Love One Another (Part 4): The Love God Hates 1John 2:12-17 LOGO SLIDE 1 Series Recap: 1) Loving one another The whole idea here is this... if we love Jesus, we will love one another. If we love one another with Jesus at the center of our love, well then we have fellowship... then we have church. 2) Enemies of Fellowship Over the past few weeks a few things have become apparent in regards to fellowship. 1) Fellowship is found in a relationship with Christ and then translates to a relationship with others in the body of Christ. 2) Fellowship has a variety of roadblocks. Namely Sin and Hatred. 3) Sinfulness an enemy of Fellowship - We've seen how sin seeks to destroy us. We either act as if we have no sin, we act as if we can live in sin, or we completely ignore sin as if we need no savior. All three of these approaches to sin are unhealthy and prove our need for fellowship with Christ and with his body. 4) Hatred an enemy of Fellowship Last week we saw how fellowship is impossible where hatred is present. In fact hatred proves that you are not in fellowship with Jesus or his body. Your hate reveals your fate. When sin and hatred are brought out of the darkness into the light of Jesus it exposes them as enemies of true fellowship. Where there is sinfulness, where there is hatred, you will not find love for one another. TITLE SLIDE 2 I. Sermon Intro: today we are going to continue with this theme of fellowship and see how the enemies of fellowship stem from the desires of our hearts. We cannot love one another if our love is misplaced. 1) Attitudes of the heart When you think of your core foundation this morning I want you to think of a Baloney Sandwich. Okay. Just hold onto this thought. Now, as with all enemies of God and his church, their inherent evil is below the surface. Yes, sin presents itself in tangible ways. Murder is a clear action. Lying, thievery, adultery, gossip, are all manifestations of hatred and they are all visible. But below the surface of these actions is something deeper, something harder to pinpoint. The cause of the disease, rather than the symptoms. The question we should all wrestle with this morning is this.. SLIDE 3 What is the attitude of your heart when it comes to fellowship? 2) False belief concerning your attitude And here's some help in answering that question with honesty. So today we have an actual test. We have an actual way for you to measure whether or not you believe what you think you believe at the deepest core of who you are. We can measure the attitude of your heart this morning against the text. PASSAGE SLIDES 4-9 3) 1John 2:12-17 LOGO SLIDE 10 4) We Know God, and We Love The World So there is so much to unpack here. In verses 12-14 we see what we already know in Christ. We know God, we know we've been forgiven, we have overcome Satan, we have a strength from the Holy Spirit. Elementary principles of the Gospel right? Then in verses 15-17 we see where we may be being fooled! Here's what you know, but here's where you are missing something! You get this stuff, but you are really not getting this right here! And this is what you aren't getting... You Love the World but this World has nothing for you! This world is fleeting and will pass away! Stop trying to hold on to it! Simply put, if you love the world you don't love God! You are being fooled into thinking that this world is the best. That this world is what is worth living for, fighting for, striving for. That every breathe you have is to be spent on gaining the pleasures of this world, that every heart beat is to be spent on acquiring possessions, and that having a pride in your accomplishments is the justification of your existence. And God is saying... HEY you are not getting it. I AM ALL THAT YOU SHOULD BE LIVING FOR! I'm everything, your all in all... not this world! SLIDE 11
5) C.S. Lewis - says it like this... It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. - C.S. Lewis God knows that we will always struggle with our passion for the things of this world. But he also knows that he is greater than all of the things we could ever find in this world. He is enough. And when we love this world we aren't desiring too much, we are desiring too little. Lewis says our desires for this world are like mud pies in the slum while God is like a vacation at the beach. It's the difference between driving a tricycle or a Ferrari. It's the difference between winning a game of Yahtzee or the Super Bowl. It's the difference between painting a stick figure or the Mona Lisa. And its the difference between eating a baloney sandwich or a filet mignon. It's a big difference! LOGO SLIDE 12 6) Phony Baloney Here's the thing... you think the world is Filet Mignon... But it's just baloney! Running after the things of this world is just a bunch of Phony Baloney! It's a piece of nasty processed meat that never delivers what it promises. It doesn't taste good, has very little nutritional value, and isn't even really meat... its the leftovers ground up and mushed together in a patty which is barely edible. And here's the thing this morning... if you are running after the things of this world, you are running after a phony promise. This world will never fulfill you, it will never give you true purpose, and it will never be what you want it to be; It's fools gold. 7) Phony Attitude So, are you running after the world? Lets get back to this thought about the attitude of your heart. SLIDE 18 If you are running after the world then the attitude of your heart, your baseline