The Pleasures of this World. If you observe your friends and classmates, you will see a virtually endless pursuit of fun and pleasure.
Many of your acquaintances may seem to only look forward to the next party, dance club outing, or weekend. They live their lives waiting, hoping and planning for the next “good time.” Then, as they get older, many begin to dream of having lots of money, taking trips to exotic locations, owning big houses, boats, weekend cottages, etc., instead of setting the right goals and focusing on the hard work that may be involved in reaching them. Ultimately, the world is filled with people seeking pleasures. What does God’s Word say about these pleasures?
Certainly, God would want the youth in His Church to have fun and enjoy themselves, right? But what about the worldly pursuits of pleasure that surround you? Are there any dangers or pitfalls involved? What does God say?(1) What are some of the “pleasures” of this world? I Peter 4: 3- 4; Isaiah 5: 1.
Notice the definitions of some of the words in I Peter 4 and consider how they apply to the world today: Lasciviousness: Unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence, filthy. Lusts: Craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden. Excess of wine: Drunkenness. Revellings: A revel, carousal (a letting loose), or “a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and. This passage alone describes the many party scenes today. The prophet Isaiah enlarges the picture, talking about those who spend their whole day focused on worldly pleasures.
It is a picture of drinking, music and “feasts,” but these people “regard not the work of the Lord.”Those out in the world, who do not know God’s truth, will think it strange that you do not follow them. They may make fun of you or ridicule you in front of others and try to embarrass you or pressure you into certain things. Even be prepared for the possibility that they will gossip about you or spread rumors behind your back. Before going further, also understand that pleasures come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are not limited to drunken parties. Other examples include: playing videogames excessively; watching violent, profane or sex- filled movies; keeping up with and/or spending large amounts of money on trendy clothes and accessories, among many others.
To determine what is ultimately wrong, though, we must look at the big picture. Why do your friends or classmates do what they do? What are they hoping to actually accomplish, if anything?
What are the end results that can be expected? Finally, are there any additional principles that would be helpful to examine?
This Bible study cannot and is not intended to outline every possible wrong pursuit, but rather is intended to show what God says about worldly pleasures.(2) In effect, when one follows the pursuits of the world, what is he doing? Isaiah 4. 7: 7- 8; Philippians 3: 1. Titus 3: 3. Those who seek instant gratification are careless. How many teenage girls become pregnant because they were “caught up in the moment”? How many youth spend their savings and go into debt because they are having “fun”?
The Bible says that those who are given to pleasure literally say in their mind, “Nothing matters except me.” They live as if they are the center of the universe. They do not care about the needs of others and simply base their decisions on what will be fun for themselves. If it is good for them—if they feel that they will have a good time—then they will do it. Seeking worldly pleasures is a way of life—the way of get! The passage in Philippians puts it another way: Those who walk in the ways of this world are serving their belly—their god.
This verse is not referring just to hunger for food, but also to impulses or cravings of other types. For example, have you ever lined up in a grocery store to check out and, while you were waiting, grabbed a candy bar because it suddenly and unexpectedly looked good to you? You had no intention of buying a candy bar, and you may not even have been hungry! But, you gave in to an “impulse buy.” Grocery stores specifically put rows of candy bars and chocolate in front of you, hoping that you will give in because of an “on- the- spot” craving. However, clothing outlets and other types of stores do the exact same thing. They hire “cool- looking,” attractive models to show off their latest styles on billboards and in magazines and then hope you give in to spending large amounts of money to look like them.
This world offers all sorts of fun and pleasure that people will gravitate to on an impulse. Even those who are wrapped up in the party scene of this world will admit that they are given to impulse. Stated differently, those who are given to impulse tend to act first and think later.
This must never be the approach of those who are seeking to please God.(3) In seeking the pleasures of this world, what are people not doing? John 5: 4. 4; 1. 2: 4. II Timothy 3: 1- 7.
The Bible says that you “cannot serve two masters.” Either you are obeying God, doing what is right, or you are doing what the world does. Those who are seeking the pleasures in this world are honoring themselves, not God. Consider for a moment: Many of your peers are looking for prestige—wanting others to like them, to look up to them, or to admire them. This is the basic premise of peer pressure. People give in to peer pressure because they want to “fit in” with their “friends.” By “hanging out” with the popular crowd, teenagers are getting the praise of their peers and escaping the ridicule directed toward “nerds” or the “uncool.”II Timothy 3 talks about “perilous times.” These times have arrived. One sign of the times listed is that people will be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” To love God is to keep His commandments (I John 5: 3).
