bye bye babylon
Come out of her, My people!
revelation 18:4
Culture is going to lie to you for the rest of your life.
What is Babylon?
Any system or structure or government opposed to God…
God makes all things right BEFORE He makes all things new.
We need to regain biblical clarity in a secular culture.
“We are either being shaped by the world or shaped by the Word of God.”
Conduct yourselves with fear [reverence] throughout the time of your exile. (1 Peter 1:17)
The bride of Christ should NOT be spiritually intertwined with this world system.
What scripture points to a middle, neutral ground for those who want “more time with the world”? There isn’t any. *you are walking towards God or away from Him with every action.
There will be pressure to bow down in this culture.
There will be familiar voices that encourage you to conform. Familiar voices could be family, friends, teachers, bosses; and even then, we are called to stand firm in Truth.
See to it that no one takes us captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. (Colossians 1:26)
Why does the church look so much like the world today?
Me-ology vs. Theology.
A life pleasing to God: 1 Thessalonians 4 + 5
We ask and we urge you in the LORD Jesus how you out to walk and please God…For this is the will of God: Your sanctification.
God has not called us for impurity but in holiness.
Aspire to:
live quietly
mind your own affairs
work with your hands
SO THAT you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
God doesn’t desire our wrath, but our salvation.
Will of God in Christ Jesus for you: (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22)
Seek to do good to one another
Rejoice Always
Pray without ceasing
Give thanks in all circumstances
Do not quench the spirit
Do not despise prophecy
Test everything
Hold fast to what is good
Abstain from evil
It is NOT the will of God that one of His little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)
It IS possible to grow in holiness in our lives (1 Peter 1:2)
The genuineness of our faith will be tested by fire (various trials we each face uniquely).
And Still. We are called to be holy: “You shall be holy because I am Holy” (1.16)
My hope is in Him and I will trust Him at all times, pouring out my heart before Him; God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)
We will (and we should) smell differently to believers and unbelievers.
Purify your soul through your obedience to the Truth.
You can only be obedient to the Truth when you commit your life to pursuing Truth.
(Not your truth or my truth, but His Truth, which can be known.)
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)