Built Different
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Illustration
Illustration
i want you to think for a moment
and follow along with me ..
now look down at your shoes
what were your shoes made for?
are they running shoes?
tennis shoes?
slides? Boot?
where they made just for style?
now imagine this
if you were to play sports
maybe football or soccer
or even track
would you were the same shoes you have on now?
no, you would change your shoes
and put on the right pair
because the shoes you have on now
are not built for the sport
if you are going to run and not slip
and make quick cuts without without falling
stop on a dime with out slidding
you need the right grip
you need the right supposrt
you need the shoes that were built for the game
because shoes designed for sports
look different
feel different
and perform different
because they are built different
they werent made to just walk
they were made to compete
to stand strong
and move with purpose
now listen to me for a second
in a world thats set up to make you slip
to fall and compromise
God didnt build you to blend in
He didnt design you to go with the flow
you were built different
“Built Different”
“Built Different”
You’ve got a purpose
you’ve got a calling
you were made for more than just surviving
You were made to run with endurance
to fight the good fight
and to stand firm
when a world around you
is compromising and falling into sin
you were built to be set apart
because you are built different
everyone say “i am built different”
before we accept God into our lives
we weren’t any different
we were just like the world
we thought like the world
we did what the world does
we had no spiritual guidance
but once we give our lives to Jesus
we begin to go on a journey
our lives begin to change
our priorities begin to change
our choices change
our friend groups change
our whole mindset changes
because heres point 1
You were built for purpose, not popularity
You weren’t made to blend in - you were made to stand out
because we are no longer choose to follow this world
instead we choose to follow Jesus
before Jesus we wanted to fit in
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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.
Romans 12:1–2 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (watch this) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, (dont fit it, dont follow what is popular in this world because thats what you used to do, you used to think like 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.”
see, before we come to God
we learn to live life through the experiences we have had
we talk the way we talk because it is acceptable in our friend group
we act the way we act because its how other people around us act
we do the things we do because other people are doing it to
and so before Jesus the thigns we do
are just part of our lives
people cus so i cus
my friends are smoking pot
so i’ll smoke pot
everyone else is drinking so i’ll drink
so and so are sleeping together
so i’ll sleep around too
and so it starts with us copy people
and then it becomes a part of us
it becomes a part of who we are
without thinking too much into it
we have a natural tendancy
to follow this world
and copy this world
and then we think it is just who we are
But God’s word tells we are not a part of this world
that we can be transformed (changed)
all though we may live in this world
we are set apart as His special possession
because you and i
as followers of Jesus
are built different
in a world filled with comprimise
we are called to be differents
point 2
“we are built for conviction, not compromise
your life is meant to reflect Jesus not mimic the world
change happens
when we realize who we were created to be
we acknowledge where we are
and we choose to be different
1 Peter 2:9–10 “But you are not like that, (Paul just got done talking about those who reject Jesus because they do not obey God’s Word) for you are a chosen people. (this is your identity as a believer) You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, (of putting this identity on, taking this as your own personal identity, living this out in your life.) you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.””
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
man, before we come to God
our identity is in this world
we live in darkness
because we can’t see our purpose in creation
but now that we have accepted God
we find our identity in Him
our lives begin to reflect God
and people are shown the goodness of God
through our lives
God has a plan for your life
The Bible tells us
that His plan for us
is better than we could ever think or imagine in our own mind
but this is the thing
your shoes we talked about earlier
if you went outside and tried to run on the grass
you would slip
you dont have the grip you need
to be super competative
point 3
you were built to run and not slip
you need the right spiritual grip to move with confidence and endurance
God is not going to make you
walk in the calling He placed on you
it is up to you and i
to embrace the plan
to embrace the identity that God has for us
by renewing our minds in His Word
because we are built different
and we want to understand Gods identity for us
we are going to need to spend some time with Him
at times because we are built different
we are going to have to say no
to the things everyone else is doing
the world says if someone hurts you
get revenge
if you feel like having sex before marriage
go ahead
if you feel like changing your gender
do it
the world teaches us
do what feels right
if it is truth to me
thats all that matters
the world is full of a bunch of nonsence
that people adapt as truth
because when truth is absent
anything becomes true
and even as believers
thats why its important to spend time in God’s Word
so that we know what is true
i was talking to Collin the other day
and He told that since he gave his life to the Lord
and i see him growing in his relationship with the Lord
He said
right and wrong has become more clear to him
and that comment alone
shows me how the Lord is working in his life
because God wants to teach His people
right and wrong
before God every person makes decisions
based on what they think is right
what we have been taught
what we have experienced
what we see
and all theses things
shape our identity
and as we grow in our relatinship with God
as we spend time with HIm
He begins to straighten things out
and right becomes more clear
and wrong becomes more un appealing to us
God says
that is who you used to be
now, you are my own possession
you are chosen
you are my children who i love
God wants us to identify
as His children
as belonging to Him
and when we spend time growing closer to Him
we are growing in our identity
if you picked up a pair of football cleats
you would know they are football cleats by the way they look
you could identify them
because they are built different than shoes
track shoes are built for track
basketball shoes are built for the basketball court
as followers of Jesus
we are built different than the world around us
point 4
“We are built for transformation not conformity
God is renewing your mind so you can live different
we are built to reflect God
in our convorsations
in our interactions
in our patients with people
in our words of encouragement to others
when people look at our lives
they should be able to see something different
than what they see in world around us
our lives will reflect what we truly believe
the way you will live
will show who you follow
point 5
“You are built to lead not to follow the crowd. the world needs leaders not more followers and you were made to lead
if you live no different than the world
your claiming allegiance to this world
but if you are set apart
if you look different
because you are following Jesus
than that will show
now listen im not saying you’ll never mess up
we all mess up
but im saying this
if someone looked at your life
would they see jesus
or the world?
