(Ephesians 2:1-10)

1
Overcoming The Effects of Worldliness
Death
Life
Grace
v. 8
Faith

• (Ephesians 21-10)

2
Constant Threat

• Eight in ark (1 Peter 320)
• Demas left Paul (2 Timothy 410)
• Companion to apathy (Haggai 14-9)

Apathy
Worldliness
3
Matthew 1322

• And the one on whom seed was sown among the
  thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and
  the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of
  riches choke the word, and it becomes
  unfruitful.

4
I John 215-17

• Do not love the world, nor the things in the
  world. If anyone loves 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 boastful pride of life, is not from
  the Father, but is from the world.

5
I John 215-17

• And the world is passing away, and also its
  lusts but the one who does the will of God
  abides forever.

6
Respectable Worldliness

• Israels problem (Haggai 14-9)

7
Respectable Worldliness

• Marthas priorities (Luke
  1041, 42)

Mary
Martha
8
Things Right Within Themselves

• Areas (Matthew 1322)
• Jobs
• Recreation
• Education

9
How Do We Overcome?

• Stay focused on the goal like Nehemiah. (Nehemiah
  63, 15)

Rebuilt The Walls In 52 days
10
How Do We Overcome?

• Use proper priorities in choosing a career.
  (Matthew 633 Luke 1215)

1- Local Church Nearby?
2- Good For My Family?
3- Salary, benefits?
11
How Do We Overcome?

• Dont become entangled in the affairs of everyday
  life (2 Timothy 24)

12
How Do We Overcome?

• Place pleasure and recreation secondary to
  godliness (1 Timothy 48)

1st- Godliness
2nd- Pleasure Recreation
13
How Do We Overcome?

• Proper priorities in our homes. (Ephesians 64)

1- God
2- Others
3- Self
14
Things That Are Inherently Sinful

• Nothing respectable about this
• Molded like the world (Romans 121, 2)
• Want acceptance by the world
  (John 1519 Hebrews 117)
• Threat to the purity of the church
  (1 Corinthians 51-9)

15
Things That Are Inherently Sinful

• The effects of this are evident
• Divorce (Matthew 199 Mark 622)
• Dancing (Galatians 519-21)
• Social drinking (1 Peter 43)
• Immodesty
  (Genesis 321 1 Timothy 28-10)

16
Al Diestelkamp

• When I was a child there were times when
  Christians would plan to get together at a public
  park for a picnic. I remember times when we would
  be driving through the park looking for our
  group. Even from a distance, not being able to
  identify their faces, we knew where our group
  was by the way they were dressed and groomed.
  Thats not true anymore!
• (Think On These Things, July-September, 1991)

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Food For Thought
19
Things That Are Inherently Sinful

• Effects are evident
• Apathy (Romans 323)
• No discipline in local churches
  (2 Thessalonians 36, 14, 15)

20
How Do We Overcome This Type?

• Determine to do the right thing like Lot (Genesis
  199 2 Peter 26-9)
• Purpose to be free from defilement (Daniel 18)
• Remove the old man of sin from life support
  (Romans 66 Galatians 220, 21)

21
How Do We Overcome this Type?

• Seek those things that are above
  (Colossians 31-4)
• Remember that our purpose in this life is to
  serve God. (Ecclesiastes 1213)
• Support the church in discipline
  (2 Thessalonians 36, 14)

22
WORLDLINESS

• A threat to each of us
• A threat to the purity of the church
• Make serving God our priority