Practicing the Word, p.2

Read your Bibles.

Let's go to James again. I got halfway through this last time we were together will finish it tonight. Were talking about practicing the word.

I love James is hard. He's he's passionate about the things in his church and he's practical about what's going on and what needs to change what they start happening and just about living out our Christian life as it ought to be lived in the fact that we are all we can struggle and stumble and fall in James City exhorts the folks that he's coming out of a obviously he's riding out of a legalistic context.

The folksy pastor are converted Jews and so they naturally bring in outward religious observance into their Christian thinking and there's some good in that in that there some discipline in their lives, but the bad part is they would wrongly supplant true spiritual heart Christianity, which is putting on some outward rules and observances of religion. There's a balance here inward heart Christianity has outward conduct of course, but we don't put our faith in the outward conduct we don't trust in our capacity to do outward conduct he got safe as just a I a preliminary strike here tonight really be careful judging somebody spirituality because outwardly they may struggle in an area or two or three that you just it's easy for you.

Some of you grew up and maybe some very discipline structured hopefully spiritual environment send up to some good disciplines in your life. And so there some outward ugly things that just never show up in your life. This is another brother or sister, and I think you get my mind always goes to and I forgot who the lady is but a young lady who said her earliest childhood memory was being in an infant child sitting on the floor while her parents and others she didn't know were passed out from drugs and alcohol all around her and she was raised up in the kind of abuse. Very few of us can comprehend that. She comes to Christ, and she has the kind of struggled you don't know about, but she may from her heart love Christ just as much you love Christ so my point is, as as James is dealing with outward stuff and disciplines is good stuff. For all of us, but we gotta be careful what we always want to look for is that spirit of human ability that spirit of teachability that spirit of repentance and wanting to grow from wherever God found them to get a human right. There and were going to put our arms around that kind of person and love that person and by the way, when you pastor a church you know you get a lot sloppy sheep. You get a lot of difficult sheep. You get a lot of folks would just stuff their working to pay out one of those and we just have to love each other and go on and race him saying all this is, as I study through this.

I thought about Jeff Venable than I thought about my own past. I thought about my teaching going almost 4 decades back, and how I would be more balanced in my teaching now are the and if I knew what I know now that you can only grow and repent and learn. Amen. Solicit look at it together practicing the word Jason 122 through 27. James says in verse 22 chapter 1, but prove yourself doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves that is make a miscalculation about yourself verse 23 for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer. He's like a man who looks at his natural face in the mirror for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was the one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does that hears new material. Verse 26 if anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart this man's religion is worthless, pure and undefiled religion inside of our God and Father is this the visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself not untouched but unstained by the world. We've Artie talked about under practicing work. The word of the exhortation.

He says in verse 22. Keep on being doers of the word. Make it your discipline purpose. Your continual pattern to be a person that's his Lord, what can I repent. What can I change is my thinking out of balance.

Here is my thinking not lining up the Scripture here. What behavior in my life, wanting to begin working on be a continual keep on being a doer of the word not just thinking that sitting under the preaching of the word, I might be going to the motions of your morning quiet time is it now is your heart in it. That's the question is, your heart sing on to be a doer of the word what I talked about. So not only Victor Tatian but secondly, the exercise and that is there is should be an examination of our hearts. We said don't be like a man that looks in the mirror and forgets what he sees. Examine yourself under the ministry of the word and then we talked about not only examination but restoration as you examine you you you are in the process. Actually, the continual process of restoring yourself back to intimacy with God back to communion and union with your Lord and the one you love and treasure more than anything or anyone else, then thirdly that leads to transformation our lives are continually being transformed into the image of Christ. By this process of examination seeing where we are.

Did the repentance, restoration, and then through a process of time, our last become a transformation. We should be more like Christ today than we were yesterday and continuing on in that certification process now is go to new material, right quick. The evidence, the evidence that would be III if you're if you Q3 for keeping notes so there was the expectation to doing the word, there's the exercise do the work. Now the evidence that you are one whose living a life of doing the were not really hearing. He says that there verse 26 if anyone thinks himself to be religious.

Now, in this context.

I'm confident James being a converted you preaching to our pastoring. I should say all those who came out of Judaism to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he's talking to about these folks to if you think your religion consist in just the external observance, but your heart's not changing enough to change.

