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[0:00] 1 John 2, verse 15.

[0:17] 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. Love not the world, the verb here is present tense.

[0:33] So you could put it, stop loving the world. Don't go on loving the world. It's a challenge for us. Make a break with it. Make a break with the world.

[0:45] The world, what does it mean? The world. In this context, it speaks of that system of ideas, of activities, of the people around us who are in active rebellion against God.

[0:58] It's that system of evil in opposition to God. It's the world system of sin and lust and evil and pride and rebellion against God.

[1:10] Of course, some people could make lists of saying this thing is worldly and that thing is not worldly. I'm not here to do that today. That's something for you to reckon with God.

[1:21] As we all must give account of ourselves to God. And whatsoever is not a thing is sin. We need to set a high margin for ourselves, I believe. And it's between you and God such a matter.

[1:33] But just to broadly put it, we see the world in the context of the world without God that is all around us. And what occupies them?

[1:44] Its motives, its attitudes, its values, its conduct. The dominating passions of chasing after the good things of this life and maybe neglecting the best things of life.

[1:56] It's a greedy grasping. It's an addiction to gain and temporal pleasures and enjoyments with the neglect of God and what really counts.

[2:09] And our Lord came to set us free. To set us free from this prison planet, if you like. Galatians 1 verse 4. It tells of our Lord Jesus. It says, The Lord Jesus has come to deliver us.

[2:35] He's the deliverer, isn't he? He is the victor. He's the one who's come to offer us rescue and set us free. Offer us release. Yet sin holds many captive. The Lord Jesus offers deliverance to set us free.

[2:51] To deliver us from this present evil world. We need no longer stay bound and held prisoner. Yet it's sad that some get a kind of strange love for their chains and their bondage.

[3:08] And while in their worldliness instead of finding his freedom and walking strong in that liberty that is Christ for us. Worldliness.

[3:19] Worldliness. It's more interested in worldly treasures. In worldly riches. And missing out on those that are eternal. Because of that.

[3:31] Wrong priority. Worldliness. Someone has put it. Worldliness is what makes sin look normal in any age. And righteousness seem odd.

[3:43] What makes sin look normal. Aren't we getting a bit of that lately? As we see the trends around about as to what is legislated and accepted and promoted and fostered.

[3:57] The world and worldliness makes sin look normal. When it's abhorrent to God. And we know that the devil, our enemy, wants to keep people captive.

[4:12] He wants our hearts and minds bent after his ways. And he even attacks the minds of God's people. Believers. He wants to distract us.

[4:23] And focus our attention away from God. To the things of the earth. To worldly loves. Worldly treasures. Worldly pressures. That our energies get consumed with all this.

[4:35] Down here below. And we neglect his call. We neglect that devotion to him. And friends, I urge you today to consider these things. To consider what is it that I am chasing after with my life.

[4:49] What is it that I count dear and of value? The Bible talks about the wisdom of this world. It talks about the spirit of this world. There's a spirit.

[5:00] There's a wisdom. But it is not of God. Worldliness. It shows up in times and all kinds of fashions and ways. We could think, for example, worldliness can show up in bitterness.

[5:12] Worldliness can show up in gossip. In pride. In self-righteousness. Worldliness. Worldliness. We see worldliness in laziness.

[5:24] In addictions. In worldly wisdom. Worldliness. It can show in people's self-will. In a swearing. In drunkenness.

[5:37] We're meant to be a set-apart people. It talks about let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. Who are you kidding? James talks about praise one minute and then cursing the next out of the same mouth.

[5:52] A fountain needs to send forth clear water, not dirty. And so let's be challenged. In all of these practical ways. Worldliness can creep in.

[6:02] So we use the gutter language. The gutter jokes of the world. These are many signs of worldliness. And it creeps up on you. You know, I work in a worldly workplace. My boss swears repeatedly.

[6:14] Profusely. And yet, we need to be witness in these circumstances. And not let that get a hold of us.

[6:25] Worldliness. Really, it's much more than just these things. Things that people do. It's not so much as certain things that we can list. As I say, your list might be different from mine.

