I John 2:17

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:17

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

THE STUDY:

           This morning we need to look at the brief existence of worldly people, pleasures, and desires. If we place our interest in that which is here today and gone tomorrow, we reap a harvest of instability, stumbles in the darkness of sin and, because we have cast our lot with the world and face a similar end. “For this world in its present form is passing away” (I Cor. 7:31).

However, the child of God is secure, for he possesses eternal life. [Let me be sure you understand, this is not the teachings of “Eternal Security” but the teachings of a continual personal relationship with Christ. In this relationship we can have the promise of being one of God’s eternal children.] What a contrast! The person who loves the world soon passes away, “but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” John echoes Jesus’ words: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21; also I Peter 4:2). When the will of man is in harmony with the will of God, the Christian has fellowship with the Father and the Son that lasts forever ^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that our focus, interest, desires, and passion needs to be that of God! The world offers many things and there is nothing wrong with having these things. The problem arises when those worldly things supersede our relationship with Christ.  

CONCLUSION:

          I remember purchasing these nice chairs that went with the decor of the kitchen. They were these high bar stool chairs that were cast iron. My wife loved how they fit nicely up under the high counter top in the kitchen. My wife would not let our children sit on them and eat or drink anything. Living in the parsonage, we would have people over from time to time and they would bring their children. This would cause my wife to get a little nervous when it came time to eat. The kids would always want to eat at the counter.

          Long story short, those same chairs now sit down stairs in the basement. Over time those chairs have lost their value in my wife’s eyes. It wasn’t until my wife realized those chairs were becoming more to her than the will of God. She realized it was more important to build relationships than build a nicely decorated house.

          This morning, if there is any worldly things that may be taking the place of the Will of the Father, remove it and get things back in the order that was originally intended, God first, family, second, everything else third!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (272–273). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:16 (Part 3)

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:16 (Part 3)

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          John lists the third tendency in words that cannot be translated easily. Translators provide a number of equally valid versions. Here are some representatives:

“The pride of life” (KJV, NKJV, RSV)

“The boastful pride of life” (NASB)

“All the glamour of its life” (NEB)

“The life of empty show” (NAB)

“Pride in possessions” (ESV)

“The boasting of what [man] has and does” (NIV)

The reason for these numerous variations lies in two Greek words: “boast” and “life.” The first word means the boasting of a braggart or impostor (compare James 4:16). This boasting may even approach the point of arrogant violence. The second denotes life with respect to actions and possessions. The person who brags about his deeds and goods expresses “lust for advantage and status.”^[1]

          What I tend to find in a person who boast about what he or she has materially is a person who is insecure about themselves. They find their identity in the material things they have and fill or replace that which is missing inside their heart. As a believer we know what is missing; Jesus. Finding contentment in Christ fills the void that has been missing since the fall of man. We cannot replace that with the world. If we try to do this, John tells us we are not from the Father but ….. from the world.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding this morning that the void that has been in our hearts and lives for all these many years can only be filled with the original occupant, Jesus Christ. Nothing else will suffice.

CONCLUSION:

          Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid excesses of the flesh. Moody once illustrated this truth as follows: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to show that victory in the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but rather by being filled with the Spirit.

          My prayer for you today is that you not try and fill that void in your life with material things of this world but with the original occupant of that void, Jesus Christ!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (272). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:16 (Part 2)

View Video Blog Right Click Link:

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

           Friday we started into verse 16 and discussed the issue of the world. John reveals three aspects; cravings, lust, and boasting. Friday we addressed the issues of craving. Today we are going to look at lust. John writes, For all that is in the world …. the desires of the eyes, and brings out an issue that many don’t like to admit to or talk about; lust!

          The NIV translates this passage with the words “craving” and “lust” but in the Greek they are the same word. To help us better understand, the NIV translators decided to use different words to express Johns thoughts. Nothing wrong with this, it just needs to be mentioned.

