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Listen: 1 John 2

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16

Near the end of his life, the apostle John writes with wisdom gained from decades of following Jesus. Having witnessed countless believers struggle against worldly influences, John identifies three specific battlegrounds where the world wages war against believers’ souls. The “lust of the flesh” refers to physical desires that become distorted and excessive—sexual temptation or any other physical appetite that controls people. The “lust of the eyes” describes coveting what people see—material possessions that promise satisfaction but never deliver. The “pride of life” encompasses self-glorification and autonomy—the declaration that “I am my own authority” or “I did this.” John understands that these three battlefronts have ensnared believers since the church began.

We face these same battles today. The lust of the flesh manifests in our hyper-sexualized culture, substance abuse or even the endless pursuit of physical experiences through travel, food or entertainment—anything promising fulfillment through sensation. The lust of the eyes appears in our consumerist society, which constantly tells us that we need more possessions to be happy or successful. The pride of life emerges in our culture’s celebration of self-sufficiency and personal authority—the belief that we determine and choose our own truth and morality. Each battleground offers counterfeit versions of what God grants: pleasure, provision and purpose.

TODAY: Identify your struggles on these three battlegrounds. Share your struggles honestly with a trusted Christian friend or small group member. Ask them to pray with you and hold you accountable in these areas. Victory comes through honesty, community and dependence on God’s strength through the Holy Spirit. For more help and discussion on how to resist the enemy of the world, listen to this week’s Beyond the Weekend Podcast. Got questions about the sermon? Submit your question HERE. Your question could be answered on the podcast!