[6:36] As to what I would consider worldly. Worldly for me. And that I must abstain from. And steer clear of. But worldliness is not so much as least. As a state of mind.

[6:47] And of heart. Before God. That is for whom. He is the one to whom we have to answer. And the question is. Where does worldliness come from?

[6:58] It lies at the heart. At the heart. Worldliness starts in the heart. In the heart. It really boils down to you and God. And your state before him.

[7:10] The state of man's heart. Before his maker. And our Lord calls on us to set our affections. Speaks of love. What you've got an affection for.

[7:22] What you've got a love for. It says set your affections on things above. Not on things of this earth. Colossians 3. We read. If you then be risen with Christ.

[7:35] Seek those things. Which are above. The picture there is. As Christ was raised. From the dead. We too. As believers. We are raised to newness of life.

[7:49] Seek those things which are above. Where Christ sitteth. On the right hand of God. Set your affection. On things above. Above. That's a command.

[8:00] Isn't it? Amen. God says set your affection. On things above. On things above. If we are saved. And in fellowship with the Lord. Then we will want.

[8:11] What he wants for our lives. Because we've got a new affection. A new love. A new life. And this will shape. The very choices of life. That we make.

[8:21] In every department. Of our lives. What does the Bible show us. About worldliness. Worldliness. Now there are some examples.

[8:32] We can learn from. In the word of God. You know. It's interesting. As we read the Bible. God paints pictures of people. Doesn't he? He paints character portraits.

[8:43] Of different people. And it's not like. Some kings go to the artist. And they say. Oh can you. Can you not. Paint that warts on my nose. No. God paints his warts and all.

[8:54] Doesn't he? And that's what happens. In the Bible. We see. The mistakes. The mess ups. The bad character traits. And Lot. Is a good example.

[9:05] Of a bad example. The man Lot. Who's called righteous. Just. A man. Heaven bound. Lot.

[9:16] He was Abraham's nephew. And Lot was one. Who chose to live. As close to the world. As he possibly could. Who knows people like that?

[9:27] They just want to live. As close to the world. As they can get away with. It's like. Some people. They drive like that. Don't they? They drive. Oh I'm going to.

[9:38] Just rev it up. And just. Just swing it around that corner. And I'll go as fast as I can. Just to the edge. And that's how some people. Live.

[9:50] Their lives too. Isn't it? As close to the edge. As close to the world. As they can get away with. And Lot was like that. Lot deliberately chose the plains of Jordan.

[10:02] Sodom. Even though there were wicked cities there. There was Sodom and Gomorrah there. And of Sodom. It says in Genesis 13. 13. But the men of Sodom were wicked.

[10:15] And sinners. Before the Lord. Exceedingly. You know. They took the price. They were exceeding. In their sin. And Sodom.

[10:26] Yeah. Sodomy. Sodomites. Is the same today. It's exceeding. Sinful. Yet it's just one sin of many. We're not here to.

[10:37] Make one sin more than another. But the mistake that Lot made. Was he wanted to live as close to the world. As he could get away with. Even though Lot knew. This city was sinful.

[10:49] This city was wicked. Lot moved his tent there. And his family there. He moved towards Sodom. And he set up his home there.

[11:01] He headed in that general direction. For a start. Down to the valley. Looked nice and green. And pleasant. And it was going to be good for business. Wow.

[11:12] What more could I ask for? I got the best slice of land. Going. He didn't immediately go to Sodom. But he pitched his tent there. He had his tent flaps.

[11:22] Looking over the city of Sodom. If you like. And he wanted to have the conveniences of the world. And his fingertips. But it's as if he edged.

[11:34] Ever closer. Ever closer. At first he stayed on the outside. He played it safe. But he was playing with fire. And he would see some fire.

[11:47] Lot failed to obey the scriptures. Love not the world. Love not the world. Love not the world. Like someone has said. Once our direction is set.

[12:00] Our destination is also determined. For it is now only a matter of time. The quote goes on.

[12:11] Some decisions may not seem very significant. But they set a particular course for our lives. The decision may not seem very important.

[12:22] But its final outcome can be terrifying and tragic. End quote. Lot had a destination.

