Download Living Godly In An Ungodly World

Living Godly In An Ungodly World
God’s Will For His Children:
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you
should abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3).
But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." And
if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges
according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear (1 Pet. 1:15-17).
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind… (Rom. 12:2).
The World Can Destroy A Christian
• Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts
good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33).
• Were they ashamed when they had
committed abomination? No! They were not
at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to
blush. Therefore they shall fall among those
who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall
be cast down," says the LORD (Jer. 6:15).
“Lead Me Not Into Temptation”
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what
fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what
communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ
with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And
what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are
the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in
them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall
be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will
receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons
and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." Therefore, having these
promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor.
6:14 - 7:1).
Some Seek Approval For Their Sin
• An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the
land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by
their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what
will you do in the end? (Jer. 5:30-31).
• For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they
have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry (2 Tim. 4:3-5).
Be Alert!
• Satan is subtle:
– but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin
(Heb. 3:13).
• Satan is sly, cunning:
– For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).
• Described as a various animals:
– Snake (Rev. 12:9)
– Dragon (Rev. 12:1-4)
– Lion (1 Pet. 5:8)
Areas of Attack
1. Dress and Summertime
– In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation,
not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothing, but, which is proper for women professing
godliness, with good works (1 Tim. 2:9-10).
• Adorn – “to put in order, make ready”
• Modest – “orderly, well-arranged, decent, seemly”
• Propriety – “indicates a sense of shame; rooted in
character”
• Having regard to others; reflects upon an act’s
consequences and the shame it would bring. (Trench)
Areas of Attack
1. Dress and Summertime
– Gen. 3:9 – “chagorah” – aprons
• Covered but still naked!
– Gen. 3:21 – “kethoneth” – coats; tunics
• Covered from neck to knee or even ankle!
• And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their
nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs
(Exod. 28:42).
• Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil,
Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the
rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your
shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, And I will not
arbitrate with a man (Isa. 47:2-3).
Immodesty
• Puts out our light
– Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven (Matt. 5:16).
• Causes others to sin:
– Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that
no offenses should come, but woe to him through
whom they do come! It would be better for him if
a millstone were hung around his neck, and he
were thrown into the sea, than that he should
offend one of these little ones (Luke 17:1-2).
Areas of Attack
2. Social Drinking
– For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in
doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in
lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking
parties, and abominable idolatries (1 Pet. 4:3).
• Strong Drink Condemned
– Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And
whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Prov. 20:1).
– Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has
contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds
without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who
linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of
mixed wine (Prov. 23:29-30).
Areas of Attack
• Strong Drink Condemned
– Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they
may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until
night, till wine inflames them! (Isa.5:11)
– Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men
valiant for mixing intoxicating drink (Isa. 5:22)
– But they also have erred through wine, And through
intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and
the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink,
They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the
way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they
stumble in judgment (Isa. 28:7).
Areas of Attack
• Jesus Turned Water Into Wine!
– When the master of the feast had tasted the water
that was made wine, and did not know where it came
from (but the servants who had drawn the water
knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets
out the good wine, and when the guests have well
drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine
until now!" (John 2:9-10).
– Thus says the LORD: As the new wine is found in the
cluster, And one says, “Do not destroy it, For a
blessing is in it,” So will I do for My servants' sake,
That I may not destroy them all (Isaiah 65:8).
Social Drinking Questions
• Do you believe you can convert your neighbor
with a beer in your hand?
• Do you think that drinking modern alcoholic
drinks and true service to God are
compatible?
• Does drinking intoxicating drinks advance or
hinder the cause of Christ?
• Could the preacher own a liquor store?
Areas of Attack
3. Vacation from the assembly
– Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us
consider one another in order to stir up love and
good works, not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you
see the Day approaching (Heb.10:23-25).
– But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you (Matt. 6:33).