You told in your life isn't changing enough to change how you live your life so that you're still marked in stained by the world and your religions worship worthless and and you can go all over the world today and you will see this. There are folks all over the world who are unbelievably faithful and discipline to the outward observance of whatever their religion is they'll go see the pre-snuggle see the Bishop to go to confession. They'll still take the sacraments don't like the candle. The do the right things on the right days at the right times and say the right word to repeat the right prayers its objects external observance. James is a good thing. That is what makes up your religion, your to now certainly, those of us who who know the truth understand that there are some outward things we all do we all try to attend church faithfully we all try to come to church ready to be an expository listener. We all try to come and be faithful what ties and offerings. We all come and take the Lord's table. Together we all come in will become the believable Lord Jesus Christ were baptized etc. etc. there are things we do outwardly.

Of course, those are proper and right. But if anyone thinks himself to be religious that is that you are pleasing to God because she got the outward stuff down not really anything else than your deceived you have become one who is, well, you just simply says in verse 26 you deceived your own heart. Now the flesh loves that kind of religion I'm confident that if I were lost and decided I need to be religious I become a Roman Catholic. I just think it's a neat system for lost me. I don't mean that ugly but then again the Batna system is pretty fun for lost man in the charismatic systems could be pretty fun for lost time. And they've all got systems, you can just can't get lost in. And,.the eyes and cross the teasing jump to the router troops in feel pretty good about it.

But James is bull that's deceiving yourself. All of these things that we do it in our outward obedience and worship are important and they should not be neglected, but to have pure and genuine, and a true heart and a right spirit and then observe the outward observance is out of that true heart. That's what were really looking for. Now he's he gets a test he gives that and will talk about the evidence is here he gives an evidence that you're more than just going through the outward motions of empty religion. What's first thing to talk about talks about what I'm going to call it. I'd been called a sub point a an outline and that is language or your tongue. If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart this man's religion is worthless.

Know why of all things would pick the tone because everyone of your guilty of it. And so, in my is not a one of us can go back several days as a man, perfect with my tongue never was sharp never had an age never was ugly never said anything that was hateful or angry etc. etc. etc. etc. no we all know we struggle there but but the man who is really religious. The man who has truly been born again. The man who is truly of the spirit finds himself on a lately. It's a slow incline of seeing his speech changes. God changed. I know there was a clear change in my life and my speech when I became a Christian now folks, it's not perfect, and by the way this it just get rid dirty words would be nice if he does not say seven words and say on my speech is good now plays got a burger. Now I will write to have an Otto cycle seven dirty words anymore and I'm not sure I could think up. Seven. Don't you try, you can be the kindest Christian lady in the church and have never used.

None of them dirty words have the most vicious tone in the church.

You know what comes out of your old gossip and knows the heart of horny as we all struggle there but the man of God, the woman of God repents thereto, are you hearing me. He wants to fight there.

He wants to because seeing Jesus and what comes out of the tongue come from the heart when we don't want to just fight with our talk. We want to fight with her heart before it gets to the tone and so we want to be in a process and a pattern of working to control the tongue and he said the only kind of human being that makes any decent progress of controlling the tongue are those who have the new parts from the new birth. Are you hearing the church. I've heard I've seen it a million times over when I've seen the couples where the. The wife was a Christian and she'd pray for her husband to come to church and others would pray and he would get wonderfully converted in sheet so you know he talks to be different than he did before. Not perfect. None of us are going to be first there but the tongue. Your language is an expression of the condition of your heart. We need to wall our tongues a lot. Discretionary speech is more valuable and more important than eloquent speak not pick on our president a lot because I was she'd showed up sometime. He's like Jeff now that he gets to me opportunities to talk and I say things I shouldn't say that sometimes happy to tell you. I should've said that Stan that temptation. However, just because he screwed in and forceful and strong in his speech and maybe not as presidential as we would like. I don't know that that's worse than these slick tongue, eloquent, pompous ones who speak so on.

At such a high level yet their hearts are wicked and what they actually do is beyond wicked, sometimes crude plane talks better for the folks than eloquent deceptive talk but above and beyond anything discipline the speech. Discretionary speech is far more holy than eloquent speech. It came to my mind that we there's evangelist we had years ago by the name of Sam Villaume & Kathy some of you Sam. Kathy was an Arkansas cowboy, but he loved the bird-dog can't love the burden on the bird dogs and I'll never forget him talking about how he taught his bird-dog. He said I put a rope around my waist going about 30 fit not put on that dog and I find some that dog would just love to chase after he said I let it take all full speed.

