Stop!!

As a Christian we should be different to the world.

Romans 12:1-2 - 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Unfortunately, Christians tend to adopt a lot of the worldly sayings and practices. This has the effect that we are not the light of the world and the salt of the world as God intended.

Matthew 5:13-15 - 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Proverbs 6:16-19 - 16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

· 17 haughty eyes, (Prideful, I am better than you, superior attitude)

· a lying tongue, (spreading lies and rumors)

· hands that shed innocent blood,

· a heart that devises wicked schemes, (planning evil against others)

· feet that are quick to rush into evil, (gloating about what is wrong

· a false witness who pours out lies (false lies and testimonies even half-truths)

· and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. (stirring strife between friends)

Here are a few things that we should avoid doing/saying:

1. Using God’s name in vain.

The words spoken by actors and the general public are: “Oh my God”. There is almost no TV show that does not do this.

Exodus 20:7 - 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

I don’t think people realize the seriousness of using these words. At judgement day, people that uses God’s name in vain will be judged on what they did. As a Christian, if we use these words, we will be judged more harshly as we know the truth and will have no excuse.

Revelation 20:12-14 - 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Beware of associating with such people. An unfortunate fact is that when you associate with people that uses God’s name in vain or uses foul language, subconsciously they affect you and if you are not careful, you will start mimicking their language without noticing it. So be careful who you associate with.

2. Avoid pagan practices:

A lot of Christians are using pagan sayings or do pagan actions that they may not be aware what the origin is. Sayings like “Touch wood”, Throwing salt over your shoulder to avoid catastrophe, sending out “Christian-like” messages that end off with things like: “Send this to 7 friends and you will receive a blessing/money within 7 days”, etc. By saying this or doing this you are denying the power of the almighty God. You are calling on the spiritual realms of the evil one to help you.

Rituals include: Forefather worship, offerings to gods (Offerings can be anything you feel your god or goddess would enjoy: food, beverage, water, incense, herbal blends, art, and poetry), burning of candles (in gratitude to gods or ancestors), Yoga, eastern meditation (mediating on the Word), partaking in Halloween, games of chance, gambling, Lotto, etc.

Matthew 6:31-33 - 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Bible is clear. God is our provider. If we seek His Kingdom, he will provide our daily bread. Our trust must be in Him. In the “Our Father” prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “for our daily bread”. It is a statement of our trust in God to provide our needs and not on what we have, or foreign gods.

3. False promises:

One of the worse things we can do is to make a promise and not keep it. How many of us have promised to pray for someone and did not do it. Use a note pad to remind you to pray for them.

Matthew 5:37 - 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

How many of us have had weddings or other gatherings where people confirmed they were coming but on the day they did not turn up or made an apology or excuse. We get really mad at them. Think about what God thinks about us when we don’t keep our promises.

John 8:44 - You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

If we make a promise, it is our responsibility to make sure that that promise is kept, irrespective of cost. The person we have promised to is expecting us to keep our promise and relies on that promise. If they find out that we have not kept our promise, it could damage that person’s faith in the Living God. You and I could even be the reason for people rejecting Jesus Christ and we will be held accountable for that.

4. Name it and claim it:

A lot of “pastors” have the view that if they ask something from God, He must give what they ask. God is not a genie that you can rub him and your dreams will be realized. They use the following Scripture to justify their actions:

Matthew 7:7-8 - 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

They unfortunately forget that:

· God sometimes says YES: That is when it is within His perfect will and to His glory. We often forget that everything we do should be to God’s glory. When God says yes, it is a wonderful experience that you know that what you will do, will be successful in God’s way.

· God does not always answer prayer in the way we want. If we pray within the will of the Father, only then God will give us what we ask. Those prayers are to glorify God.So be prepared that what you ask may not be what is given. God only wants the best for us. Initially you may be disappointed, but in the end you will find out that God’s answer was good for you.

· Sometimes God says NO, it is not within my will. In particular if it is not going to be good for you or if the prayer was out of selfishness desires. We have to submit to God’s will in everything we ask. Some pastors say that is a lack of faith. I say that is absolute trust in God.

Matthew 26:39 - 39 Going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus could have disobeyed His Father but He did not. His purpose was to let the will of God be done. Irrespective of what it would cost Him personally.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - 7 Or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

· Sometime God says: WAIT, it is not time yet. We don’t know what the future holds; only God knows. What looks to us like the right time to do something, may not be God’s timing. Stop being impatient and let God decide the timing. Sometimes we want to do things for the wrong reason and God will delay our request to change and renew our minds first so that our intention becomes His intention.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 - 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

What is reality is that we do not know what God’s perfect will is at times. Jesus taught us how to pray:

Matthew 6:9-13 - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Why are we so arrogant that we think we can force God to do our will? I have learnt through my experience of some 60 years of being a child of God, that whenever God said no, or wait, He had a better solution or plan for me. Some will say that I have no faith when I submit my prayers to God so that His will be done. I can tell you that is true faith. Trusting the Father for what is good for me.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 3:11-12 - 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Matthew 6:5 - 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

5. Foul language:

Foul language does not belong to a child of God. The Bible is clear about this.

Ephesians 4:29 - 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Matthew 15:10-11 - 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

James 3:9-11 - 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Matthew 12:33-35 - 33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

1 Peter 3:9-11 - 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

James 3:8-10 - 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

We must be careful who we associate with. Our environment does affect us. We also have to remind ourselves that the earthly man desires what is wrong whilst the spiritual man will want to do what glorifies God. Friends can be the catalyst to “force” us into doing wrong. Sometimes we have to move away for the sake of our own salvation and spiritual growth, even if it is very hard to do this. This in a Biblical act to preserve your integrity as a Christian and our witness. We should be known for what we do that is good, just, honorable, etc. (Phil 4:8)

Psalm 1:1-4 - 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Philippians 4:8 - 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

6. Stop pressurizing the unbelievers:

One of the worst things you can do is to pressurize unbelievers to accept Christ. It alienates them from accepting the Gospel. Beside alienating them, from experience in evangelism, whenever you pressurize people, they will not be able to complete the race. They will find out that they have to adopt another lifestyle that they have not expected. It is an uncertain road for new believers. People need to weigh up the cost and make the decision to follow Christ not just with their heart but also their mind.

2 Corinthians 2:14 - But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

We also have to step back when people do not want to listen. Our role is to witness, not convert. That is God’s work. It may even bite you.

Matthew 7:6 - “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Jesus even said that you should:

Matthew 10:13-15 - 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Being patient and loving will convince people that Christ is the answer. Bible punching does not work. God is patient, so should we be. It is estimated that it very seldom takes one intervention to open up peoples’ minds to the truth of the Bible.

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

7. Stop being prideful

God hates pride. Many Christians believe they are better than other people, especially the unsaved. They forget that we are sinners that have been saved. It is grace. We should show other people the same grace. God expects humility from us.

1 John 2:16 - For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Romans 3:23-24 - 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Peter 5:5 - In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Proverbs 11:2 - 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Let us change our mindset. Let God renew our minds.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

a. Humble yourself before God. James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God." The word "submit" means to surrender to God's will.

b. Serve others above yourself. Philippians 2:3 reads, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

c. Use your spiritual gifts to build up the church. Romans 12:5-6, "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.

d. Choose to serve God: 1 Kings 18:21 - 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

e. Live your Christianity: Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. By living the Fruit of the Spirit, we will be a witness to people of God’s love and compassion, far more than words can. We have to witness, but if the Fruit of the Spirit is absent, we will lose the battle.