THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 9-27-15

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LESSON TITLE:  “LOVE OF THE WORLD!”

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WELCOME<br> <br>

      IN GENESIS 1:1 WE READ, “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!”  THIS MORNING, IT IS BEFORE THIS AWESOME, GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD WHICH WE ASSEMBLE TO PRAISE, LAUD, AND MAGNIFY HIS WONDROUS NAME!  WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US THIS LORD’S DAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM.  WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART TO SEE THAT THIS TIME OF OFFERING IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON GOD AND ACCORDING TO HIS PERFECT WILL.  AS WE BEGIN OUR HOMAGE TO HIM THIS MORNING, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME AND APPROACH HIS ALMIGHTY THRONE IN PRAYER!  <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR SERVANTS AND WORKERS IN THE KINGDOM, AND FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND THE GREAT LIFE THAT HE LIVED, THE DEATH THAT HE GAVE ON THE CROSS, HIS BURIAL, AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION. FOR FATHER - IT'S THROUGH THAT GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION TODAY, AS WELL AS YOUR GREAT BLESSINGS. AND ALSO FATHER THE ETERNAL LIFE TO COME. HELP US TO LIVE OUR LIVES EACH AND EVERY DAY TO GIVE YOU PRAISE AND GLORY THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT AND PLEASING, ACCORDING TO YOUR PERFECT WILL. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      WELL, IT’S ALREADY TIME TO PRAISE OUR GOD THROUGH SONG.  WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, “WALKING IN SUNLIGHT!” <br> <br>

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, WE FIND THAT IN EVERY PERIOD AND EVERY AGE THERE WERE THOSE WHO REJECTED GOD.  MANY REJECTED GOD BECAUSE THEY WERE PAGANS AND BELIEVED IN AND FOLLOWED OTHER GOD’S.  HOWEVER, WHAT IS REALLY AMAZING TO ME IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE PROOF AND EVIDENCES WHICH WE HAVE CONCERNING GOD’S WORD TODAY, THAT MANY IN OUR WORLD STILL BELIEVE IN A DIFFERENT GOD, OR GOD’S!   HOW SAD THIS REALITY IS FOR THOSE WHO WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAVED!<br> <br>

      OH, THAT WE WOULD OPEN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE WHO REJECT HIM.   HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE TO SEE THAT ALL MEN TURN TO THE TRUTH.  BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN WITH GOD, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH MAN.  BECAUSE OF MAN’S WICKEDNESS AND DESIRE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT - THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO REJECT GOD AND TO DO THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.  <br> <br>

      SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD, BEING THE ONLY TRUE GOD?  MOSES PROCLAIMED THESE WORDS OF GOD IN DEUTERONOMY 4:39.  THERE WE READ, “THEREFORE KNOW THIS DAY, AND CONSIDER IT IN YOUR HEART, THAT THE LORD HIMSELF IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND ON THE EARTH BENEATH; THERE IS NO OTHER.”  TRULY GOD ALONE IS GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER!  ISAIAH SAID, “INDEED THERE IS NO OTHER ROCK; I KNOW NOT ONE,” (44:8).  AGAIN IN ISAIAH 46:9, WE HEAR GOD PROCLAIM, “FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME.”<br> <br>

      IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE SEE THAT THE SPIRIT CONFIRMS THE SAME THING.  IN 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4, WE READ, “THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT ONE.”  PAUL ALSO TOLD THE EPHESIAN BRETHREN THAT THERE WAS, “ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL,”  THIS IS FOUND IN CHAPTER 4!  ALSO, JAMES DECLARED THE TRUTH OF ONLY ONE GOD IN CHAPTER 2, VERSE 19 OF HIS BOOK.  <br> <br>