LOS AMIGOS En el tabaco, en el caf What does it mean to be dead to sin? What does being dead to sin mean for the Christian life? Find out the Bible truth. The significance of knowledge as aptly captured by the writter of this article especially with quotations from the quran and sunnah cannot be reiterated further. A Study Guide by Coty Pinckney, Desiring God Community Church, Charlotte NC. What gives God great delight? Potent Pleasures has 4,021 ratings and 319 reviews. Fani said: Nice writing and interesting plot in this deeply emotional romance. However, the hero tops.
Jesus said, “I will build My Church The Pleasures of Sin “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” Hebrews 11:25. Pubblicato il 15 giugno del 1979, dalla Factory Records,
How many people do you know who are concerned with loving God—keeping His commandments? Rather, they seem overly concerned about seeking pleasures for themselves—making themselves feel good. This leads us to another very important question.(4) Do these pleasures last? Job 2. 1: 1. 2- 1.
This study examines how Satan uses cares, worries, and pleasures to deceive people. New Sensations is an American pornographic film studio. It is the parent company and sister-label of Digital Sin. New Sensations was founded in 1993 by Scott Taylor.
Proverbs 1. 4: 1. Luke 1. 2: 1. 9- 2. I Timothy 5: 6; Hebrews 1. I Peter 1: 2. 4. Probably the most common physical possession that most people seek is money. However, they do not realize that they cannot take it with them when they die. Character is the only thing that follows us to the grave.
Yet, most still try to be the person who “will die with the most toys.” But, as Job said, in a moment they will die. Human lives are so short when looking at the big picture, and so many spend their entire life striving after material wealth and physical pleasure that will not last.
The world does not believe the wisdom of Solomon, who said that those who seek pleasures will be poor. They focus on the here and now, without looking at the big picture.
If you are trying to live God’s Way, you should be focused on the reason you are alive—attempting each day to fulfill your incredible human potential. Are you focused on laying up “treasure” for yourself? Are you focused on the here and now? Having a savings account is wise and prudent, but is your unconscious goal to be rich? An education is an important thing to have, but are you unbalanced and focusing too much on it and where it will get you? Are you living a way of get for yourself or a way of give to others? Hebrews 1. 1: 2. 4- 2.
Moses chose not to “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” Yes, there are many things that people do out in the world that “look” like fun—they are pleasures. So many do not realize that the pleasure is only for a “season”—it is temporary and will not last.
Do you want to be focused on things that will not last or do you want to focus on something that will last for all eternity? It seems like a simple question, but history shows that many teenagers in God’s Church have dropped out and decided to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Will this be you, or will you determine to stay away from these things?(5) Solomon was a man who sought worldly pleasures and possessions. What was his conclusion? Ecclesiastes 2: 1- 1. Solomon had everything, physically speaking, but he said it did not profit him at all. One definition of vanity is “empty.” Literally, Solomon had it all but concluded in the end that it was empty—nothing.
Will you learn by Solomon’s example, understanding that you will never be able to seek as much pleasure as he did?(6) What is the end result for those in the Church who decide they will continue to seek pleasures? Luke 8: 5- 8, 1. 4. This parable from Christ is a powerful warning to all those who are willing to hear. Those who are being called by God are seeds, and each seed has the potential to fall into a variety of different places.
Those who fall among thorns will choke and die. Christ explains His meaning in verse 1. Those who focus on these things will come to a fatal end. Be determined to keep this parable in mind for the rest of your life. Realize that the cares of this world can choke you. Certainly, this is not what you want.
However, it can happen if you allow yourself to be snared by these things.(7) For those who are determined to live God’s way of life, what is the correct course of action? Luke 2. 1: 3. 4; Romans 1. Colossians 3: 2, 5; II Timothy 2: 4, 2. Titus 2: 1. 2; I John 2: 1. Young people in God’s Church should take heed—be careful—that their lives do not become similar to those in the world. They are not to be conformed to—meaning fashioning oneself according to—those in the world. They are to mortify—put to death—any attitude or feeling that leads them to want to participate in the pleasure of sin for a season.
They are to flee—run away from—youthful lusts. They are to deny—refuse or reject—ungodliness and worldly desires.
They are to love not the world and all that it has to offer. These are all powerful proactive decisions that must be made in the mind.
A Spiritual Warfare study - Cares, worries and pleasures. CARES, WORRIES, PLEASURES(Subjects in this Section)1- WHAT.
TO EXPECT AS THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE MANIFESTS ITSELF AFTERBEING. SAVED 2- CARES, WORRIES. AFFAIRS OF THIS WORLD, AND PEOPLE 3- PLEASURES. AND THINGS MAY STOP YOU FROM DOING THE WILL OF GOD 4- DO PROBLEMS.
