Right-Directed Love

I. Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn: 1 JOHN CH. 2—V12

ANNOUNCE—B-DAYS “HAPPY B-DAY” ETHAN & KEVIN

THANK VOLUNTEERS—WORK NIGHT

YOUTH RALLY— ALL HANDS on DECK, THANK YOU!

---OPEN in PRAYER---

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II. Introduction: Living by Faith in a Visible World

I THINK that one of THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECTS of the CHRISTIAN LIFE is that it is LIVED BY FAITH.

CHRISTIAN LIFE = ENTERED BY FAITH

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Examples:

WE BELIEVE IN A GOD — WE CAN’T SEE.

WE HAVE A HOPE OF HEAVEN --- THAT WE CAN’T SEE.

WE TRUST A SAVIOR WE HAVEN’T PERSONALLY SEEN

**DISCLAIMER: NOT BLIND FAITH— NOT CHECKING BRAIN @ DOOR**

BUT WE CAN’T SEE IT!

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Difficulty: MAKES THIS HARDER— WE LIVE in WORLD CHARACTERIZED BY SIGHT

GOT READY @ HOME— MIRROR,, CAN SEE

CAR & ROAD— CAN SEE

SITTING in PEW— CAN SEE

Connection: LIFE = FILLED W/ TANGIBLE REALITIES…

… BUT WHAT MATTERS MOST is INTANGIBLE

WE FACE CHALLENGES WE CAN SEE—WHILE TRUSTING a GOD WE CAN’T SEE...

…NOT ALWAYS EASY

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SEEN = TEMPORARY

UNSEEN = ETERNAL

HEAVENLY REALITIES = JUST as TRUE as WHAT WE CAN SEE...

Focus: TODAY’S PASSAGE—REMINDS US,, RIGHT-PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED in ETERNAL REALITIES...

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Transition:

Transition: I’D LIKE to BEGIN—READING PASSAGE

(V12-17 TODAY)

SCRIPTURE SAYS...

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III. Passage Reading: 1 John 2:12-17

1 John 2:12–17 (ESV)

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Declaration: This is God’s Word for us this morning...

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IV. Context Recap: Faith-Family Relationships

Recent Weeks: APOSTLE JOHN OFFERED CHALLENGES... AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING...

NOT TALKING TALK

👣 BUT WALKING the WALK 👣

FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD WHO IS LIGHT… WALKING DARKNESS???

CLAIMING “ABIDE” in CHRIST— LIFE SHOULD LOOK LIKE HIS...

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✨JOHN HAS ECHOED JESUS’ TEACHING—GREAT COMMANDMENT

600+ COMMANDMENTS

LOVE GOD—KEEPING HIS WORD

LOVE NEIGHBOR — SPECIFICALLY BROTHER (FAITH-FAMILY)

Last Wk: THE DISTINGUISHER of DISCIPLES of JESUS—LOVE for ONE ANOTHER...

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Today, Focus: TODAY— JOHN = RETURNING to “LOVING GOD”

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Transition: BUT FIRST—HE’S GOING to OFFER a REASSURANCE

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 12-14

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V. Exposition

A. Thought 1: Affirming the Faith-Family (vv. 12-14)

1 John 2:12–14 (ESV)

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

JOHN = ADDRESSING VARIOUS MEMBERS of FAITH-FAMILY

(LITTLE) CHILDREN,

YOUNG MEN,

FATHERS

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**SOME BELIEVE = LITERAL, BIOLOGICAL AGE**

OTHERS—STAGES of SPIRITUAL MATURITY

✨Main Point: JOHN = OFFERING THEM ALL REASSURANCE

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Little Children: New believers,

ASSURED of FORGIVENESS,,

KNOWLEDGE of FATHER

Fathers: Mature believers,

KNOWING “ONE from BEGINNING” PROBABLY CHRIST

Young Men: maturing believers

STRONG in FAITH—

HAVE OVERCOME the EVIL ONE (CONQUERING TEMPTATION)…

GOD’S WORD ABIDES...

