(Phil. 2:15 - “That you may become blameless and
harmless, children of God, without fault, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world.”)
(Rom. 1:24-32 - “Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their
bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God
for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this
reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their
women exchanged the natural use for what is against
nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with
men committing what is shameful, and receiving in
themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things
which are not fitting: being filled with all
unrighterousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters,
haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy,
unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the
righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also
approve of those who practice them.”)
We live in a sick society.
A. It is based on secular values which are generally
not even related to Christian values.
B. It is not just part of society...but society at every
level.
1. It affects the rich and the poor.
2. It cuts across all ethnic lines.
3. It pervades families.
a. Every aspect of society is affected by
these warped and ungodly standards and
values.
C. We are all touched, on a regular basis with the
things of this world.
1. There is a decline of honesty and integrity.
a. There is cheating in the classroom and on
the job.
b. There is ongoing fraud and theft in
business and also between individuals.
2. Vulgarity, obscenity, and profanity have
become the norm and watch out if you object
to the filth that people will subject your ears
to.
a. Tastes and manners have become coarse
and crude.
1.) Language and humor: centers on
the crude, vulgar, and dirty-minded.
2.) There is pornography on the T.V.,
Internet, and at the check-outstands
of our local grocery stores.
3.) Illicit sex is not bad enough...there
are all kinds of perversions (which
are a shame to even speak of) that
are becoming more popular by the
day.
3. Materialism and greed have probably never
run at such a high level.
a. Money has become a god to most people
who live today.
b. Families are destroyed in the mad dash
to amass more and more.
4. There is substance abuse as there has never
been substance abuse before.
a. In our society today, it is ABNORMAL
to run into somebody that DOESN’T
abuse some drug...I.E. alcohol, over-
the-counter meds., prescription drugs,
and dope of all forms (sniffing, pot,
crack cocaine, cocaine, meth.,... and the
list goes on.)
1.) The body is abused and the family
is abused on a daily basis.
4. Marriage and the family unit are totally
perverted.
a. Right has been called wrong and wrong
has been called normal.
1.) The basic unit of society...the
family, with mom and dad and
children (all with the same last
name) is considered an extinct
species.
2.) If the family does have a mom
and dad, they are too busy chasing
the elusive idol, called the “Great
American Dream” to even care that
their children are headed for
spiritual and societal disaster.
5. There is injustice and oppression at everyturn.
a. The weak and the disadvantaged are
taken advantage of and trodden under
foot by those climbing the ladder.
6. Sexual promiscuity has taken over.
a. The noblest physical pleasure that was
reserved for the marriage bed has been
cheapened and made common and dirty.
1.) We see pre-marital and extra-
marital sex; teen sex; immodest
clothing; prostitution (and yet...I
think that some of the sexual
patterns of society may make
prostitution extinct);
perverted homosexuality and
pedophilia (what a cute
` euphemism); and incest...TO
NAME BUT A FEW!
7. On top of all this (and sometimes intertwined
in all this) is the crime and violence of this
society.
a. Our jails and prisons are full and over-
flowing and the only solution for it all
is to build more jails and prisons.
1.) We are not safe in our own persons
any more and if we really knew
what was out-and-about...wewould
have a tendency to live in sheer
terror (if we didn’t look to and
trust in God).
As each day...each month...each year, go by...this world
plunges to new lows of wickedness.
A. As a Christian, we probably would like to leave
this world or at least find a nice quiet place far
away from this wickedness which vexes our souls.
1. We know, however, that we cannot do this if
we are going to have any impact, at all, on this
society for Christ.
(John 17:15-17 - “I do not pray that You should take them
out of the world, but that You should keep them from the
evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into
the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, THAT
THEY ALSO MAY BE SANCTIFIED BY THE
TRUTH.”)
So why am I telling you all this? Do I just want to make
you miserable?
A. I tell you this for several reasons.
1. That we would not start to be assimilated by
by this wicked world that we live in.
a. Christians are bringing this garbage into
their lives and ultimately...into the
Church!!!!!