[12:33] He had a direction. And then he had a destination. You know. I think for my own life. I brought up my children in the Pentecostal church. And now I regret that. Because of the direction that I set.

[12:45] And we can set a direction. We can set a trajectory. We can set a direction for our family. And then live to regret that direction. Lot was such a man. It was little by little.

[12:57] And he ended up. It ended up a lot. Little by little. And it ended up a lot. Lot lost his integrity. He lost his influence. And when warning came.

[13:07] No one listened to Lot. Lot. He was a voice talking to the wall. His future sons-in-law. Laughed at him. He was not respected. Genesis 19.14.

[13:18] And Lot went out. And spake unto his sons-in-law. Which married his daughters. And said. Oh. Get you out of this place. For the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked.

[13:32] Unto his sons-in-law. He was desperate. Get out of this place. The Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked.

[13:43] Unto his sons-in-law. Lot lingered in Sodom. Even while judgment loomed. He had to be dragged out. By his shirt tails. As it were. Dragged out of the city.

[13:54] By God. By the angels. In verses 15 through 16. And when the morning arose. Then the angels hastened Lot. Saying. Arise. Take thy wife and thy two daughters.

[14:05] Which are there. Lest thou be consumed. In the iniquity. Of the city. Now God. Had determined. To destroy Sodom. Lot was there.

[14:16] With his family. He played with fire. And he was one of the citizens. Of the city. He was in. A respected position.

[14:27] Of sorts. At the gate of the city. And yet. He blew it all. He'd blown his testimony. Before his family. He'd made a mess of it.

[14:38] Because the world. Had got a hold of him. And the angels came. To. To draw him out. And he was still. Lingering. Verse 16. And while he lingered.

[14:49] The men laid hold. Upon his hand. And upon the hand. Of his wife. And upon the hand. Of his two daughters. The Lord being merciful. And they brought him forth.

[15:00] And set him without the city. That's it. Grab a hold of his hand. And pull him out. Lot. It's a good example. Of a bad example. He failed miserably.

[15:12] Miserably. Later he ended up drunk. And committing incest. A vile. State. Of this man. That should. Have known better. And it's truly been said.

[15:27] That our choices. Determine the course. Of our life. And of our character. This was so with Lot. Don't toy with sin. Don't play with fire. It's the same for us today.

[15:41] Seek God. Before making. The decision. The decision to move. The decision to choose a particular course of study.

[15:57] The decision to decide on a certain vocation for your life. The decision to marry. The decision to.

[16:07] As to ministry. To take up. The decision as to what friendships you will cultivate. As to who you'll spend time with. Think wisely. Think wisely.

[16:19] Not like Lot. He just made a kind of flash in the pan decision. Well. That looks nice and green. I'll take that. He didn't think of the consequences. Of his decision.

[16:30] And so too we. Need to be careful. And prayerful. And so. Satan is a master of deception. He'll want to. Trick us. To creep up on us.

[16:41] It's a bit like the creeper. Hanging over your tree. I'm sure. Brad's seen a few creepers in his time. Climbing over trees. And it's like. Eventually. It strangles the tree to death. It looks lovely and flowering.

[16:55] And all nice and. Decorative. But it's killing the tree. That it's wrapping itself around. And worldliness can be like that. It can creep up on us. Oh so gently.

[17:08] Just bit by bit. Before we know it. The tree gets strangled. And so too for us. Spiritual life. It's needful for us to be.

[17:18] Wising up. With Lot it seemed. That he tended to his. Business engagements. To consume all of his interests. And effort. To the neglect.

[17:29] Of the spiritual. And the world can influence us too. Harmless things. Maybe. Quite. Fine things to do. Fine things to do.

[17:42] We must choose wisely. Brothers and sisters. Worldliness. In 1 Corinthians 15. 33. It says. Be not deceived. Evil communications. Corrupt.

[17:53] Good manners. In other words. Evil associations. Evil company. Communications. It can cause a corruption. And so. Again.

[18:04] It's that creeping effect. Who will we walk with? It will affect. Where we walk. How we walk. How we think. How we live. Who we spend time with.

[18:16] We spend time with the world. We can become like the world. Before we know it. We're talking the same talk. And heading in the same direction.

