When the world are in the world, but they are not to live like the people of the world. Amen. Although we're kind of forced to be here. We are here because the world needs us. Amen. And the light to shine it in us. Hebrews chapter two, verse 12. And it's important to realize that and understand that the world needs us and that we have to be sure to hold our ground and not become like the world because the world needs us to be different than the world so that the world can see Christ in us. Amen? Hebrews chapter 2 verse 12 says, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the church. Will I sing praise unto thee? Amen, so it's talking about I will declare thy name unto my brethren says look unto Jesus instead the things of the world All the things of the world are temporary in Jesus Christ are all the eternal things of God Through Jesus there can be eternal life in Jesus. There is eternal inheritance for the saved, right? Oh But it's for the sake of those who have accepted, those who have repented and accepted the free, gifted God, which is Jesus Christ, amen? Which is why we don't need gifts on Christmas, right? Because we have a gift, amen? It says in 1 Peter chapter one, verse four and five, it says, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Jesus said, I will come again and receive you unto myself, and where I am, there ye may be also. Praise God, it says there will be an eternal home with Christ for the saved, right? And I mean, it's cool that this lines up with Christmas because I mean, it's like, it's our gift, right? Eternal inheritance, that's what we have to look forward to, right? We'll get to it in a little bit, but just as Abraham, he didn't receive the promise during his lifetime, right? but he lived by faith with looking forward to that promise every single day, right? That's why he followed God, because he was looking forward to that promise. He didn't get to see all of his seed as a number to the sea. He didn't get to see all the people that would be in his family lineage, but he knew by faith that he was going to receive that, amen? It says, everything in this world is temporary. The world is headed for destruction. God will destroy the creation after he has achieved his purposes. In 2 Peter 3, verse 10, it says, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? Amen? I mean, it tells us, like, if it doesn't affect eternity, then why are we putting effort into it? Why are we putting time into it, right? We're supposed to be laying a treasure in heaven. We're supposed to be in those, that treasure in heaven is these people that are going to bring with us to heaven. Amen? The people that are hearing the gospel and receiving the word of God and being able to repent and trust Christ as their Savior. It says that every child of God should have Abraham's attitude about the things of the world. In Hebrews 11, 13 and 14, it says, these all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Amen? We're here. but we're pilgrims passing through, amen? Once we get saved, we realize we have more to look forward to. We're trying to get to Canaan, right? We're still living in Egypt, amen? We still have more that we're trying to get to, and the Lord's using us to be able to get there, but we have to bring other people with us, amen? We can't just go to Canaan by ourself, amen? It says, when we consider what is temporary and what is permanent, we should take our eyes off of the world and keep them on Jesus. Amen. Go me to John chapter 17. Yes, definitely pray for the people, but also talk to the people. Oh yes, that's that's where we're going. John 17 verse number This is 11. Yeah, we'll start at 11. I'll speak this far, I guess. Jesus says, and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world. And I come unto thee, Holy Father. So the ones that he's referring to, he said, these are in the world, are his disciples, the ones that he has reached, the ones that have started to follow him. He says, now I come unto thee, Holy Father. through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now, come I to thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word, and the word hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Amen. So Jesus gave the Lord's Prayer in John 17, but then the model prayer may be found in Matthew 6 through, 6, 9 through 13, where Jesus came into the world to seek and save that which was lost. In Luke 19, 10, it says, for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which is lost. Those who are saved have the responsibility to live for God while being in the world. Amen? While being in the world, we live for God, right? like the world because we're in the world we live for God because we're in the world so we should stand out we shouldn't make a difference we should be noticed right because we don't blend in it says that God's people have a heavenly work in an earthly location. To fulfill out part of the Great Commission, church members must live in the world as a witness and an influence for the Lord Jesus Christ. The opportunity to influence others comes at a sacrifice. God expects his people to be an example of faith, obedience, and righteousness. In 1 Timothy 4, Verse 12, it says, let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example unto the believers in word and conversation and charity and spirit and faith and purity. Amen. Those are examples we're supposed to live by. We're supposed to be pure unto God. We're supposed to live a pure life. We're supposed to live faithfully. We're supposed to have the spirit about us. We're supposed to show charity. Amen. It says we should be a good example in our speech, and in our behavior, and in our actions, and in our reactions. Yeah, that's key. Not just in our actions, but also in our reactions. Others should see Christ in us in our daily lifestyle. We should exhibit godly love, a good attitude, a strong faith in all circumstance, and preserve moral purity while we walk with God day by day. Amen. It's simple to do. It's just... following Christ right you follow Christ I mean you're not going to live like the world says Jesus prayed for his church as well as others who who would be saved at a later time he wanted his servants in his churches to remember that although they are in the world They are not of the world, as said in verse 14 there. It says that God expects his people to be different from the way people of the world think, act, and present themselves. We must put off the works of the flesh, as Galatians 5, 19 through 21 says. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these. adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like, of which I tell you before, as I have told you in old time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Since we see such behavior daily, even by those who profess to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, the standard for which children of God to be like Christ requires us to yield to the Holy Spirit. Amen. We're to not only to yield to the Holy Spirit, but we're to empower the Holy Spirit, right? We're to water and to feed the Holy Spirit, right? I was explaining to youth the other day, like where the Bible says that you're not your own. Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, right? It's like once you get saved, like everybody's seen these alien movies, right, where this alien comes in and takes over this person's body, and now they're walking around as this person, but they're really not that person. You guys see what I'm saying? And that's how the Holy Spirit is. He comes in, when you get saved, you receive that Spirit. He takes over your body, and now... You're in there, right? That's the flesh that's in there. But the spirit is also in there, right? And we're to feed the spirit. We're to continue to feed the spirit and follow the spirit. But at the same time, we got this flesh that keeps popping out, right? And that person in that alien movie, they keep popping out. And you see aspects of who they actually are. It's like, oh, that's them. That's not them, but this is them. But that's how it is. It's the Holy Spirit. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, right? You are not your own. Once you get saved, now your body belongs to the Holy Spirit. Amen? But the thing is that we feed the flesh too much and don't feed the spirit enough to where the flesh is the one that's in control instead of the spirit being in control. Amen. I don't know how I got all that from that, but that's the way it works, though. I mean, in my mind, anyhow, but it says that he wanted his servants in his churches to remember that although they are in the world, they are not of the world. And John 17, 14 is where that came from. But God expects his people to be different from the way that people in the world think, act, and present themselves. We must put off the works of the flesh. Galatians 5, 19 and 21 declares that now the works of the flesh are manifest. And we went through those. But we see such behavior daily, even by those who profess to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. The standard for children of God to be like Christ requires us to yield to the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5.22 it says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and against such there is no law. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, we will guard our speech, use self-control in our behavior, and show the kindness unto others. Amen? So if there's anything contrary to that, then you understand that that's not the Spirit that's leading that conversation. Amen? People will not find these things in the world, but they should see them in the children of God. Jesus is not of the world. He came from heaven to do the Father's will. He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven in John 6 41. It says, even though outwardly he did not appear different from any other man, the power of his presence, his miracles, his teachings caused others to realize Jesus was not another man. Amen. And it should be the same with us also. I mean, us possessing the spirit that God gave us, amen, it should be that we're not like normal people, that we don't talk the same, that we don't act the same, that we don't, although we might look like human race, we don't act like the rest of the people, amen. It says that, Yes, even though outwardly he did not appear different from any other man, the power of his presence, his miracles, his teachings caused others to realize Jesus was not just another man. The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is eternal. He is referred to as the Word. In John 1, 1 and 2, it says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Jesus had no home in the world. In his earthly ministry, he said, foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath nowhere to lay his head. Jesus' resurrection proves he is not of this world. In John 11, 25, declares Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. there were sufficient witnesses to his resurrection to prove that Jesus, who Jesus was. Through the word of God, believers may follow God as those whose citizenship is in heaven, amen? This is Abraham, he's a pilgrim following after the promise, right? Because he's persuaded that God is able to keep that which he's promised. says in Philippians 3.20, it says, for our conversation is in heaven. From whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us his word to obey. Those who follow the teachings of the Bible will not appear the same as the people of the world. God expects every believer to pray, to study, to meditate on the things of the word of God and to accept them and to put them into daily practice, right? That's key, not just reading your Bible, but actually applying your Bible, right? Changing yourself, right? Not just being like, oh, that's just the way I am, but that's a real good verse. I'll tell some other people about it, but actually being like, man, I really need to fix that, right? That's where growth comes from, when you actually start preaching and teaching and reading to improve yourself, to become more Christ-like, amen? That's where it starts. It starts with you, amen? Me, whoever. But through the word of God, believers may follow God as those whose citizenship is in heaven. Those who follow the teachings of the Bible will not appear the same as the people in the world. God expects believers to pray, to study, to meditate on things of the word of God, to accept them and to put them into practice. No one can represent Christ properly while acting and talking like the world. If God's people are no different from the