      SO WE CAN SEE THAT GOD IS STRONGLY CONFIRMED TO BE THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE AND LIVING GOD.   THE ONLY CREATOR AND GIVER OF ALL.  OH, WHAT A WONDROUS AND LOVING GOD WE SERVE!  SO WHAT ABOUT YOU, HAVE YOU PROCLAIMED THIS PRECIOUS TRUTH BEFORE GOD AND THE WORLD?  HAVE YOU SHOWN FORTH THAT GOD ALONE IS GOD, THAT HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD?  THE TRUE AND THE LIVING GOD? CHOOSE TODAY TO CONFESS YOUR BELIEF IN THIS GOD AND TO DO THOSE THINGS REQUIRED TO BE ADDED TO HIS FOLD.  WILL YOU BECOME OBEDIENT TO THE THINGS COMMANDED BY THIS TRUE GOD WHICH WE MUST SERVE? <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING, WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR SERIES OF DISCUSSION WHICH IS ENTITLED, “BUT THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES.” OUR SPECIFIC MESSAGE OF THE MORNING WILL DEAL WITH, “LOVE OF THE WORLD!”  SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, I WILL LEAD US IN OUR MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY.   BUT FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “TRUST AND OBEY.” <br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING WITH US AT THIS TIME AS WE NOW GO TO GOD'S WORD AND CONSIDER ANOTHER LESSON IN OUR SERIES WHICH HAS BEEN DEALING WITH REALLY THE EXCUSES OF MEN. THE EXCUSES OF MEN RATHER THEY MIGHT CHOOSE THOSE EXCUSES TO NOT DO WHAT GOD SAYS OR TO DO WHAT GOD SAYS, OR EVEN TO JUSTIFY THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE NOT FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD AT ALL. AND WE'VE BEEN USING, REALLY AS A SPRINGBOARD EACH WEEK, THE IDEA THAT IS PRESENTED THERE IN A PARABLE THAT JESUS TOLD IN LUKE CHAPTER 14. IT WAS THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT WEDDING FEAST AND THERE WERE MANY THAT WERE INVITED TO THE GREAT WEDDING FEAST. BUT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE LORD SENT OUT HIS SERVANTS TO INVITE ALL THOSE WHO SHOULD'VE BEEN WILLING TO COME - HIS FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT HE KNEW, PEOPLE WHO ARE PROBABLY HIS FELLOW JEWS, WHAT HAPPENED? THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES. ALL WITH THE ONE ACCORD, THEY ALL HAD A REASON THEY COULDN'T COME. AND OF COURSE, EVENTUALLY THE PARABLE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEN THAT THE MASTER SENT THE SERVANTS OUT TO COLLECT JUST ANYONE, INCLUSIVE OF THE CONCEPT OF NOT JUST THE JEWS, GOD WASN'T JUST INTERESTED IN THOSE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BUT ALSO ALL THE GENTILES. AND ALTHOUGH THE JEWS HAD REJECTED HIM, OR AT LEAST MANY OF THEM, THE GENTILES, MANY OF THEM WERE WILLING TO COME TO THE FEAST - WILLING TO COME TO THE PARTY. <br> <br>

      WELL, AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE THOSE EXCUSES. AND SO EACH WEEK WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXCUSES THAT MEN MAKE IN THE BIBLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT MAYBE MIGHT KEEP US FROM MAKING THOSE SAME MISTAKES. BECAUSE OFTEN WE MIGHT MAKE EXCUSES, AGAIN TO CONDONE WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN REALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR THE RIGHT TO DO IT, OR TO JUSTIFY WHY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT AND GOD ASKS US TO DO IT IN THE BIBLE. YOU SEE, THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS WE MIGHT MAKE EXCUSES. <br> <br>

