1 John 2:15-17

Introduction

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

Explanation

1 John 2:15 “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.”

Command. Do not love the world. This is a command, which means that you have some control over it. You can begin to overcome it. It will take time.

Warning. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. If you do not want to try to overcome the world, you may not have the love of the father in you.

1 John 2:16 “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.”

“turn these stones to bread” - Satan is tempting Jesus’ desire of the flesh.

Bob Yarborough // To attempt to love God in multitasking fashing, dedicating a portion of one’s love worldward and then the remaining amount godward, is fruitless because it fails to acknowledge God as he truly is: sole, unique, sovereign, alone deserving one’s core allegiance.

The list of the flesh denotes humanness and its sinful essence.

The base desire of the human heart perverts and distorts all normal desires.

We slavishly pursue the wrong desires of our hearts without divine intervention.

What are examples of “the desires of the flesh?”

How do we counteract the flesh? We counteract it with the spirit.

The fruit of the flesh is sin.

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.”

When we abide in Christ by living in His word, our lives are changed.

the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Satan is tempting the desire of the eyes.

The list of the flesh is a way of describing sinful desires initiated or inflamed by what one sees and results in feelings of envy or coveting.

In the same way that you blow on a fire or fan it to get it larger, your eyes will fan a sin into a deep flame.

What is a Biblical example of this reality? David and Bathsheba.

David was on the roof of his home when kings were to be at war.

He was looking on Bathsheba. And what was a lustful desire in him was fanned into flame by his eyes.

How do we lessen the grip of the flesh on our hearts? Don’t feed it with your eyes!

What are some common ways that we do this?

Angry people - watch the news/dwell on what makes you angry.

Lust - Watch TV that exposes flesh and puts individuals in sexual situations.

Envy - Some of yall need to cut off home and garden network - I am only halfway joking.

Materialism - If you are always on Amazon, you are going to order from Amazon.

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down” for the angels will not let your foot strike stone. Satan is tempting the pride of life.

Pride of life is (1) status that comes from (2) the things we have.

Satan was telling Jesus, “Do this, and your ministry will be BIG!” Wouldn’t it be good for your ministry to be bigger? More people? More respect? A bigger audience? A bigger impact?

Jesus was not looking for a microwave ministry.

Instead of an impressive crowd, Jesus was looking for devoted followers.

Instead of acclaim, Jesus was looking for

Gloria Furman’s husband is a pastor in the UAE.

One of the things he said about a church he planted in Dubai.

I had a bunch of people who God really excited about our church. They came and got involved, and it was exciting.

But I wish I had kept the group smaller. Because the larger it got, the less I was able to mold the culture. And we got wrapped up in a big launch, and we set the expectations low for discipleship.

What are some common ways that the “pride of life” creeps into our lives today?

1 John 2:17 “17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Colossians 3:1–4 “1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Only once your life has been raised with Christ, can you live this way.

And the reward for a Godward life is eternal life. “we will appear with Him in glory.”

Prayer Requests

Neal Barnes

Erin and Hudson

Rosemary Johnson