Worldliness I John 2:14-16
This is not an easy message. People may be offended. Please receive in love.
· It’s o.k. for the garden to be in grass, but it’s bad when grass is in the garden.
· It’s o.k. for a boat to be out in water, but it’s bad when water gets in the boat.
I. My text warned not to love the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.
· It’s o.k. for you to live in the world, but it’s bad if the world lives in you.
· 2 Corinthians 5
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
· There should be a change in your life when you are saved.
· Paul said in Philippians 3
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
II. The devil wants to convince the church that it’s o.k. to live like the world.
* Ephesians 6
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
* 1 Corinthians 1
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
III. Jesus gave clear instructions about the world.
* John 3
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
* John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
IV. God is calling a people that will be a separate people.
· Daniel. Hannahia, Azeriah and Mishelle.
· 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.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
· 2 Corinthians 6
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
V. Our theme and moto is “Come as you are;”
· That statement is for the world to know that we will except them no matter what.
· It is not for Christians to drop their standards and prance in the church like somebody from the red light district.
· Kneeling to pray.
· Tight blue jeans.
· Hebrews 12
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
· When people see you in Wal-Mart they should say, “There’s someone that’s a Christian.”
· I hate to see the summer come because people think because it’s warm they can run around in their underware.
VI. Matthew 5
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
· It’s o.k. for Harvest Community to have a Softball team, or basketball team. As long as it serves as evangelism.
· It’s not whose the best hitter or fielder it’s about being a Christian example to the community and bringing people into the fellowship of God.
· We will have no teams when unless we use it as a tool to when the lost.
* We are to be an example of Christ, everywhere.
· We have to many busy bodies trying to stay up on church gossip while the world is going to hell. Anytime someone starts a sentence with, “I’m not gossiping”, or I’m not saying anything bad about this person” is spreading poison.
· James 1: 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
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.
· Proverbs 6
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
