God's People Must Overcome Worldliness (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
Introduction:
1. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul mentioned several responsibilities that Timothy had to fulfill to be a good soldier of the Lord. 2. Our lesson is based on one responsibility that is revealed in vs.4 -- "no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life." 3. In other words, "God's people must overcome worldliness." 4. Let us first consider some . . .
Discussion:
I. REASONS WHY WE MUST OVERCOME WORLDLINESS
A. God's people must overcome worldliness because the Bible teaches us to do so. 1. (Romans 12:2) We are not to be "conformed to this world." 2. (Titus 2:11-12) God's grace teaches us to deny "worldly lusts." B. God's people must overcome worldliness because our relationship with the world determines certain things, including: 1. our spiritual allegiance a. Jesus said, "I am not of this world" (John 8:23). b. Satan is described as "the prince of this world" (John 12:31). c. Our relationship with the world determines whether our allegiance is to Christ or the devil. 2. our ability to bear fruit a. (John 15:8) We glorify God when we bear much fruit. b. (Matthew 13:22) "The care of this world" will cause us to be unfruitful. c. Our relationship with the world will affect our ability to bear fruit. 3. the kind of religion we practice. a. Part of pure religion is to remain "unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). b. Our relationship with the world will determine whether we practice the kind of religion that pleases God. C. Now that we understand why we must overcome worldliness, let us turn our attention to several Scriptures that teach us . . .
II. HOW TO OVERCOME WORLDLINESS
A. We must put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13). B. We must have our affections in the proper place (Colossians 3:1-2). C. We must not become friends of the world (James 4:4). D. We must not love the world or the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15-17). E. We must follow the Lord's example. 1. Jesus said, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 2. With the Lord's help we can overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5).
Conclusion:
1. The Bible teaches in Galatians 1:4 that Jesus "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world." 2. We learn from Galatians 3:26-27 how and when the Lord saves us and delivers us from this present evil world. 3. When the Lord saves us He does not want us to be like people in the world. 4. Our speech, dress, conduct, habits, desires, and what we do for entertainment are not to be "worldly." 5. As soldiers in the Lord's army we are to be different (1 Peter 2:9). 6. (2 Timothy 2:3) As a result of being different from the world we may have to "endure hardness." 7. However, we must remember that our mission is please Him who has chosen us to be soldiers (2 Timothy 2:4).