people of the world, how can we have an influence for God? Alright, let's go couple different examples. We're gonna skip a few of them, but go to mark chapter 8 Mark chapter 8 Verse number 34 So then when he had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Jesus preached the word, the disciples who followed him had been saved, baptized, and organized into his church. He taught his disciples to be different from the world with the people of the world, looking on them and listening to his words. And that's key also, because if people know that you're a Christian, they're looking at you, right? They're studying you, they're analyzing you. Some people are waiting for you to mess up just so they can throw it in your face, but some people are really looking to see what God is about, amen? They want to see that, did God really change his life? You know, because I've watched him try to change his life 15 times and it's been the same every time. So is this a new thing or did God really get a hold of him, right? And we know God can get a hold of you. But we forget that as we go about our daily lives that people of the world are observing our ways. Jesus expects his disciples to follow him by denying the ways of the flesh. He said each of his followers should deny himself. With the self-denial and with the willingness to be living sacrifice for Jesus, the Lord's disciples will be following him and carrying their crosses. Amen. Go to Mark 16. Verse number 14. This is after the resurrection. It says, after he appeared unto the leaven as they sat at meat and unbraided them and their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils, and they shall speak with new tongues, and they shall take up serpents, and if, or yeah, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God, amen. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs and following. Says that Jesus appeared unto his church after his resurrection. He gave them the great commission. He did not expect them to do his work by human strength. Jesus promised to work with them. The Lord rebuked them for their hardness of heart and lack of faith. They were acting like people of the world. When the believers live by the power of God working in their lives, respond to God's word with a tender heart and do it with expectation of great faith that God will supply the results. The Lord is well pleased by God's power working in us. Others can see that we are not like others. Let's go to, go to Hebrews 11. Actually, go to John. Sorry, John 15. John chapter 15. You can hold your place in Hebrews if you're already there. We'll be there next. John 15, verse number 14. Says, you're my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what the Lord doeth, but I have called you friends. For all things that I have heard of my father, I have made known unto you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should bring forth fruit and that the fruit should remain. Whatsoever you shall ask of the father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you that you love one another. If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hated you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is no greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute also, or they also will persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. Since Jesus spoke to his church on the night he was to be arrested, these words were probably spoken on the way to Gethsemane. Jesus gave them one more lesson concerning how to be different from the world. He reminded them that their love for God and one another would cause them to stand out as those who serve God. They were to obey God's commands. They were to love one another. They should expect being hated of the world. Jesus reminded them that they could expect great opposition from the people of the world. That's good. I mean, it's good to understand that that's part of it, you know, because it, as I said earlier, it's not just about our actions, but our reactions. And so when the world hates us, it's how we react to that that is either Christ-like or worldly-like. Amen. And a lot of times, situations like that are going to be tests for us to see where we are at following God, whether woe is me and I need to get that right, or praise God that went a lot better than it used to go. Amen. But as we strive to become more Christ-like, these things should be concerning to us, because we should think before we speak, right? Because we're representing Christ, we're not just representing ourselves. And it should be different than how the world would react. All right, now let's go to Hebrews 11. Verse 24, wrong page, sorry. By faith, Moses, when he has come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Moses chose to live by faith. He did not live a life dominated by the world or worldly pleasures. He made choice that changed the course of his life. When believers make the right choices, God will shape their lives according to his will. Moses had the right purpose in trying to please God. He had the right priority. He put God before the world. Moses made the right decision concerning how to live his life by considering the eternal and temporary. He will be willing to suffer the hatred of the world to please God. Amen. That's good stuff. Yeah, we'll go ahead and move on now. Skip the other one. This is God's people must learn how to live in the world without being like the world We cannot afford to be isolated from the world. God expects his people to be witnesses for him and examples of righteousness He did not command us to seclude ourselves and in monasteries and or convents He said, go ye into all the world. Neither can we insulate ourselves from the world and do the work of God has given us to do. He expects us to serve him by being living sacrifices that live by his standards instead of the world's standards. The Lord wants us to have compassion on others, to touch the lives and to share the gospel with them. We cannot live our lives and ignore the rest of the world. Amen. God expects his children to care about the eternal destiny of unbelievers. If we love the souls of the lost, we must show them, teach them, and tell them there's a better way in Jesus Christ. The Lord has set an example of being in the world, but not living like the world. He expects us to