      OUR IDEA TODAY THAT WE WILL BE CONSIDERING IS FOUND REALLY IN LUKE CHAPTER 12. AND AGAIN THIS IS A VERY FAMILIAR PARABLE CONCERNING THE RICH FOOL. BUT I WANT TO READ THAT WITH YOU FIRST OF ALL, THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THEN I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CLEARLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE WARNING OURSELVES ABOUT THIS MORNING CONCERNING THE EXCUSES THAT WE SOMETIMES MAKE OR THE WORLD MAKES TO AGAIN, JUSTIFY WHAT IT IS THAT THEY DESIRE. IT SAYS THERE IN VERSE 13, “THEN ONE FROM THE CROWD SAID TO HIM, ‘TEACHER, TELL MY BROTHER TO DIVIDE THE INHERITANCE WITH ME.’ BUT HE SAID TO THE HIM, ‘MAN, WHO MADE ME JUDGE OR AN ARBITRATOR OVER YOU?’ AND HE SAID TO THEM, ‘TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS, FOR ONE'S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS THAT HE POSSESSES.’” AND SO HERE'S THE PARABLE, VERSE 16, “THE GROUND OF A CERTAIN RICH MAN YIELDED PLENTIFULLY. AND HE THOUGHT WITHIN HIMSELF, SAYING, ‘WHAT SHALL I DO SINCE I HAVE NO ROOM TO STORE MY CROPS?’ SO HE SAID, ‘I WILL DO THIS: I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS AND BUILD GREATER, AND THERE I WILL STORE ALL MY CROPS AND GOODS. AND I WILL SAY TO MY SOUL, SOUL, YOU HAVE MANY GOODS LAID UP FOR MANY YEARS. TAKE YOUR EASE; EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY.’ BUT GOD SAID TO HIM, ‘FOOL! THIS NIGHT YOUR SOUL WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU; THEN WHOSE WILL THOSE THINGS BE WHICH YOU HAVE PROVIDED?’” <br> <br>

      NOTICE THERE ABOUT THIS PARABLE AND WHAT IS SAID IN THIS PARABLE. WE HAVE A MAN HERE WHO IS CAUGHT UP IN WHAT? MATERIALISM. THAT'S WHERE HE STARTED BECAUSE THE ONE GUY SAYS, WELL, GIVE ME PART OF THE INHERITANCE. TELL MY BROTHER TO DO WHAT THE OLD LAW SAYS. AND JESUS SAID, QUIT COVETING. QUIT WANTING WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS. AND QUIT BEING GREEDY AND WANTING WHAT THE WORLD OFFERS. AND THEN HE USES THIS EXAMPLE HE SAYS, THERE IS A MAN WHO HAS FIELDS AND HE HAS BEEN BLESSED AND HE'S GOT GIANT BARNS FULL OF ALL THE GRAIN HE COULD HANDLE FOR A GREAT PERIOD OF TIME INSTEAD OF GIVING THE LEFTOVERS OR THE EXTRAS MAYBE TO DO BENEVOLENCE OR TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED TO BE HELPED, AS THE OLD LAW TOUGHT. HE SAYS WHAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT AS WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TEAR THESE BARNS DOWN AND BUILD EVEN BIGGER BARNS TO HOLD EACH AND EVERY GRAIN FOR MYSELF. WELL, YOU SEE THE SPIRIT, THE ATTITUDE? THE ATTITUDE OF THE LOVE OF SELF. SOUL, LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE! SOUL, HE SAID TO HIMSELF, AND I'M GOING TO EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY BECAUSE I HAVE PLENTY AND I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE I HAVE CARED FOR MYSELF. <br> <br>

      WELL A SAD, SAD REALITY IS THAT THOSE OF THIS WORLD ALSO FALL PREY TO. BUT LET ME WARN YOU, IT'S NOT JUST THOSE OF THIS WORLD. SOMETIMES THOSE WHO EVEN CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS OR SERVANTS OF GOD CHOOSE THE WORLD OVER GOD. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? WELL SURE YOU CAN, BECAUSE MOST OF US HAVE BEEN GUILTY OURSELVES OF PUTTING SOMETHING BEFORE GOD. WE'VE LOVED SOMETHING OF THE WORLD SO MUCH OR WE'VE WANTED SOMETHING OF THE WORLD SO MUCH OR WE HAVE WANTED TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE WORLD SO MUCH, OR WE WANTED THIS GROUP OR THESE FRIENDS TO INCLUDE US SO MUCH, THAT WE HAVE LOVED THE WORLD, AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD, AND THE ACTIONS OF THE WORLD. AND WE'VE PARTICIPATED, OR WE'VE CONDONED, OR WE'VE GONE ALONG WITH, OR WE'VE TURNED THE OTHER WAY. WE'VE DONE ALL THOSE THINGS, AND THEREFORE OURSELVES HAVE SHOWN A LOVE FOR THIS WORLD AND THE THINGS OF IT RATHER THAN A LOVE FOR GOD. WELL, THAT'S REALLY WHAT JESUS WAS CONDEMNING HERE. AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE IN VERSE 21 HE ADDS THIS, “SO IS HE WHO LAYS UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF, AND IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD.” THIS MAN'S RICHES WERE FLESHLY THINGS - PHYSICAL THINGS. HE SAYS HE'S PUT TREASURES IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. AND THEREFORE WHAT ARE THESE THINGS GOING TO DO FOR HIM - FOOL, AS HE SAID IN VERSE 20: BECAUSE TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. WHOSE GOING FIGHT OVER THESE THINGS? YOUR KIDS ARE ALL GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER THIS STUFF. YOUR RELATIVES ARE ALL GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER THESE THINGS. AND WHAT GOOD ARE THEY GOING TO DO ANYBODY? WELL THEY'RE GOING TO CAUSE, NOT ONLY YOUR SOUL BE LOST, BUT BECAUSE THAT GREEDY SPIRIT AND THE EFFECT THAT YOU'VE HAD ON OTHERS LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK; THOSE BAD INFLUENCES, SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE PROBABLY YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TO BE LOST. <br> <br>

      THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THESE IDEAS ARE SEEN, BUT YOU CAN BACK UP WITH ME TO THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, IF YOU WILL THERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 6, AND YOU MIGHT RECALL WITH ME THAT HE TALKS ABOUT THESE TREASURES AS WELL. AND HE CONTRASTS EARTHLY TREASURES AND HEAVENLY TREASURES. AND THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS, BY THE WAY, ONCE AGAIN. IN VERSE 19 THE BIBLE SAYS, “DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL; BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DESTROYS AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL.” YOU SEE, HE GIVES TWO OPTIONS HERE. HE SAYS WE ALL WANT, TREASURE, AND SOME PEOPLE WANT THAT EARTHLY TREASURE OR THOSE TREASURES THAT CAN BE SEEN OR BENEFIT US IN OUR FLESH IN THIS LIFE. HE SAYS YOU DON'T WANT THOSE. HE SAYS BECAUSE WHEN YOU DIE THEY'RE NOT GOING WITH YOU. FURTHERMORE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DESTROYED. THEY RUST. THAT OLD CAR, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LOVE IT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH TAKE CARE OF IT, IT'S GOING TO BEGIN TO DETERIORATE IN SOME PLACES. THAT ANTIQUE CAR THAT YOU'VE GOT OR THOSE PRIZED POSSESSIONS - THEY BEGAN TO WHAT? TO DETERIORATE OVER THE YEARS. AND THEY BEGIN TO COME OF NOTHING AND THEY BEGIN TO BE MOTH-EATEN AND SOMETIMES THE TERMITES GET IN AND DESTROY THAT WOODEN PIECE THAT YOU LOVE. SO MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO EARTHLY THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSING. BUT HE SAYS HERE WHEN YOU LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN; SPIRITUAL THINGS - HE SAYS THERE'S NO WORRY OF THE MOTHS. THERE'S NO WORRY OF THE THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. THERE'S NO WORRY OF THE THIEVES OR SOMEONE STEALING IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL RIGHT HERE INSIDE. AND IT'S A SPIRITUAL THING THAT, NOT ONLY OFFERS YOU LIFE NOW, BUT LIFE ETERNAL. <br> <br>

      BUT THEN HE SAYS THIS IN VERSE 21. HE SAYS WELL, “FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.” IF YOU LOOK TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND YOU LOVE THE WORLD, THAT'S WHERE YOUR HEART IS AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS. THAT'S WHERE YOUR REWARD WILL BE IN THINGS THAT ARE PERISHING. THINGS THAT ARE DYING. THINGS THAT ARE TEMPORARY. BUT IF YOU LOVE THE TREASURES OF GOD AND YOUR, HOPES AND TRUSTS, ARE IN THE TREASURES OF HEAVEN AND YOUR HEART IS ON GODLY AND SPIRITUAL THINGS, GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLESSED - YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE NEED OF BY GOD, THAT LOVES YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE ETERNAL REWARD WHEN FOUND FAITHFUL IN THE END. YOU SEE THE INCENTIVE FOR LOVING GOD AND HAVING TREASURES OF GOD AND SPIRITUAL THINGS RATHER THAN THE TREASURES OF THE WORLD? THE TREASURES OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY PERISHING, AND IT SHOWS THE PATH OR THE WAY OF THOSE THINGS THAT PERISH. <br> <br>

