Your Friendly Enemy | Part 1

Fighting studios in Memphis Tennessee a Byron Tyler herewith.

Want to see you of what were fighting.

We continue with Adrian Rogers in the series. The sweetest fellowship this side of heaven. You know, one of the many exciting things we become Christians is the Lord fills our hearts with love.

However, there are some things the Bible says we cannot afford to love that's exactly right in here. He's talking about. Not so much people or things.

But he's talking about a system is talk about a friendly enemy the world yeah Inc., Adrian Rogers clarifies just to that enemy is with this.

I call the worldly external flow.

The world is the enemy out there now when I say the world. I'm not talking about planet Earth planet Earth is not evil nor we talk about the world of people in the Bible says the world when not to love the world, but would love people. Bible says for God so loved the world, the world of people that he gave his only begotten son, that if anybody believes in him in Jesus, he would have eternal life. So when he says let not the world is not talking about the planet. He's not on that the people but what he is talking about is a cyst, the word that is translated world is the word.

The Greek word cosmos means a system and order of things is just an order of things. A system of things that is contrary to our Lord and his his ways your one time. Dr. Roger shared that there's one hero Jesus. There is one villain Satan is one problem. Sin is one purpose to glorify him and it is a great great statement, but also we talked about, you know, as believers, we don't. We only battled the worldly sins we battle sins of the flash right and he's and he named him. He said pride and lust and so here we see the lust of the flesh deals with our passions, and the lust of the eyes deals with possessions.

That's what were talking about when we say enemies this right. We have to ask her. Severally, this question are you a friend of the world or are you loyal to Jesus Christ. 11.

Adrian Rogers said you don't have to be in a back alley, eating tin cans with the devils Billy goats if you're feasting on Jesus. That's exactly right. Another statement he made. I never heard this before but he said CN is primarily an abuse of something that is good you know we never look at it that way.

No we don't.

But it's it's it's perversion or abuse of something that is good. Will the devil always has counterfeits right that's right we love hearing from her liver funny listeners and you have a special letter today. I one from Missouri so he says I want you to know how much I enjoy your ministry since turning my life over to God and giving him control. I've been introduced to Adrian Rogers messages and this ministry. I have not missed one broadcast a man on that is one obvious diffusion that we love to hear from our listeners, we, that is validation for us that we are spot on with what God is called us to do materials reminder friends that they can stop by LWF.org and hear today's message and any one of the messages in the series called the sweetest fellowship this side of heaven. Absolutely it's a wonderful website they can download information, sermons, purchase products, all those tools and materials are there to mature people and their walk will today's message, your friendly enemy part one. Here's Adrian Rogers when you're Christian. The Lord fills your heart with love, you are to love everything the matter fact that some things that you cannot be a child of God and truly love.

As a matter of fact you cannot truly love without hating something now today is an ugly word and there's some hate that is ugly.

Hey let me give you scripture even before we read in first John put down Psalm 97 verse 10 he that love the Lord. Hey evil, and then again in Romans chapter 12 in verse time. The Bible says let love be without dissimulation view of the word dissimulation means that's a big word it just means don't have hypocritical. Let love be not hypocritical that which is evil, Lee to that which is good. Now you cannot cleave to that which is good without abhorring that which is evil.

You cannot love the Lord without hating evil you know this in the natural world. If you love health, then you're going to hate busy if you love peace, you're going to hate all if you love cleanliness they're going to hate. If you love people, you're going to hate sin love life. I hate and killing in our Lord here tells us that something were not the love look, if you will, in verse 15 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 for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world and the world passes away, and the lust thereof, that he that do with the will of God by death forever. Now the Bible tells us here in first John that were not the love the world part of our message today is your friendly enemy, your friendly enemy.

You have an intimate and that enemy is the world and the Bible says you not to let the world know what we mean by that, obviously, is not talk about the planet or the Bible also calls that the world but there's nothing wrong with loving this planet. What God is made when God made creation, God said that is good and you can love the rocks the hills the trees the fleas the bees all you can live if you can love the flowers.

Jesus said, consider the lilies how they grow, Solomon in all of his opulence was not dressed up like one of these and nothing wrong with loving God's creation.

Thank God this is my father's world. A man, he made it and you can love it and you want to enjoy and when he says let not the world is not talk about the world of people with a lot of people. Red, yellow, black and white. This could be no prejudice is to be no hatred of any person, whether there save all lost grade level people. Why, because the Bible says in John chapter 3 verse 16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so if God loves the peoples of this world. Riddle of the peoples of this world is he talking about. Therefore, in the first John II chapter when he says love not the world. What is tied up in that word world which is the Greek word cosmos. Now you know what the cosmos is that is the order of things.

The very word cosmos means a system or an order of things. It is a way of doing things.

For example, today we do the same thing with talk about the world of finance, all the world of sports all the world of fashion, that is, there is a certain system. The support system of the finance system we call that a world that's the way the word world is used. It's the word cosmos. What is a cosmopolitan area it's a system made up of two words that one means a city are populous and people come together to work in an orderly way.

