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I JOHN 2:15-17

I. "LOVE NOT THE WORLD."
        A. What is meant by world.
                1. Not material universe.
                        a. It is God's beautiful creation.
                        b. It testifies to us of God.
                2. It is that world system that is in rebellion against God.
                        a. That system that exhalts man.
                        b. That creates vertical categories for man that puts one over another.
        B. "Things in the world."
                1. Not referring to natural beauties that God created.
                        a. They too testify to us of God.
                2. These are the material possessions.
        C. Agape is the word for pre-eminent love.
                1. Love for things in world should never be the pre-eminent love of your life.
        D. Satan is a        er.
                1. He changes even the good to evil use.
                        a. Changed the glory of an incorruptible God.
                        b. Changed the natural use into that which is against nature.
        E. Worldliness is an attitude of the heart.
                1. Longing for and living after the flesh.

II. "HE THAT LOVETH THE WORLD HATH NOT THE LOVE OF THE FATHER."
        A. No man can serve two masters.
                1. You cannot have two pre-eminent loves in your life.
                2. Our love for God must be pre-eminent.

Ill. "ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD."
        A. Lust of the flesh.
                1. That seeking to satisfy our fleshly desires.
                2. These desires can control our lives.
                        a. They can cloud our judgment.
                        b. Destroy our value systems.
        B. Lust of the eyes.
                1. Jesus talked about looking at a woman and lusting after her.
                2. We often look at other things with strong desire, Material possessions.
        C. The pride of life.
                1. My desire to be known by men.
                2. My desire to be praised by men.
                3. Be as God, toreceive praise of men.
                4. The desire to be worshipped.
        D. These are the areas where satan concentrates his attacks.
                1. Eve in garden.
                        a. Fruit was beautiful to look upon.
                        b. Pleasant to eat.
                        c. Make her at God.
                2. Christ.
                        a. Bread from stone - satisfy hunger.
                        b. Kingdoms of world, "glory of them."
                        c. Pride of life.
        E. The unholy concert against the believer.
                1. World.
                2. Flesh.
                3. Devil.

Ill. THE PASSING AND THE PERMANENT.
        A. "The world passes away and the desires."
        B. He who does the will of God abides forever.