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Overcoming Worldly Values! Mt 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples,

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will

lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or

what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

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The Importance of something can be seen in it’s “value!”

●In 2011 the FSOP lectureship was on “Do you understand the Biblical value of women?”–They had 32 lessons over four days all on the

“value of women!”●When we talk of “worldly values” we have

in mind what the world finds to be important!●Many times we find the world and

ourselves having the wrong values!

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The importance of values!●What one values has a great deal to

do with how we live our lives!●Jackie Stearsman would often say,

“you can learn all you need to know about a man by looking at this checkbook, because we spend our money on what we value!”–Mt 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there

your heart will be also.”

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I. The Need to Confront!●If you saw someone steal from a friend

or mistreat someone you know, what would you do?–Would you simply just let it happen or would

you confront them?●I am amazed that so often we are

afraid to confront people, even when we know what they are doing or have done is wrong, but does this help them?

* * 0 When God sees men commit

sin, how does He respond?He “confronts” them! (Gen. 3:1-14)●God calls them out on their sins, because He

understands what sin does!–Is 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not

shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

●Confront = to meet face to face; to stand up to & deal with a problem (Oxford)

* * 0 What happens when we just go

along with sin?●We become as guilty as them!

–2 Jn 1:11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

●What did Paul do when Peter was clearly guilty of sin?–Gal. 2:11 Now when Peter had come to

Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;

●We must learn to stand up against sin!

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II. The Need to Challenge!●Sometimes it is easy to know right

from wrong, but sometimes it can be challenging!●It is not enough to simply confront the

way of the world, we also want to go a step further and challenge the way of the world!–The truth is that God’s way is always better! –Sometimes we need help seeing this!

* * 0 Come now and let us reason!

(Is. 1:18)●It is not unreasonable to believe and

trust in God it is unreasonable not too!–Ps. 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart,

There is no God.●Jesus declared that we can “know”

the truth!–Jn 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and

the truth shall make you free."

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III. The Need to Conform!●If one is not willing to confront & challenge

the ways of the world, he or she likely will find themselves conforming to them!

●Yet, God’s desire is that we conform to Him and not to them!–Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this

world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

–1 Pet 1:16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

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We must choose!●Will we live for the Maker of the world

or just for the world we are in?●Far too many people are going to the

wrong place to find their values!●It is time we learn to value what God

values! –Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God

and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

* * 0 Conclusion:

●Men may tell us what we want to hear, but God will always tell us what we need to hear!

●What do we find of value? The things of this world or the things of God?–1 Jn 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things

in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

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