[18:29] Lot ended up with warped values. And became morally bankrupt. In Sodom. He had it made. Business wise. He had fame and fortune.

[18:40] I suppose. But he neglected his spiritual life. And he became morally bankrupt. He lost the power. Of his weakness. Why? Because worldliness crept up on Lot.

[18:51] And think of his wife. His wife. Fared worse. Our Lord tells us. Remember Lot's wife. Remember Lot's wife. Luke 17.

[19:03] Was in the context of judgment. Lot's wife. She. She was heading off. Maybe. Dragged by the arm. By the hand. By the angels. And she. Looked back.

[19:14] Though she was told not to. She looked back. At the smouldering city of Sodom. She didn't turn away completely. She didn't set her face forward in God's direction.

[19:28] She hankered. Clinging to the past. To the world. God's wrath. Was poured out on Sodom. God's judgment. You know. You could say God is narrow minded.

[19:40] And judgmental. In a good way. In a good way. He's intolerant. But thankfully he's made the way possible. To overlook our sin.

[19:51] Because. It can be blotted out. So that it's not. Ever been there. That's the good news. But Lot got into Sodom. And Sodom got into Lot.

[20:07] Be warned. Brothers. Sisters. Remember Lot's wife. There are other examples. Better examples.

[20:17] Of good examples. Of a good example. Of being in the world. But not of it. As our Lord says. In the world.

[20:27] But not of the world. We see for example. Such cases. Which we won't delve into just now. But we can think of. For later reflection.

[20:39] Good examples. Of a good example. For example. Joseph. In Egypt. In the heart of Egypt. Which speaks as. As a type.

[20:52] As a picture of the world. Joseph was in Egypt. And yet Egypt. Was not in Joseph. We see Daniel. Daniel was in Babylon. But Babylon was not in Daniel.

[21:05] And we see Esther. Esther was in Persia. But Persia. Was not in Esther. The Lord used all three of these people. Joseph. Daniel.

[21:16] Esther. Because they kept their heart. Right with him. They were in the world. But not of the world. And they were faithful to God.

[21:26] And so can you be. You can be like a Daniel. You can be like an Esther. You can be like a Joseph. They were living sacrifices. Living their exactness.

[21:37] Living their example. Of the Christ-centered life. And this is a scripture I know. Was referred to this morning. We could refer to it. Morning and night. Romans 12. I beseech you therefore brethren.

[21:48] By the mercies of God. That you present yourselves. Your bodies are living sacrifice. Holy. Acceptable unto God. Which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world.

[22:00] Amen. Be not conformed to this world. But be transformed. By the renewing of your mind. That you may prove what is that good. And acceptable.

[22:11] And perfect. Will of God. The will of God. A transformation of the mind. You know. This world's philosophies are many and vary.

[22:21] Yet they're all based on that same shaky foundation. The world's philosophies are godless. The world's values. We think of such things that we can conform to.

[22:35] Without even realising it. As you tune in to the wavelength of the world's media. Things like secularism. Humanism. Atheism.

[22:46] Relativism. Intellectualism. Feminism. Modernism. Materialism. Materialism. Skepticism. All of these things are based on a shaky foundation. They're not based on the word.

[23:01] And will we fall for the world. And these isms. These seducing things. It's seducing power of the world. Or will we be based on the sure foundation.

[23:11] The sure foundation. Will we be as believers that call to be. Call out. Of the world. Call out. To be God's special people. James 4 verse 4.

[23:24] James challenges. And he says. He adulterers and adulteresses. No you're not. That friendship with the world is enmity with God. Don't buddy up to the world.

[23:37] Get too chummy and pally with the world. He's saying. Whosoever therefore will be a friend with the world. Is the enemy of God. You know. Lot got pally with the world.

[23:50] He was one of the inner circle. He was there. And Sodom got a hold of Lot. So that his testimony was lacking.

[24:04] And he became powerless. What of you. Of me. When we consider. How do I stand. Do I seek those things which are above.

[24:16] Do I set my affection on things above. How can we make a difference in this world. If the world sees nothing different. In us.