2. I relate all of these horrible truths so that we
might realize the desperate plight of this
world that we live in and feel a burden
NOW!
3. I relate these things so that a Christian might
map a course...or plan...of how to deal with
and live in this present wicked world on a
day-to-day and month-to-month basis.
I. We cannot and must not become assimilated into this
present, wicked world.
(Eph. 5:15-17 - “See then that you walk carefully, not as
fools but as wise, redeeming the time, BECAUSE THE
DAYS ARE EVIL. Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of the Lord is.”)
A. It is so easy to “get used to” the wickedness that
is around us.
1. It doesn’t take too long before we hear
Christians say, “I don’t see what’s so bad
about that!”
(I Tim. 6:11-12 - “But you, O man of God, flee these things
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, to which you were also called and have
confessed the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses.”
B. We MUST KEEP THE BIBLE AS THE
STANDARD!
1. This cannot be a “watered down” or
adapted version of the Bible.
a. We need to confront our desires,
thoughts, and actions...examining
whether we have bought in to worldly
standards and reasons.
1.) It is so important that the men
listen to others who raise
objections to what they allow...
especially he needs to listen to
his wife when she thinks
that something is wrong.
(II Cor. 13:5 - “Examine yourselves as to whether you are
in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves,
that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are
disqualified.”)
C. We must keep the standards of God...not only for
our own spiritual well-being...but also as an
example and light to a wicked and dying world.
(I Peter 2:11-12 - “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the
soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles.,
that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by
your good works which they observe, glorify God in the
day of visitation.”)
II. We need to understand how bad it is and get a
urgent feeling for the people in this world.
(Matt. 24:37-38 - “But as the days of Noah were, so also
will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days
before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the
ark.”)
A. The world is so much closer to the coming of
Christ than it has ever been.
1. We don’t have the luxury of waiting for a
better time or talking to a more receptive
person.
(Eph. 5:16-17 - “Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the
will of the Lord is.”)
a. The times are getting worse and so are
the people.
1.) There will come a day when no-
one will listen (just as in the days
of Noah).
a.) We need to act now...before
the eternal night falls.
(John 9:4 - “I must work the works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
B. With the charge that Christ has made to us, will
we escape a punishment if we either are
assimilated by this world, or stand idly by while
we hold the solution in our hand?
(Heb. 2:3 - “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”)
** What does “neglecting so great a salvation” fully mean?
a. Does it refer to our salvation or their salvation or
both salvation’s?
1. If we adopt the things of this world...and
defend them...and attack all who would
point out the wickedness...THEN WE HAVE
BECOME THE WORLD!
a. It doesn’t really matter that one attend
services...sings loudly...takes the loaf
and cup...gives to the work.
1.) If one absorbs the world’s
standards and pleasures...one is
really of the world and not of
Christ.
III. All of us...collectively and individually, need to map
a course for our lives.
A. This course will...of necessity...be different from
so many around us.
1. Our course should be set and checked by the
the compass of the complete word of God.
a. We need to study the Word of God on
a very regular basis and in depth.
b. The preached Word also needs to move
us.
1.) And when it does, we need to
move...CHANGE!
c. Along with our prayer and meditation,
should come some strong convictions.
1.) These convictions will deal with
the temptations of the world that
will constantly beat against our
resolve.
** No person...ABSOLUTELY NO PERSON ...will long
endure without these steps being taken.
CONCLUSION:
This is all a two-fold problem:
A. Knowing, caring, being excited about the danger
that the world around us is in.
1. A sense of urgency needs to be developed in
every Christian.
a. The world is going over the brink and
only we can make a difference.
B. The second part of the problem, however, is that
we must make sure that we don’t go over the brink
with them because we got too close to that which
was pulling them.
1. Our attitude towards the alluring things of
satan must never change.
a. Time nor circumstance do not change the
danger.
1.) The danger is real for the people
of the world.
2.) The danger is real for us, as well.
** No one is immune to the forces of this wicked world.
1. No one has escaped satans designs.
We must work...and we must work now....but we must also
be alert...careful...lest we also should be destroyed by a
love for the things of this world.
