In Love with the World -- 3/4/07 (Eternal Realities)

Sunday, March 4, 2007

IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD
I John 2:15-17; James 4:4

[Before the message some of the men read these passages…
I Jn. 2:14-17 Psalm 95 Luke 12:13-21 Gal. 6:14
Jms. 4:4 Ps. 118:1-9 John 7:37-39
Gal. 1:4 Matt. 5:27-30 Rom. 11:33-12:2

You may be thinking that we didn’t save much time for the message this morning. There is a reason for that. It shouldn’t take long for me to say what I need to say. It won’t take long, but it won’t be easy. These are very serious matters.

Let’s not beat around the bush. There is a person here this morning who is guilty of very serious sin. To make matters worse, that person treats such sin as if it were a little thing. But hear the Word of the Lord: "…Be sure; your sin will find you out" (Num. 23:32). God’s Word says, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Is. 59:2). This sin is so serious that it cannot be hidden; it must be exposed.

I am speaking about adultery. Let me speak straight to the guilty party. You have been married to a faithful spouse, but now you have been unfaithful. I’m not talking about one incident of unfaithfulness; I’m talking about an ongoing affair. You think you can have your beloved and have another on the side at the same time. Can’t you see the exceeding sinfulness of your sin? How can you put a smile on your face and go on with life, as if everything were okay? How can you continue to say to your spouse, "I love you"? Can’t you see the hypocrisy in those words?

If you are afraid that I am going to call your name, you can quit worrying about that; I will not do that. But I pray that God will speak so loudly in your heart that you cannot bear it any longer. No, I won’t call your name, but I will read to you from the Word of God.

Matt. 6:24… No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon

Matt. 7:13-23… Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity

Matt. 16:24… Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me

John 12:24-25… Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Gal 6:7-8… Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

James 4:4… Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17… Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 3:2-3… Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:10… In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Writing the foreword for the book Intoxicated with Babylon, David Ravenhill pens these words…
Imagine what it would be like on your wedding day to hear your spouse say these words: "I ______ take you _____ to be my lawfully wedded _______. I promise to remain faithful to you on Sundays only. I refuse to forsake all former lovers, choosing rather to cling to them and meet with them throughout the week." No one in their right mind would agree to such an arrangement! And yet, that is exactly how many Christians treat the Lord – our Heavenly Bridegroom.

Now let me read one more time those two passages, with the prayer that this might be our meditation this week.
James 4:4… Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
1 John 2:15-17… Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Let me come back to where we started, to the person in this congregation who is guilty of this serious sin. Understand what I am saying. I am not talking about the relationship between an earthly husband and wife; I am talking about the relationship you claim to have with Jesus Christ, the heavenly bridegroom.

Now I ask you this question: Is it you? You claim to be a part of the bride of Christ, but are you guilty of loving the world on the side? As soon as you figured out that I wasn't talking about literal physical adultery, some of you immediately breathed a sigh of relief and thought, "Oh, it’s not really adultery." That’s our problem. We don’t see adultery with the world as a serious sin. Is it you? Please don’t answer until you have gone into your closet with the Lord and shut the door on that secret place, where no man can see. Then ask Him the question: Lord, could I be guilty of having another lover? Have I committed adultery with the world?

You say, "So what do we do, if we are guilty of spiritual adultery? We go to cross, and there we repent and run to Jesus.

Let’s take time to pray right now. I am going to give you a little bit of time to talk to the Lord. But you can’t deal with this properly right now. I challenge you to use this time to make an appointment with the Lord, an appointment which you will honor, a time when you get alone with the Lord and let Him deal with your heart. Let’s pray. [Time of silence]

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23-24).

May we be able to say with Paul: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). And why must we be crucified unto the world and the world unto us? Then maybe we will begin to understand what it means to walk with Christ, what it means to be despised by this world. Maybe we will get a glimpse of the meaning of I Peter 4… (NKJV)
1. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2. that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3. 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. 5. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7. But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 9. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13. but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this
matter. 17. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18. No"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 19. Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

AMEN.