and foundation for your actions, is worldliness You can love God or you can love yourself... you cannot love both. And I believe that a bunch of so-called Christians say they love God but in reality they love the world, they love themselves and that is why they can't have fellowship. What is the attitude of your heart this morning.. is it I love God or is it I love this world? LOGO SLIDE 18 8) The Love God Hates You see this... When you look at this passage it becomes very clear. There is a love that draws us closer to God and closer to each other, but there is also a love that God hates. Interesting that the first two weeks of this series we talked about the love of God and the love we should have for each other. And, last week we talked about the sin of hatred and how that cripples a church. And today we are combining both of those thoughts into one. You see God hates too. But he only hates the right things to hate. And any love apart from a sold out love to God he absolutely hates. God hates worldliness. SLIDE 19 There is a love that God hates the love you have for the World II. Body: so with that in mind, lets look at this passage and see how we, as believers, can escape worldliness; how we can escape a love for the world. SLIDE 20 1. TRUST IN WHAT CHRIST GIVES THAT YOU CANNOT LOSE (vs12-14) a) The connection between these two thoughts When you read this passage you see two distinct parts. Some may say that verses 12-14 do not fit with verses 15-17 but when you look closely you see that they are indeed in harmony with one another. Verses 12-14 provide the encouragement needed to avoid the dangers presented in verses 15-17. If we trust in what Christ gives that we cannot lose then we can easily avoid the lure of the world. LOGO SLIDE 21 b) Fathers, Children, Young Men Also as you look at these three verses you will see three different designations or groupings. Fathers, Children, and Young Men. Some would say these only relate to the designated age groupings. Some would say that these represent three stages of spiritual maturity. The most accurate way to approach this is to see ourselves in each of these categories. We
SLIDE 23 are all children of God, we are all called to be spiritual fathers to others in mentorship, we are all called to be young in our hearts in the way we engage this world and the enemy. We never stop following God as father, we never stop discipling spiritual children, and we never stop running after God and fighting the enemy as young men. c) Christ gives forgiveness (vs12) This is simple for those who are in Christ. Because of the substitutionary atonement of Christ. Because of the propitiation paid on the cross, our sin debt is wiped out. We are clean, pure, and sinless before the throne of God. For those who are no believers this morning... this promise still rings true. No matter what you've done, no matter who you are, there is no sin too bad that Christ won't forgive. And once that sin is forgiven... God removes it as far as the east is from the west. Its gone, gone, gone... forever gone. Forever forgiven. d) Christ gives you a relationship with the Father (vs13-14) When you are saved, your relationship with the Father is restored. Now you can know the Father again. He is a good father. And because you are adopted children, you are now heirs of his entire kingdom. e) Christ gives you victory in your faith (vs13-14) we are forgiven, we have God the father. But we also have a victorious faith. As young maturing warriors for Christ we overcome the enemy. We fight Satan on a daily basis and have the power to overcome him. Why? Because in vs14 we have the Word abiding in us, which makes us strong, which gives us courage, which gives us perseverance and fortitude to withstand the lure of this world which satan gives us on a daily basis. Never forget 1John 4:4 - the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. SLIDE 22 as forgiven children, with your heavenly father, place your faith in the strength of He who is in you, and you will overcome the world 2. REJECT WHAT THE WORLD OFFERS BUT CAN'T GIVE (vs15-17) a. What is the world First off here, it is a good idea to clarify what world means here. It doesn't mean the earth. We are to love this world and be good stewards of it. We enjoy creation because we love the creator. Secondly, it doesn't mean the people of the world. Sometimes in the bible world can mean mankind. Of course we are to love people... it's the second greatest commandment. So what does world here mean. It means the satanic system which is opposed to God. It is the opposite of godly and holy. PASSAGE SLIDE 24 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. - John 15:19 SLIDE 25 A Christian is a member of the human world, and lives in the physical world, but he does not belong to this spiritual world where satan opposes God. LOGO SLIDE 26 b. The world cannot give you God's love (vs15) This seems obvious right? But isn't all of humanity looking to fill a God-shaped hole with everything but God. The bible basically says, choose your father, either the father of lies, Satan, or God the Father. Only one can give you the love that you need. Satan will tell you he can, but he is a liar. This is scary if you think about it. If we have the love of the world in our hearts, then there is not enough room for the love of God. And if we have the love of God in our hearts then there is not room for the love of the world. So if your heart is filled with a love for the world... and you don't have love for God in your heart... can you be considered a believer? SLIDE 27 either love for God will push aside a love for the world or love for the world will push out a love for God