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Background: REMEMBER— FALSE TEACHERS WENT OUT from JOHN’S FELLOWSHIP

Logical Question: “HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE the TRUTH??”

JOHN = PASTOR—REASSURING THEM

(1:1-4) EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY

(2:12-14) THEY HAVE TRULY EXPERIENCED SALVATION

John’s Purpose: — assurance

1 John 5:13 (ESV)

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

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Challenge: JOHN ADDRESSES VARIOUS MEMBERS of FAITH-FAMILY = REMINDER to US—

WE OUGHT to GROW. 👣

Scriptural Support: Author of Hebrews— ONCE CRITICIZED HIS AUDIENCE—

YOU SHOULD BE READY for SOLID FOOD—BUT YOU STILL NEED MILK!

GOD’S DESIRE = FOR US to GROW & BE FRUITFUL

Exhort: IF YOU’VE BEEN a CHRISTIAN for YEARS—DECADES— YOU SHOULDN’T BE the SAME

KNOW GOD’S WORD BETTER

REPRESENT JESUS BETTER

GROWN in SPIRITUAL MATURITY

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NO MATTER AGE—IF YOU’RE NEW(ISH) to FAITH— YOU WON’T KNOW as MUCH—THAT’S OKAY.

YOU COULD BE 100 YRS OLD & a BABE in CHRIST...

BUT if YOU’VE BEEN SAVED 10-20+ YEARS,, CERTAINLY YOU SHOULD’VE GROWN

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Transition: WITH REASSURANCE in PLACE— JOHN ISSUES a COMMAND

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 15...

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B. Thought 2: The World’s Love (v. 15)

1 John 2:15 (ESV)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Argument: YOU KNOW CHRIST—YOU’VE BEEN REDEEMED...

…WITH THIS in MIND “DON’T LOVE the WORLD!”

Background: 1ST COMMAND in LETTER

💡 LOVE of the WORLD & LOVE of FATHER = MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE!💡

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WHAT DOES JOHN MEAN?

LOVE WORLD—then,, GOD NO LONGER LOVES YOU??

NOT AT ALL.

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🤯🤯Exhort: CONSIDER the AWESOME LOVE of GOD

HE LOVED US WHILE WE WERE REBEL SINNERS—SENT HIS SON

Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Conclusion: IF YOU LOVE the WORLD—YOU DON’T LOVE GOD.

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Background: WORLD = “THAT WHICH = CREATED BY GOD—

-—BUT PRESENTLY ALIENATED from HIM—

— THE PLACE of TRANSITORINESS & SIN

=> JOHN ISN’T SAYING: DON’T APPRECIATE WATERFALLS, or DON’T RECYCLE

HEAVENS DECLARE the GLORY of GOD! — CREATION TESTIFIES to CREATOR!

=> LIKEWISE: CHRISTIAN = TASKED W/ LOVING NEIGHBOR & EVEN ENEMY!

💥💥Conclusion, Challenge: DON’T FALL in LOVE WITH the REBEL SYSTEM.

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VALUES of WORLD & VALUES of GOD’S KINGDOM = BACKWARDS.

CAN’T BE SUCCESSFUL in BOTH REALMS...

Ill.: MANY SPORTS HAVE 2 TEAMS W/ OPPOSING GOALS/ END-ZONES/ BASKETS

**TEAMS HAVE OPPOSITE GOALS**

KIDS SOCCER COACH— EVERY YEAR SOMEONE SCORE in WRONG GOAL

MISSION REMAINS the SAME— a “SCORE” for ONE TEAM = PROBLEM for the OTHER!!

GOALS = ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT

YOU CAN’T BE A WINNER IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD,, AND IN THE EYES OF GOD

IF YOUR LIFE = DEVOTED to WORLDLINESS & NATURAL THINGS— YOU DON’T TRULY LOVE GOD…

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Transition: HARSH TEACHING— REALLY THAT BLACK & WHITE??

JOHN WILL BACK UP HIS CLAIM W/ REASON

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16

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C. Thought 3: The World’s Contents (v. 16)

1 John 2:16 (ESV)

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

CAN’T LOVE BOTH GOD & WORLD… WHY??

