Disruptively Different by Design: Sent to Witness

So the world doesn't hate you because of who you are. The world hates you because of whose you are, who you belong to, the risen Jesus. Now let me just touch back on this thread, the titheme thread that was uncovered in a previous sermon. You're not in that difficult workplace or difficult school environment or difficult friendship or family situation by accident. God has called you out, and then he has placed you there for a reason that you are disruptively different by design, and you are placed anointed, set apart, positioned for his purpose. [00:45:45] (46 seconds)  #DisruptivelyDifferent

Today, as we unpack these verses in John, I want us to expose the friction that that expose the lie. That that friction means there's something wrong with us as Christians. No. We are gonna claim a deep satisfying truth that that opposition is often a primary signature that you are exactly where Jesus has placed you. [00:32:05] (27 seconds)  #OppositionIsYourSign

The holy spirit is not gonna come into a neutral environment or a friendly environment. It is a hostile environment. And we talked about that opposition to God's word, God's kingdom, to the leadership of Christ over our lives, his claim, his kingship. And so you and I, we can't stand with the weight of the cosmos on us. We need the holy spirit to be strengthening us and guiding us when our faith is on trial, in those small moments when we have to decide what we're gonna do or what we're gonna say. [00:44:41] (43 seconds)  #HolySpiritInHostility

You see, because before Jesus came, the world could claim that God was mysterious and unknowable. But now Jesus has walked amongst the people, and they've seen what it looks like, and they've heard what it looks like. And so Jesus' words, his works, his actions, they act like a spotlight that exposes our sin and also removes our excuses. [00:48:44] (29 seconds)  #JesusExposesSin

And that means when we stand for Christ, your light also it becomes that continuation of the spotlight into the hearts of people around you. So I wanna say, you don't have to win every conversation, or you don't have to shout louder than the culture around you. Your job is to faith fully testify where you're planted to God's goodness in your life and his transformation power through your steady everyday presence. [00:49:13] (37 seconds)  #SteadyEverydayWitness

And I think it'll be so easy for us, for you and me, and I can think of times that I have done it, where I have stepped back when I should have stepped forward, where I've blended in, where I've hid my faith, whether it's at work or in a friendship conversation. But here's the problem. Because the world is systemically organized with opposition of God in mind. And if you and I belong to Jesus, then we are in an inevitable head on collision. [00:42:46] (35 seconds)  #DontBlendInStandOut

But there's a hard truth that they will confront and we should also confront. We're shaped by Jesus. We are sent by Jesus, but we will also be received by Jesus. Following Jesus doesn't mean that we get removed from the opposition of the world or that we have a, you know, get out free of jail card. No. It gives us an anchor in the storm. [00:30:59] (29 seconds)  #AnchorInTheStorm

And so this disruption, it's not a flaw of the system. It's actually embedded in the call that you and I have, a call to witness. And so the world will move against you, will push against you. And I want you to stand firm because you know that this is the way things are this side of Jesus' return. [00:46:31] (27 seconds)  #DisruptionIsCalling