He said I hold myself and right when he gets to the end of the rope are going well and he woes just flips all the way backwards well as a child of God. God to is you and me you did get a will will your tongue sometime just stopped just stopped now preaching duck to Jeff this evening, but I'm preaching to you to.

He said all only J what James is pointing out is you. You can you can do all the outward observances of religion. If you're not one whose winning the fight in your heart and controlling your speech, maybe not perfectly, but that's not the pattern of your life, then your religion is useless. We need the fruit of the spirit language in our lives. Proverbs 1728 reminds us that even a fool when he keeps silent, is considered wise. Did you hear that even a fool. When you keep silence. Consider wives when he closes his ellipses counted prudent so once it is better to keep your mouth shut. Be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it. Everybody he says watch your language strive that your language and I think in the context he talking to a local church family. Are you sweet one another. Are you kind one through your lips speak of forgiveness to one another dear lips have atoned the forbearance of one another through your lips carried the communication of selflessness one toward the other dear lips speak generously one toward another. Is it not beautiful and wonderful that like in my life. You go from total complete worldliness, but my values, my goals, my everything, was the world to come in Christ income into a church and now everything about me is focused toward the church and is true of you to this is the kind of change.

James is out to be evident in a true child of God. Nellis go to the second one not only our language is a good evidence and again. Now don't put do I not in and on the here just beat you up. I'm not talking about you bring some perfect plane I'm talking about. There's a steady sanctification in your language and then your learning of how to use your language to glorify God and edify others. Secondly, let's talk about love being in our outline.

Love is a is an evidence of true religion. Verse 27 pure and undefiled religion the side of our God and father resist to visit orphans and widows in their distress, orphans and widows in their distress. The word visit here is the common word for visiting the needy. So he said he says here real, religion is when you have a real heart to minister and care for those in your church family hormones needing of charity. A lot of folks can take care of yourselves, not a fact even the apostle Paul, in another setting, says if there's some if there's a widow and she's got a family like that family take care of her.

Don't put her on the list but generally speaking, especially in this day and time. They did have the social ministries we did not have that we have today. Didn't have the government agencies to support those we have today and an orphan and a window were in a place where they would really suffer and I can tell you I will and you know the one thing that we have not done a grace life and it's become a big thing… Become a new movement in the church to be mission only go out and do the social things were people but our folks in our church have done a lot of things a lot of ministries for people. We just don't slide as a banner to something we do is we can do it. We week we worked on some some homes during the flood of some of those homes we had during the flood work are church members and that's always to be our priority, but there were some neighbors that we helped at the same time we ought to try to do those things we don't slide as a banner, you probably know, about 98 Cindy did know about that till I just said it just now, but he's saying when God has changed your heart, you have a love and especially our love starts with the most truly needy in your local church family I might affect.

The Bible says in Galatians 610 so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men words as you go along your way and somebody's generally hurting.

Try to help them if you can. Then he continues on, listen to the balance and especially to those who are of the household of the faith that I have this a surprise you but I have an obsessive personality know what you giggling about which you want the man that cares for your soul to be pretty obsessive about and I guarantee and when I would reverse is like that early on in my Christianity, and I would look at the world and there are so many needs out there. You could literally kill yourself, how can I meet all those things but that's what we have this beautiful balance as you have opportunity help folks, but especially to those of the house of the faith as I like to say in the figurative language when you join the church. He took a wife, you committed yourself to a a body to care for and serve. And that's what James is bringing out here just going to the ceremonial rituals of the local church are your old Judaism is not going to do you love your brothers and sisters which will always be evidenced by your willingness to take care of those who are hurting and I just have to commend you and just say, praise the Lord for you because ever there's been a need arise.

Somebody went through something terrible, something catastrophic.

I'm telling you folks have just risen to the occasion. It just God's truth you done it you just serve and care.

Matter fact, there was a family that time actually that used to go to church here years ago and they heard this is some time ago. Now they heard that Tom a family or two had a unique need in the in the church and they said whether grace life army to be on that you watch and see.