LOOK WHAT is in the WORLD!

NATURAL WORLDLY DESIRES = OPPOSITE from GOD

**Transition: WHAT DO THESE THINGS MEAN**

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Desires of the Flesh:

NATURAL,, NON-SPIRITUAL, EARTHLY CRAVINGS that IN EXCESS LOSE SIGHT of GOD…

SATISFYING HUNGER & THIRST = OKAY,, GLUTTONY & DRUNKENNESS ARE WRONG

SEXUAL DESIRE ISN’T INHERENTLY WRONG

SEXUAL IMMORALITY IS

PORN & ONLYFANS IS.

JOHN WARNS: IF YOUR LOVE for THESE EARTHLY THINGS CONSUME YOU to the POINT of SIN—

— YOU DON’T REALLY LOVE GOD.

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Desires of the Eyes:

FLESHLY DESIRES = OFTEN ROOTED in WHAT WE SEE

“LUST” = APPROPRIATE TRANSLATION...

Challenge: CHRISTIAN—DO YOU EVER LONG for THAT WHICH YOU DON’T HAVE?

IT’S NOT NEW— 10 COMMANDMENTS includes “DO NOT COVET!”

COVETING DONKEY 3,000 YRS AGO! CERTAINLY IT’S a PROBLEM TODAY!

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THIS DESIRE for NATURAL, EARTHLY THINGS,, PULLS OUR HEARTS from GOD…

**EVERYTHING WE SEE HERE is TEMPORARY**

ALL the STUFF WE WISH WE HAD

THINGS WE OBSESS OVER

MARKETPLACE SEARCHES

INSTEAD: EYES of FAITH—FIXED on WHAT WE CAN’T SEE.

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Pride of Life:

ARROGANCE in POSSESSIONS

LIFE = “THAT WHICH SUSTAINS” — 1 JN. 3:17 “THE WORLD’S GOODS”

LEB: “THE ARROGANCE OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS”

WORLD = FILLED:

W/ CRAVING for WHAT WE DON’T HAVE

& PRIDE W/ WHAT WE DO!

LUST of EYES = FULFILLED BY ACCUMULATION///

//LEADS to PRIDE, NOT CONTENTMENT!

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Background: JESUS,, PARABLE of the SOWER...

SOME SEED— THORNS

Luke 8:14 (ESV)

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

⭐THESE NATURAL THINGS = in COMPETITION W/ GOD!

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Parable: ANOTHER PLACE—JESUS RECOUNTS “RICH FOOL”

ACCUMULATES LOTS of STUFF—BUILDS BIGGER BARNS— LIFE is GOOD… REST, DRINK, BE MERRY...

Luke 12:19–21 (ESV)

20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

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BELIEVERS LAY UP TREASURES in HEAVEN...

KNOW THAT EARTHLY TREASURES = GIFTS of GOD...

“PRIDE”// “ARROGANCE” of LIFE— FORGETS GOD is PROVIDER...

BOASTS in SELF & SELF-ACCOMPLISHMENT… LOSING SIGHT of GOD’S PROVISION...

IF WE ARE OBSESSED W/ THIS WORLD—WHAT it OFFERS— WHAT WE CAN GATHER—LUSTING & ACCUMULATING OVER & OVER…

WE DON’T LOVE GOD.

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Transition: & JOHN is GOING to CONCLUDE W/ a FINAL CONTRAST:

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D. Thought 4: The World’s End (v. 17)

1 John 2:17 (ESV)

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

WORLD DESTINY is FIXED— IT’S PASSING AWAY.

LOVE for GOD = ETERNAL

ALL WORLDLY LOVES WILL SOON BE GONE...

Last Wk: DARKNESS = PASSING AWAY

This Wk: WORLD = PASSING AWAY

THE WORLD is LIVING on BORROWED TIME.

