Separation From The World

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you separated from this world?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To convince that we need to be separated from this world not to love it.

IV. TEXT:

Ezra 4:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”

V. THESIS:

We are to separate from this world's love and cling to the Father's love for us.

1 John 4:4-6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.

But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

VI. TITLE:

Separation from the world

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: unknown. Ezra might have been the compiler

B. Date written: 450 B.C.

C. Purpose: To document GOD's faithfulness, keeping His promises, sovereignly protecting His People and returned them to their own land.

D. To whom written: Jerusalem's restored remnant and future generations.

E. Main theme: Return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity

F. Keywords: Word of GOD, Power of the Word of GOD in human life, Word of the LORD

G. Key verses:

Ezra 1:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!

Ezra 7:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The world have no part in us

"But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work."

Acts 2:40 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

2 Corinthians 6:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

Ephesians 5:1 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

2 Peter 3:13 (New International Version)

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

The world is not worthy to make us it's inhabitants for it's a crooked world and we are only here to share the gospel.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (New International Version)

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:10 (New International Version)

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

B. The LORD have already built it in us

"We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us."

Ephesians 2:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Colossians 2:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

1 Peter 2:5 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.