The Difference Between Us and Them - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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The Difference Between Us and Them

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Intro: Make no mistake: there is a difference between the church and the world.

Jesus clearly believed and taught that.

Notice in the text:

1. The World - vs. 18, 19

2. The Word - vs. 20 (see also vs. 3, 7, 11)

3. The Warning - vs. 21

4. The Works - vs. 24

5. The Witnesses - vs. 26, 27

The Bible teaches this "us and them" mentality in many places.

God’s Word deals with…

A. The Condemnation of Sinners

John 3

·        18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

·        19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

·        20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

·        21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

B. The Conversion of Sinners

1 Corinthians 6

·        9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

·        10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

·        11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Not once are God’s people referred to as SINNERS.

We are called saints.

C. The Companionship of Sinners

·        Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

·        Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

·        Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

·        Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1 Corinthians 6

·        14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

·        15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

·        16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

·        17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

·        18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

So what is the difference between us and them?

I. We have a different FAITH

The unsaved is referred to as “unbelievers.”

·        2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

·        Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

·        Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The difference in us and the world is where and Who we put our faith.

Mark 16

·        15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

·        16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The difference is simply “we believe God.”

Paul in Acts 27:25 was different from everybody (276 people) else on that ship – because he believed God.

II. We have a different FATHER

John 8

·        42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

·        43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

·        44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

III. We have a different FAMILY

·        1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

·        1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The world doesn’t understand the church.They don’t understand the bond we share.They don’t understand our love, our unity, our fellowship, our sacrifices.

The family of God is a supernatural family.

The world looks for a place to “fit in.”The believer looks for a place to serve.

IV. We have a different FOCUS

One of the clearest distinctions between the believer and the world is what:

·        captures our attention

·        consumes our energy

·        motivates our decisions

·        directs our pursuits.

The world does not understand the priorities of God’s people.

The world is focused on the temporary.The believer is focused on the eternal.

The world is captured by the visible.The believer is captivated by the invisible.

The world is driven by the earthly.The believer is drawn by the heavenly.

When a person is truly saved, God changes what they look at, what they live for, and what they long for.

Philippians 3

·        10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

·        11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

·        12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

·        13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

·        14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

·        15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 3

·        1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

·        2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Matthew 6

·        31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

·        32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

·        33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

V. We have a different FUTURE

Romans 8

·        17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

·        18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

·        19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

·        20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

·        21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Conclusion: So what should we take away from this message?

One thing is clear – it should not be that we are better than everybody else.

The truth is, we should be striving to make sure that everybody that is NOT saved has the opportunity to be saved.

We should strive to ensure that every person can experience this DIFFERENCE.

Jude

·        22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

·        23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.