All Nations Evangelistic Ministries

TEXTS: JAMES 4:4; 1JN 2:15-17, 2COR. 6:14-18.
Worldliness is the major problem of the Church in this age. Things have changed from the times of the early Church. The Church has lost her true identity, her distinctiveness, her respect and honour in the world, just because of allowing the line of demarcation between her and the world to be robbed off. Act. 5:11-18.

How is that the Church has become so worldly, that she is so devoted to the world as seen today? Jesus says – “The enemy has done this” the Lord placed the Church in the world to convert and conserve it, Satan planted the world in the Church to corrupt and confuse her (Mt. 13:12-29). One day, the Lord will have the Church totally and permanently separated from the world. Where will you be then?

James declared that it is impossible to be a friend of the world and of God at the same time. We have a choice to make Jesus also told the disciples, “No servant can serve two master for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Lk. 16:13.

If we befriend the world, it will retard our spiritual progress and appetite, it will weaken our influence and testimony for Jesus Christ, It will make us compromise our holiness and thereby make us lower our standard to the level of conduct of the world. Thus we become God’s enemies.

We are not to fashion our lives in line with the system of this world 2 Cor. 6:14-18. We are in the world but we are not to be of the world Jn. 17:15-16. Jesus came to the world to die so that we might be delivered from this evil world. Gal. 1:4. We as sons of God should be blameless and shine in the midst of this crooked and perverse world. Phil. 2:15. This evil world will someday pass away, if we befriend it we will pass away with it thereby loosing eternal life in heaven. 1Cor. 7:31, 1Jn. 22:15-17.

You can be worldly and not know it or at least pretend not to know it – yet the facts of what you are remains – A worldly Christian –

THE MARKS OF A WORLDLY CHRIATIAN.
1. He is thoroughly caught up and devoted to the system, fashion and value system
of the world. 2 Tim. 4:10, Gen 19:15 – 26. For example, lifestyle, dressings, marriage, business, relationships etc.
2. He is motivated by the world’s desires and characterized by worldly wisdom. 2Tim. 4:10
3. He is not seriously concerned about those things that pertain to life and godliness
as with things that pertain to life and possessions. Mt. 19:16-22, 2 Pet. 1:3
4. He is characterized by spiritual indifference, instability and is undisciplined. (Jms.
4:1 1-4)
5. He has dubious spiritual identity and loves pleasure more than God. (2 Tim. 3:4)
6. He gives lips service to a form of doctrine, but ignores the real substance. 2Tim 3:5, Mt. 15:1-8.
7. He is neither cold nor hot in Christian life and conduct. Rev. 3:15, 2Kgs. 17:29-34.

II. THE MARKS OF A SPIRITUALLY MINDED CHRISTIAN
The spiritually minded Christian is the opposite of the worldly one.
1. He seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Mt. 6:33
2. He takes a stand against the spirit of the age to establish his identity with the people of God. Heb. 11:24-26.
3. He seeks and experience constant renewal spiritually. 2Cor. 4:16-18
4. His sincere desire is to be filled with the fruits of righteousness. Phil 110-11
5. He is really hot in following the Lord. Ps. 63-18, Rev. 3:15-16, Rom 12:11
6. He doesn’t compromise with sinners in the world. Jn. 17:15-16
Friend where do you stand? Among the worldly and carnal or among the spiritual and heaven minded saints? You can take your stand today. Exo 32:26.