Should There Be A Difference

It seems in this generation we are living in, there is an air of permissiveness. “If it feels good, do it.” Everyone else is doing it, saying it, what is wrong if I do? What I want to talk to you about today is being different, taking a stand for the Lord Jesus.

1. There should be a difference according to the word of God.

a. Acts 11:26, disciples called Christians.

b. Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters.

c. Matthew 12:30, He that is not with me is against me.

d. No fence straddling, no middle of the road, you are either standing for or against the principles of God.

2. It has always been and always will be the nature of God’s people to be called upon to take a stand. To be different.

3. Now as you view this generation, it’s hard to tell who a Christian is, who is standing for God and who is not.

4. Personally, there are two main reasons why Christian people are not different today and I want to use these two points for the message.

I. Lack of Knowledge

1. First, in a lack of knowledge, from where is a person to receive knowledge? What is the voice of authority today?

a. Certainly not the school system.

1) What is being taught today, sex, evolution.

2) Language, cursing, ball games, attitude in classes, throwing fits.

3) Somehow, I feel you and I would have a hard time being in school today.

b. Certainly not the church, I repeat not the church.

1) Churches are not the way they were 20 years ago.

2) No bible teaching don’t want to offend anyone, no sin condemning.

3) In some churches there is as much sin going on as in most bars.

c. Certainly not men, laws of the land, yes even men and women of authority, men, and women in leadership.

2. What is the voice of authority? Not schools, not churches, not the laws of the land, but the word of God.

a. Man is to live by the word of God.

1) Matthew 4:4, Colossians 3:16

2) The word of God should govern every area of our life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

b. Man will be judged by this word, nothing else. Romans 2:16

3. Whose fault is it if you don’t know what the word of God says?

a. Yours, 2 Timothy 2:15

b. Mine, your pastor, Isaiah 55:8-9, 57:20-21, 58:1

c. By the preaching of the word God, you should know right from wrong.

4. In knowing what to stand for, let me point to some men who have stood for God and why they chose to be different.

a. Noah, Genesis 6:6-8, 22. The direct command of God.

b. Moses, Exodus 3:1-2. God’s command and call to lead His people.

c. David, 1 Samuel 17:29. God’s people were defeated, progress stopped, is there not a cause.

d. Elijah, 1 Kings 18:17-21, 36-38

e. Daniel, Daniel 1:8

f. Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel 3:16-18

g. Stephen, Acts 7:54-60

5. None of these men stood for or were different because of personal reasons.

a. All stood because of the principles of God.

b. They stood for the ways and works of God.

c. Jesus, when He cleansed the temple because men had perverted holy things. The things of God.

6. Let me bring this down to everyday life.

a. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

b. Amos 3:3

c. 2 Timothy 4:3

d. 2 Thessalonians 3:6

e. Wolves in sheep’s clothing.

7. If any person, thing, organization, law, force, goes against God, you had better stand against them.

8. One of the main reasons people do not stand for God, they do not know.

a. Read your bible.

b. Listen to this preacher.

II. Lack of Courage

1. If you stand, persecution will come. John 15:18-21

2. 2 Corinthians 6:18

3. It means when I stand for what is right, He is promising me His presence as a Father.

a. Can you imagine how you would feel if every time you stood for good against evil, your father was standing with you.

b. You would not be afraid.

c. 3 Hebrew children

d. Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6

4. When I stand for what is right, He is promising His provision

a. Most of the time we will not stand because of the cost.

b. God will let no man be a debtor to Him. God will owe no man.

c. God will provide for His children.

5. Standing for God, He promises His protection.

a. Matthew 28:18

b. Romans 13:1

c. You see God is not limited to earthly means as we think of power.

d. Hebrew 10:30-31, Deuteronomy 32:35

III. In Closing

1. Those who have no marks of separation, they see no wrong with anything.