John is speaking with the understanding that the world may look good and may tempt us to desire it instead of God but this is not the longing of God. It is not a sin to desire a nice house, car, better job, or a lot of money. Where the problem lies is the heart. When we desire these things “in our heart” more so than desiring a healthy relationship with God, we have a problem. As a matter of fact John says someone who desires what they see more so than desiring God is not from the Father. Remember, John is dealing with a group that believes in God but they also believe they have a “more excellent way” to spiritual things. This group was bent more toward the world than the ways of Jesus.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

What we can walk away with this morning is the understanding that the world may entice, intrigue, or even bait us into seeing good in it more so than seeing good in God. But let us never take our eyes off Jesus. Let us never forget how sin entered into the world, by Adam and Eve, and Satan tempting them with power and beauty, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Gen. 3:6)

CONCLUSION:

          This was a letter to Dear Abby: “Since I am a pastor with 43 years’ experience, I’d like to offer this suggestion to the inexperienced young minister who didn’t know how to handle a very bold woman in his congregation who had designs on him. “Whenever I noticed a romantic twinkle in the eye of a woman in my congregation, I always checked to make sure it wasn’t caused by a reflection from the gleam in my own. The Rev. Walter Cowen.”^[1]

          Let us be watchful of Satan’s temptations and keep our EYES ON JESUS!

         

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

I John 2:16 (Part 1)

View video blog right click Link: I John 2:16 (Part 1)

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          As John continues on with the idea regarding “the world” we see him pointing out three things; desires of the flesh (Craving), desires of the eyes (Lust), and pride in possessions (Boasting). John is not saying “all that is in the world” is not of God. The word “all” that is used here is a word that can exhibit a completely normal sense, or can signal a narrative style that reports a certain event with exaggeration.^[1] I would lean toward the understanding that John is exaggerating this point. We do this in our everyday talk. I am sure all of us have said, “Every time I go into that store they lower the prices!” Is it really, “EVERY TIME?” We say this to exaggerate out point. John is doing the same thing in this verse.

          This morning John talk to us about the “desire of the flesh” which can be summed up in one word; craving. God created us with cravings; for food, for fellowship, and for sex. None of this is wrong except when it is abused or when it supersedes our relationship with God. When it becomes “our god” and we worship it instead of the one true God, this is when we are walking down a slippery slope!

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• Today, let us walk away with the understanding that not everything in the world is bad, wrong, or evil! It is how we handle, deal with, and display these worldly things that make them “not from the Father.”

• We need to make sure we don’t fall into this trap that Satan has for us when it comes to the world. We are to be in the world just not of it.

CONCLUSION:

          With an unprecedented number of Americans out of work, a reporter visited the famous Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, Florida. This exclusive club has a membership of about thirty-five hundred, most of whom are millionaires or approaching it. On this day, the men had just returned from their yachts, tennis courts, and the links, and were ecstatic over the exotic buffet of expensive and colorful foods. When asked, “Is there a recession here?” a member replied, “I don’t know of anyone who has been laid off or anyone who is hungry. That isn’t part of our world.”

          Today, don’t try and have Jesus live in your “world” (abusing what is good)! Jesus wants for us to live in His world (everything is good)! AMEN!     

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 3: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (48). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.

I John 2:15

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:15

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.

THE STUDY:

           As first glance we read this verse and we think “I am all for this!” But after letting it sink in for a period of time we might be asking ourselves this question, “What does John mean by THE WORLD?” All three instances in this verse are found to be the same Greek Word. That word is defined as referring to the present world, which was created by God through the Logos, but which is now alienated from him^[1] We see a parallel between the words of John and those of James, “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).^[2]

          The word love that John employs is the same term he uses in verse 10 where he speaks about the person who loves his brother. The love which he has in mind is that of attachment, intimate fellowship, loyal devotion. It is the love which God demands in the summary of the law: “Love the Lord your God … and love your neighbor as yourself.”

John directs his warning to those people who already have switched allegiance and are now giving their undivided attention to the affairs of the world. He tells them to stop loving the world and to desist from pursuing their worldly interests. He is not talking about a single incident but about a lifestyle.^[3]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with this thought this morning; let our love for God be a lifestyle not a love for worldly things. There is nothing wrong with wanting a nice house, car, motorcycle, retirement home, or to plan a vacation. All of these things were created by God. When it becomes detestable to God is when those very things take the place of God or become more important to us than our relationship with Him.  

CONCLUSION:

Story from another pastor:

          I had a friend who once made a covenant with me to tithe ten percent of his income every year. He didn’t have much money. But things started too changed for him as we prayed. The layman tithed one thousand dollars the year he earned ten thousand, ten thousand dollars the year he earned one-hundred thousand, and one- hundred thousand dollars the year he earned one million. But the year he earned six million dollars he just could not bring himself to write out that check for six-hundred thousand dollars to the Church. 

