Dangers of Worldliness•Man has a constant struggle to control his thoughtsMan has a constant struggle to control his thoughts.    Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness.concupiscence, and covetousness.•Battle begins in our minds

.   Paul said in Romans 8:5-6 for they that are after the Romans 8:5-6 for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. 6 For to after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.minded is life and peace.

Dangers of WorldlinessChrist taught Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

One must not allow his mind to be stimulated One must not allow his mind to be stimulated by ungodly thoughts that stir fleshly passions by ungodly thoughts that stir fleshly passions and seek fulfillment in various forms of and seek fulfillment in various forms of worldliness.worldliness.

The Prom is a Form of Worldliness

• Webster defines the word prom asWebster defines the word prom as “a formal “a formal dance held by a high school or a college class”.dance held by a high school or a college class”.

•Prom is considered a memorable right of passage.

Listen to Paul's warning a. Gal 5:16-25 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,lasciviousness, 20 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, revel lings, Envying, murders, drunkenness, revel lings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.kingdom of God.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary;Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary; (LICENTIOUSNESS) Undisciplined and unrestrained behavior, especially a flagrant disregard of sexual restraints, lasciviousness. The Greek word translated as licentiousness means "outrageous conduct," showing that licentious behavior goes beyond sin to include a disregard for what is decent conduct.

Thayer’s Lexicon defines Lasciviousness as, unbridled lust, excess indecent bodily movement, unchaste handling of male and female bodies.

What would Paul say about such conduct?

What Makes up a Prom?•Sensuous dresses & fancy or outrageous tuxes Sensuous dresses & fancy or outrageous tuxes and ear splitting music.and ear splitting music.•Without all the fancy stuff, what would you call it?

•Some parents want to promote Some parents want to promote “safe sex”.“safe sex”.

•Great battle for Christians to say NO!•Young people, what kind of a person do you want to marry? A Christian?

•When I married 40 plus yrs ago, my wife was pure and I am Glad! Linda had the right to expect the same from me ! Heb 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Any sexual activity before marriage is worldliness and those who do so commit fornication!

Romans 12:2 be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God .

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Other Sins Associated With the Prom

•Immodesty, ……..Backless dresses, plunging necklines even to the belly button with a ring in it, side slits up to the waist and strapless gowns.•Such attire is a green light to young males.•What ever happened to modest apparel?

2Tim 2:9-10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Peter3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Shamefacedness means the ability to Blush

What will determine modest apparel?

One’s spiritual attitude will rightly determine modesty, not a ruler!

Another Problem With the DanceFornication

Sign a pledge of abstinence.

Rings and Jewelry such as WWJD.

Need to teach the evils of worldliness.

Rented hotel rooms, for the time of our life!

1 Tim 4:11-12 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Another Problem With the DanceDrunkenness

Pledges not to drink before, during or after.

Breathalyzer test at the door.

Special party rooms, act like grown ups!

Hiring of Limos to drive the kids around.

What are these parents thinking of?

Prov 23:31-33 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Prov 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

If strong drink affected those in the old testament, what will it do to our young people?

Statistics from MADD630,000 accident injuries each year

3 out of 10 will be affected sometime by alcohol related accidents

Impaired drivers are the #1 safety problem, Allstate & MADD Survey 1997

The direct cost of alcohol-related traffic crashes is approximately $40 trillion dollars annually. An additional $70 trillion dollars are lost in quality of life due to crashes. The social costs of alcohol-related traffic crashes average 80 cents per consumed drink.

Approximately 1.4 million drivers were arrested in 1998 for driving under the influence of the alcohol or narcotics (NHTSA).

As you can see numbers of people have been killed as the result of drinking and driving. One thing statistics will not show is the number of young men & women who engage in premarital sex because of lowered inhibitions. What are the results? Unplanned pregnancies, shame & regret, plus sexually transmitted diseases and the horrors of abortions.

Since the prom is still considered a school activity, many parents and students do not view the prom as a dangerous situation and a form of worldliness.

Conclusion of the MatterWhat if a school service club had the same activities; how long would the school permit this activity?

We must arm our minds to guard our children against such worldliness.

When a person sets his or her mind on things above it will be easy for that individual to recognize the dangers of the prom.

If the mind is not properly trained for righteous living, then the prom will be just another school activity or social event and opens the door to unchaste handling of males and females, fornication and drunkenness.

Do you need to strengthen your mind on things above?

Are you one who has fallen into the trap of worldliness and need to repent and turn again to the Way of the Lord?

My suggestion to the young ladies of this My suggestion to the young ladies of this congregation: Take your Bible with you on your congregation: Take your Bible with you on your next date and put it on the console between the two of next date and put it on the console between the two of you and that young man will have to crawl over you and that young man will have to crawl over Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to get to you!Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to get to you!

Conclusion of the Whole Matter

Eccl 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my family ,we will serve the Lord.

God’s Plan of SalvationGod’s Plan of Salvation

• HearHear

• Believe Believe

• RepentRepent

• ConfessConfess

• Be BaptizedBe Baptized

• Live a faithful life for our LordLive a faithful life for our Lord

God’s Plan for God’s Plan for Restoring SinnersRestoring Sinners

• Repent of your past sins Repent of your past sins

• Pray to God to forgive youPray to God to forgive you

• The Angels in heaven rejoice over one who The Angels in heaven rejoice over one who returns to the fold returns to the fold