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