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SCHOLAR, COLIN KRUSE, COMMENTS, “THERE IS NO FUTURE IN WORLDLINESS”[1]

👀👀EVERYTHING WE STRIVE for DOWN HERE = TEMPORARY

STUFF

SUCCESS

NOTORIETY

One Scholar: IF OUR LIVES ARE NOT DIRECTED TOWARD GOD IN OUR EVERY DECISION OF EACH DAY,

THEN EVEN OUR MOST PASSIONATE EFFORTS AND CAUSES AMOUNT TO POLISHING BRASS ON THE TITANIC.”

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NEED to BE REGULARLY REMINDED— ALL EARTHLY LOVES = TEMPORARY

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (ESV)

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

ETERNAL THINGS = UNSEEN,,

WHAT MATTERS MOST = UNSEEN.

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BUT JUST BECAUSE—WHAT WE SEE = TEMPORARY—

— DOESN’T MEAN THAT’S ALL THERE IS...

“WHOEVER DOES the WILL of GOD = ABIDES FOREVER”

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Transition: THERE’S MORE to LIFE THAN MEETS the EYE...

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VI. Gospel Connection: Abiding Forever

WE CAN OBSESS ABOUT NATURAL THINGS...

WEALTH PORTFOLIO

NEW CAR/BOAT/ETC...

HOBBIES

BUT WHAT is ETERNAL....??

C.S. LEWIS:

“[N]early all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

TRUE, LASTING SATISFACTION is FOUND...

… in RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

WE WERE CREATED for MORE.

WE DESERVE DEATH—BUT GOD OFFERS GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST…

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ETERNITY is FAR MORE REAL THAN ANY of US REALIZE.

THE LOVES of THIS LIFE = FAR MORE TEMPORARY THAN WE REALIZE

WE NEED to BE PREPARED for ETERNITY—DOING the WILL of GOD...

✨… WHICH is TO BELIEVE on the ONE HE SENT—JESUS CHRIST.

John 17:3 (ESV)

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

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ALL NATURAL THINGS = PASSING AWAY,, WE NEED a HOPE FOR ETERNITY…

IF WE’RE on a SINKING SHIP— WE NEED a LIFE BOAT

Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE,, YOU’VE BEEN in LOVE W/ WORLD—IT’S YOUR HOME—

YOU CAN FIND a HOPE FOR ETERNITY in JESUS CHRIST, TODAY…

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Transition: & IF YOU’RE in CHRIST,, & HAVE a HOPE of HEAVEN...

JOHN = SAYING to US THIS MORNING...

VII. Passage Idea

Love God, not the world and its fleeting pleasures.

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VIII. Application

💥AGAIN—THESE THINGS = MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE!

YOU CAN’T LOVE GOD

& LOVE the WORLD

YOU EITHER LOVE ONE or the OTHER

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PASSAGE LIKE THIS CHALLENGE ME… CHECK MY HEART.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

WHAT = TESTIMONY of MY LIFE??

Exhort: WE ALL KNOW the RIGHT ANSWER on the TEST,, 👣

👣BUT DO WE ACTUALLY LIVE LIKE THAT? 👣

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IS YOUR LIFE CONSUMED W/ VALUES & STANDARDS of the WORLD?

OR the VALUES of CHRIST’S KINGDOM??

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DIFFICULTY in LIFE— WE’RE to LIVE for the UNSEEN,, IN WORLD W/ COUNTLESS DISTRACTIONS WE SEE...

DAILY ADVERTISEMENTS— “THIS WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY”

DESIRES of the EYES—COMPETITION on SOCIAL MEDIA—

PRIDE of LIFE— WE ALL HAVE MORE STUFF THAN ANY other GENERATION THAT EVER LIVED...

IN PREVIOUS MILLENNIA WE’D BE KINGS & QUEENS...

&& WE HAVE SPIRITUAL ENEMY “god of THIS WORLD”

WE NEED to BE DILIGENT in MAINTAINING OUR HEARTS....

FIGHTING the PULL of WORLDLINESS...

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WE AREN’T “OF the WORLD”

BUT WE ARE in the WORLD...

LET’S KEEP OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

Quote to Reflect On: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Close In Prayer