The World Against Us (1 of 2) (Part A)

I do not apologize for agreeing with God. Romans chapter 12 verse two. Do not be conformed to not be shape and unfortunately so many Christians cannot be distinguished from the world things because they live just like them.

Do not be conformed to the world.

This world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. This is cross-referenced with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first John, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-referenced specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in first John chapter 2 as he begins a new message called the world against us.

We are in first John this morning. Chapter 2 and if you have your Bibles please turn to first John chapter 2 will read verses 15 through 17 beginning at verse 15 do not love the world or the things in the world.

If anyone loves the world love of the father is not in him 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 is passing away in the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. John repeats that word world a bit much, not more than necessary. He is making his point knows what he's doing so is the Holy Spirit is guiding his pen. This morning's message is entitled the world against us. Part one will cover the same verses in our reading next Sunday if things go according to plan, but this is an in-depth look at verses 15 through 17 came about because in preparation and reading the verses and then looking at my ancient notes I realized just a lot of material that I have.

It needs to be said and it would take two Sundays to do it.

So to introduce this section I'm going to read from the book of Exodus, because I think it it it sort of sets up the scene for us and maybe will stick in our minds. The Old Testament has a way of doing that because it is such a wonderful narrative of events that have taken place amongst God's people, but in Exodus 35 this is the time when the Jews are getting the materials ready for the building of their tabernacle that first-generation out of Egypt they were born slaves. Now they were free and they really didn't know how to behave. God was going to take care of that and he began the process of shaping and forming them into a godly people. Unfortunately, that first-generation was irretrievable.

Most of the second generation did much better. They entered into the promised land. They fought for the territory and they won. Looking at Exodus 35 Moses says while it says he writes about what is going same and Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, this is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying, for this is the word of God to the people take from among you, and offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart.

Let them bring it as an offering to Yahweh, gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet thread fine linen and goats hair ram skins dyed red badger skins and acacia wood oil for the light and spices for the anointing oil for the sweet incense, onyx stones and stones to be set in the E Fahd and in the breastplate. Then he continues, he says, then everyone came whose heart was stirred and everyone whose spirit was willing and they brought Yahweh's offerings for the work of the tabernacle of meeting for all its service for all the holy garments became both men and women in many has had a willing heart and brought ear rings and nose rings, rings and necklaces. All jewelry of gold that is every man who made an offering of gold to Yahweh. All the women who are gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands and brought what they had spun of blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen and all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats hair was happening. Is this this is movement of God amongst the people. It's voluntary, it's not compulsive use and I want you to bring if your heart is stirred. If you moved and they responded and as it reads they responded in mass because they respond so much. Moses has to stop them continues. The children of Israel brought a free will offering to Yahweh. All the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which Yahweh by the hand of Moses had commanded to be done so Moses gave a commandment and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp say that neither man or woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary people were restrained from bringing the material that they had was sufficient for all the work to be done indeed too much. It was as though the world the outside world was blocked out of their minds and they were just focused on God and serving him. It was a very personal time.

It was a time again when it was as though the outside world was locked out in the people had thrown themselves into the work of the Lord in ministry. Satan's watching the whole thing is sitting back at a distance sharpening his sword. He's going to attack he's going to let them have the church service is going to let the spirit move. Then he will pounce and his tactics never change. They don't have to. That's what we are effective the way they are, will our responses. Our tactics don't change either they are effective.

Also one of the key elements to having faith in Christ is endurance is taking it while trusting the Lord as best we can.

And so with that background of the people moved by the spirit the world blocked out Satan biding his time. We look at verse 15 again and there.

John says do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. There's a difference between the planet. The world and humanity the world. When Jesus died for. Look at first John chapter 2 verse two and he himself is propitiation for our sins, and not only were hours but also for the whole world from the world system is humanity, Christ died for mankind for human beings. Whoever would believe and receive would not perish receive salvation. But John is not using it in that sincere when he says do not love the world is not talking about humanity of the planet. What he has in mind is humanity collectively and individually outside of Christ against Christ Jesus will judge. In the end it is the single mind of the world under the rule of Satan, whether they agree with that or not, whether they believe it or not.

That is how it is Matthew's gospel. The field is the world that's everywhere.

