The Dual Context

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble When you're perfect in every way I can't wait to look in the mirror Cause I get better looking each day To know me is to love me I must be a hell of a man Oh Lord It's hard to be humble, But I'm doing the best that I can

I have the same problem. I want things to be about me!

The Struggle is real

The Israelites and the Pharisees

The New Revised Standard Version False and True Worship

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,

and oppress all your workers.

4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

and to strike with a wicked fist.

The New Revised Standard Version Jesus Denounces the Scribes

In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

How do we deal with the Struggle?

Understand what God deisres

Understand our own deisres

Then we can judge the two

The New Revised Standard Version The New Life in Christ

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect

This is not as easy as we think because we begin to justify our behaviors as what God wants.

What does scripture say about the duality we live in?

The New Revised Standard Version Friendship with the World

4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Moving Forward/What’s Next

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.Moving Forward/What’s Next

The New Revised Standard Version A New Commandment

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.

What’s Next

We have a mission

To Go and Preach

To offer salvation thru Jesus to the World

To act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly

Jesus prayed for our protection to fulfill this mission

The New Revised Standard Version Jesus Prays for His Disciples

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

The struggle between living the way of the world or the way of God is real. Paul tells us what our Goal should be when he said “I Press on toward the Goal which Christ Jesus has called me heavenward.”

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