from lighting someone’s way?
If our core values are pleasure, possession and prestige, we are no different than the world. If in order to make up for our lack of simple devotion to Christ we substitute sensual stimulation, stuff and comparison with others, we are of the world. Even the church can fall victim to appeal to the base desires of the flesh for pleasure, possession, and prestige.
Do not love the world or the things in it but seek first the kingdom of God.
And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:34-37
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Those who pursue life apart from God will pass away.
Eventually all the stuff with which we fill our life will deteriorate.
Only those dedicate to live according to the ways of God will really live.
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26
"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34
Don’t love this world or the things in it. Don’t be friends with the world.
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:1-6
“wishes” It means variously “to will,” “to resolve,” “to desire,” “to want,” “to purpose,” “to seek,” even “to be inclined.” Josephus has it for “to prefer” but mostly “to desire” or “to resolve.” The idea of wishing or intending is to the fore in Philo, especially in connection with God’s will or goal.
Because the world so vehemently opposes all that God calls good and all that is right, we cannot maintain a warm friendship or camaraderie with the world and God at the same time. You cannot embrace a world system bent on destroying every thing that God stands for and continue a deep relationship with God at the same time. Because pleasure and happiness and entertainment is a higher value than truth we so often tolerate and even enjoy so many things that are strongly opposed to God’s kingdom.
Do not be captivated by the world’s philosophy and practices but be crucified to the world and be transformed in your thinking by Christ
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Col. 2:8
The world promotes its teachings all the time through a multitude of mediums.
If we listen long enough we will be taken captive through its philosophy and empty deception. The truth of Christ is the only reliable source of God’s system we have. The world absolutely declares there are no absolutes when God established the boundaries of healthy existence from the beginning. The world urges a sense of security based on possessions while God warns us not to place our hope in the uncertainty of riches. The world exalts pleasure and happiness as the ultimate value in life and gage of what is right and good when God proclaims passion for Him and holiness to be the source of life. The world promotes popularity and fame as a value of life when Jesus taught that greatness stems from selfless service. The world claims the only true gage of reality and truth is self when the Bible declares that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. The world builds self esteem by comparison with others when it is a gift of God through identification with Christ.
We must die to the lure of the world system to our flesh and become alive to God.
But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
What kind of hold does the world have over you through its teaching or its empty promises? It is the truth that sets free. Lies and deception bring into bondage.
Expose the world’s evil with God’s truth.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
"Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephes. 5:6-14
Overcome the world’s evil with faith and God’s good.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:3-5
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
Conclusion
Don’t be partners with the world.
Don’t love the world or the things in it.
Don’t be friends with the world.
Don’t be captivated by the world’s thinking
Be separate as salt and light
Seek first the kingdom of God
Be crucified to he word and transformed by renewing of your mind
Expose the evil in the world.
Overcome the world with faith and goodness.
Revelation predicts the destruction of what symbolizes all that is evil in the devil directed world system. It is symbolized in a great city called Babylon.
the first Babylon or Babel sought to make a name for themselves rather than find their significance through their identity as children of the Most High. Mankind has continue such a quest right to this day an will so to the very end.
Revelation describes the destruction of the Great city Babylon which symbolizes godless, materialistic pursuit of significance. John records two very different responses to its destruction. I wonder which on we would be our response?
Application
Look at your lifestyle.
Does your lifestyle reflect one who is fully devoted to Christ?
Does your lifestyle reflect one who is captivated by pursuit of pleasure, possessions and prestige?
Satan continually energizes a society of people dedicated to the lie that meaning in life is realized through a satisfaction of the fallen desires entrenched in our flesh. We are called to fight against Satan, his society and the desires of the flesh. In order to do that God energizes a society of his own called the church, which is called to expose evil and follows the desires of the regenerated spirit which wars against the flesh. As we practice CPR we will begin to see develop a group of truly righteous people through whom He may impact a world.
A group of people who are in this world but not of it.
A group of people who are the salt of the earth.
A group of people who are lights in a dark world
A group of people purified by Christ and called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into light. Only as we deepen our commitment to Christ and keep our eyes on He who is the author and perfecter of faith will we accomplish this. So let us turn our eyes upon Him. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