follow his steps. Amen. The world gets our attention very easily. It has happened many times before. Eve looked to the tree and saw that it was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eye of the tree, and desired to make one wise, and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat." That's in Genesis 3, 6. The affluence of Sodom caught Lot's eye. He saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered and everywhere. It's in Genesis 1310. It says that the plain of Jordan was where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located. When Lot turned his eyes to the world, he dwelled in cities of the plain and pitched a tent towards Sodom, even though the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. After we look at the things of the world for so long, we create a larger appetite for it. Those who turn their eyes upon the things of the world instead of focusing on living for and serving the Lord Jesus Christ will get an attachment to the things of the world. Man, that's, there's a lot in that. You know what I mean? It's like just the emptiness of like, just think about like materialistic stuff. Like you want this and you think that life would be great if you just got that, right? But then you get this. And then, man, but I really like that and I really need that. I have to have that. And so you get that. But then I really could use that. And if I had that, I wouldn't need nothing else. But then you get that. And then, man, I really just, if I had that over there, you know, it just never ends. It's empty, right? Never ends. It's different with God, right? Yeah, because there's nothing to it. Yeah. Says those who turn their eyes upon the things of the world will instead of focusing on living for and serving Lord Jesus Christ will get attached to the things of the world. God demands the followers to be in the world but not get attached to the world. We must continue to turn our attention back to the Lord and not let it linger on the things of the world. All right, application. I feel like that was application, but we'll just go with it. It says, there's a way to live in the world, but not to live like the world. We must have the mind of Christ. We get God's viewpoint from his word. The Bible will lead us to the choices and decisions that are pleasing unto the Lord. If we ignore the word of God, we may be sure that we will soon be living for the things of the world instead of serving the Lord. Daniel made the right choice in Daniel 1 and 8. He says, but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. It says the the three hebrews made the right choice in daniel 3 17 18. It says if it be so Our god whom we serve is able to deliver us from this burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand Oh never oh king, but if thou but if it if not be it known Under thee oh king that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou has set up Amen, that's living in the world right living in the world, but not living like the world but Yeah, Joshua made the right choice he said in if it seemed evil unto Unto you to serve the Lord choose you this day whom you will serve where the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites or though of the land you dwell and But for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. God knew Abraham would make the right choice about bringing the children up in the ways God would approve. In Genesis 18, 19, it says, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. These men made the right choice. Amen. It says, What will you do? Right? And it's different once you realize, like, living in the world is one thing, but once you realize that you're not of the world and you shouldn't be living like the world, like, once that truth is given to you, then things should be a little bit different. Right? It's different when you're doing something you don't know any better, but once you know better, right, it says that, I can't remember where it's at, but it says, he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Right? But ignorant person, if they don't know any better, then it's a little bit different to them, right? Because like if a two-year-old is doing something bad, you know what I mean? He don't know any better, right? To him, to know what to do good and do it at night. To him, it is sin, right? If I'm doing something I'm not supposed to, then it's sin, right? But when the Lord says, come out from among them and be separate, that's why, right? Because we have God, right? And we understand that we are heaven-bound and our sins are forgiven and we're going to spend eternity in heaven. Can't nobody take that away from us. There's a lot of people that don't know that. And that's why we are here. And that's why we're to live separate from the world. So these people can see like, hey, that's somebody that I can talk to, right? Or that's somebody that is living different. Why are they living different? Maybe I should go ask them. This person is different from that person and everybody else I've ever met. Right? And it's just like how Jesus was. He looked like everybody else. But He was different. He spoke different. He talked different. His goals, his focus were different. Amen. That's because he came to do the will of him which sent him. Amen. And that's the same with ours. So let's apply that, Greg. Lord, we thank you for your word, God. We thank you for coming down from heaven and giving us this great example, Lord, how to live our lives and how to reach others, Lord, and just being a living testimony, Lord, of your word and of the things you've done in our life. God, help us to share these truths with others, Lord, that they may be saved also, Lord. Just pray you may give us the same desire, Lord, to seek and save that which is lost, Lord. Help us not to be distracted by this world and things that it has to offer, Lord. Help us to be separate from the world, Lord, understand that we're just pilgrims passing through, Lord, and this is not our home, Lord, but we need others to help fill heaven, God, and Lord, I just pray that you may just help bless us and bless the things that we do and help us to follow your will for our lives, Lord, and for the others around us, God, and help us to be more conformed to your image and praise things in the name of Jesus, amen.