Recall that cosmopolitan area. When a woman put your makeup on what you putting on because medics keep putting her face in order. All these words come from this word.

Where the Bible says love not the world. There is a system that we are not.

That's what he's talking about is not talking about planet Earth is not talking about the people that he is talking about an ungodly devilish system that is set against our Lord and his Christ in you not to let that world.

All of that world may be very friendly to you and make cozy up to you. It is a friendly enemy and so were going to look at the world and see what the Bible has to say about the world we can understand why we are not to love that world we going to think about the world and its character we going to think about the world and is corruption what it is in we going to think about the world and where it is headed what the conclusion of this whole thing is in the consequences of following and loving the world. What is the character of the world. When the Bible says here. First John two verse 15. Love not the world leader things that are in the world. What is the character of this world. Let me give you some words that begin with a P so you can remember. First of all, this world has a print, it has apprentice devilish diabolical person, the devil, who is the case of this world. I put these scriptures down, if you will, as we think about this for example Jesus speaking in John chapter 12 verse 31 says now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

He was talking about the cross that would break Satan's back now.

Will the prince of this world. This system be cast out. And then in John chapter 14 in verse 30 Jesus speaking of the devil said the prince of this world, and hath nothing in me that is.

I don't have any. It's the devil can scratch the prince of this world of Neville, but he hath nothing in me.

And then Jesus speaking of the princes final judgment. In John chapter 16 in verse 11, he says, the prince of this world is John means that Satan sales a sinking ship and rules a doomed domain. This dark prints and that the apostle John in the same passage of Scripture that where in first John, if you go over back to the back and in turn good right now but he says in first John chapter 5 verse 19 and we know that the whole cosmos, the whole world Goliath in wickedness. William translates that in the lap of the wicked one that is this whole world is just being rocked, cradled in the hands of Satan. This dark prints. There is a mastermind behind this world system. Sometimes people ask you believe in the conspiratorial theory of history, they have some dark lack of alien scheme there's a conspiracy here in a conspiracy. There and I'm sure there are some of those conspiracies, but there is a bigger conspiracy than people their brain that is there is a mastermind.

There is a prints his name is Satan has a whole system of people who work beneath them. For the Bible says, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, deceit, the principality is the Pahlavi Wentz the prince rose over principalities and powers. He is a mastermind. He has a myriad of underlings who do his bidding. There is an intricate organization, if you please, a World Wide Web of wickedness. Now there is a prints this world has apprentice not only does this world have a prints it has the second.

As a philosophy, a philosophy, there is a networking of ideas and values that are skillfully woven together to entrap the most innocent. For example, first Corinthians chapter 3 verse 19. The Bible says for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The wisdom of this world.

This world is wise, but it is wise to do evil so there is a philosophy and it extends from the schoolhouse to the statehouse from Madison Avenue to Wall Street.

It appears in recreational theme parks and other places. It may seem innocent. It may seem beautiful, it is often alluring but the world has apprentice the world has a philosophy and may I tell you that your friendly enemy the world has a purpose.

That's the next P what is the purpose it is to draw you away from God vary alluringly now, therefore the world is against the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Scripture down John chapter 7 verse seven Jesus speaking to his disciples said.

The world cannot hate you but me.

It hated wonder why the world hates Jesus the world is in a Jesus because he healed the sick, but world doesn't hate Jesus because he blessed the children doesn't hate Jesus because he turned water into wine or broke bread and fed the multitudes doesn't hate Jesus because he walked on the water. The world doesn't hate Jesus because he died on the cross but Jesus said the world hated me because I testify of it that its works are evil. That's why the world is Jesus I read today, you're not supposed to say anything as evil friend. Today we are supposed to be tolerant of anything in that right just tolerant the same today as the sand today is to call sin. Sin you call sin. Sin hey Brenda, you're spitting against the wind. In today's society and Jesus at the world hated me because I testify that the works thereof are evil. And then Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 17.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit and calls and even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it's even not even know him, but you know him, for he dwelt with with you, and shall be in you. Well with you. That was Jesus Christ himself shall be in you. That is the Holy Spirit coming represent the Lord Jesus. John 15 verse 18. If the world hate you. By the way, it will get that if you get right with God.

They gonna make you the mayor of your city. Thank God for godly mayors, but Brandon don't get the idea that this world is going praise and pad and flatter you if you get right with God. It will break your neck, if it can, if the world hate you.

Jesus said no that it hated me before it hated you. And then all Jane says in James chapter 4 and verse for you. I don't and adulteresses know you not that friendship with the world is key with God, therefore, will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God. If you are a friend to this that hates Jesus, you are an enemy of God and a traitor to Jesus Christ who died on the cross and was crucified by this world.

This world has apprentice this world has a philosophy this world has a purpose and that purpose is to draw away your heart to seduce you from loving the Lord Jesus Christ. As you all.

