And if you would open up your Bibles, please open up your Bibles to 1 John 2, verse 15-17.
And let me read this passage to you.
This is not an easy passage to listen to and take to heart.
Hear God's Word. This is God speaking to you, child of God.
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 the 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, child of God, is doing the will of God, is abiding forever.
May God bless the reading of his Word and now may God bless the preaching of it.
Have you guys heard about the frog in the kettle?
Apparently, if you heat up water in a kettle to a point of boil and then you drop a frog in it,
that frog jumps right out of it.
But if you take a frog, put it in lukewarm water in a kettle,
but you gradually heat up the water,
unbeknownst to that frog, that frog gradually gets cooked.
Brothers and sisters,
are we being gradually cooked
by the godless passions and priorities of the world?
Unbeknownst to us?
This past Thursday,
our life group gathered on Zoom
and we were talking about this very passage.
This passage is about how a Christian is to relate to the world.
And in the study that we're doing,
it started with two questions.
What do you think is the main failing of churches today?
And then things got really kind of uncomfortable.
What is the main failing of your congregation?
So, think about it.
Could you imagine being in a life group with me
having to answer that question?
What is the main failing of your church and your pastor?
We had a great conversation.
They were very kind and gracious.
But what those two questions get at
is raising how we evaluate ourselves
as Christians in relationship to the world.
Have we blended in to the world?
Are we virtually indistinguishable
from the world around us
and we don't even know it?
Have we gone back to the world?
Have we given ourselves back to the world?
The very system God in His mercy and His grace
has called us out of.
God in His great love towards us
when He poured out His love to us
through the cross of Jesus Christ.
He called us out of the world
for Him.
And now we're in the world
but not of the world.
So here's the big idea.
Child of God,
don't give yourself back to the world.
Child of God.
Christian,
don't give yourself
back to the world
to the very place
you were called out of.
To the people
who you no longer are of.
Child of God,
don't give yourself
back to the world.
So in this passage,
you can see it in your bulletin
the way I've structured the sermon,
the bulletin outline.
There is a loving command
that's in verse 15
and then that's followed
by two reasons.
Two reasons why
you should not love the world.
that you should not give yourself
to the world.
Child of God,
don't go back to the world.
Don't give yourself
to the world.
So let's look at this
loving command.
The loving command.
Do not love the world.
You see it in verse,
chapter 2, verse 15.
Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
Right from the get-go,
we need to spend some time
saying what does John mean
by the world?
That word, world.
If you look in the three verses
that we're looking at,
that word, world,
is used six times
in three verses.
That's a lot of real estate.
And then if you count
its desires in verse 17,
there are seven explicit references
to the world
in these three verses.
And so I don't know about you,
but I have this sense
upon reading this
that what John is telling us
not to love,
what is being forbidden
for us to give ourselves to,
to set our affections on,
is something a little bit
more complicated
than just the planet.
God is not saying
you cannot love koala bears
and zebras
and baby bunnies.
It's a little bit more
complicated than that.
And so to help you see
just exactly what John means
by the world,
let me show you
in 1 John
other references
to the world
and what we learn from it.
So look at 1 John 3,
verse 13.
We read this.
Do not be surprised,
brothers,
Christians,
those called out of the world,
that the world hates you.
Mountains don't hate people.
We're talking about
something more complicated
than that.
Already out of the gate,
we realize the world
is not neutral
to Jesus
or those who follow Jesus.
If you look down
at chapter 4,
verse 1,
and verse 5,
beloved,
do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits
to see whether they are
from God,
for many false prophets
have gone out
into the world.
There are people
who are proclaiming
false gospels
in the world,
to the world.
And if you look down
at verse 5,
these false prophets,
they are from the world.
Therefore,
they speak
from the world
and the world
listens to them.
We,
brothers and sisters
in Christ,
are from God.
Whoever knows God
listens to us,
John the Apostle says,
into the truth
of the gospel.
Whoever is not from God
does not listen to us.
So you see
what's going on here?
The world
sends out
false prophets
to the world
to proclaim
a false message
that the world
says,
yeah,
I'll listen to that,
but the world
does not listen
to the truthful
preaching of Jesus Christ
apart from
a working of God.
The world
is not
a neutral
place.
It's not
neutral
to Jesus.
It's not
neutral
to those of us
who belong
to Jesus.
And if you want
the convincer,
turn to chapter 5,
verse 19,
the three verses
away from the very
end of this book,
we read this.
We know
that we are
from God.
Again,
he's referring
to Christians.
We know
that we are
from God
and the whole
world
lies in the
power of
the evil
one.
It's a reference
to Satan,
the devil,
the prince
of the power
of the air,
Ephesians chapter 2,
the Antichrist
that's all over
1 John.
And this
is the God
of this world
according to
2 Corinthians 4.4
who has blinded
the minds
of unbelievers.
So let me try
to bring this
all together
for you.
What is the world?
The world
is sinful
humanity
in organized
rebellion
against God
under the power
of the evil one.
It's a
complicated
system
of opposition
to God.
And just
to let you know,
this world,
this organized
system
of human
rebellion
against God
under the evil
one,
it transcends
cultures.
It transcends
governments.
The world
defined this way
works great
under communism.
It works great
under socialism.
It works great
in a democracy.
It adapts
fine
in all of its
various
oppositions
to God.
what you need
to understand
is the world
is actively
opposing God
and His purposes.
The world
disconnects
everything
from God.
The world
is seeking
to distort
God's good
design and
gifts.
The world
empowered by
Satan
is deceiving
and it
is passing
away.
It's on its
way to
destruction.
So what
we're being
prohibited
to love
is the very
system that
opposes
God.
Don't give
yourself back
to the rebellious
system under
the power of
the evil
one that God
has called
you out
of.
And it's to
that end I
just want to
remind you of
who John is
writing to.
He's not
writing to
the world
to not love
the world.
He's writing
to those
called out
of the world
by His grace.
He's writing
to Christians.
We see that
in 2.1
My little
children
family of
God
2.7
beloved
it's a reference
to Christians
2.12
little children
2.13
fathers
2.13
young men
2.13
children
2.14
fathers
2.14
young men
He says
the word of
God abides
in you all
you have
overcome
the evil
one
greater
is he
that is
in you
than he
that is
in the
world.
He's writing
to Christians
those who
belong to
God
who've been
called
out of
the world
He's saying
don't
give yourself
back
to that
system
now
I do
think
that there's
a possibility
of some
confusion
here
I don't
believe
John
is
forbidding
us
to love
the world
in a
redemptive
sense
I don't
think
John
is saying
hey
if you
are
burdened
for your
non-Christian
relatives
and neighbors
you shouldn't
love them
that way
that's
that's not
what he's
saying
I mean
we can
make a
case from
1 John
itself
I mean
if you
look at
1 John
2.2
Jesus
is the
propitiation
for our
sins
and not
for ours
only
but also
for the
sins
of the
whole
world
we read
the same
in chapter
4
where
Jesus
is sent
to the
world
in verse
19
Jesus
is the
savior
of the
world
for God
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
only begotten
son
that whoever
believes
in him
shall not
perish
but have
eternal
life
what is
being
forbidden
the kind
of love
being forbidden
is a
conforming
love
to the
world
a love
for the
world
that says
I want
to be
like
you
blending
in
being
like
who
you
love
you
become
like
who
you
love
you're
conformed
into
their
image
that's
why
in
John
17
Jesus
prays
for his
disciples
not to
be
taken
out
of
the
world
but to
be
sanctified
in
truth
that
they
would
love
one
another
and bear
witness
to the
savior
of
the
world
that's
why
Jesus
says
in
Matthew
5
you
are
the
light
of
the
world
a
city
on
a
hill
don't
let
Satan
blow
it
out
don't
put
a
bushel
over
it
let
your
light
shine
what
we're
being
we're
being
to
love
the
world
in
some
kind
of
conforming
way
where
we
become
like
the
world
in
its
values
passions
methods
priorities
they're
all
godless
disconnected
and opposing
god
and
i
just
want
to
finally
just
say
this
remember
why
there
is
a
not
do
not
love
the
world
it
is
a
loving
not
it's
your
heavenly
father
the
word
father
is
used
two
times
in
this
passage
to
remind
you
who
you
belong
to
and
your
father's
great
love
for
you
god
is
forbidding
a
love
for
the
world
because
he
loves
us
could
you
imagine
if
you're
a
parent
of
an
18
year
old
son
and
your
son
you
learn
that
your
son
is
leaving
your
house
to
go
visit
a
prostitute
what
are you
going to
do
oh son
please
don't
do
that
you
know
I
love
you
this
is
not
who
you
are
these
are
not
the
kind
of
desires
that
you
want
ruling
your
heart
this
is
not
going
to
end
well
son
I
in the
book of
revelation
the
world
is
called
the
prostitute
Babylon
we're not
to have
anything
to do
with her
God
in his
love
is
saying
don't
give
yourself
back
to her
and so
when you
hear this
command
what I
am
very
interested
that you
hear
is that
you're
hearing
your
loving
father
say
no
he
loves
you
this
is a
loving
command
not
to
love
the
world
child
of
God
don't
give
yourself
back
to
the
world
and
now
to
reason
number
one
incompatible
desires
we
start
seeing
this
at
the
second
half
of
verse
15
if
anyone
loves
the
world
the
love
of
the
father
is
not
in
him
the
love
of
the
father
talking
about
is
love
for
the
father
there
are
two
kinds
of
loves
here
love
for
the
world
if
you
love
the
world
you're
going
to
be
conformed
to
the
world
and
love
for
the
father
if
you
love
the
father
you're
going
to
be
conformed
to
the
image
of
the
son
what
you
love
you're
conformed
to
the
image
of
and
what's
being
said
here
they're
mutually
exclusive
you
can't
love
the
world
and
love
your
father
simultaneously
it's
either
one
or
the
other
they're
incompatible
loves
with
incompatible
desires
Jesus
talked about
in Matthew
6
when he
talked about
no one
can serve
two
masters
you'll
either
love
one
and
hate
the
other
you'll
be
devoted
to
one
or
despise
the
other
you
can't
love
both
you can't
serve
both
God
and
money
so
let me
just
give
a little
bit
of
a
warning
here
I
know
that
every
Christian
in the
room
right
now
would
say
this
I
agree
I
agree
that
no
child
of
God
should
be
loving
the
world
I'm
not
so
concerned
about
your
profession
I'm
concerned
about
what's
actually
functioning
in your
heart
because
I
think
it's
possible
for
you
to
say
I
don't
love
the
world
but
in
reality
you
actually
live
as
though
you
can
love
God
and
love
the
world
simultaneously
and
I'm
here
to
tell
you
just
drank
from
the
poison
of
the
Kool-Aid
of
the
world
doesn't
work
that
way
very
clear
here
it's
one
or
the
other
in
this
passage
John
says
do
not
love
the
world
or
the
things
in
the
world
and
when
you
hear
things
you're
probably
thinking
okay
I'm
not
to
love
slot
machines
I
get
it
but
that's
not
actually
what
John
has
in
mind
because
if
you
look
at
verse
16
he
says
for
all
that
is
in
the
world
now
he's
picking
up
where
he
started
in
verse
15
and
then
he
lists
out
a
bunch
of
desires
all
that
is
in
the
world
is
a
reference
to
operating
governing
motivations
for
all
that
is
in
the
world
he
goes
into
this
toxic
cocktail
of
worldly
passions
and
desires
it's
the
trifecta
of
godless
motivations
and do you
see them
the desire
of the
flesh
the desire
of the
eyes
the pride
of life
these
are the
governing
motivations
of the
world
and so
my
task
now
is to
help you
evaluate
yourself
in light
of
these
worldly
motivations
I want
you to
look at
yourself
I want
you to
take
stock
of
what's
rolling
around
in your
own
heart
now the
temptation
is to
think
about
you know
what
you need
to
preach
this
to
Jim
he
really
needs
to
hear
about
his
worldly
desires
Jesus
says
before
you
take
the
speck
out
of
your
brother's
eye
be
sure
to
take
out
the
log
out
of
your
own
God
the
next
temptation
will
be
this
when
we
start
drilling
down
here
you're
going
to
start
thinking
am I
even
a
Christian
how can
this be
in me
remember
what
John
writes
in 1
John
1
5
through
9
walking
in the
light
is not
denying
sin
it is
not
sinlessness
it is
being
honest
about
your
sin
to
God
so
let's
unpack
these
three
toxic
elements
to
the
worldly
motivations
that are
operating
around us
and what
you need
to see
is that
they're
incompatible
with love
for God
they're all
part of this
rationale
this is
why
you
don't
love
the
world
so
let's
dial
in
the
desire
of
the
flesh
the
flesh
is
used
all
throughout
the
New
Testament
to
describe
that
part
of
you
that
is
still
in
opposition
to
God
that
part
of
you
your
cravings
your
longings
your
desires
that
want
to
rebel
against
God
that
does
not
want
to
submit
to
who
God
is
and
what
he
calls
you
to
that's
your
and
what
you
need
to
know
brother
and
sister
in
Christ
is
that
when
you
became
a
Christian
you
became
a
walking
battle
zone
of
desires
because
the
moment
you
put
your
faith
in
Jesus
the
spirit
of
God
came
to
indwell
you
and
what
we
read
from
Galatians
chapter
5
verse
6
17
and
18
is
the
desires
of
the
flesh
and
the
desires
of
the
spirit
are
at war
with
each
other
opposing
each
other
so
the
time
you
became
a
Christian
likely
you
became
even
more
aware
of
sin
in
you
that's
right
that's
normal
it
should
be
that
way
now
if
you
want
to
see
a
catalog
of
the
works
of
the
flesh
look
at
verses
19
through
21
Galatians
chapter
5
but
I
just
want
to
help
you
see
five
the
first
is
this
one
of
the
desires
of
the
flesh
that
we
regularly
encounter
in
ourselves
is
sexual
lust
desire
that
is
running
over
the
banks
of
God's
good
design
Matthew
chapter
five
Jesus
calls
it
the
adultery
of
one's
heart
this
can
wreak
havoc
it
can
rule
your
life
and
if
you
belong
to
God
that
desire
is
incompatible
with
loving
God
and
then
there's
the
love
of
money
greed
idolatry
Jesus
calls
it
a
master
that
you
can
serve
first
Timothy
six
talks
about
money
the
love
of
money
as
being
the
root
of
all
evil
the
love
of
money
can
rule
one's
life
and
it
is
incompatible
with
love
for
God
then
there
is
destructive
anger
your
need
to be
right
burns
bridges
it
destroys
it
wreaks
havoc
on
people
in
Matthew
chapter
five
Jesus
talks
about
anger
as
the
seed
of
murder
James
one
says
the
anger
of man
does
not
accomplish
the
righteousness
of
God
unchecked
anger
is
incompatible
with
love
for
God
and
then
there's
this
arresting
anxiety
that we
all deal
with
it's
a fear
of
unknowns
it's
circumstances
ruling
our
lives
and
what
it
actually
is
it's
a
functional
atheism
because
we
become
so
aware
of
what
may
or
may
not
happen
we
totally
forget
that
there's
a
sovereign
God
reigning
over
it
all
carrying
out
his
purposes
it's
incompatible
with
love
for
God
you
feeling
this
I've
been
in
this
all
week
and
then
there's
the
fear
of
man
the
fear
of
man
proves
to
be
a
snare
problems
and
there's
one
particular
way
I
want
to
impress
upon
you
in
which
I
believe
the
church
in
America
is
being
tempted
to
fear
of
man
and
that
is
to
accommodate
to
the
moral
order
of
our
day
it's
to
say
no
you
can
talk
whatever
you
want
about
gender
issues
I'm
just
not
going to
enter
into
that
oh
no
you
can
redefine
sexuality
and
sexual
and
sexual
you
want
I'm
not
going
to
touch
it
because
I'm
afraid
to
touch
it
the
fear
of
man
proves
to
be
a
snare
in
light
of
that
I
want
you
to
look
at
2nd
Timothy
chapter
4
verse
3
the
fear
of
man
and
blending
into
the
world
can
take
over
the
church
2nd
Timothy
4
3
the
time
is
coming
when
people
will
not
endure
sound
teaching
but
having
itching
ears
they
will
accumulate
for
themselves
teachers
John
would
say
false
prophets
to
suit
their
own
passions
desires
we
cannot
we
cannot
do
this
these
are
desires
of the
flesh
that are
all
around
us
and
when
one
of
these
or
a
number
of
these
are
the
ruling
governing
motivations
of
your
heart
you
have
already
blended
into
the
world
now
what
do
you
do
what
do
you
do
when
you
start
seeing
these
things
operative
in
your
heart
you
confess
them
you
confess
them
to
God
for
what
they
are
God
this
lust
is
not
your
design
for
my
sexuality
I
confess
that
change
me
this
love
of
money
is
not
my
God
Jesus
you
are
this
anger
this
does
not
rule
me
Lord
Jesus
you're
controlling
all
things
I'm
going
to
trust
you
anxiety
fear
of
man
you
confess
them
if you
look at
verse 16
of chapter
2
this is
very helpful
the desires
of the flesh
this
this thing
that's from
the world
it's not
from your
father
it's from
the world
you don't
source this
from a
holy
loving
father
these
sinful
motivations
are
from
that
systemic
kind of
reign
of
the devil
controlling
and organizing
sinful
humanity
opposed
to
God
it's not
from God
it's from
the world
but I
want to
remind you
of this
Romans
13
14
put on
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
and make
no provision
for the
flesh
to gratify
its desires
so you
tell your
lust
