DO WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?



Introduction:



    1. In a report on a recent poll, George Gallup concluded: "Churchgoers do not differ appreciably from non-churchgoers in matters of moral and ethical behavior."
      1. The gap between religious thinking and human thinking has narrowed over the years to the point where there is little or no gap anymore. The gap has narrowed mostly as a result of the "religious" coming around to the worlds way of thinking, rather than by the world being converted.
      2. In other words, the "religious" have become "conformed unto the world" and not the world conformed unto Christ.


    2. Scriptures teach beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christians, God's Chosen people are to be different from those who are in the world --- Rom. 12:1-2.
      1. The Bible says that Children of God are brought out of the darkness of the world into the Light of His dear Son --- Col. 1:12-13 ; I Thess. 5:5 ; I John 1:5.
        1. We are to be the lights of the world since we abide in Christ and follow His example --- Matt 5:14 ; John 8:12 ; 9:5.
      2. The children of God are a bought people --- Acts 20:28.
        1. We are a chosen people : - I Peter 2:9.
          1. NKJV --- "A SPECIAL PEOPLE"
          2. KJV --- "A PECULIAR PEOPLE"
          3. NIV --- "PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD".
          4. ASV --- "PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION".
        2. With this understanding we realize that there are certain marks on children of God that show distinction and possession by God.
          1. ILLUSTRATION : KNIVES IN A TUB. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE IS MINE? THEY MAY ALL LOOK ALIKE, FEEL THE SAME, BUT WHAT MAKES ME CERTAIN THAT ONE PARTICULAR KNIFE IS MINE! --- MY DISTINGUISHED MARKINGS ON IT.
          2. Same goes for VCR's , TV's etc.
      3. Our entire walk is different --- Eph. 5:8
        1. We walk by faith and not by sight --- II Cor. 5:7.


    3. These are but a few examples that show us that the scriptures show that we as children of God are different from the world.
    4. Having determined that we are to be different let us now consider a few points that make us different from the world, and the results of this difference as is noted by the Scriptures.


Body:

  1. BUT, WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS ?
    1. There are those who are OBEDIENT and FAITHFUL and there are those you are not.
      1. Obedience is the action of putting our faith into work. --- Mk. 16:16
        1. ie. I believe there is a God and that He has given us His Will, but if that is all I have then I have nothing. Obedience to His Will is the active part of my faith.
      2. Those who are faithful to God in every way realize that this is important IF we want to attain heaven. --- Rev. 2:10


    2. There are those who DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN and there are those who do not --- Matt. 7:21-23.
      1. We know the Will of the Father through His revealed Word.
        1. Since God has revealed His Will to us, anything that is not in the Scriptures is not His Will and therefore we are not at liberty to add them in!
      2. God has Revealed Himself to us through the Spirit .... I Cor. 2:10-11.
      3. We must seek God for God reveals Himself to those who seek Him --- Prov. 8:17
        1. Matt 6:33 --- "Seek Ye First the Kingdom ...."
        2. Note the order --- WE MUST FIRST SEEK.
          1. Implies that God can be sought and God can be made known unto us.--- cf. Rom. 1:20.
    3. There are those who DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE FOR CHRIST BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS Matt. 19:17 ; John 14:15, 21, 23-24 ; I John 2:3-6 and there are those who profess to love Christ but do not keep His commandments.
      1. Those who love Christ realize that His commandments are not burdensome --- Matt. 11:30 ; I John 5:3
      2. Note the words of the Wisdom of Solomon --- Eccl. 12:13-14.
        1. If one does not REVERENCE GOD/CHRIST then he will not do His Commandments.


  2. WE AS CHRISTIANS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.


    1. We are the salt of the earth ---Matt. 5:13a.
      1. What here is meant is that Christians are the preserving power.
        1. Note some Illustrations that show the usage of salt as a preservative.
          1. Note that ten righteous people would have saved Sodom & Gomorrah --- Gen. 18:32-33.
        2. Salt also creates thirst. --- Matt. 5:6
      2. What happens when we lose our effectiveness of preservation? When we do not make a difference anymore! --- Matt. 5:13b.


    2. We are the lights of the World --- Matt. 5:14-16.
      1. The basic work of light is to take away darkness.
        1. As Christians we manifest the things of darkness by our way of life --- Eph. 5:13.
      2. In this one relation we as children of God are different from people of the world since we love light and hate darkness --- John 3:19-20.


    3. Our difference should be seen in the way people act about us.
      1. The way the speak, joke etc.
      2. The environment should be purer and not dirtier.


    4. Many times to be different means to STAND ALONE.
      1. Paul in Jail.
      2. Christ in the Garden of Geth. & on the Cross.
      3. O.T. prophets --- I Kings 17 - 19:14.
        1. Note Elijah thought he was alone but there were 7000 others who had not bowed the knee to Baal - cf. vrs 18.
        2. Daniel in Babylon --- Daniel 6
          1. Daniel's friends stood alone against the King --- Daniel 3:8-25
        3. Joseph had to stand alone against Potiphar's wife --- Gen. 39:7-12.
      4. Many other examples can be given when children of God have had to stand alone because of their fear and Respect of God's Commands.
      5. Another important understanding is that though all around me forsakes me, God will not leave me.


    5. In many cases it is being different that pulls us through hardships.
      1. How many of us would have complained about being in prison and having been whipped for preaching the Gospel of Christ? cf. Acts 16:22-24.
        1. Yet note : --- Paul and Silas --- Acts 16:25.
          1. They were singing and praying and others where listening to them.
          2. How many prisoners would have made a run for it if what happened here occurred to them?
        2. Them being different help to bring the Jailer to Christ --- Acts 16:27-34.

Conclusion:

    1. Brethren different is better than being conformed to the norm.
      1. It is Scriptural and a requirement for the people of God.
    2. Being different just for the sake of being different is not what is under consideration.
      1. It is being worthy to be called a child of God that makes us different and sets us apart from the children of the world.