      WELL, THE MAIN TEXT THEN THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER FOR THE REST OF OUR TIME IS FOUND OVER IN THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN. AND THIS IS S TEXT AGAIN THAT PROBABLY IS FAMILIAR TO SEVERAL OF US BECAUSE IT MAKES THIS SAME STATEMENT. AND IT BEGINS THERE IN VERSE 15 BY SAYING, LOVE NOT THE WORLD. BOY, THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR, “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD.” WHY? FOR THE REASONS WE HAVE SUGGESTED. THE WORLD IS FLESH AND BLOOD. THE WORLD IS PASSING FLESH AND BLOOD, AND THAT WHICH IS PASSING WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY WILL NOT BE IN HEAVEN, FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 15. SO WHY WOULD WE PUT OUR TREASURES AND HOPES IN THOSE THINGS? BUT THEN HE SAYS LOVE NOT THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. HOW MANY OF THIS WORLD DO YOU KNOW WHO'S HOPES, TRUST, AND CONFIDENCE ARE IN THE THINGS OF LIFE OR THE WORLD RATHER THAN GOD? OH, I KNOW MANY. <br> <br>

      BUT AGAIN I'D LIKE TO BRING IT HOME BECAUSE HOW MANY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE - HOW MANY FOLKS IN THE CHURCH REALLY CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS AND FOLLOWERS OF GOD BUT THEIR HOPES AND TRUST ARE IN JOBS, OR IN WEALTH, OR IN HOUSES, OR IN CARS, OR IN POSSESSIONS? AGAIN - HOW SAD! LOVE NOT THE WORLD, HE SAYS BRETHREN. NOR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD - BECAUSE IF YOU LOVE THE WORLD LIKE THAT, HE SAYS, “THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.” IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT THINGS BEFORE GOD, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND THE DESIRES OF THIS WORLD AND THE WICKED THINGS OF LIFE BEFORE GOD, HE SAYS YOU DON'T LOVE GOD. BECAUSE THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, LOVE GOD FIRST AND DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD IN THAT SENSE. YOU SEE, IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT'S A COMPLETE CONTRAST, OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE COIN. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT LOVE OF GOD IS NOT LOVE OF THE WORLD. <br> <br>

      BUT THEN HE SAYS THIS IN VERSE 16, “FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD- THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE- IS NOT OF THE FATHER BUT IS OF THE WORLD.” YOU SEE HERE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SIN THAT ARE GIVEN TO US. NOT ONLY HERE, BUT ANOTHER PLACE THAT I ALWAYS THINK OF IS IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 4 WHEN JESUS WAS TEMPTED BY SATAN. BUT REALLY WHAT IT ENCOMPASSES IS THAT ALL SIN CAN FIT WITHIN THESE, WHETHER IT BE AS HE MENTIONS HERE, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THAT WHICH IS PLEASING OR DESIROUS OF THE FLESH, WHICH WE CAN SEE WHY WE SHOULDN'T LOVE THE WORLD. THE LUST OF THE EYE WHICH IS THAT WHICH WE LOOK UPON TO BEHOLD AND DESIRE. NOT ONLY MAYBE THE IDEA OF THE THINGS OF LIFE BUT EVEN THE DESIRE OF MAN AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE. AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE USUALLY IS THAT IDEA OF THE GLORY OF MEN, THAT MEN LOOK UPON US AS IF WE ARE SOMETHING. AND IS IT NOT TRUE THAT MANY OF US WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO LOOK AT US AS SOMEONE OR REMEMBER US AS SOMEONE? YOU SEE, THESE SINS, THESE WORLDLY SINS, THESE WORLDLY DESIRES THAT ARE NOT OF GOD BUT ARE OF THE WORLD. <br> <br>

