1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Have you ever had someone play that old kid prank on you? “Made you look you dirty crook?” Childish is it not? Sure it is but the world does this to us every day. The problem is that it is not a game nor is it childish.

It is on the cover page of every publication on the rack at your store checkout lane. It is on billboards, fliers, circulars and television commercials. Most just want to sell you something. Some want to take advantage of your weakness.

My spam filter fills my e-mail box with unwanted ads and worse. It is amazing how brazen some of the come-on’s are in content. Some do not even hide their intentions.

The internet is more dangerous today than ever. What appears to be a harmless interest can lead to disaster. The true enemy is more cunning than ever. In our opening verse John points out three areas of our lives that need to be guarded with the integrity of a pure heart.

Flesh is flesh and wants because it is flesh. It will desire to be satisfied no matter what you believe. It is the pure heart that knows God’s design, will and deals with natural hungers. It is not a sin to be hungry, it is only a sin to allow the hunger to drive your actions.

The eye takes in everything. Like the “made you look” prank, you are going to see things that are the leading edge of temptation. The pure heart knows when to look away and avoid temptation.

Pride says, I can handle anything, I am in no danger. The pure heart will seek to protect itself and make pride stop at the water’s edge.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Yesterday I lead out with the oxygen mask and ended with a comment about lording it over others. There are two aspects to that statement which deserve attention. One is the person delivering the word and the other receiving the word.

Care must be taken in delivering a word without applying the word to your own life. The satisfaction one can get from “doing” a good work should not come from self-satisfaction. It will often manifest itself in thoughts and speech related to “look what I have done.”

When James told us “faith without works is dead” he was speaking to faith in Christ not faith in self-confidence nor self-satisfaction. The selfie does things to look good.

The secondary harm is to the one receiving the word. The real danger in allowing others to lord it over us is in the denial of the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us. We are giving power to people when they are serving self rather than serving God. We should receive the Word of the Lord from the Lord and have no care nor concern as to who delivers that Word. It could be a child who is immature or it could be a non-christian who has no idea they are being used of God.

Our basis of faith relationship is that gift of faith God placed in us to hear the Lord in anything of the Lord. The faith should also tell you when a word of scripture is given without God initiating the work. That takes a relationship with the Lord, not a relationship with a person.

Deuteronomy 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.