[24:27] How are our values. Our hearts. Let's take a check up. As it were. Someone has defined worldliness.

[24:39] And someone well known. John Wesley. As this. Anything that cools my love for Christ. Is the world. Anything. That cools my love for Christ.

[24:52] Is the world. So. If you're feeling a bit. I don't think you're feeling too cool tonight. Because it's a warm day. But. Spiritually speaking now. Anything that cools my love.

[25:05] For Christ. Is the world. And he says. I've got to keep a. Keep a wide berth from there. Get a barge pole from there. Keep it clear of that. What is it that consumes our energy.

[25:17] Our time. Where do we place our loyalty. Our love. Our affection. It's of the world. And it's ways that get a grip on us. And steal our heart. Something. We just.

[25:28] Seem to be as motivated. By the worldly ways. The neighbour. Who doesn't know God. Think of these things.

[25:38] Our heart can be divided. For some. It's. Forms of entertainment. Could be. Possessions. Or. Pleasure. Chasing the almighty dollar. Some would call it.

[25:50] Of course we know. It's certainly not almighty. Tends to be losing value. Most of the time. We need to take a stand for the authority.

[26:01] Of scripture. To be. On that sure foundation. As opposed to the. Godless culture where we live. And everything's shaky. It's all subjective. It's all.

[26:12] Very flaky. When we have something sure. And steadfast. We can hang on to. And instead of being impacted. By the world. Rather. As God's people.

[26:23] Ought it we to be. Impacting the world. Ought it we to be. The salt and the light. As our Lord calls us to be. To impact the culture. Of our world. With God's truth.

[26:37] As we rest in his power. Rest in his power. Don't be ashamed. To stand up for Christ. I was blessed this morning. And we had five of my workmates here.

[26:48] Five of the people I work with. And there's a sixth one. That could have been here. That was here the week before. And it's encouraging to know. The people that I work with. They don't see me as a fake.

[27:01] That I'm the same thing at work. As the same thing here. And that should be the case. Shouldn't it? That we're not putting it on. It's not some performance. And that we just switch off.

[27:12] When we leave church. But that it's a 24 by 7 walk with God. So your character. Your integrity. Is the same.

[27:24] Wherever you are. You don't have to put on a performance. Anywhere. That you're fair dinkin. Across the board. Across your life. So that people can't point to you.

[27:35] And say oh. Or talk behind your back. And say. Ha. She calls herself a Christian. He calls himself a Christian. And he does that. Not going to that church.

[27:48] I don't think much of their religion. People watching you. And you know the letters that people read. Brothers and sisters. Let's not be. Loving the world.

[27:59] But loving God. Loving God so that. We're an open book. And so. As opposed to the godless culture. And its philosophies. Let's rather impact the world. Assault and light.

[28:10] And have that heavenly focus. Where people will know you're a Christian. And they'll know that you're not pretending. That you're serious about. Your love for God. And you'll want to fellowship.

[28:22] You'll want to pray. You'll want to study. You'll want to witness. Friends. This world cannot satisfy. It cannot satisfy. It will leave you feeling empty. And.

[28:35] There's nothing. Lasting in this world. It will do you no good. To conform to this world. You know Moses.

[28:49] He chose rather to. Suffer affliction with the people of God. Than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. For a season. There's pleasure in sin. But it leaves a bad aftertaste in our mouth.

[29:06] It leaves you with a hangover. It leaves you with regret. With guilt. With shame. It will leave you empty.

[29:19] Mick Jagger. Has been singing. I can't get no. Satisfaction. Forty years. And he's still singing the same song.

[29:30] He still can't find it. He's looking in the wrong place. I can't get no satisfaction. No Mick. You're looking in the wrong place. Set your affection on things above.

[29:42] Amen. The pursuit of pleasure will leave you. Never satisfied. What about you? What about you today? What about me?

[29:54] Does the love of the world draw you? Are you looking to fit in with the pop culture? Just go with the flow. Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those?

[30:04] Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those? Do you want to feel any of those? This world has been described as polluted. Now we wouldn't think of going down that creek behind the factory and scooping up a bit of water.

