Worldliness

WHAT’S HURTING US RIGHT NOW?
The Problem of Worldliness

The subject I have selected to address this week is one that we all need to think about. It is not a subject that gives me joy to address, but one that is sorely needed everywhere. We are going to talk about worldliness and the effect it is having upon us, even as the Lord’s church. I come from a part of the country (California) that is known for its worldly attitudes, but if truth be known, even in the smallest of communities you would not have to look very far to find every attitude and concern that we will be addressing in this study. This series of lessons is based on a series I came across while searching the Internet a few years ago. It was presented by a gospel preacher named, Gary Henry at www.brasstacks.org. As I read through the material I was moved by its relevance to me personally, to the church where I preach, of what I have read about churches throughout the United States and within the world in general.

As I present these lessons I would like to begin by saying that I do not have any specific person in mind. But I do believe that what I have to say is the truth and it is sorely needed everywhere. I encourage everyone here to open your Bibles and follow along with these lessons and if you are convicted in your hearts because of something that is said, it is my hope that you make whatever changes you need to make. My desire is like Paul’s, “that all men everywhere might be saved”. But I realize that I cannot control that. All I can do is present the truth and let the hearts receive it. It is to that end that I present these lessons this week.

The problem of WORLDLINESS is one that may be affecting us much more than we think. When we think of worldliness, we think of one’s drive for the things of this world. But have you stopped to think about the consequences of this?

ü Have we thought about what it is and WHEN our desires become worldly?

ü As you look at your life, would you say you are or are not worldly? If you think you are worldly (and working on it) to what degree?

ü What about the church here? Is our focus more upon where we stand in God’s eyes (spiritual) or the physical aspects of the church (membership, the building, amenities, our treasury, etc.)?

ü As we consider our growth, why are we growing or NOT growing as we ought to?

1) Is the problem really the message?

2) Is it a problem with too many NOT wanting to hear it?

3) Or is there a problem with us NOT wanting to deliver the message?

ü Is the problem that we are so busy with things of this world so that we don’t have time to do the Lord’s work as we ought to?

ü Is there a difference in our attendance on Sunday mornings and other services? Why?
For many the answer is NOT that we don’t want to attend.
We just don't have the time. WHY?
OR Could it be the fact that our lives are overcommited and we have become materialistic?

ü Are we guilty of covetousness?

ü Is the focus of our families developing godly offspring or material success (or both)? If we work for both, which is more important? Have you ever heard someone say they do not want their boys to become preachers and their daughters to marry them? WHY? Quite often the reason has to do with the worldly suffering they will endure.

The answer to all these questions and many others has a bearing on the subject of worldliness. And it is with that in mind that today we begin our study for the week. I realize that this is a subject that we all are struggling with. I know there are many areas in my life where I need to improve if I am to be pleasing to God. As we study of what worldliness and materialism are we can see that it is something we all need to be very aware of.

One of the problems with this subject lies in the fact that many of the things we are involved in are not sinful within themselves. You can rest assured that Satan knows this and realizes that if he can distract us with things that are not sinful, he can keep you from doing the things that are more important. If he can cause us to change our priorities in the direction of the world, he will cause you to sin, and ultimately he will win our soul.

I. What Is Wordiness?

A. Defined

1. Simply stated, worldliness is allowing ourselves to be influenced by the world to the degree that it affects our service to God.

2. The Bible does not use the word worldliness. But it does refer to the world in the manner that we are speaking of. And there are some passages that DO tell us what it is.

3. Sometimes when we think of worldliness we think of the pursuit of things or materialistic possessions. While that is a form of worldliness, it is so much more: It is the way we utilize our time, the places we go, our attitudes and our interests. It is the attitude we have toward God and His church and the attitude we have toward our family, both physical and spiritual.

4. Ephesians 2:1-3 describes it. It speaks of one who walks according to the course of this world.

5. 1 John 2:15-17 describes it also. It says, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever

B. Examples of Worldliness

1. 1 Sam 8:19-21 - "19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." - Israel wants a king so that they can be like the nations around them. That certainly is a root cause of worldliness. Is that our focus in life?

2. The rich, young ruler - Matthew 19:16-22 - he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions (and he did not want to part with them). It is in that where we find worldliness.

3. The parable of the rich fool - Luke 12:13-21. Here we find a prosperous man who left God out of his picture. Such indicates a worldly attitude.

4. Luke 10:38-42, Mary and Martha. While she loved Jesus dearly, she allowed worldly cares to distract her from what was more important. Many times, worldliness will distract us from serving God.

II. Passages that address this subject

A. Today, I want to do something different for a few moments. I want us to read together a number of passages that help us understand what worldliness is. We will read these verses with little comments. But pay attention, as they are not hard to understand at all.

B. Some verses to consider when you study worldliness:

IT is described -

1. Matthew 13:22, in describing the various grounds in the parable of the Sower, Jesus said, " Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. .

2. 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 - "I fed you with milk and not solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?"

3. Philippians 3:18-19 -"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things."

4. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – a list I describe as the sin of selfishness - "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

5. James 4:4, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a freiend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

6. 1 Peter 4:2-4, "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you."

7. James 3:13-18 - "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. "

8. Rom 1:32, " who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

C. Worldliness causes problems

1. 1 Peter 2:11, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, "

2. Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus taught, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

3. Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

III. Dealing with Worldliness

1. There are actually a number of passages that speak for themselves about how to deal with worldliness. Let us now consider a few of them:

2. We HAVE to put God first. This is where it all starts.
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

3. We have to make up our minds about what we are going to do. True change will not take place in one’s life until they have made the change in their minds.
There is a fact about life that it would do us all good to remember – WE DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO!
Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
The idea of the word REPENT literally means, “to change one’s mind” It is a change of mind that leads to a change in conduct. If you are going to change ANYTHING in this life it starts with resolve to do it.
Jesus taught, John 12:25 - "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

4. We need to be aware of what worldliness is. We need to be aware of HOW Satan will attempt to distract us. We need to be aware of his methods, etc. We need to know that one of his most effective tools is distraction. He is not going to just tempt you with the immoral sins that we easily shun – he knows that such things have no desire in our lives.

· But he will try to fill your schedules with things that will take away from serving God

· He will try to convince about how appealing the ways and places of this world really are.

· He will try to cause problems within your families

· He will try to distract the work of the church and convince you that you don’t need to do personal work.

· Summarized, he will do ANYTHING he can to draw you away from God. Know that Satan loves the fence straddler – BECAUSE HE OWNS IT!

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 – we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil. Much more on this later.

5. We have to be willing to change the way we are living. Remove those things that will tempt us.
Romans 13:14 - "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

6. Having removed that which distracts us, we need to replace it with that which is godly and righteous.
Colossians 3:1-7, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them
Titus 2:11-12 -"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,"
Hebrews 11:24-26, "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward"

7. Finally, we need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Overcoming God starts with becoming a Christian. And then resolving to live the life of a Christian.
1 John 5:4-5, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? "

8. Romans 6:1-14 - "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Thus we can see how extensively the New Testament deals with this subject? It is certainly something we need to be aware of as we strive to serve God. We need to become indignant and declare war on the devil. Since so much is said on this subject, it is my intention in the lessons this week to address numerous aspects of this problem. While these are not the most pleasant subjects to address, I believe they are needed everywhere. I invite you to come back for each service and it is my hope that God and His ways will be glorified and we will renew our determination to put Him first in all that we do.