HINDER YOU FROM DOING THE WILL OF GOD? LUSTS. MAY HINDER OR STOP YOU FROM DOING THE WILL OF GOD 6- SATAN MAY TEMPT YOU WITH. RICHES: THESE CAN DECEIVE YOU AND HINDERYOU FROM.
OBEYING GOD 7- SATAN. TRIES TO SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD'S PEOPLE FOR A WHILE. ITSELF AFTER BEING SAVED We. Satan will try to draw a converted, born- again. Christian back into sin. It. is necessary that we be knowledgeable about his devices.
This message cannot. Satan might attack a Christian, but we pray it will. Satan may use these weapons to keep a person. Bible and memorizing Scripture. Satan may lie. to a person’s mind and tell them that going to church is enough. That there. is no need to study the Bible. Satan can use these weapons to try to stop a.
God and doing God’s will. Satan may try to eliminate the.
God from people’s minds. For it is written, FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART.
FROM EVIL- Prov 3: 7. God wants you to serve Him with your time, your talent. Indeed, Jesus wants all of you.
Will these things stop you from going to church, prayer meetings, Bible. Bible, memorizing. Scripture, witnessing for Jesus, serving Jesus, and doing the will of God? These. things may happen to you.
You may need to go on a honeymoon, or go and see a house. Perhaps you have to sign. Bible study. As we cover these items, thoughts may come into your. Satan who is using these to hinder you.
Open your eyes. and see. When the thoughts that come into your mind are contrary to the Bible. You need to paint your house, repair a faucet, wash. Satan may lie to your mind saying. AND TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR .
Are Monday morning things more important to you than the Sunday evening. Is your mind focused ON THINGS ABOVE.. ON THINGS ON THE EARTH?
Perhaps you need to pick up. A friend’s vehicle may break down. You may disobey God by refusing to give up unsaved. So you live in disobedience to God, and. God to help you with this or that. Are your prayers bouncing off.
Satan may say to. God gave you these children. They come first: before church. I serve God by taking care of my children. If you obey God, your husband or wife may threaten to leave. Do you love wife, or husband, or children more than God? Satan may lie. to your mind, and say, .
You can go another time. Vacations or wanting.
You want to go to a party. Guys or girls distract. Perhaps a special program comes on the television at a certain time, and. God. Which is more important to you? Does the radio. records, cassettes, reading books, going to movies, home videos, hinder you. Bible and obeying God? If these things offend you, cut them.
Do you get tired when reading the Bible or when sitting in church? Do you. love worldly things and comforts?
Does the newspaper or some other form of entertainment. God, and take time that should be spent reading your Bible? He was a follower of Paul. But then Satan tempted. It is written DEMAS HATH FORSAKEN ME. HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD- 2 Tim 4: 1. THIS KNOW ALSO, THAT IN THE LAST.
DAYS (that is right now).. MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES.. LOVERS. OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD- 2 Tim 3: 1,2,4. Note: it didn’t say they. God, but that they would love pleasures more than God.
A great. enemy of Christianity is the . Following. Jesus may not be the path of the least resistance, but it is the one that leads. Satan can be expected to try. Christians. Your vehicle may break down.
Your battery may go dead. Tires. may go flat. The telephone keeps ringing, and people want to talk on the phone. You may be involved in an accident, or things may.
You may have to work overtime. Another employee. Someone quits or gets fired, so you. Others may go on vacation, so you are expected to work. Your employer. may expect you to work on the Lord’s day . Satan can be expected to put in your.
Submit to God, resist Satan. Jesus. and the apostles did. You are in a spiritual battle. Which is more important.
Is it obeying God or your employer? Are you a servant of man or of God? EVIL WILL BEFALL YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS.
BECAUSE YE WILL DO EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER THROUGH. THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS (your job)- Deut 3. This latter day generation we. People may come to visit you from out of town, just at. Bible study, or to go out witnessing.
Your. faith will be tested to see if you love God enough to obey Him above all, or. Satan’s devices and lies. When neighbors come to visit.
Satan can be expected to put in your mind you can’t offend. Bible study. Something that was. Bible study. or a prayer meeting, then obey God and go to church or the Bible study. Ask. God to set that certain witness up for you another time. Expect Satan to put. God, yet hinder you from obeying other.
God. Satan is very subtle, conniving, and crafty. Put NOT FORSAKING. THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER first (which includes church, Bible studies. Bible School). Perhaps you have to leave town in an emergency. You may have to go to a funeral.
You may find that certain items. God’s work break down.
