Worldliness

In this part of the sermon: The sermon begins by setting the context of the conference theme, 'The Christian and the World,' and introduces the subject of worldliness, acknowledging the varied and often…

Illustrates the common, superficial image of worldliness as excessive makeup and immodest dress, which the sermon aims to move beyond to a biblical definition.

the word worldliness, one can only imagine the various images that come before the minds of his hearers. For some, the word worldliness immediately conjures up the picture of a modern Jezebel, a woman who must have very strong posterior neck muscles to hold up a face laden with paint and with all forms of attempts. To somehow either recapture her lost youth, for it seems that often worldly women, in direct proportion to the loss of their youthfulness, try to somehow hold back the encroachments of time as it makes its marks with ever-increasing tracks of crow's feet and lines upon the face. And...

2:57 - 4:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Every single one of us was born and lived by nature as a worldling.

Compares the natural attachment of humanity to the world system to an umbilical cord connecting a fetus to its mother's life support, highlighting our innate dependence on the world before regeneration.

Now that I said before you as a definition or a working description of the world. Now, having done that and that was essential, as Albert Barnes said, as he who would expound the word must do so not under the impulse of a vivid imagination but under the discipline of mind prepared to give a reason for the meaning one attaches to biblical words and to convince the judgment of his hearers that those reasons are correct and that those judgments are correct. Well then, let us consider first of all then with this definition as our working tool, our native attachment to the world. There's one thing ...

22:59 - 24:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: but far be it from me to glory or to boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which I have obtained the forgiveness of my sins and the hope of everlasting life

Describes how the cross of Christ makes the world as unattractive and repulsive to the believer as a decaying corpse being pecked by buzzards, illustrating the radical shift in perspective.

right with God the world has its standards principles of thought and action it is all of that is penetrated and controlled by malignant devilish moral forces and Paul says when I was brought into a saving appropriation of the virtue of the death of Christ the world was crucified to me in other words that cosmos under the control of the devil with men's devilish thoughts of how to be right with God with men's devilish thoughts of how to find acceptance with God with men's devilish standards of how to please one another that world system became to me as attractive as virtuous as desirable attend...

38:31 - 40:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: but far be it from me to glory or to boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which I have obtained the forgiveness of my sins and the hope of everlasting life

Contrasts the biblical view of the crucified world with the common perception of the world as a desirable companion whose approval is sought, highlighting the ongoing struggle against worldliness.

as desirable and attractive a companion to me as an ugly dead stinking bloating body hanging on a cross with the vultures and the buzzards plucking its flesh you say alright Pastor Martin is enough enough I had supper two hours ago I don't want to puke God have mercy if I got a little more graphic some of you might puke up your supper but you've never puked up the world the world to you is still a handsome striking fellow his slightest glance makes your heart beat and go pitter patter a stroke of its hand makes you glow for a day you'll sell your soul to hell forever to have his smile the worl...

40:00 - 41:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Believers must believe it is crucial to fight against worldliness with all their being.

Uses the example of Christians compromising sexual standards to gain peer acceptance or avoid the frown of worldlings as a manifestation of remaining worldliness.

to us the reality is that part of our remaining sin finds expression in the remnants of worldliness that is the desire to have the approval of those who are doing what living by the standards and goals and principles of thought and action which are penetrated and controlled by malignant devilish moral forces and so we are tempted for the saving of face we are tempted for the sake of peer acceptance we are tempted for economic advancement to conform to the world's standards of ethics our yay is not quite yay in a business deal our yay is not quite yay in a personal relationship where we may inc...

53:14 - 54:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Friendship with the world makes one an enemy of God and guilty of spiritual adultery.

Illustrates spiritual adultery with teenagers conforming to worldly hairstyles, clothing, and music lyrics, fearing mockery more than God's displeasure.

do I really believe what James says what vivid language he says in James 4 4 don't you know that whosoever would be a friend of the world makes himself the enemy of God not only his friendship with the world a form of expressing enmity to God but if you read earlier he uses another imagery drawn out of rich Old Testament perspectives he says in verse 4 you adulteresses don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God when you curry the favor of the world you are guilty of spiritual adultery why Christ died as the heavenly bride groomed to have a chaste and spotless bride whos...

56:12 - 57:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Young people should use their single state to soak up their Bibles and God's Word, rather than conforming to the world's mold.

Pastor Martin shares his personal experience of wearing out a Thompson chain reference Bible and memorizing passages in his youth, emphasizing the importance of using God-ordained means (the Word) to conquer worldliness.

are the standards for personal dress and appearance and the use of TV and what movies I do or do not watch if I watch any what TV programs I watch or don't watch where I go and will not go it is a matter of I'm jealous to have a virgin's heart for my blessed savior who loved me and died for me you better believe it's crucial or you'll never fight secondly you must use every God ordained means to conquer worldliness I commend Pastor Bob's sermon on Romans 12 1 and 2 you must use every God ordained means be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind and what is t...

60:28 - 61:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Ministers must beware of anything rooted in the world's standards of success and avoid cutting corners on the offense of the cross.

The story of Demas, a fellow worker who forsook Paul because he loved this present age, serves as a stark warning against the subtle allurements of the world.

the present danger we all face from the world in my preparation my preacher brethren you know what text kept coming back to me Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present age think of it to have prayed with Paul labored with Paul at one point he calls him Demas my fellow worker read Hendrickson's commentary on 2nd Timothy 4.9 I don't have time to read it I brought it with me but it's so moving think of it Demas who knelt and prayed with Paul who heard him weep over his fellow countrymen the Jews who saw him with his tears staining the parchment when he wrote his pastoral letters Demas hat...

67:49 - 69:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of the 'itch for a demon' (D-Men) which may stem from worldly associations and standards of ministerial credibility rather than communion with Christ.

Critiques pastors seeking worldly markers of success like 'demon' (D-Men) awards, suggesting this stems from association with worldly standards rather than communion with Christ.

I don't understand I don't stand in judgment on any man because I know at least one or two sitting here and you brethren know me well enough to know I trust I am not speaking of you but frankly I don't understand wherever I go in pastor's conference every Tom, Dick and Harry is getting his demon getting an advance where they find the time I think they've allowed the world to influence them if on your letterhead you've got a demon give you a little more influence rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbi...

70:08 - 71:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Single men and women professing Christ must avoid worldly perspectives on marriage and seek biblical standards.

Warns single men and women against adopting worldly perspectives on marriage from magazines rather than the Bible, leading to bypassed opportunities and desperate choices.

Many, many, many a single man or woman professing the name of Christ has forsaken Christ because they got a worldly perspective on marriage. They got their standard from the ladies in the men's magazines. The body worship magazines. They didn't get them from the Bible.

72:43 - 73:05 Read in full sermon