Sunday, March 10, 2019 am
LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD (9)
What Does Different Look Like?
Being different is sometimes considered a good thing in our society.
There are many people who thrive on being different.
Some become outcasts and ridiculed by the “in crowd”, while they
are viewed by others as different, whether good or bad.
Many are different just for the sake of being different.
Our
goal in this study is to address how God wants us to be different, not
just for the sake of it, but because when you serve Him properly you
WILL be different.
a.
Philippians 2:15 – the
very idea of our theme is that we are different – we are lights in a
dark world.
b.
We are called upon to be
separate – 2 Corinthians 6:17.
The idea of being separate would indicate we are different.
c.
They think it strange we
do not run with them (as we used to) – 1 Peter 4:3-4.
d.
Romans 12:1-2 – Do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed.
e.
God’s following has
almost always been a minority or remnant.
Think of Abraham leaving Ur and Haran, Noah – one of 8 souls
saved from the flood, Israel was not a great nation, but God chose them,
etc. Even on Pentecost we read of 3000 souls saved (Acts 2:41), but it
is highly likely that such was a minority considering the occasion.
a.
Many of the examples we
have already noted were different – Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abed-Nego, Esther, etc.
b.
Jesus was different.
In every way He was different.
He taught differently – with authority (Matthew 7:28-29, John 7:46)
He frequently drew criticism from the leaders and often the majority.
Even in Nazareth, His own
country, when He returned they saw him as different and rejected Him –
Mark 6:1-6.
Matthew 10:24-25 - He proceeds to warn His disciples that if they called
Jesus of Beelzebub, they will much more call his servants that.
c.
Peter and John were different – the apostles, after Pentecost were a special breed of
people. They lived their
lives different from those around them.
James was the first to be executed (Acts 12:1-2).
Acts 4:13 notes that though “uneducated” they perceived that “they had
been with Jesus.”
When we are followers of Christ, the world will take notice.
d.
Enoch
– we know very little about him.
He is mentioned in the genealogies leading up to Noah (Genesis
5:21-24). All we know about
him is that he walked with God and then he was not, for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 notes that he pleased God.
Jude 14 describes him as a preacher of righteousness.
How different does one need to be for God to take him so that he does
not see death?
e.
Noah
was different – at a time when God had determined to destroy the world,
we read that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
He walked with God, was a just man and perfect in his generation
(Genesis 6:8-9). When
instructed to build an ark, he obeyed God.
By faith he saved his family, 8 souls (2 Peter 2:5, Hebrews
11:7).
Different mean we do what is right, even when everyone else is doing
wrong.
f.
Joshua and Caleb
were different – Numbers 14:6-7 records them pleading with the people to
go take the land (though the other 10 spies had given a negative
report).
They dared to trust in God, while everyone around them criticized and
complained.
g.
David as he confronted
Goliath
was different – there are many occasions in the life of David where we
see different. One specific
occasion while young was when he confronted Goliath – Israel with all
its warriors cowered at this 9+ foot giant, the warrior of the
Philistines (1 Samuel 17:4).
David, visiting his brothers at the battle field is insulted when
he hears the blasphemies of this giant.
He offers to fight him and defeats him with a sling and a stone
(1 Samuel 17:50).
His willingness to stand motivated the people to fight for the LORD and
they gained a great victory that day.
h.
John the Baptist
was different –
in the wilderness, eating locust and wild honey, he preaches the coming
Messiah. The people go out
to see him, including the religious leaders.
John rebukes them and calls for repentance (Matthew 3)
John’s actions result in him being imprisoned and executed by Herod’s
wife who hated him (Mark 6:16-29).
i.
Paul was
different – mentioned again, as an example even in this, we find an
incredible example in standing for what is right, regardless of the
circumstances.
Consider all that he gave up to follow Christ – Philippians 3:4-8.
Consider the criticisms he faced from the Corinthian brethren because he
chose to not be supported by them. Consider all that he endured as he
preached Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:22-28.
You find someone with purpose and willing to be different even if it
costs him everything earthly.
j.
Barnabas
was different – known as the son of encouragement, we always finding him
standing up for others. He
stood up for Paul, when the brethren were hesitant to accept him at
Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-27). He
stood up for Mark, when Paul didn’t want to take him on their second
journey (Acts 15:36-39). He
was willing to sell land and give the to his needy brethren (Acts
4:36-37).
k.
In all these examples we
see the need to stand up and be counted and to be willing to be
different.
a.
It doesn’t mean we
always have to stand out, just for the sake of being different.
We live in the world, and conduct ourselves with proper decorum.
Recall in the intro, we talked about those who dress differently
for the mere sake of being different.
Our difference is because of our convictions.
We’re not trying to be different, but it happens because of our
faith.
b.
It doesn’t mean you are
the only one
– it is important to understand this.
The Bible emphasizes we are a family.
That is the concept of the local church.
We are in the minority, but a family is more than an individual.
Elijah was discouraged thinking he was alone.
The LORD told him there were 7000 who had not bowed the knee to
Baal (1 Kings 19:18).
Constantly the prophets spoke of God’s remnant.
BUT, there may be times when you do have to stand alone, in what seems
like everyone else.
c.
It means we don’t talk like the world anymore
– Matthew 12:34-37 notes that our speech betrays our hearts.
And the Bible has plenty to say about our speech and its impact
on others (cf. James 3:1-12).
Matthew 26:73, when Peter was warming himself, he was associated with
Jesus because, “Your speech betrays you.”
That is an interesting thought when we think about being
different.
What do you talk about when around others?
Does your speech betray you?
d.
It means we don’t act
like the world anymore.
We have given up the works of the flesh – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
(cf. Galatians 5:19-21).
e.
It is seen in the way we
dress –
modest apparel. 1 Timothy
2:8-9 speaks of women adorning themselves in modest apparel.
Modest means that which is becoming or proper.
Some many today, wear clothing to make a statement – often immodest and
provocative. And we know
that clothing is a statement of status, etc.
Christians are to be simple.
AGAIN, not necessarily drawing undue attention to yourself either way.
f.
We live lives of holiness – 1 Peter 1:13-16.
That means we belong to God, and thus we are not conforming
ourselves to our former lusts.
g.
With live with integrity
– lacking with so many today.
But the Christian life is to be one of virtue (2 Peter 1:5,
Philippians 4:8, “if there is any virtue…meditate on these things.”
h.
We do not love the world
or the things of the world
– 1 John 2:15-17
i.
We walk by faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7. When we
walk, trusting God in everything, it will make us different.
It will be reflected in how we deal with whatever circumstances
we are facing.
j.
We think differently – Philippians 2:3-4 – in lowliness of mind; 2 Corinthians 10:5 – we bring
every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
We have that “other worldly” perspective.
k.
It is seen in how we treat our enemies – Matthew 5:43-44, Romans 12:18-21
l.
We defend our faith – 1 Peter 3:15. Matthew
5:14-15 tells us we don’t hide our light under a basket.
m.
We openly confess our
Lord –
Matthew 10:32-33, Mark 8:38 – “whoever is ashamed of Me…”
n.
In summary, different
means we are seeking first the kingdom of God - Matthew 6;33, Colossians
3:1-2, and it shows in every aspect of our lives.
Conclusion: The gospel changes people.
That can be a good thing.
When this dark world, that is hurting so much now, sees how the
gospel can change someone, that is what will spark an interest in
learning more. So are we
different? Is God pleased
with that difference?