That's humanity the good seeds of the sons of the kingdom, but the terrorists the weeds of the sons of the wicked one is a distinction God is always mindful of this distinction, and so should we always be mindful of it. John's gospel chapter 1 he was in the world world was made through him, that is the planet that is humanity, and then he says, and the world did not know him that is humanity against Christ created planet. Psalm 24 verse one. The earth is Yahweh's and all its fullness world and those who dwell therein at one definition, one usage of the word world in the Scripture humanity in general. Also, John 316 God so loved the world, not the world system. You never loves that the invisible spiritual system opposed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is what John is addressing now as the world as Christ had already addressed it and John catalogs it for us, which will get to the end.

Towards the end. This morning they are alienated from him and therefore his salvation ruled by Satan in his full-blown hostility towards everything God's Word and his people. That is the world. John 1611, because the ruler of this world is judge that Satan he's talking about. John 1519. If you were of the world that system and resistance, the world would love its own yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world that system load of resistance. The system of unbelief humanity collectively saying he's not our Lord. Ultimately crisis they hate you on earth live two peoples from God's perspective, those joined to him according to his word. According to his son, according to his spirit, and those who reject the three of them and anything else God has one lives in the world and the word of God. The other wall, the one that lives in the word of God forms the universal church in the local church. Unfortunately, too many Christians have a disdain for the local church. Look at if anybody's killing the church, its Christians, it ain't the world. It ain't the devil. And as you say it's the world and the devil influenced Christians are going to the churches. You have a good church is because you got good Christians in that church. You have a church not doing what is supposed to is because Christians are doing what they're supposed one lives by the word of God forming the church the other lives without the word of God forming the world system. We see it illustrated in the life of Cain and the Tower of Babel.

We see it illustrated in Egypt and Babylon and Assyria will talk about that. Also, as we move on one ask this question, what does the Bible tell us how shall we thus live where's my instruction from my maker.

That's the church. Those are believers who are you, Lord, what do you want me to do with the words of the apostle Paul when he met Jesus Christ as Paul didn't know what he was rejecting as so many believers don't know what they're rejecting and it is up to us to help them not reject because we give them the message and all of its truth. The Philippian jailer said what must I do to be saved is very serious about that and he was saying, but the other does not ask what the Bible tells us the other, the world will say well I think will I believe now what's been revealed what they have come up with next session if things go according to plan. I will hope to introduce that section through a very insightful story from the Iliad of Homer with war, love and passion. I'm getting ahead of myself. But it is going into a thing be very beneficial for us to understand that that the world can identify problems with little problem. They just don't have the solutions they don't have the truth put it all together. When Jesus said who do men say that I am some say there's some say that who you save that question still asked by Christ who you say that I it is a good platform for preaching in the workplace, the school, the community, wherever you find yourself you find yourself around unbelievers in the door opened, you can say to them, who do you say Christ is and work from there. So John, now that we've identified the world and making its distinction. Those develop it a little bit. John says do not love the world don't love that system. Why would we love the world is its charming is peeling, not to my mind is a believer, but my brain thinks I want. I'm stimulated in the wars on this world looks to lure us away from Christ unto itself. The world is Sodom wanting to keep Lot and his family. There we remember when Jesus said, remember lots wife. You only had to say that one time for us to get it to understand how serious these matters are the world system ridicules morality miracles the Messiah and his people in Hebrews, the writer towards the end gets to this distinction that has made it clear to men that there are those who follow God, and there are those who don't exist. Others were tortured other believers. There are those that are torches that are believers with the torturers in vain they get nothing in return. Death with the believer.

Of course, gets the believers crown.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of markings and scourging just of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sewn into were attempted were slain with the sword.

They wandered about sheepskins and goat skins pause there with their families continues being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy.

Scathing commentary is not ammunition for the believer should make us robust in our approach to lost souls out third grade this fall is the world humanity stiff arming Christ is our third greatest enemy, the first of course is Satan and the second is ourselves. Our fallen nature, our own carnality, our own proclivity to sin very quickly be the world in different or intense in their opposition to Christ. They are energized by Satan, and they energize the movement of the world they contribute to it. They're not part of the solution you're part of the problem we are supposed to be part of the solution. If we can get away from the petty stuff swallowing camels gagging on gnats as Christians. You know were not encouraged to draw attention to ourselves. We are encouraged draw attention to Christ and his message. That's why we shun those things that shine the spotlight on us will cover some of that.