      HE SAYS DON'T LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD! DON'T ENGAGE IN SIN OR THESE WICKED THINGS. RATHER, LOVE THE FATHER. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOVE THE FATHER, YOU HAVE COMMITTED TO NOT LOVING THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. NOW LET ME MAKE THE CLARIFICATION AGAIN. GOD MADE THE WORLD SO IT'S NOT WRONG TO FIND PLEASURE IN HER LOVE; THE GOOD WHOLESOME THINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US - THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE AND TO ENJOY THE STARS AT NIGHT AND ENJOY OUR FAMILIES -  WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE SINFUL OR CARNAL THINGS THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM GOD. LOVE NOT THE WORLD, THE SINFUL THINGS THAT WE OFTEN PUT BEFORE GOD OR THOSE THINGS THAT BECOME SINS BECAUSE WE PUT THEM BEFORE GOD. EITHER WAY, THEY'RE WRONG AND UNACCEPTABLE. <br> <br>

      BUT THEN PERHAPS OF ALL THE TEXT, HE REALLY HELPS US IN VERSE 17 TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY AGAIN. HE SAYS, “THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY.” WE SEE THERE TEMPORARY AGAIN, THOSE THINGS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, AND HE SAYS NOT ONLY THE WORLD BUT THE LUST OF IT. THOSE DESIRES, THOSE GREEDY DESIRES, THOSE WANTS OF THE WORLD ARE ALL PASSING AWAY. WE CAN'T TAKE THESE POSSESSIONS WITH US. BUT HE SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT ABIDES FOREVER? THE SAME VERSE SAYS, “BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.” OH, WHAT A COMPLETE STARK CONTRAST IS GIVEN. THE WORLD, DEATH, LOSS OF LIFE, HELL, NO HOPE, DARKNESS. ON THE OTHER HAND:  LIFE, LOVE OF GOD, REWARD, BLESSING, HEAVEN, PARADISE, NO TEARS. YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE? WHEN WE FOCUS AGAIN AND WE HAVE TREASURES WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE, GLORY BE TO GOD! BECAUSE GOD IS LIFTED UP, AND THEREFORE HE IS ONE WHO HAS SHOWN THE TRUE LOVE.IS THAT NOT WHAT EVEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS? WHEN WE LOVE GOD WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS - THERE IN JOHN 14:15. IS THAT NOT HOW I SHOW JESUS MY COMMITMENT THAT HE CAN TRUST ME, THAT HE CAN KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM, NOT JUST BECAUSE I SAY BUT BECAUSE I LIVE IT? WELL, YOU SEE HOW WE LOVE GOD BY PUTTING HIM FIRST AND NOT ALLOWING THE WORLD OF THE WICKED THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO GET IN THE WAY - FOR WE CANNOT LOVE THE WORLD AND LOVE GOD EQUALLY AT THE SAME TIME. GOD MUST BE FIRST! <br> <br>

      SO THIS MORNING I ENCOURAGE US ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LOVE OF THE WORLD IS NOT OF GOD. AND THEREFORE LET'S NOT ALLOW THE WORLD AND THE EXCUSES OF THE WORLD OR OUR DESIRES OF THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO SOMEHOW, AGAIN JUSTIFY WHY WE DO OR DO NOT DO CERTAIN THINGS. LET'S JUST LOOK TO GOD'S WORD AND DO WHAT HE SAYS. THAT'S THE LOVE OF GOD. THAT'S THE LOVE OF THE FATHER. AND SO RATHER THAN MAKING EXCUSES KNOWING THAT WE LOVE GOD, LET'S ACCOMPLISH HIS GOODWILL KNOWING THE BENEFITS, KNOWING THAT THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER. ARE YOU DOING THE WILL OF GOD? ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HEAVEN? A MANSION HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU IF YOU ARE. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY AND LIVE EVERY MOMENT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD.

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CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, IN THIS OFFERING TO GOD.  I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING TO ALL OF US.  WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS WORSHIP TO GOD!  <br> <br>

      BUT FOR NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM?  POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES?  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

The Living Word

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      SO WHERE HAVE YOU PLACED YOUR LOVE ON THIS DAY, “IN GOD OR THE WORLD?”  MAKE SURE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE ON THIS THE LORD’S DAY, FOR YOUR SOUL SALVATION WILL CERTAINLY DEPEND ON IT! <br> <br>