08/18/2024 Church service

周日礼拜

视频

    Do Not Conform 不要变得像世人似的

 

Matt 7:13,14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
马太福音 7:13,14: 你们要进窄门，因为通向灭亡的门大，路宽，进去的人也多； 但通向永生的门小，路窄，找到的人也少 (page 1568)

Romans 12:2 – Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
罗马书 12:2: 你们不可追随世界的潮流，要随着思想的不断更新而改变，这样就能明辨上帝的旨意，知道什么是良善、纯全、
蒙祂悦纳的。(page 1839)
Mark 4:24: “Be careful how you listen,” he said to them. “Whatever measure you use will be used towards you, and even more than that. For the man who has something will receive more. As for the man who has nothing, even his nothing will be taken away.”
馬 可 福 音 4:24: 你们要仔细琢磨你们听到的。你们用怎样的量器给别人，上帝也会用怎样的量器给你们，而且甚至会多给你们 (1624)
Matt 7:12: In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you'd want them to treat you, for that is the essence of all the teachings of the Law and the Prophets.
马太福音 7:12: 所以，你们希望人怎样待你们，就要怎样待人，这是律法和先知的教导。(page 1568)

 

 

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视频脚本 Script

The Inversarian Principle 2024
Matthew 7:13,14

Frog in Hot Water analogy Last 4 years of increasing heat in OUR bucket

At 65, Insurance companies calculate that a whopping 94% of North Americans will either be dead or dead broke.
That means 94% of the population is doing something very wrong.

This is only ONE example.

Going with the flow requires you stop thinking for yourself.

Did you know if you reduced a dog's chain one link at a time, every few days, until his chain is so short he won't be able to move, he will never resist because he is conditioned to the loss of his freedom slowly, over time?

Matthew 7:13-14 (MSG) “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.”

Leaders are always ridiculed at first – that’s why they’re leaders. They Lead.
They aren’t following the crowd.

“In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”
Today I want to talk about what is known as the The Inversarian Principle
The Inversarian Principle simply states you should observe the masses, and then do just the opposite.

Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

You must become an inversarian if you want to create a breakthrough lifestyle.

Observe the masses and do the opposite – the inverse

“Enter through the narrow gate because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road!
The narrow gate and the difficult way leads to eternal life—so few even find it!”

• (the stereotypical contradictions)
A financial planner that isn’t financially secure
• An overweight, unhealthy doctor.
• Inspect / Observe the fruit to judge the tree
• Punk Rock concert - Smokey Pig vs Country Life

Escape from your need to gain approval from others

Some people will never follow God’s plan for their lives because they are following someone else’s plan.

Most people live their lives worried about what their family and friends think of them, which means, chances are, they don’t really spend too much time thinking at all.
That’s a big problem.

People tend to live their lives according to the way they think others close to them think they should live. “People pleasing” Maintaining approval.

…but observe those who do the great things in life.

Eagles don’t fly in flocks. (ducks do. they never break from the flock)

What anyone thinks about you is none of your business.

God’s plan is bigger than others will likely embrace – even if they love you, they may try to hold you back. (often to protect you from disappointment)

The voices directing the masses have a plan for you – and it involves a lot a brainwashing through television, radio and internet.

Walt Disney : “Observe the masses and do the opposite.”

We’ve covered all that just to get to this:
Romans 12:2 – “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

conform: behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards.

The way of the world is not the way of the Kingdom of God
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world..”

If 94% are going in the wrong direction – then they are all choosing to conform

"Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit."

We see things like this and we may shake our heads, but this is a pattern – a pattern that is established by our habitual thinking.

Habits. (me) Flipping on the light that is already on

These habits are Neural connections – pathways of thought

Jesus said, "Pay close attention to what you hear.”
“Take care what you listen to.”

Neuroplasticity has become a buzzword in psychology and scientific circles, as well as outside of them, promising that you can “re-wire” your brain to improve everything from health and mental wellbeing to quality of life.

God’s Word said it first: “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

You can be renewed – and you can be transformed

It will require new information – new resources – new life-references – and new associations.

“What we think about, we bring about.” “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

I know there are just some people I have to stay away from… but sometimes (like at work) I really don’t have that option. It takes more effort to stay intentional J

In life, you will either see difficulty or opportunity and you will always act accordingly.

There is another term we need to add: Comfort Zone
“There is a way that seemeth right…

Going with the masses is one form of comfort zone behavior.

“Comfort Zone” can also be another word for “rut.”
“Difficult roads can lead to beautiful destinations”

Leaders Lead.
They break away from the pack – and they leave the comfort zone back in the dust.

When you are living from purpose you shut out the VODS (the”voices of dis-couragement”)

A purposeful leader develops a Teflon soul

Lead – but do as much as possible ahead of time before you go public.

If you tell people your big God-given dream before you have taken actions in that direction, you just might not find the level of support you had hoped for from those you share your vision with.

Your big plans may rock the boat for many (comfort zone) because you force others to consider their own actions and choices.

Churches grow – revival fires are stirred – and communities are transformed – because someone decided to lead – despite the voices of discouragement.

Your actions become a threat to the system.

Don’t be surprised if when you shoot for the moon they shoot for your heart.

Anything you do that is against the tide (the current) is going to meet with opposition

True leadership requires us to become comfortable being uncomfortable.

But keep going – and keep growing.

“What great thing would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”

The Inversarian Principle says, “observe the masses and do just the opposite.”

A perfect example of the Inversarian Principle put into action is best expressed through The Prayer of St Francis (pg 481)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

? Can you identify an area where maybe you took the broad road and it led to a bad place? ( )

Now is the best time ever to redirect your course and take new steps in a better direction.

If you really want to make a permanent change today, stop focusing on the size of your problems and start focusing on the size and omnipotent power of your Almighty God.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God

GOD calls YOU to Lead

He says , “Come out from among them and be ye separate.”


One more thought…

In this dog-eat-dog (or duck-eat-duck?) world, Be the One who lifts others up so they, too, can break from the masses and become who God created them to be

Matt 7:12: In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you'd want them to treat you, for that is the essence of all the teachings of the Law and the Prophets.

Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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