Nay World, I Turn Away
The sermon urges listeners to turn away from the world and its influence, choosing instead to follow God and His ways.
Allan Halton delivers a powerful sermon on the price tag attached to the Testimony of Christ in our lives, emphasizing the presence of Christ Himself with us and the privilege of walking with Him. He contrasts this with the heavier price tag of being a friend to a world that hates God and His Christ, leading to a loss of the opportunity to share in Jesus' Cross and the fellowship of saints. Halton urges the congregation to turn away from the world that crucified the Lord and to avoid being influenced by its ways that can steal God's presence from their hearts.
Text
I mentioned last time the price tag that is on the Testimony of Christ in our lives--the Testimony of the Spirit that means the Presence of Christ Himself is with us. This will garner us the same thing it garnered Him.
But there is a price tag--a far heavier price tag--on being the friend of this world that hates God and His Christ. Oh, the loss... to one day discover that in going my own way in this present life (which is but a vapour), I missed out on the golden opportunity and privilege of walking with precious Jesus, and sharing His Cross... and being one in a great company of others who have done so at the cost of their lives in this world- the saints of the Lord.
Do I want to be the friend of a world that has crucified my Lord? A world that through the centuries has spilled the blood of my brothers and sisters in great numbers, and continues to do so even today?
Nay world, I turn away,
Though thou seem fair and good:
That friendly outstretched hand of thine
Is stained with Jesus' blood.
If in thy least device
I stoop to take a part,
All unaware thine influence steals
God's presence from my heart.
I miss My Saviour's smile
Whene'er I walk thy ways;
Thy laughter drowns the Spirit's voice
And chokes the song of praise.
Whene'er I turn aside
To join thee for an hour
The face of Christ grows blurred and dim
And prayer has lost its power.
Margaret Mauro
Sermon Outline
- The Price of Being a Friend of the World
- The Price of Being a Friend of God
- Choosing Between the World and God
- The importance of turning away from the world
- The consequences of being influenced by the world
- The cost of our lives in this world
Key Quotes
“Nay world, I turn away, Though thou seem fair and good:” — Allan Halton
“That friendly outstretched hand of thine Is stained with Jesus' blood.” — Allan Halton
“I miss My Saviour's smile Whene'er I walk thy ways;” — Allan Halton
Application Points
- We must be mindful of the influence the world has on our lives and choose to follow God's ways.
- The presence of Christ in our lives is a precious gift that we must not take for granted.
- Walking with Jesus is a privilege that we must not miss out on.