c. The world cannot keep it's promises (vs16) In vs16 we see three different things that the world promises. What the flesh desires, what the eyes want, and the pride of life, or a fulfilled purpose. These are same three promises that deceived Eve in the garden. PASSAGE SLIDE 28 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. - Genesis 3:6 she saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh) and was pleasing to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and that the tree was desired to make one wise (pride of life). LOGO SLIDE 29 d. The world promises pleasures The lust of the flesh deals with our pleasures and our appetites. Our natural bodies have needs. We have a natural draw towards food, water, sleep, sex, happiness, etc... There is nothing wrong with eating, drinking, sleeping, or sex within marriage. But when the flesh nature controsl them, they become sinful lusts. Hunger becomes gluttony, thirst becomes drunkenness, sleep becomes laziness, and sex becomes adultery. The problem with all of these pleasures is that they simply don't last and they most definitely lead to our destruction. Name me a gluttonous, adulterous, lazy, drunk who is happy. The world simply can't deliver on pleasure.. Remember what the bible says in Romans 7:18 in the flesh there is no good thing. In Romans 13:14 make no provision for the flesh, and in Phil 3:3 put no confidence in the flesh. Matthew 26:41 also tell us that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So cling to the strength of your faith and defeat the lusts of the flesh. e. The world promises possessions The lust of the eyes deals with our affections for stuff. The world says, have what you want, take what you can get. And we do don't we. We work jobs we don't love to gain stuff we don't use. We must kill our desires for materialism. Because materialism never fulfills. The more we gain the more we want, the more we want the more we feel empty. f. The world promises purpose Pride of life here could mean a great many things. It speaks to boasting in ones accomplishments. You see the world says find purpose in being successful at work, by becoming more wealthy than others, by rising higher in society. Then you can have a pride that you have risen above the rest. The problem with this thinking is the higher you climb you usually leave many broken relationships in your wake. It could be that the higher you climb in status the lower your soul sinks in the things that really matter. To get to the top of this world you usually have to leave God behind. I've seen this so many times with students, their families, and sports. The better their child gets at soccer, the more Sunday's they are away from church, the less they can be at youth group, the less they can be involved in small groups, the less they can spend in devotion. And before you know it... soccer has replaced God. Stop trying to make it to the top... you will never get there and you will leave God behind trying. g. The world cannot give you what will last (vs17) This verse gives us two promises. 1) this world will not last. It is passing away and all of your pleasure will end, all of your possessions will rot, and your pride will crumble. This world is temporary. It is fleeting. It is here today and gone tomorrow. 2) but those who exchange worldliness for godliness will live forever. There is something that last and its your walk with God. A relationship of loving God lasts forever and ever. Here you find true pleasure, here you find true possession, here you find true purpose. SLIDE 30 the pleasures, possessions, and pride, of this world is fading fast, therefor put your faith in something that will last III. Conclusion The world is like a baloney sandwich. It promises a lot and delivers very little. It is a cheap imitation that isn't worth nothing. We must reject this world. Though we live in the world, we can never become of the world. Warren Weirsbe says it like this - The believer is like a scuba diver. The water is not the man's habitat, for he is not equipped for life in or under it. When a scuba diver goes under, he has to take special equipment with him so that he can breathe. Were it not for the Holy Spirit's living within us, and the spiritual resources we have in prayer, Christian fellowship, and the
Word, we could never make it here in this world. Philippians 3:20 says it very clearly - our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. So be patient, and perseverant my friends. The victory is ours, our savior is coming again, heaven awaits, and one day our war with this world will be over. Don't give into the allure of the pleasures, possessions, and pride of this world. Its just a bunch of baloney. Instead love Jesus, love God, live for him and you will live forever! Weirsbe says one more thing I want to leave you with today. Two tests of worldliness by which you can measure yourself. Are you in love with God or in love with the world. 1) Responding to the father's love (your personal devotional life), and 2) doing the Father's will (your daily conduct). If you are lacking on your love for the father it will show up in your neglect for a personal devotional life, a lack of a prayer life, a lack of reading the word. If you are lacking a love for the father it will show up in your daily conduct. Are you living for God or for yourself.