"How Do Christians Live In A Fallen World?”

9 “ I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.

10And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. 12While 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. 13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

INTRODUCTION:

It's becoming harder than ever to be faithful in a faithless world.

The Christian life demands change, and the toughest kind. It often means turning from the things that come easiest—things that satisfy our natural urges. But the ability to freely choose to say no to our urges and impulses is what makes us distinctly human. (This is why we do not lock up dogs and chimpanzees for rape and murder.) To say no—and yes!—at the right time is what makes humans happy. This is true freedom. Christianity is an invitation to actualize the human destiny of everlasting happiness; and through the Church, God has provided the roadmap to get us there.

John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

(v3 kjv)

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

Ephesians 1:4 NLT

Christianity is hard because it aims to soften hearts. One of the tough facts of Christianity is that we must face up to the fact that we are fallen. We are often not what we ought to be. G.K. Chesterton writes: “One of the chief uses of religion is that it makes us remember our coming from darkness, the simple fact that we are created” (from The Boston Sunday Post).

What makes Christianity hard is that it reminds us of our imperfections. We are much too prideful to enjoy such a thing—and this, I fear, is where the skeptics and the critic of our faith checks out. The skeptic robs himself of the opportunity to encounter the Good News. Chesterton famously remarked: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried”

1- TRANSFORMED & NOT CONFORMED:

First, Christians are not supposed to become like the world. There is a call to non-conformation to the world. For example, Paul says in Romans 12:1-3 that Christians are not supposed to conform to the patterns of the world. Hence, Christians are called to create a new culture.

For me, transformation come from a Union with God in the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus had done for us. I want to listen to Him. The Source of my everything....

“I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people...”

(Psalm 85:8, NIV)

The Lord speaks in many ways. First of all, He speaks through the Word of God. But sometimes He speaks through the encouragement of a friend, or through a song, or in the beauty of nature. Sometimes it’s a simple “knowing” deep down on the inside of you in your spirit. If you aren’t sure how God speaks to you, ask Him to teach you. Open your heart and be willing to hear His voice. As you take time to be still and listen to Him, He will speak. He will reveal Himself to you and give you peace all the days of your life.

This is transformation!

You can get out of the mold of the world and enter into His fold. A sheep in the Loving arms of our Great Shepherd...

2- SANCTIFICATION NOT ISOLATION: