I'm stunned, shocked. You're all sitting down within about 15 seconds. It normally takes
about 15 minutes. I don't know what happened. I don't know what to do or say. I'm going
to ask Chris to come up. She's going to read for us from God's Word. So thanks, Chris.
Two readings this morning. The first one is from Matthew chapter 6, beginning at verse
19, and that's on page 971 of the Church Bible. It's Matthew chapter 6, beginning at verse
19. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and
rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full
of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the
light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness? No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and money. And the second reading is taken from 1 John
chapter 2, verses 15 to 17, and that's on page 1226 of the Church Bible. That's 1 John
chapter 2, beginning at verse 15.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes,
and the boasting of what he has and does, comes not from the Father, but from the world.
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Thanks very much, Christine, for that. So keep your Bibles open there at that section in 1 John
chapter 2. We have a small section, but there's a lot that's contained in it, so we're just
going to look at three verses this morning. And all this is part of a wider series. Just
as I say all of this, if you wouldn't mind handing out the pens and the...
So there's a piece of paper for you to take notes on and a pen. If you'd like a pen, just
keep your hand up and one can be given to you. So this is all part of our series on confident
fellowship. Fellowship is simply our relationship and our partnership with God the Father and
God the Son. So that's the big theme and the big heading of this series. And this morning
we're looking at protecting our fellowship with God from 1 John chapter 2 verses 15 to 27.
Let's pray together.
Father, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Father, please would you
help us this morning to see where the treasure that we set our heart is. And to do all things
possible to make sure that the Lord Jesus Christ is our ultimate treasure. That he would consume
consume us. That we would gaze at his beauty, at his greatness. That we would love the treasure
of the Lord Jesus. We pray that we would do everything possible to make you centre of our lives.
Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore we ask that you would use the teaching of your word to bring that about. May your Holy Spirit
bring us to a place where we can say that you are our all and our everything. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Well, Fort Knox is perhaps the most secure building in the world. To break in, you would have to scale four fences,
two of which are electrified, and then sneak past the armed guards lining the perimeter.
If you've gone that far, you then have to get through the granite walls, which are four foot thick, and reinforced with 750 tons of steel.
Once you've managed to get inside, you have to find your way through a maze of locked doors, armed guards, and then open the 22 tonne vault door.
That's quite simple. All you have to do is bring with you all the members of staff who each have a piece of the code and get them to key it in in the right order.
And then once you've got inside and robbed it, all you have to do is get past the 30,000 troops that are now alerted and stationed outside.
Why so much security at Fort Knox?
Well, inside is 5,000 tons of gold bullion, which is worth about $380 billion.
And that's just the gold.
It's treasure worth guarding.
Now, we have a treasure that is worth guarding and protecting.
That treasure we've been learning is fellowship with God.
Remember back in chapter 1, verse 3, it tells us there that we have been invited into fellowship with God.
Through faith, we get to share in and participate in the love that the Father has for the Son and that the Son has for the Father.
We get to join in and experience that love.
And it's in this fellowship that our joy is made complete.
This is where we are fulfilled and satisfied in this fellowship with the Father.
So the big message of the text this morning from chapter 2, verses 15 to 17 is this.
Secure the treasure.
Protect your fellowship with God.
But what are we protecting our fellowship from?
Well, the threat comes from the world.
Look at verse 15.
He says, it's a command.
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
Now, the world in this context is not the material world.
It's not the created planet all around us.
The material world, we're told, is good.
It's like God's playground that has been given to his children, people like you and me, to enjoy.
So things like music and work and creativity and food and friendships,
all of these are good gifts from God that is meant for us for our pleasure and to enjoy.
But in verse 15, the world we are not to love is the world that stands opposed to God.
So the world in this context is the pattern of behaviour.
It's a particular outlook on life that rejects God's ways.
Let me show you.
There's a very helpful verse in 1 John chapter 5 verse 19.
Just turn to that.
1 John chapter 5 verse 19.
I think this will help us get a grip on what we mean by the world.
1 John 5 verse 19.
It says,
You see, it's as if the world has declared war on God with the evil one, the devil himself leading the charge
and all the people kind of following up behind.
And it's the world is making their stand against God, saying,
We oppose you.
We don't want you.
And they oppose God by ignoring him and disobeying him.
That is what is meant by the world under the control of the evil one.
Back to verse 15.
So when he is encouraging us, or commanding us rather,
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
He is saying, do not love the world's values and attitudes because they are in opposition to God.
In other words, do not love each other's sinful behaviours.
Do not love them because the world is in opposition to God.
Now the reason, and this is important,
the reason we are not to love the world is, yes, it's in opposition to God,
but because the world robs us of our joy.
It robs us of our joy.
Look at verse 15 again.
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
Why?
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.
You see, you simply cannot enjoy the love of the Father and at the same time love the world.
You can't mix and match.
They don't go together.
You can't enjoy the love of the Father and at the same time love the world.
It's a little bit like having an affair.
If I came home with a young lady on my arm and I sat down in my living room to watch television together
and Kirsty walks in and says,
Who's this?
Oh, don't worry.
She's just my new girlfriend.
No.
It can't work.
You either love one or you love the other.
To enjoy the love of your spouse, to experience that deep, intimate relationship,
you cannot give your love to another.
And that's what he's saying here with our love with the Father.
To love the world is opening up your heart to a thief that is going to come in and rob us of that deep,
personal and relational joy that we have with the Father.
So we need to be very careful of where we focus our loves.
Because wherever we focus our loves, that's where our treasure will be.
And love for the world will rob us of our joy.
Love for the world will rob us of our joy.
So let's have a look at what this love of the world looks like.
The danger is, every one of us in this room has the capacity to love the world.
Instead of protecting the love with the Father,
instead of enjoying that rich relationship with Him
and making sure we do all things possible to enjoy that relationship,
we begin to look to the world for our pleasure and our joy.
So look at verse 16.
For everything in the world,
the cravings of sinful man,
the lust of his eyes,
and the boasting of what he has and does
comes not from the Father,
but from the world.
So what we're going to do now is
we're going to look at the three ways in which
we can love the world that are listed here in verse 16.
Now we're going to take a bit of time to go through it
and look at each one individually.
And it's going to be quite heart-searching for us.
So let's look at the three ways we love the world.
Again, let's read the beginning of verse 16.
Number one.
For everything in the world,
The Cravings of Sinful Man.
You know what it's like to be sitting down watching the TV.
I'm sure you all do that.
And all of a sudden,
as you're watching your favourite programme,
you have this sudden craving for chocolate.
Or is it just me?
You put it off for a while,
but the desire for that rich, smooth, galaxy chocolate,
or whatever your favourite bar is,
consumes you so much
that you can't help but to get up out of your seat
and go to the cupboard or the fridge
and get that chocolate.
And it's never just a bite, is it?
You scoff the whole lot.
You see, craving something means
you have to have it.
It consumes you.
It masters you.
Rather than you being able to control the desire,
the desire controls you.
So, shaped by the values of the world
and driven by our sinful hearts,
we crave material wealth.
We crave sexual gratification.
We crave success.
We crave the perfect body.
We crave...
You fill in the blank.
What is it that you crave?
What is it that I crave the most?
We have to have it.
Because the world says
you will not be satisfied or fulfilled
without it.
So, we crave it.
Now, that doesn't mean to say
any of these things that we crave
are necessarily wrong.
The problem is
the attitudes to them
have become distorted.
We are controlled
and mastered by them.
You see, what we crave
becomes more important to us
than the deep personal joy
we have with the Father.
In fact, our cravings
for something else
begin to replace
our fellowship with God.
So, rather than looking
to the Father's love
to be satisfied and fulfilled,
we begin to look to other things
and other people.
Rather than looking
to all that the Father
has given to us
and the immensity
of his love to his children,
we take our focus of that
and we begin to love
other things
and look to be filled
with that.
You see, the point
is very simple.
We can't enjoy
the love of the Father
and at the same time
love the world.
You cannot mix
and match.
So, that's the first love.
The second,
let's read verse 16 again.
For everything
in the world,
the cravings
of sinful man,
the lust
of his eyes.
Now, I have a confession
to make.
I have a lust problem.
I was walking around
B&Q the other day
and I saw a beautiful
set of screwdrivers
made by
Stanley.
Not B&Q Stanley,
the real Stanley.
Now, the problem is
I've got lots of screwdrivers.
I've got a whole toolbox
full of screwdrivers.
But what I saw,
I wanted
and I said to myself,
I want that.
and I came home
with another box
of more screwdrivers.
You see,
lust
is just like
a craving.
Shaped by
what we see
and what we look at,
we say to ourselves,
I want that.
And so,
we take it
regardless
of the consequences
to our fellowship
with God.
And the world
constantly tell us
through the media,
and through
every other means,
that if you
see something
and you want it,
take it.
You deserve it.
You're worth it.
Take it for yourself.
So,
fuelled by the values
of the world,
we take all sorts
of things.
We swap our wife
or husband
for the virtual image
on our computer screen
and gaze
at endless images
and videos.
We see what our friend
has
and,
driven by envy,
we go to the shops
and buy one too.
We're enticed
by that new gadget
that's just come out
and we convince ourselves,
I really can't operate
without it.
I need it.
So,
instead of looking
and gazing
at the goodness
and the beauty
of God,
we begin
to focus
our eyes
and turn our eyes
to other things
and other people
and we convince
ourselves
and say,
if I have that,
I'll be satisfied
and I'll be fulfilled.
And all we're doing
is replacing
that love
of the Father
with something else.
You see,
we can't enjoy
the love
of the Father
and at the same time
love the world.
We cannot mix
and match.
You see,
this is a really
deep-rooted problem.
Let's have a look
at the third love.
Let's read
verse 16 again.
For everything
in the world,
the cravings
of our sinful hearts,
the lust
of our longing eyes
and the boasting
of what we have
and we do
comes not
from the Father
but from the world.
Have you ever
watched the TV
series,
The Apprentice?
All those people
who go on
to be
Alan Sugar's
Apprentice?
If you listen
to them,
they talk
non-stop
about their
achievements,
their academic
qualifications,
the money
they've earned,
the businesses
that they've set up,
the awards
that they've won.
They are God's
gift to
everybody.
It's just
one boast
after another
and they talk
non-stop
about themselves,
how great
they are.
Now the thing
is about
watching The
Apprentice,
it's actually
like watching
a mini-series
of our own
lives.
Not that we
necessarily have
the same
academic
qualifications
or business,
but do we
ever kind of
take that
little moment,
that little
moment of
pride,
and we
look at our
careers and
say,
I've got a
really good
job.
I earned
this.
I got this
through my
hard work at
college.
I earned
those points
and I did
well and
look where I
am today.
Or we get
in our car
and we
say,
I earned
this,
as we put
the boot
down a little
bit more.
I bought
this with my
hard-earned
money.
Or we walk
around our
house and
sit down in
the comfort
of our
living room.
We look at
our possessions
and we take
that moment
of pride
and go,
I own
all of
this.
And inside
we might
necessarily
broadcast it
to the world,
but we
boast inwardly
of all we
have and
all we
do.
You see,
the subtle
and destructive
attitude of
the world
says,
I don't
need God.
Every boast
that we make
about ourselves
says,
I don't
need God.
I can
manage without
God.
I can live
life without
God.
And our
love for the
world leads
to live
independently.
from God.
So instead
of turning
to God
as the
source of
all that
is good
and right
and beautiful,
instead of
turning to
the one
who gives
the gifts,
we look
to ourself
as the
means of
getting all
that we
want and
desire.
And it's
back to the
same issue.
We can't
enjoy the
love of
the Father
and at the
same time
love the
world.
we cannot
mix and
match.
It's
serious.
Now can
we begin
to see
how dangerous
and how
destructive
love for the
world is?
Loving the
world might
seem at one
level innocent
enough,
but the
world is
not our
friend.
world will
only rob
us of
our joy.
It takes
that deep
rich
fellowship
that we
have with
the Father
and it
ruins us.
It takes
it away
from us.
And we
do not
experience
the love
of the
Father.
God
love the
love of
the
Father.
Let me
ask us
all this
searching
question.
Do you,
do I
experience
the love
of the
Father
in my
life?
Are you
experiencing
the love
of the
Father
in your
life?
if not,
then everything
we are
living for,
look at the
end of
verse 16,
comes not
from the
Father,
but from
the world.
If we do
not experience
the love of
the Father
in our
lives,
it's because
we are
looking to
other things
and other
people,
instead of
the source
itself.
it's
dangerous
and
destructive
to love
the world.
So,
last point,
how do we
protect
ourselves
from loving
the world?
How do we
protect
ourselves?
Well,
there's two
ways we
can protect
ourselves.
If you
like,
two security
systems
that we
must download
or install
into our
lives
so that
we protect
and enjoy
our fellowship
with God.
So,
every time
there's a
temptation,
every time
there's a
drawing away
from the
love of
the Father
to love
the world,
there's like
an alarm
that goes
off in
our lives
and we're
drawn back
again to
gaze at
the beauty
and the
love of
the Father
instead of
turning to
the world.
So,
what's
these security
systems that
we download?
Well,
they're very
simple.
here's the
first one.
It's called
What the
World Offers
is Temporary.
Download
this into
our memory
system.
Make it
your security.
Verse 17.
The world
and its
desires
pass
away.
It's
simple.
The lie
of the
world
says,
love me
and I
will satisfy
you and
fulfil you.
Love me,
says the
world,
and everything
will be
good.
Well,
the truth
is,
what the
world offers
is all
temporary.
It doesn't
last.
Look at
verse 17
again.
The world
and its
desires
pass away.
Just like
the lush
flourishing
leaves in
summer,
so they
wither and
they die
and they
fall in
autumn.
The things
and people
of this
world,
they simply
do not
last.
So,
sorry to
burst your
bubble,
but your
beauty
fades.
Your
strength
fails.
Your
loved
ones
die.
Your
money
gets
spent.
Your
possessions
break.
Your
careers
end.
Everything
is
temporary.
It
will not
last.
You
see,
when we
crave
something,
when we
lust after
something,
when we
get it,
we're not
only realising
that the
happiness that
it brings
is only
short-lived,
but our
fellowship with
God is
broken and
the deep
personal joy
is lost.
And in
its place,
we're left
with guilt,
disappointment,
and
emptiness.
So,
security
system
number
one.
What the
world offers
is temporary.
Remember
that.
Security
system
number
two,
that we
must
download.
Here it
is.
What God
offers is
eternal.
Let's
read all
of verse
17.
The
world
and its
desires
pass
away.
But the
person
who does
the will
of God
lives
forever.
You see,
the promise
of God
is life
now and
life for
all eternity.
That life
as we've
been seeing
is fellowship
with the
Father and
with his
Son.
This is
where we
experience
life in
all its
fullness.
It's
sharing in
that deep
relationship
that will
never fail
us.
Entering
into the
love the
Father has
for the
Son and
the Son
has for
the Father.
And in
this
fellowship,
in this
relationship,
we find
joy in
all its
fullness and
all its
completeness.
This is
life.
And if
we are to
know this
life,
look at
verse 17,
it says,
we must
do the
will of
God.
We must
do the
will of
God.
So what
is God's
will?
What must
I do
to have
this
life?
You may
be remembered
to what
Ralph said
as he
introduced
the
songs.
We don't
have to
do anything
because it's
all by
grace.
So what
do you
mean we
have to
do
something?
Well,
have a
look at
chapter 3
verse 23.
It's just
over the
page.
Okay,
here's what
God's will
is.
This is what
we have to
do to
experience
this life
in all
its
fullness.
Chapter 3
verse 23.
And this
is his
command.
So this
is God's
will.
Here it
is,
to believe
in the
name of
his son,
Jesus
Christ.
That's
his command,
that we
would simply
believe,
that we
would simply
trust in
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
that
everything,
that all
we should
ever want
or imagine
is in
him.
God's
will is
that we
would believe
that God
loves us
and gave
himself for
us.
So my
encouragement
to us all
this morning
is to
readdress
the cravings
that we
have.
Crave a
deeper
understanding
of God's
love for
you.
How do
we do
that?
Pray for
it.
Ask God
for a
hunger
and a
desire
to know
more of
God
and to
experience
his love
in your
life.
Look at
the beauty
of God
instead of
looking at
other things.
Look at
the beauty
of God
in all
that he
is and
all that
he has
done for
us.
Gaze
at his
mercy and
grace as
you open
up your
Bible and
read about
God and
all that
he has
done.
Just marvel
at his
mercy and
grace.
Let the
goodness and
greatness of
God begin
to control
you and
consume you
and direct
your passions
and your
desires to
the Father
who loves
you.
And boast
not in
ourselves
but boast
in the
cross of
Jesus where
we find our
all and our
everything.
so install
these two
security
systems into
your life.
Every time
we're drawn
to love the
world the
alarm will
sound, it
will bleep
and it
will tell
us and
we will
remind
ourselves that
what God
offers is
eternal but
what the
world offers
is temporary.
do not
love the
world.
If anyone
loves the
world, the
love of the
Father is
not in
them.
Let's pray
together.
as for
man, his
days are
like grass.
He flourishes
like a flower
of a field,
the wind
blows over
it and
it is
gone and
its place
remembers it
no more.
But
from
everlasting
to
everlasting
the
Lord's
love
is with
those
who fear
him.
Our
Father God,
it is our
desire
that you
would be
our
treasure
that you
would be
our all
and our
everything.
And so we
pray and ask
that you
would give
us a
hunger for
you,
that our
passions and
our desires
would be
directed to
you,
that we
would long
for your
spirit to
work in
our lives
to see
that the
Father's
love is
sufficient
and is
enough.
Please
forgive us
for the
times we
look to
the world
instead of
looking to
you.
And we
pray that
you would
help us
to see
that everything
around us
is temporary
whereas you
and your
son are
eternal.
Help us
to walk
closely with
you, we
pray.
In Jesus'
name.
Amen.
As we
finish, we're
going to
sing
When I
Survey the
Wondrous
Cross.
And as we've
been thinking
about where
we place
our gaze,
where we
look, what
consumes us,
what
consumes us,