That was that the grace life arm and you know what the grace life army was on it and those people were minister to the needs were met. So I'm not suggesting that you and I have have finished the course on how to love one another. I am saying this that loving your brothers and sisters from your heart is evidence that you got the real thing.

If you can glide through this church and coast through this church and have no real feeling in your heart of I love those folks and I want to care for those folks look you can care for the whole church but you can care for your small group and that's why will organize a be overwhelming to just throw you out there, Sarai, we got almost a thousand people take care of everybody. We can organize in small groups and we can truly live out the reality of what James is saying is true religion that love and service and ministry. One to another.

So the point is, again, the regenerate heart has the heart of Jesus and Jesus.

Does he not have a special heart for those he saved, bought only go to down far down this trite but here somewhere. Sound theology just kinda fixes stuffing hips.

You know the balance and stuff if you understand and grasp something of particular redemption and I prefix all this thoroughly in my series on the eight strands, unbreakable strands of of sovereign grace. If you understand particular redemption, that is, while God loves all in a sense Jesus died for all, the Bible holds out there was a special and unique and fuller love in his death for the elect for those he would say. Consequently, Christ is in us and we love all men. It would help all men, but we have a special love. A more devoted love for those of the faith those who are the elect call a lot of things are called the elect are predestined. Whoever they are, but nevertheless our love is greater there.

James says your love for your church is the evidence of a heart that has the that the marks of true religion and it Romans 14 verse 15 he talks about Paul talks about in Romans 14 how he wouldn't eat food and and and cause a brother for whom Christ died to stumble, he's talk about loving one another by the way, the whole concept of some of this out there today that tough ball were flying our banner of liberty we have liberty to do this now in Jesus we got a banner to. Here's what you have your liberty to love and when you love your brothers and sisters. You gladly give up a liberty if it might cause a brother or sister to stumble. He said that's the kind of love will to be looking for in our hearts.

Churches never fly their liberties. Churches fly the banner of their love one for another of first Corinthians 811. He says he talks again about causing the brother for whom Christ died to violate his own conscience. Another words are not going do anything to cause another brother to violate his own conscience, that he might be immature is conscious might be ill-informed.

He's not writing this decision, but until he grossly that I'm not them do something in front of him are as an example for him to cause him to do the same behavior and cause him to stumble and violate his conscience. Again, the concept here is love for one another.

John 1335. All men will know you're my disciples because you hold the sound doctrine.

No, that's important. That's essential all men will know you're my disciples by the love you have for the world. No, we do love the world, all men will know you're my disciples by the love you have for one another, because look increasingly so as our culture becomes secular and godless, will be seen as the scourge of society, but all been 10 across disciples because even though other say were worthless. But the problem by troublemakers. We really love each other we love the church while the world hates the church so our language as where on an incline of sanctification and using our language to bless and encourage and love and be gentle and be forgiving, etc. etc. that shows we have true religion in our hearts the true new birth in our hearts as we live a life of love and we want to love our brothers and sisters and care for them, orphans and widows especially are whoever it might be that has the special need in the church heart just goes there wants to help.

He said that's an evidence of true religion, not just the outward observance and then thirdly lifestyle. In this overlaps the other two, but it goes a little further to see in our outline will be last of verse 27. The last part. He says and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

You gotta be careful with this because you can't keep yourself untouched by the world but you can avoid wearing the worlds colors you can avoid bearing the stain of the world, literally.

It's a it's a present tense verbal expression.

It says keep on keeping yourself on studying another words you just don't quit this fight. It never ends about the time you think think I'm doing good in this area. God opened your understanding, you realize, is another area that you're completely immersed in it. He got a repeat there and start fighting over there. It's a viewpoint it's an attitude it's a it's it's a disposition that's just not pleasing to look, I mean we are continually striving to keep our sales from being marked by the world are marked as a worldly one, not some years ago. This is becoming more more commonplace was an article in a bad this paper on the bar church is a church that met in a bar and it wouldn't if they had to meet in the barge that they were being novel and cool and open and Outlook using a building is one thing but the concept behind this in my opinion, crossed the line. It was bearing some of the marks of the world is what it was we were supposed to be, striving to not be marked by the world is the purpose and practice of my life to not allow worldly stains to set into the fabric of my soul.

Your mom and talk to you about a city and state.