let me give you some examples of what it looks like to live built different
when everyone else at school is gossiping and tearing down people
do you go along with it?
or do you build people up? because your built different.
when your friends are watching stuff they shouldnt be watching online
do you tag along
or choose to walk way?
on social media, do you post
just to get clicks even though its inappropriate?
or do you stay classy?
when your around the opposite sex
and your emotions are starting to heat up
do you stay and play with fire
or do you choose to get your self out of that situation?
when someone disrespects you or comes at you sideways
do you get revenge
or respond with grace?
seee its easy to walk around
and put this christian label on our chest
where a necklace with a cross
but its another thing
to be a follower of Jesus
being built different
doesnt mean we are perfect
its means we are purposeful
it means your life has intentional direction
your not following the crowd
your choosing to follow Jesus
with your mouth
with your hands
with your attitude
with your thought life
and your private life
your life is not to please people
but your focus and your heart
is on pleasing God
being a christian is not about fitting in
its about being different
Its about living for God
The apostle Paul said it like this
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
Galatians 1:10 “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
so my question is this
we started by talking about your physical shoes
but now i want to ask you
what kind of spiritual shoes are you wearing?
are the shoes you have on now
metaphorically speaking
made for comfort or made for Christ
are you walking through life just to fit in
to stay safe?
to just go with the flow
and put a jesus label on it?
or are you ready to step into what you were built for?
because listen to me
you were not made to blend in
you were made to stand out
you were made to run with purpose
to be bold in the way live your life
not to fit in but be different
to be a leader
in a world hurting and desperate for God honoring leadership
God built you for this time
so this is what i want to do
every head bowed
and every eye closed
i want to ask you the most important question of your life
before we can ever get to a place where we are living for Jesus
we first have to accept His offer of salvation
the bible says
the wages or payment of sin
is death
that eternal seperation from God
the Bible tells us
that every single person in this world has sinned
and as a result of that humanity as a whole
was headed for hell
but God in his mercy and grace
made a way to redeem His creation
by sending His Son
to die in place of sin
now all we have to do
is accept His offer
He offered us salvation through His Son
He sent us a life line
by sending His Son
and now we get to accept that free gift
by putting our faith in Jesus
The Bible tells us
if we confess with out mouth Jesus is Lord
and believe that God raised Him from the dead
we will be saved
the things its not something we have to do over and over
its a one and done deal
if we put ouyr faith in Jesus Christ for salvation
and we dont give up hope in Him
the Bible says we will be saved
so if that is you tonight
and you have never
given your life to Jesus
you have never prayed and asked Him to save you
this in your moment
if your sitting there and your heart is pounding
thats the holy spirit inviting you into the family of God
so if thats you tonight
i want you to raise your hand
im not going to call you down front
i want to pray with you
as a matter of fact
we are all going to pray together
if you want to give your life to jesus
raise your hand….
the next thing i want to do
is i want to ask you
what shoes have you been wearing?
have you been living for comfort
blending in with the crowd
because its easier
for those of you
with your hearts pounding
the holy spirit working inside of you right now
i want to give you an opportunity
to step out in faith
come down to the alter
and meet with God
maybe you realize you have been living safe
living quiet
blending in
your been wearing shoes
made for comfort
Tonight, God is calling you to step into your identity
that He gave you
to lace up your spiritual cleats
and start living like you were built different
to stop looking like the world
to stop sounding like the world
to stop hiding your faith
because your afraid to be different
God is calling some of you
to stand out
to be bold in your faith
to embrace the life you were built for
if thats you tonight
and youre ready to stand up and say
“God im done blending in
i want my life to reflect Jesus
im done following the crowd
God i want all of what you have for me
if thats you tonight
i want you to get out of your seats right now
and come to the alter
don’t wait for your friends
don’t wait for me to finish talking
dont look around
the alter is open
and God wants to meet with you
this is your moment
to lay down comprimise
to walk in conviction
to be bold in your faith
to embrace the call God has placed on your life
you were built different
and its time for you to live different