Maybe next session. Do we talk about the pride of life. First John chapter 5 to make the point that be they in different or intense in their opposition, they are under the devil's hand.

John writes we know that we are of God is we've got this as we might say down packed as we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one, and they hate you for having the audacity to say your good Christians only save yes exactly what we mean.

That is precisely and here's why they all can't be true.

All roads may lead to Rome, but they do not all lead to salvation human life and society with Christ left out is to not be loved. In the end, in the day of judgment. It is to be left out by God first Corinthians chapter 6, we look at the world is not our enemy of they are dangerous people in the world world system. Yes, our energy, the people of the enemy, the people know the people and not our enemies. They are the subject of our presence and such were some of you wrote Paul. After he itemize a list of all sorts of immoral behaviors, he says, and such were some of you but you were washed, but you were sanctified when you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our God.

So I is a Christian, reserve the right to reject whatever I think is false about my God no matter what anyone says, no matter what credentials they may claim the whole and I do it unapologetically.

I don't apologize for not believing what the world believes I do not apologize for agreeing with God ever Romans chapter 12 verse two.

Do not be conformed. Do not be shaped and unfortunately so many Christians cannot be distinguished from the world things because they live just like them. Do not be conformed to the world.

This world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Please ceiling when John says do not love this place.

Don't love this system if you love that you do not love him very easy to see all believers all believers want to seriously oppose Satan's rule and his ability to draw people to him and his interests but it is not easy. It is very difficult. Of course we've got this fifth column in our heart we have these traders that live within us. The flesh carnality fallen nature. All names for the same thing. That old man. Ephesians 2 Paul said in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience whether they agree or not.

They don't have to sign it to own it for not following Jesus Christ there under the power of the Prince of the air, they are sons of disobedience. He says all the things of the world do not love the world or the junk that's annexed the flesh does.

If we compare Galatians 519 to 21 where Paul itemizes the murders the envy the self-seeking all the junk that comes from the flesh, and then he says but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering kind is good and faithful is again enjoy against such is no law, and we get a better idea with this Christianity of ours is supposed to go with us, with us in total included Galatians 614 but God forbid love this dismissed disc and consider the man Paul in his life consider was saying this after all the stoning's the beatings, the shipwrecks, he says, but God forbid that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is been crucified to me and I to the world dead to that jump true believers wanted to once abed it's not the news that flesh which we will deal with in part two. That's why we going to go to home resilient because we all have an Achilles' heel. Otherwise Rick Gallant was strong and fierce except for that one spot on that doesn't matter. We going to endurance is going to be a big part of making it through. First Corinthians 7 verse 31 for the form of this world is passing away. John has already said that earlier he's going to say that again the form of this world the system. This world formed by human opinion is dying is just very dangerous until it's dead. I saw a video of a copperhead separated from his body, biting its own body still exists is dead still deadly and that is the world the dangers that lurk draw some of them so wonderful it to the flesh. As I mentioned, the world is illustrated for us in the Old Testament in typed form God holds it up and says he see Egypt see that culture that's the world that's the world takes any holds of Babylon is a you see Babylon us of the culture so much that the Colts in the world. This spiritual errors see the Assyrians how vicious and mean they are.

That is the world's cruelty. These want you to join them against me. Abraham he escaped from the world he lived in what became known as Babylon. That area of Mesopotamia, God said, Abraham get out from your father's house, get out of there and he tricks his way to the promised land.

Not long after arriving in the promised land. He stumbles, he goes into Egypt, and what is he say on the way to Egypt. God told never told going to Egypt. Pressure came in his life and Abraham felt that was the logical thing to do. What is he say to his wife. You are beautiful woman and they will kill me for you, but don't go that plays Abraham's take away from their but he goes anyways. Listen, tell them you're my sister that should've been an indicator right.

Wouldn't you know precious and that's where Abraham was the famine had secured his vision, but he made it through because he was a true man of God, thanks for tuning in to cross reference cross reference is a ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you'd like to learn more about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference.com find a number of teachings from Pastor Rick available there. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast you subscribe will be notified of new editions of cross reference. Just search for cross reference iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast apps. You can also follow the links@crossreference.com. We're glad we were able to spend time with you today to the next time you learning from the book of first John pastor here. Cross-reference