[30:24] It's polluted. This world is polluted. And it's something that entangles us. It soils us. Turnpite of tune. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome.

[30:45] The latter end is worse with them than the beginning. They've escaped the pollutions of the world. It's a picture of God's saving love, isn't it? We don't want the pollutions of this world.

[30:58] It's foul. It cannot satisfy. And so rather, let's seek after God, the Holy God, the Holy God. Someone has said this.

[31:09] This is Tosav. What is holiness? He defines it like this. Holy is the way God is. To be holy, he does not conform to a standard.

[31:22] He is that standard. He is absolutely holy. With an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is.

[31:37] Because he is holy, all his attributes are holy. That is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy. He calls you his holy people.

[31:53] He calls you saints. It means holy ones. And we are called to escape. And it is possible to escape.

[32:03] You don't have to stay in those prison bars any longer. It's possible to escape the pollutions of this world. To escape this vicious cycle, this treadmill, this rat race.

[32:14] It's possible for you to escape. It says we are commanded to holiness and separation from sin and worldliness. Separation from sin, separation unto God, the holy God of the holy word.

[32:30] And so I urge you today to take heart that you can know that escape. You don't have to get on a plane to Bali or somewhere else.

[32:42] You can escape right here, right here, right now. You can escape the pollutions of this world. Isn't that good news? It is good news. And it's true.

[32:53] And so I urge you today, you can find cleansing. You can find release. You can find peace with God. It is possible. Peace with God is possible in the 21st century.

[33:07] It's about what we tune into. What are we tuning into, as it were? You know, there's a story told about a time where people tuned in to the wrong thing and ended up really in a pickle.

[33:22] I suppose you could put it. And the question is, what tune are we marching to? The world's beat or the masters?

[33:33] Who are we marching to? Who are we marching with? You know, it's human nature for us to copy what we're exposed to. So I'll read this illustration here.

[33:44] And this was some years ago when there were errand boys in a certain part of London. And these boys would be delivery boys, going from business to business, delivering parcels, I suppose.

[33:58] And musicians noted that these delivery boys were whistling. They were whistling, but they were whistling out of tune as they went about their work.

[34:10] And this was rather puzzling. Why would they whistle out of tune? A bit like how I play the guitar. But so they were whistling out of tune. And it was talked about, and someone said, that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune.

[34:24] The bells of the church, Westminster's a church, isn't it? The bells of Westminster church were out of tune. Just slightly.

[34:36] And so something had gone wrong with the chimes, and they were discordant. So these boys didn't know this. They were just unconsciously copying the tune. Copying this pitch of the tune.

[34:48] And so you can picture this as a picture of how we too can tune in to the world and get out of tune with God.

[35:01] We can tune in to the world and get out of tune with God. So when we borrow the ideas and the thoughts from the world, from worldly associations, from things that we watch and receive, movies of the world, the programs of the world, it happens like before we know it, we're singing the same songs, we're going along with the same philosophies.

[35:28] You know, I was at a worldly presentation. It was about men's violence to women, which is a real issue. And the woman presented, this was just a secular presentation.

[35:43] But this woman played a video clip, and it showed how the tunes, certain worldly songs, encourage men to be violent to women, encourage men to assault women.

[35:57] And even the world could see this. She was telling this audience, it's just purely a work-based, a secular audience, she was showing and exposing these worldly lyrics of these worldly songs were actually encouraging violence and assault towards women.

[36:17] And the world could even see that. And yet, there's Christians that tune into things like Eminem. What are they doing? What on earth?

[36:30] You know, listen to it. Well, don't listen to it, but read the lyrics. And consider. Consider that.

[36:41] Consider that. So what is it that we set our pitch, our tune, the tune of our life to? Whose drum are you marching to? God has made us for a purpose.

[36:54] People today, he's made you. He's made you for a purpose. To live right. To live, truly live. To escape. You don't have to stay in that prison cell any longer.

[37:07] You can be set free. 2 Peter 1. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.

[37:18] That by these you might be partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Escape is possible by the divine promises of God.

[37:33] And you can escape. I pray that you will immerse yourself in the Bible. That you'll find that he's saving love for you. It's not about reforming your life.

