ROSE COLORED GLASSES
Pastor Mark Warda
Woodland Church
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
A. Problem: Worldliness
1. The world has fallen into sin and is thus under the dominion of the evil one.
(1 John 5:19, ESV) “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
2. Because the world is opposed to God, it is under judgement from God.
(Isaiah 13:11, ESV) “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.”
3. We are called to love the Lord and not to love the world.
(1 John 2:15-16, ESV) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
4. Jesus was in the world but not of the world.
(John 18:36a, NIV) “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
5. We are to live in the world, but not be of the world.
(John 17:16-19, ESV) “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
6. It is the truth of God’s Word that sanctifies us, meaning “sets us apart” from being of the world while remaining in it.
(Romans 12:2, ESV) “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Proverbs 27:19, NLT) “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
(Romans 3:23, NLT) “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
(1 Timothy 4:2, NIV) “…whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
B. Solution: Worship
1. Worship God personally.
Spending time with God involves prayer and bible reading.
a. Prayer is communion with God through thanksgiving and praise, before even asking for requests.
b. Bible reading is the truth – the mirror by which we recognize our need to ask for forgiveness.
(James 1:19-21, NIV) “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
2. Worship God publicly.
a. We aren’t to be hearers of God’s Word only, but doers of His Word.
(James 1:22-25, NIV) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
b. Without application there can be no spiritual transformation.
GROWTHWORK
1. If we are to be in the world and not of it, we need to guard of hearts through private worship.
2. We need to love the Lord and not the world through public worship as doers of His Word by keeping His commandments.
(John 14:15-17, ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”