“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
The “new “ calls for a mindset of courage because we by belonging to the kingdom are counter cultural.
It is a natural desire for us to want to belong and be ‘one of’ and not an outsider. It is alien for us and we are unwilling to feel uncomfortable, misplaced and rejected as different.
The time frame in which we live in the world is unique. We are made to be in Jesus’ image and He was counter cultural to the point of being rejected and persecuted.
We are here representative as Holy Spirit trouble makers if we are being led by the Spirit.
A sojourner in exile, a stranger passing through, homesick for the place of our origin.
We yearn for something we can’t find in this realm.
At best we are emboldened by understanding we will never fit in externally but that internally we have an inner peace. At worst we are frustrated by this sense of futile miss match.
We as individuals and a church body are here to bring the truth of the gospel to liberate others in their knowledge and understanding of it too.
To exercise and live the life, not just know of it, and in so doing become strengthened by the truth.
Life is transformed by the living and exercising of and not just the knowing about.
In the same way that our body can be transformed when we participate in the exercise, health regime and daily commitment to the gym in action and not just by reading the instruction manual.
The gospel demands us to be counter cultural. Imitators of Christ. Distinctive.
Thus being dangerous on earth not just fitting in, weak by being camouflaged and hidden.
We are created by God for God.
When our eyes are set on Him, He is our treasure and we know we are totally dependant on Him and not ourselves we realise we are not the kings of our own castle and we go to a place beyond where we were previously into a realm and lifestyle of obedience and kingdom living where it is .
“Your will not mine be done. “
Then we will not be tempted to bring idols of Babylon into the kingdom.
Some of our sin lies in not trusting in Him as the only resource we require.
Our sin has been in allowing other priorities to insidiously creep in:
Materialism and prosperity has crept in. A hunger for our own power, domination and influence. A desire for individualism and not inclusion, all belonging.
We have to be counter cultural and a challenge to the norm as Jesus was to His core. In the world but not of it.
The pathway to power is the president of obedience and submission.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
The liberating and setting of captives free from control and any atmosphere of fear. Being released into the knowledge that God is in control and His will is always ultimately in our benefit.
He receives all our needs. He empties and releases all that is good.
The whole dynamic of the kingdom hinges on : “Not my will but Your’s be done.
We have lost our power as we have lost our purity when we have looked to any other source than God for power.
Power comes counter culturally in humility, suffering, weakness, sharing offering generosity Not as the world would demand in triumphing in control, dominance, climbing and political government and taking.
What motivates us? Why do we pursue God?
The illustration shows God moulding the vessel that is set apart and refined to be the light and salt in the Kingdom. The image of Christ emanating a light into the world that pushes back the darkness.
Three Scriptures that come to mind:
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:4-8 ESV
“saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””Luke 22:42 ESV
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”John 14:12 ESV
The song Even If. MercyMe https://youtu.be/0dl6-fEXYsw
Lessisgreater 