[37:46] Turning over a new leaf. Trying to put on a show that you've changed. It's about in here. It's about your heart. It's about your heart.

[37:57] It's not about keeping a certain list. Or not following a certain list. Or making a certain list of good works you've got to do. And beating yourself up if you don't do them.

[38:10] It's about your heart. It's about your affection. Set your affection on things above. You can't escape. He promises you. He's come to deliver us from this present evil world.

[38:22] And he's called us to be, if you like, counter-cultural non-conformists. Now some of the great heroes of the faith, back in history, people like John Bunyan got locked up by the church.

[38:42] John Wesley got booted out of the church. Too radical. We don't want to conform with anything but him.

[38:54] And let our hearts, our minds, grasp his truth today. Let our hearts, our minds, be transformed as our minds are renewed.

[39:06] As he does that cleansing work in our minds and our hearts. As we see his work at the cross was everything that had to happen. That at the cross, everything was done for our salvation.

[39:20] And instead of the world mastering you, you'll find a new master. A saviour, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

[39:33] Now, as believers, again, I urge you, have your eyes peeled, wide open. Don't, don't let anyone fool you.

[39:45] It's been said truly this, the world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. You might have lots of worldly mates and they could drag you back.

[39:59] Drag you back to where you were. Now, one of the first things I did as a believer was I talked to my school friends when I was 15. And they didn't want to hang around two months after that.

[40:11] But I wanted to tell them I'm a Christian. I wanted to tell them the gospel. I wanted to reach out to them. Maybe I could have done it better that I didn't, I don't know, put them off or whatever the case.

[40:25] But sometimes you've got to make a stand. Make a stand. Make a stand on your Facebook page. Stop dilly-dallying and messing around with the world and it's garbage.

[40:37] Amen. Stop feeding yourself with this rubbish. Stop promoting this garbage. I'm not picking on anyone here today. This is just broadly. This is just broadly saying it, okay?

[40:50] Don't feel like I'm targeting you. The world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Sometimes you're going to have to upset those who've got their affection down here.

[41:06] Because you want to set your affection on things above. It doesn't mean you've got to be totally way out there. But you want to stand for Christ. That's the point. Stand for Christ. That the Lord Jesus is your master and you'll stand no matter what.

[41:20] That he is the only master of your life. Is he your love? You can't serve two masters. Some try to. There was a time in my Christian life when I was a bit like a chameleon.

[41:33] There was one thing then and one thing there. And I realised I just couldn't play that game any longer. You can't be a chameleon. Make a stand.

[41:44] Get off the fence. Love not the world. Love not the world. And much of this message really is to believers if you're not a Christian tonight.

[41:56] It's not about doing any good works. It's not about trying to you know be good. it's about receiving his goodness. It's about your state of heart.

[42:09] That you have a brand new heart. Then everything changes. When you have a new heart then he'll change you from the inside out.

[42:20] And so be stirred today. If you've yet to trust Christ as your Lord and Saviour you might want to say Printer I want to know how. Come and talk to me Pastor Adam another trusted Christian Brad another leader here today or if you're a woman we can appoint a female that you can pray with and be encouraged by tonight.

[42:40] If you'd like prayer please make that time to pray. Just to close love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If many men love the world the love of the Father is not in him.

[42:51] For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof but here that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

[43:08] Friends this world has got a finite duration. It's passing away and the lust thereof it's going to be short lived.

[43:20] to chase after to love this world is emptiness. It's finite but the will of God is everlasting life.

[43:35] The will of God is that you believe have faith in God and he that does the will of God abides forever. What is God's will? that you trust him.

[43:49] His will is whosoever will may come. Come to him. Come to him. Choose him. Decide wisely. Many are too busy for God. They're too busy for God.

[44:01] They want to set their affection on things of this earth. Don't make that mistake. And Christians especially younger Christians but all of us use what time and space you've got left of your life to choose wisely.

[44:16] Live it wisely. Don't be too busy to pray. Too busy to study. Too busy to seek after God. This world is time limited and salvation the offer of salvation is time limited and I urge you to trust him.

[44:31] Trust him now. Let's pray. Let's pray.

[44:42]