What I stain said in a hard to get out and sometimes you can't get them out will say this is not talking about you'll never see an you never touch for the war, but it is saying you can avoid letting those sins be set into the fabric you repent, or are your fighter if you're not killing sin since killing you. If you're not fighting sin has you and I'm sorry I wish I could tell you that it is like no I don't wish I could see that. It's like Joel O'Steen says this is a wicked liar is nothing like what Joel O'Steen says it is nothing like some of these bad news here preaching this shallow comical goofy easy bully visit baby believes that believers amend and decision is him.

We just jumped a little hope and rest the time it's going to be fun. I'm sorry this is a warfare.

This is a battle.

This is a fight and we are in this fight to keep striving to keep ourselves unstained by the world. We work and we work and work. Now I want to give you some practical application here and some of you recognize this from days gone by.

I don't spend much time here, but I want to just jog your thinking on this. Here's some helpful things to avoid letting a it's worldly staying set in on the sole of your life. Number one continue to renew your mind. Continue to renew your mind of course with the word of God. Do you have a pattern will buy whereby you memorize and meditate on the word of God to continually be pushing out worldly thinking and pushing in God's truth probably thought that the toughest job are the list say that the age category that's toughest to do this would be young men young men as their hormones kick in young men that are facing the temptations that are that are only experienced by young minutes of tough times in the Bible says assault skews me. Psalm 119, ninth, 11th, how can a young man keep his way pure poorness.

If a young man can do it anybody.

I'll be up to.

How can a young man keep his way pure by keeping it according to your word with all my heart I've sought, you do not let me wonder for your commitment from your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart that's the idea of meditating on it that I may not sin against you either save power and it is a help will be in that process of renewing your mind.

I think some of you need to revive the old accountability book and find a brother or sister and make it simple but just say hey let's do a couple of verses a week and let's hold each other accountable, not legalistic only as one of the reasons I pull back on it I saw too many people that were chicken off the boxes on the accountability but I do think their hearts were in it because we work it are we so prone to become Pharisees, but that doesn't mean the discipline of memorization and meditation.

That doesn't mean the principle of accountability is wrong at all. Maybe some of his need to dust off the old accountability notebook and find a brother or sister in and say let's hold each other accountable to can continually renew our minds. That's a great help. Number two, not on renew our minds will help you from aborting the mark of the world, and the stain the world.

Let God take your friend, you let God pick your friends say this a lot to our young people use to growing up hard drawer when there when I was in the student ministry and our kids were growing up. Three types are two types of people you're not choosing your close friends number one. Those who don't know Christ bounces you can't have those who don't know Christ as your close friends. The look I know we live in the world you have classmates you want to be kind everybody. I'm not saying that you people you work with the don't know Christ. We were friends. In a sense, with all that we can be friends with. But those we choose to draw near to and for young people.

Those you would date her, though she would court you have absolutely young people months and that you listen you pastor not your children have no business ever dating a lost person. Sometimes our own children unregenerate may reach adult age and that's a different thing.

Okay but ask their growing up. There's no basis for that whatsoever.

Second Corinthians chapter 6 verses 14 through 18. Very clearly Paul writes to this church at Corinth to esteem themselves and being above most people and were very carnal in their behavior so excessive then do not be bound together with unbelievers what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness.

What fellowship has light with darkness.

What harmony has Christ with Bilal.

What has a believer in common with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols, we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord.

I do not touch what is unclean and I will welcome you and I will be a father to you and you should be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty not get worked on talking about knowing people in the world and even doing business with people in the world that has to happen but those you choose to draw near to you for fellowship should be running with lost people look 12 things going happen there to come to Christ for the goal pull you to the world never exception to that is always going be that way.

Businessmen need to be careful with partnerships. I'm not saying it's always evil to have a partnership with an unbeliever, you gotta be careful to be careful they can lead you to places where you get the mark of the world were to walk so that we don't have the mark of the world on us.

Another group is backsliders really don't believe in that concept. Those who profess to know Christ openly live like they do not know Jesus Christ.

First Corinthians 59 211 for Sprint is 5/9 11, Paul writes to the church at Corinth. This is I wrote you and I let her not to associate with immoral people. I did not at all mean with the immoral people of the world in an interesting, or with the coverages and swindlers or with idolaters for then you have to go out of the world. If you just didn't associate with immoral people you believe the world can't do that.