oh I
love
Jesus
more
you
tell your
greed
I
want
the
treasures
of
Jesus
more
you
tell
your
anger
I
am
more
zealous
for
Jesus
glory
you
tell
your
anxiety
and
fear
oh
I
am
trusting
in
the
timeline
of
my
God
you
tell
your
fear
of
man
you
have
no
place
in
my
heart
because
Jesus
is
way
bigger
than
you
the
desires
of
the
flesh
are
incompatible
with
love
for the
father
that's
why
we
don't
love
the
world
and
then
there
are
the
desires
of
the
eyes
I
call
them
dark
optics
remember
the
God
of
this
world
has
blinded
the
minds
of
unbelievers
they
can't
see
clearly
non-Christians
are
short-sighted
they
think
that
today
we
eat
drink
and
be
merry
for
tomorrow
we
die
and
so
they
don't
think
in
terms
of
eternity
they
think
now
it's
short-sightedness
and
there's
this
condition
called
dancing
eyes
in
people
where
their
eyes
are
shaking
and
they
can't
focus
in
everything
is
blurry
spiritual
blindness
keeps
people
blurry
from
seeing
what
is
most
important
focusing
in
on
God
his
word
and
the
souls
of
men
as
most
important
there's
this
thing
called
stereo
blindness
in which
someone
is
unable
to
see
depth
they
can't
see
in
3D
and
this
blinding
effect
of
the
devil
on
people
blinds
them
to
the
spiritual
realities
that
are
existing
in
everything
our
battle
is not
against
flesh
and
blood
but
against
spiritual
principalities
spiritual
blindness
this
desire
of the
eyes
when
that's
operative
in you
do you
know
what
do you
know
what
effect
it
has
you
don't
see
yourself
clearly
nor
do you
see
others
clearly
you
for sure
don't
see
God
clearly
it
distorts
everything
so have
you
unwittingly
adopted
the world's
way of
seeing
yourself
seeing
others
and seeing
God
are you
seeing
people
as means
of being
of approval
of
accomplishment
of status
is
is this
saying
something
that you
hear
just be
true
to
yourself
this
past week
I read
an article
by
Brett
McCracken
in which
he expressed
much concern
of what's
called
expressive
individualism
it's about
my voice
being heard
above all
else
are you
viewing
people
according
to what
the world
says
is most
important
that's not
from God
it's from
the world
God's word
says people
are image
bearers
with
eternities
God
says
we are
not
to
value
people
according
to the
flesh
but to
see them
and their
standing
on which
side
of
Jesus
so maybe
you're sitting
in your
pew
and you're
saying
you know
what
I'm not
sure
if I'm
seeing
straight
well
confess it
say
Lord
Jesus
I am
not
seeing
these
things
clearly
and that's
why you
need the
corrective
lens
of God's
word
God's
word
makes
things
clear
God's
word
helps
us
to
look
beyond
the
here
and
now
with
an
eternal
perspective
God
helps
us
through
his
word
to
focus
on
what's
important
God
his
word
in the
souls
of
man
God's
word
helps
us
to see
the
spiritual
realities
by faith
that
exist
everywhere
are
are you
seeing
life
through
the
optics
of
the
world
or
through
the
lens
of
scripture
seeing
through
the
lens
through
the
optics
of
the
world
is
a
desire
that
is
incompatible
with
love
for
God
confess
it
find
his
mercy
and
then
there's
the
pride
of
life
and
what
is
essentially
being
addressed
here
is
the
pride
of
possessions
that
word
pride
actually
means
bragging
boasting
and
it
goes
beyond
bragging
in
what
you
have
whether
that
is
a
huge
bank
account
or
nice
clothes
or
cool
techno
gear
or
a
cool
car
house
or
houses
cool
appliances
it
goes
into
accomplishments
boasting
in what
you've
accomplished
whether
that's
personal
records
promotions
rewards
whether
that's
sexual
exploits
giving
someone
the raw
end of
the deal
bragging
in your
authority
bragging
in your
experiences
bragging
in your
political
exploits
that's
not
from
God
that's
from
the
world
the
pride
of
life
the
pride
of
possessions
is
this
false
belief
that
this
world
has
everything
to
offer
you
which
makes
it
the
sum
total
of
life
it's
not
true
it's
not
from
God
that's
from
the
world
and so
you
need
to
confess
it
when you
become
aware
of
it
when
it's
ruling
you
the
world
is not
the
final
authority
on what
you
live
your
life
for
Jesus
is
and that's
why in
Matthew
chapter
16
we hear
him say
something
as
amazing
as
this
if anyone
