Love Not the World
August 30, 2015      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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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. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Conform is to comply with rules, standards & laws - or to adhere to socially acceptable conventions & behavior.

Our minds are what get conformed - and our minds are what get transformed!

Everything is “right side up” in the world’s estimation:

• Go up to advance - the first are first, last are last.
• Finding what makes you happy in life is of utmost importance.
• Become rich by saving money.
• Hit back when someone hurts you.
• Success is making you famous.

Everything is “upside down” in God’s estimation:

• Go low to advance - the last are first, first are last.
• Losing your life is the way to find it.
• Become rich by giving money away.
• Turn the other cheek and bless those who curse you.
• Success is making Jesus famous.

DANGERS in loving the world and the things in it

James 4:4

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

II Timothy 4:10

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

What is “THE WORLD”?

• Not the earth
• Not humanity
• The word here means “The World System”
• Definition:  “The community of sinful humanity, united in their independence and rebellion against God and His word.”

Who’s In Charge of “THE WORLD”?

• Satan, the “Ruler of this world” as Jesus says in John 12:31 - He influences the thoughts, ideas, philosophies and education that are prevalent in the world today.
• Or the “god of this world” as Paul says in II Corinthians 4:4 - He “blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light....”

When was “THE WORLD” system established?

• Genesis 10:8-11 >> Led by Nimrod, “We shall rise up” or “We shall rebel”
• Built the cities of Babel and Nineveh. (Capitals of Babylon and Assyria)
• Genesis 11:3-9

“REMEMBER LOT’s WIFE”

Luke 17:26-33

26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—

30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

DON’T GO BACK! DON’T LOOK BACK!

The story of Lot and Mrs. Lot -- The progression of worldliness.

• Genesis 13:8-12 >> He LOOKED toward Sodom. Pitched his tent BY Sodom.
• Genesis 14:12 >> The “enemy” came and took away all the possessions of Sodom & Gomorrah - INCLUDING Lot, who was now LIVING IN Sodom, and his possessions.
• PAY ATTENTION TO THE TRIALS! What has your affection? What is He rescuing you from?
• Genesis 19:1 >> CIVIC LEADER in Sodom...
• Lot was a child of God! II Peter 2:7-8
• Genesis 19:7 >> Trying to reform evil men’s character. “Don’t act so wickedly”
• Genesis 19:9 >> Was called out for judging them - even though he was living among them.
• Genesis 19:12 >> Lot and wife were told to leave
• Genesis 19:15 >> “GET UP! GET OUT!”
• Genesis 19:16 >> They lingered
• FORCED to leave (by God’s grace). Became as those “only escaping through the flames”  (I Corinthians 3:15)
• Genesis 19:17 >> Told: Do Not LOOK Back, Do Not STOP!
• Genesis 19:26 >> Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt
• Genesis 19:28 >> Result of this world will always be “Smoke, like a furnace”
• Genesis 19:36-38 >> Result of union with this world (adultery towards God) - will always produce EMNITY towards God!
• Through incest and drunkenness, Lot’s daughters birthed the Moabites and Ammonites!

SO - REMEMBER Lot’s wife. Don’t GO back - Don’t LOOK back.

Love not the world OR the things in the world.

How do you love not the world?

• Love God with all your heart!
• Can’t love both.
• How do you love not the things in the world?
• Store up treasures in heaven (your heart will be where your treasures are)

Ravenhill - “Is the world crucified to you, or does it fascinate you?”

Galatians 6 - only through the cross “BY WHICH the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”