Jesus said in John chapter 15 verse 19. If you were of the world, the world would let his own, but because you're not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hate you none we use the term worldly Christian Billy Sunday said you might as well speak of a heavenly devil. The contradiction entire way a lot about the separation of church and state.

I believe we need a little bit more about the separation of church and world him to, I mean today, you can't tell the difference between those who name the name of Jesus and those who don't they look alike. They talk like they do the same place as they smoke the same thing.

No way to come out from the world, so that here. Here is a world it has friend apprentice. It has a philosophy.

It has a purpose and it has a peak Luke chapter 16 in verse eight Jesus said for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. The world has its people that you might as well understand folks when you got saved you came out of the world and you are different you are twice more in world once more and people answer you can find yourself swimming against the tide all the way don't get the idea that overhears the Broadway overhears the narrow way and the Broadway is going this way in your rear little side road going this way in the same direction.

No. If the Broadway is coming this way. This is the way you're coming just like that you swimming against the tide all the time and what you have, what you know what you believe it starts a different source. It follows a different course and freight is headed toward a different conclusion. If you were of the world would love you. You are twice more. This world is not your home. You are a pilgrim you are just passing through.

We are not a part of this world system. Folks, that's a forgotten message in today's church. Did you know that but is not a forgotten message in the word of God. The Bible says love not worldly things that in the world.

The devil's purpose is Romans chapter 12 and verse two it is to conform you. That's the reason the apostle Paul said be not conformed to this would be transform the world wants to take you and squeeze you into its mold the world doesn't want you to be different. The world want you to follow and sprints the world wants you to believe it's philosophies the world want you to join us purpose.

Can the world want to be a part of its people become full to this world. So why does John say love not the world.

Well number one because the character world number two because of the corruption of the world.

Look at this passage of Scripture right here now look in verse 16 for all that is in the world are you ready for this lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world. So we see not only the character the world what it is but the corruption of the world. What it does now this world that would seduce you from loving the Lord Jesus has three main appeals there right here in this verse in verse 16. They are the lust of the flesh. You see, the lust of the eyes use it in the pride of life. I want us to look at those was look at very carefully what is the lust of the flesh. What does that mean well, that is Satan's appeal to your old nature. When the Bible says the flesh here that mean you're hard to hear your skin, your nerves use and use your bones. You want up why it doesn't mean that but when the Bible says the flesh. That means your old Adamic made sure the flash is what we have received from our first birth spirit is what we received from our second birth, and so Galatians chapter 5 verse 17 says for the flesh, lust against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, that is when you get safe, civil war begins on the inside of you felt it.

Of course you have there is that new nature that wants to serve God as that old nature that doesn't want to lie down and be dad and so you can have a battle on the inside.

Now the Bible calls this old nature, the desires of the old nature, the lust of the flesh.

Now these are desires primarily in the area of the material. The physical normally in the area of gluttony, laziness, drunkenness and morality perversion is a God is giving you certain normal hunger appetite is normally good thing got a good appetite.

Ambition is normal and good sex drive is a gift from God because it is part of the glue that holds the family together but what Satan wants to do is to take normal God-given proclivities and appetites and corrupt them and pervert them and that he wants us to pamper our flesh with food and sleep and sex and drugs and liquor and laziness what sin is, is primarily an abuse of something that's good the devil to have any raw materials God made everything say anything bad is a perversion of something that is good and it is a misuse of good things exactly what misuse food you can misuse sleep you can misuse sex good things are bad things. Listen to me. Good things are bad things when they are out of place. Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 so seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. God's not going take second place, but the world says just pamper your flash satisfy your flash and so there is the lust of the flesh. Listen carefully that deals with our passions, our passions are passions. That's the lust of the flesh. Now the next thing he speaks of is the lust of the eyes that doesn't deal with our passions that deals with our possession.

Using your eyes have an appetite.

Also that every device I just feast your eyes upon that that if the lust of the flesh deals with doing the lust of the eyes deals with having, and this temptation may be a lot more refined than the lust of the flank, the lust of the eyes may be sophisticated intellectual beautiful. It's the desire not merely to have an own things that is legitimate desire to want more than we need, and to be dissatisfied as the Bible tells us in first Timothy chapter 6 verse 10 for the love of money is the root of all evil and doesn't say money is the root of all evil master question. They honestly don't answer out loud what really motivates you are your personal goals is the first thing in your life to be a godly person to seek the kingdom of God. Are you trying to be a successful person. Are you more concerned with material things and spiritual things. I did try to put God in second place with them I was a seeking first the kingdom. Your eyes are looking around and you see things is not one that I want that my neatness and I I want that.

That's the lust of the eyes and coming up tomorrow will hear part two of this important message but maybe today you have questions about the kingdom of God or who Jesus is or what he means to you anywhere discover Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you'll find resources and materials that can answer questions you may have about your faith again go to LWF.org/radio and click discovered Jesus, thank you for joining us for today studying God's word. If you'd like to start receiving daily devotions and links to the program, be sure to sign up for our daily emails. LWF.org/great and join us tomorrow for part two. Your friendly and right on love where