Other Worldly
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Play Skit Guys - God Chisel (non pastoral intro, just play after offertory meditation)
Pray
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
You are God’s handiwork, that means when you are in Christ he molds you, as the potter molds the clay, we are not a finished work, but the work he is making us is different than the world.
I remember hating art festivals, not to beat me up too bad people. But I hated them, I thought art was ugly and just a bunch of paint put on a canvas, I didn’t understand the beauty, until my daughters both were into art, my oldest painting and drawing and now digital arts. And my youngest into the performing arts. It wasn’t until I let it change me that I saw the beauty.
The world is the same as my younger self, blind to the beauty of God’s workmanship and it will hate that workmanship until such a time when they too accept to see the beauty that God can make.
When the World Hates You
When the World Hates You
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
A. It will hate you
1. I know this isn’t a pleasant thought
a. We want to be liked so much
Try being the new kid all the time, you either get used to people not liking you or you spend your time trying to get people to like you.
b. The world isn’t focused where we are focused
c. Its called a worldview
i. Lens with which we see the world
ii. World sees it through self, we see it through Jesus
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
2. It hated Him first
a. God calls us to difficult
i. Christian = Christ like
b. Part of the transformation
c. We and others will be uncomfortable
d. So don’t be surprised
my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
B. Not of this World
1. If we don’t act like them
Remember being young in school and being different? Different way to talk and dress
a. Different always mean misunderstanding
b. We are moving to Christians being abnormal, being different
c. Cannot hide anymore, our views are becoming minority views
2. We will be different
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
a. What’s different
i. Live for God
ii. Live for others
iii. We stand for what the World hates
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
b. Not saying don’t hang with sinners
i. Don’t be like the World
ii. Give them cause to be different
David Jordan - Like being a boat in the water, boats aren’t supposed to take on the water but be in the water.
C. Seeking men or God?
1. So I try to make them happy
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
a. No one every made everyone happy
i. Not even Santa Clause
ii. Not even God
b. Not about making people happy
i. its about Joy
ii. Its about God
iii. Its about truth - rarely makes people happy
2. Not who God made us to be
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
a. People having trouble with self-esteem
i. Self-worth based on the world
ii. Based upon normal
b. God made us different
i. Image Dei
ii. Struggling cause we are not in Him
c. Gotta have God esteem
i. Be transformed so the world see Him
Persecuted
Persecuted
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.
If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
A. Looking to God or the World
1. Looking to appease the world
a. Acting like them
b. Listening to their worth
c. Appeasing the nae sayers
2. Called to be persecuted
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
a. Its a blessing
b. Doesn’t necessarily make it easier, but it gives strength
i. Its an encouragement
c. Heading down the right path
Looking for signs. Wichita Falls - selling house Saint says there’s a sign
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
B. Seek to be different
1. My identity is eternity not here
a. Don’t focus on being popular
b. Focus on being righteous
i. Not self righteous
2. I will possess God esteem and joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Remember my first real trials at my job. Preaching the Gospel and bringing people to Christ but I started getting into trouble. I was written up twice. However, when my mentor told me to look at Jam 1:2-3 I changed my attitude, it meant I was on the right path.
a. I had to seek better ways
b. Joyful Persecution
c. Identity in persecution
Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
The Helper
The Helper
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
A. You are not alone in the fight
1. You have the Holy Spirit to encourage you
a. Lifts you up in prayer
b. Will give you what to speak
2. He gives us power and authority
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
c. Grants protection
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
B. Sculpt your identity
1. Let God cut out the flesh
a. Letting go of the world
b. Grasping hold of a new self a new ID
2. Encourage us in the good stuff
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
C. Have to choose the Spirit over the flesh
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
1. Find your identity in the Spirit
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
a. Transform your thought, actions and words
b. Begin to re-prioritize your life
c. Is it important to God?
i. that’s an identity question
2. You wont be perfect but you will be changed
a. Transformation is a process, a lifelong process
i. Holy Spirit leads
ii. Holy Spirit equips
b. Grace aides our transformation
Remember beginning to shoot, I was terrible. I missed a lot of shots, but as I grew and as I listened to instruction, I realized that I started hitting the target more often. I found great joy in the transformation.
Changing into a new creation is a lot the same, you will miss a lot at first, but as you learn and listen to instruction, you will begin to hit the target more and find confidence in this new identity. You will find the joy of it, I assure you.
Conclusion:
Its not easy becoming something new. I am trying to be something new each day, found in grace and mercy but new. Why? Well because I don’t like the me I used to be. I don’t like the me without God. I don’t like the me that the world says is cool. I am tired of trying to please people who know nothing about true eternal pleasure. So, I try to please God instead. His bench mark never changes and even when the World hates me, I am OK with that and now as a more mature Christian that I used to be, I find that I like it better when the world hates me, it usually means I am on the right path. When I face persecution, even though they are small in America, I found that I giggle a little these days but that’s only because I find that my identity is in God and that it doesnt really matter to me what the world thinks anymore because I am loved eternally by God.
This transformation is not complete and it has taken a lot of years because I am stubborn. That whole footprints in the sand poem is so sweet, but mine instead of having one set of prints, has one set of prints and line where the Lord has brought me along dragging my feet. It has only been through the power of the Holy Spirit that any transformation has come. With the Holy Spirit I would be lost and would not be able to change. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important, it prevents me to caving to the world and transforms me into something new, something other worldly, something awesome in Christ!
Pray