would come
after me
let him
deny
himself
and take
up his
cross
and follow
me
for
whoever
would save
his life
will lose
it
but whoever
loses
his life
for my
sake
will find
it
for what
will
it
profit
a man
if he
gains
the whole
world
and forfeits
his soul
it's one or
the other
we don't
boast in
our possessions
but we do
boast
you know
what we
boasted
who
possesses
us
we
belong
to
Jesus
that's
our
boast
okay
so this
is the
trifecta
of
desires
of
worldly
motivations
they're
very real
temptations
and they're
not from
God
they're
incompatible
with loving
God
this is
reason
number
one
why we
don't
love
the
world
that
these
desires
they're
not to
be true
of us
they're
not
what
God
has
purchased
for us
they're
incompatible
with walking
in the light
as God
is light
so what do you do
when you become aware
of these
you confess
them
if we confess
our sins
he's faithful
and just
to forgive us
our sins
and cleanse us
from all
of these
ungodly
motivations
of the world
and its
place
do you know
what he wants
to do
in you
he wants
you to
treasure
Jesus
above all
else
he wants
you to
obey
Jesus
and all
of his
commands
he wants
you to
abound
in your
love
for those
who belong
to Jesus
that's
what he's
looking
to do
in you
those
are the
desires
that he's
looking
to cultivate
check
this out
you know
the Chicago
river
was reversed
it used
to flow
in
but now
it flows
out
all of
these
desires
of the
flesh
desires
of the
eyes
the
boasting
of life
these
are
desires
that
are
taking
desires
from me
but when
you
experience
God's
love
in the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
spirit
of God
reverses
the
course
of your
loves
from
taking it
to me
to
giving it
out
for the
glory of
Jesus
to obey
his commands
to love
other people
that's who
you are
that's what
Jesus accomplished
for you
now
reason number
two
contrasting
ends
and I
am at
the end
of my
time
but I
want to
point you
to one
thing
in verse
17
and the
world is
passing away
along with
its desires
but whoever
does the
will of
God
abides
forever
it's a
contrast
between
passing
away
and abiding
forever
the world
is sinful
humanity
in organized
rebellion
against God
under the
power of
the evil
one
the church
is redeemed
humanity
in organized
obedience
to God
under the
authority of
our Lord
Jesus Christ
the righteous
one
if you're
living for
the world
you're living
for something
that's
passing
away
it's got
an expiration
date
and if you
sniff it
it smells
bad
but if you're
doing the
will of
your God
your Father
that smells
wonderful
to your
God
and it
demonstrates
that you
have
actually
been
given
eternal
life
because
the verbal
tense is
there
if anyone
is doing
the will
of God
he
is
abiding
forever
it
demonstrates
that you've
been given
eternal
life
reason
number
two
why we
don't love
the world
it's not
who you
are
you've
been
born
again
and you
belong
to God
this
morning
we've
been
given
a
clear
prohibition
from our
loving
heavenly
father
do not
love
the
world
or the
motivations
of the
world
and he's
given us
two reasons
why not
to
first is
the world's
desires
are incompatible
with loving
your father
so you've
got to
continually
confess
them
and secondly
the world
is passing
away
but you
child of
God
you're
doing the
will of
your
father
and you're
going to
live forever
it's not
who you
are
so child
of God
don't give
yourself back
to the
world
you've been
called out
from the
world
so let's
proclaim
Jesus
to the
world
what do
you think
what do
you think
what do
you think
is the main
thing that
we belong
to Jesus
not the
world
Lord Jesus
would you
impress upon
us the
wonder of
who you
are
the glory
of who you
are
that there
is no
one or no
thing that
compares to
you
Lord Jesus
would you
take up
rightly
the throne
of our
hearts
and would
you govern
all of our
desires and
motivations
that all
that we do
we would do
unto the
glory of
your name
and for the
good of
all people
help us
Lord Jesus
Father pour
out your
spirit in
us to
bring this
about
and help
us help
us now to
be honest
with you about
our sin and
find healing
and forgiveness
yet again
in Jesus name
we pray
amen