I don't check out the spirituality of the lady at Walmart before check out. You have some contact with people in the world who are unbelievers releases in this context. Verse 11 but actually I wrote you not associate with any so-called brother.

If he's an immoral person or covetous on idolaters or revile or are drunkard or swindler, not even to eat was such not only are we to not have intimate chosen dealerships with the loss were not certainly not to choose to run with those who claim to be Christians but live like their lost you. Let God pick you friends, but the word of God guide you in the and only run with those only draw near to those who are growing spiritually be the third category I would say the third guideline I would say in the living God. Pick you friends only those who are growing spiritually.

Proverbs 2717. Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. There's no way a man can sharpen you please not walking with God. No way a lady can sharpen you, she's not try to walk with God look are you a spiritual challenge to those who are around you.

I have some brothers in Christ who are in ministry and and and were really honest with each other from time to time really challenging to each other are thinking our viewpoints on things. Are we balanced on things I need that and so do you. Well, one way to avoid being seen and staying there bearing the colors of the world in your life is by renewing your mind. Otherwise, let God pick your friends 1/3 way is to avoid dirty places and dirty thing's avoid dirty places and dirty things and this is so changed over time, social events do you attend what kind of parties do you go to.

I don't know anybody in this church. The ghost drinking parties, but you're not going to nag in and balance. I've had more than one businessman to come up to me and said pastor didn't happen often but ever now and then I'm taking a client out to eat Mel by drinks or whatever Nick I don't drink but it happens I salute.

Don't worry about were not here to be legalistic over things like that but you have to go to parties that are designed for drinking. What about the party's goodwill about the novels you read, what about the all-encompassing Internet were in two clicks you be right in the middle of hell itself. Are you striving are you fighting are you repenting MSU. What about the music you listen to the television shows you watch Philippians 48 says finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence in anything worthy of praise dwell on these things. Are you in the fight say pastor this stuff is so it it's it's it's it's extremely prevalent. We've had some national leaders here who just help plunge us down the toilet.

As a culture literally and so our culture is so vile, but we are not to give up the fight. We are not to giving and we are not to wear the banner of the world.

We don't go to places most of the world goes to we don't go the same movies. Most the world is comfortable going to we don't do the same things.

Most of the world tries to do. We must look if you do any repair.

If you get touched by the world. Make sure you're not stained by the world to be extreme, but that's sure it's not Sandy stay that's true religion you know what you know how your future child of God, troubleshoot your touch by the world. It troubles you more when you start getting stained by the world and it troubleshoot deeply. If you sense it's becoming a city and stay. Be careful. You check your boxes off.

You may have a disposition disposition and an attitude over here that you coveted held to for years and it sustained you don't even know it. Be careful. First, there's friendship with the world.

If that keeps going, then there's love for the world in effect keeps going and there's conformity to the world how to get a balance here Jane starts out by talking about how your tongue in the context guineas with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Certainly, your husband's and and wife.

Certainly, your children, your home and then the further body that the church he said it is your heart being transformed so that your language is sweet and kind and edifying and holy and good everyone about your deeds.

Are you doing the service needs to the body of Christ is meaningful to you. If you have a burden for that is part of who you are. Listen to him. Here's what is get into because if that is the first thing Satan will do is get you to have an appetite for the world and stained by the world. And when you get appetite for the world and stained by the world you will stop loving your church like unit. Could you stop loving Jesus like you to the church as his body. Each of these always have a delete direct relationship one to another.

When your worldly your love for the church wanes and when your love for the church grows to have a deeper conviction against letting the world creep into your life and that's what he's getting it.

Think about the example of Abraham and Lot Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom then lot moved into Sodom, then Sodom moved into locked lot lost his testimony and lost his family. He lost everything. Abraham, a sinner, but he faulted a different level. He repented a different level and Abraham has a lasting legacy of faith might affect. The New Testament says were children of Abraham list be that kind of Christian, let's practice the word in that way and make sure we are not one who has a city and stained from the world he says here are these evidences your Tongass doing better speaking of things that are priest pleasing to the Lord your more faithful in your burdens about serving and caring for the church and those with special needs in the church and you do not let things that are worthless and worldly become a part of your life and stained your life. I don't know where that is because I would just list them specifically you check off some outfit might miss years practice. The word James S