The people you call to fix them may. They. fix one thing, and it goes bad again. Then another thing goes bad. Remember. we are in a spiritual battle. Forsake not the Lord thy God. Opportunities to see a certain person just happen to come up when you. Bible study, or study your own Bible.
May I suggest that you. Holy Ghost and with God’s love. God knows what you have. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL.
THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU- Mt 6: 3. When the apostles followed Jesus. Jesus? Beware of drunkenness. God warns. THEY ALSO HAVE ERRED THROUGH WINE, AND THROUGH STRONG DRINK ARE OUT OF THE WAY- Isa.
WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR DRINK, THAT PUTTEST THY BOTTLE. TO HIM, AND MAKEST HIM DRUNKEN ALSO- Hab 2: 1. The Scriptures show us not to. It is written- IF THAT EVIL SERVANT..
SHALL. BEGIN TO SMITE HIS FELLOWSERVANTS, AND TO EAT AND DRINK WITH THE DRUNKEN; THE. LORD OF THAT SERVANT SHALL.. CUT HIM ASUNDER, AND APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH. THE HYPOCRITES: THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH (hell)- Mt 2.
It is written, BE NOT DECEIVED: NEITHER.. DRUNKARDS.. SHALL INHERIT THE. KINGDOM OF GOD- 1 Cor 6: 9,1. He may tempt you to take drugs, smoke, or gamble. Beware. of greed, covetousness, and all lusts.
THIS KNOW ALSO, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS.. MEN. SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD.. WITHOUT NATURAL. AFFECTION .. WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES, AND LEAD CAPTIVE SILLY WOMEN LADEN WITH. SINS, LED AWAY WITH DIVERS LUSTS EVER LEARNING, AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE. KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH- 2 Tim 3: 1,2,3,6,7.
They may study the Bible, but because. They don’t know they are going to hell, until it. KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT THERE SHALL COME IN THE LAST DAYS (that. SCOFFERS, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS- 2 Pe 3: 3. God wants the born- again. Christian to KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD- Ja 1: 2.
Beware, for EACH. ONE IS TEMPTED WHEN, BY HIS OWN EVIL DESIRE, HE IS DRAGGED AWAY AND ENTICED. As has. been said, Satan may tempt you to sin. Then when you do, he puts in your mind. Bible studies or. God. Repent, confess your sins. THESE CAN DECEIVE YOU AND HINDER YOU FROM OBEYING GOD Beware.
Satan’s tricks is to give you a better job that will pull you away from. God has called you to be. It will pull you away from the Bible studies. God wants you to partake of. It will pull you away from the church God wants. God has called you to do.
Many of these things. Beware of the deceitfulness of riches. Jesus told the rich. SELL THAT THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE POOR- Mt 1. You cannot. trust in riches, and enter heaven. Your trust is to be placed in Jesus.
He shall. provide your need. WHEN THE YOUNG MAN HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL.
FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS- Mt 1. Which are more important to you, riches.
Jesus? Satan may lie to your mind, and tell you to seek after great riches. Jesus also. You cannot serve riches and Jesus. Jesus tells. us, THAT A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN- Mt 1. The. Bible tells us, IN THE LAST DAYS.
PEOPLE WILL BE.. LOVERS OF MONEY- 2 Tim 3: 1,2. NIV. Lk 8: 1. 4 shows us, riches choke the Word of God.
God commands us, LAY NOT. UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH..
BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES. IN HEAVEN.. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO- Mt 6: 1. A saved person should esteem the. Christ greater riches than all the riches of this world. Thus, by. faith the born- again Christian should forsake this world, and live for the world. Love not this world, or the things that are in this world. Thus much, of what.
God would have. us go. Beware of Satan and his cunning devices. Beware, lest the world pull. Put all your trust in Christ.
Jesus totally. They. Lord. He sets up some circumstances that cause them to stop. Christians and from going. Bible studies for a period of time. In other words, Satan gets. Finally after a couple. The love of. God has disappeared.
Their response toward the Word of God is no longer meek. Their hearts have hardened.
They have grown to. They. may also be bitter toward the church and their fellow brothers in Christ, whom.
We have seen children, who were bearing. After a period of time, when they returned. Their old nature had returned. The new nature had been put.
Their whole attitude had changed. We have seen people seeking Christ. They. were pulled away by Satan’s devices for a time. When they returned, they were. We have seen Christians go. They were bearing good fruit before they left.
When they returned. Jesus. Yet in many of the cases, the . They were positive they were still abiding. God, even though the love of God towards their brothers in Christ.
They might speak behind their brother’s back, murmur, complain. Bible school. or from witnessing. They were blinded and could not tell they were wandering.