He called me, long since having moved to another church, and asked to see him. Walking into my office he begged me to let him out of the covenant, saying, "This tithing business has to stop. It was fine when my tithe was one thousand dollars, but I just cannot afford six-hundred thousand dollars. You’ve got to do something, Pastor!" I knelt on the floor and prayed silently for a long time. Eventually the man said, "What are you doing? Are you praying that God will let me out of the covenant to tithe?" "No," said the minister. "I am praying for God to reduce your income back to the level where one thousand dollars will be your tithe!"

Church, don’t let anything come between you and God! If there is anything that God has revealed to you this morning that may be before God on your priority list remove it and ask for God to forgive you. Get things right so the right things get priority. AMEN

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 2: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (311). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (269–270). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (270). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:14 (Part 2)

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:14 (Part 2)

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

THE STUDY:

          Just a reminder that John is writing in regards to a group called the Gnostics, whose philosophy is infiltrating the Christian beliefs. John addresses this issue and now is praising the people for their obedience toward God. He covers the entire people of God by calling them “Children” then speaks more specifically to the “fathers” (the elders of the community) and then the “young men.”

          He praises the young men in this passage in three aspects; being strong, abiding in the word, and having overcome the evil one. As you may remember, John addressed the fact that the young men have overcome the evil one. But, in this verse he adds two more things that we are going to look at this morning.

          John states that these young men are strong. Many of us would assume he is talking about their physical abilities. This may be so but most scholars believe he was talking about their spiritual strength and that they have overcome the evil one. I look at it this way, John states that these young men are strong in their faith and this is due to the fact that they abide in the word. The word “abide” means to remain or stay which gives us the impression they have been walking with God for a long time. These young men may be young in age but they were not young in their walk with God. All of this, being strong and abiding in the word, leads to the ability to overcome the evil one.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with this in mind; it is not a matter of age, position, abilities, gifts, or anything else. Pursue God in everything you do, stay in his word, and you will have VICTORY over the evil one. God’s desire is for us to walk with him and if this is His desire then He will provide a way to accomplish it. Jesus is the way God has provided for us to accomplish victory over the evil one and sin.

CONCLUSION:

          A military strategist said that battles are won before they are fought. That was his way of saying that victory depends on prior preparation. One general called it “Making a good ready.” The same principles apply in spiritual warfare. God in Christ has made all necessary prior preparation in effecting His eternal purpose of redemption to give us victory over sin.

          Sometime ago I was told that at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary a poll was taken among the students to discover the most popular hymns. “Victory in Jesus” was first and “Amazing Grace” was second. This is an interesting combination. Amid our turbulent times Christians long for assurance of victory over evil forces that plague us. We find that assurance in Jesus—His victory and ours through Him. God’s amazing grace made those victories possible and available.

          Church, let us live this day knowing the VICTORY is ours. It is found in Jesus!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

I John 2:14 (Part 1)

View Video Blog right click Link: I John 2:14 (Part 1)

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

THE STUDY:

          In this verse we have addressed the reasoning for some translators to put the end of verse 13 (ESV) at the beginning of verse 14 (NRSV). Whatever the case may be we still need to look at why John was compelled to repeat this section of scripture. As a minister I use a communication technique that involves repeating main points for emphasis. I would expound on three or four points and then at the end, repeat them. This is to help imbed the points into the mind of the hearer. John could possibly be trying to accomplish this when he repeats because you know him who is from the beginning.

          If this be the case then we need to take another look at what John is repeating. One scholar believes the repetition discloses the seriousness of the author’s appeal; that is, the fathers cannot afford to relax the process of their spiritual growth.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• This morning, the one thing we can walk away with is that we should not relax when it comes to our spiritual growth. I have heard some people say that once you are sanctified, you have arrived. This is not the case! We, as believers in Jesus, need to remember that our relationship with him is always developing. The moment this development stops, is when we have entered into the place Jesus went to prepare for us, Heaven. Let us keep seeking more of Jesus; his ways, his truths, and his character.

CONCLUSION:

          Whether one is a new Christian, a babe in Christ, or a Christian who has sinned and found forgiveness, we must put a comma and not a period at the end of one’s experience. The road of living for Christ still lies ahead. There are difficult hills to climb. Pitfalls await us. Dangers lurk on every hand. There are roaring streams to be crossed. Other crisis, temptations, and trials are to be faced. So more than ever we need the Lord’s help.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (268). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.