1. We Are to Represent Christ to the World.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are _ambassadors_ for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be _reconciled_ to God.
2. Lift up a Standard for the People.
Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a _standard_ over the _peoples_.
3. Love Not the World for It Will Pass Away.
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world nor the _things_ in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the _boastful_ pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. [17] The world is _passing_ away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God _lives_ _forever_.
4. Do Not Be Conformed to the World. Instead, Be Made New by Jesus.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy _sacrifice_, acceptable to God, which is your _spiritual_ service of worship. [2] And do not be _conformed_ to this world, but be _transformed_ by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
5. What Should Be Upper Most in Our Minds?
Philippians 4:7-8 And the peace of God, which surpasses all _comprehension_, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is _honorable_, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any _excellence_ and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
6. How Can We Change?
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, _beholding_ as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being _transformed_ into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
7. God Is Not Pleased When We Love Violence.
Psalms 11:5 The LORD tests the _righteous_ and the wicked, And the one who loves _violence_ His soul hates.
8. Turn Away From Vanity.
Psalms 119:37 Turn away my eyes from _looking_ at vanity, And _revive_ me in Your ways.
9. Seek to Have the Same Way of Thinking You See in Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 Have this _attitude_ in _yourselves_ which was also in Christ Jesus,
10. We Should Dress Modestly and Refrain From Ornamentation and Excessive Cost and Display in the Things We Wear.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn _themselves_ with proper clothing, modestly and _discreetly_, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, [10] but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11. True Beauty Is Inside Our Hearts.
1 Peter 3:2-5 As they observe your chaste and _respectful_ behavior. [3] Your adornment must not be merely external -braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; [4] but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the _imperishable_ quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. [5] For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn _themselves_, being _submissive_ to their own _husbands_;
12. Jacob Leads a Revival and Commands His Household to Get Rid of Their Idols and Jewelry.
Genesis 35:2-4 So Jacob said to his _household_ and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your _garments_; [3] and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who _answered_ me in the day of my _distress_ and has been with me _wherever_ I have gone." [4] So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near _Shechem_.
13. As the Children of Israel Enter the Promise Land They Remove Their Jewelry.
Exodus 33:3-6 "Go up to a land _flowing_ with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way." [4] When the people heard this sad word, they went into _mourning_, and none of them put on his ornaments. [5] For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the sons of Israel, 'You are an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one _moment_, I would destroy you. Now _therefore_, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.' " [6] So the sons of Israel _stripped_ _themselves_ of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb _onward_.
14. God Reveals His Displeasure When People Artificially Adorn Themselves and Lack Character.
Isaiah 3:16-24 Moreover, the LORD said, "Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and _seductive_ eyes, And go along with mincing steps And tinkle the bangles on their feet, [17] Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the LORD will make their _foreheads_ bare." [18] In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, _headbands_, crescent _ornaments_, [19] dangling earrings, _bracelets_, veils, [20] _headdresses_, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, [21] finger rings, nose rings, [22] festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money purses, [23] hand mirrors, _undergarments_, turbans and veils. [24] Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be _putrefaction_; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of _sackcloth_; And branding instead of beauty.
15. Jewelry Is Associated with Idolatry and Forgetting God.
Hosea 2:13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals When she used to offer _sacrifices_ to them And adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry, And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me," _declares_ the LORD.
16. The False Church Is Pictured by God As Being Decked Out with Jewels. She Has Left Her True Lover, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 17:1-5 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the _judgment_ of the great harlot who sits on many waters, [2] with whom the kings of the earth _committed_ acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." [3] And he carried me away in the Spirit into a _wilderness_; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of _blasphemous_ names, having seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and _precious_ stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, [5] and on her _forehead_ a name was written, a _mystery_, "_BABYLON_ THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF _HARLOTS_ AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
17. Jesus Gives Us True Beauty When We Wear His Robe of Righteousness. What Is More Beautiful Than Happiness Within?
Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with _garments_ of _salvation_, He has wrapped me with a robe of _righteousness_, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
18. Jesus Said, "I Do Always Those Things Which Please Him." by God's Grace, We Should Seek to Be Like Jesus.
John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the _things_ that are _pleasing_ to Him."
19. Happiness Comes From Knowing and Doing God's Will.
John 13:17 "If you know these _things_, you are _blessed_ if you do them.
20. I Delight to Do Thy Will, My God.
Psalms 40:8 I delight to do Your _will_, O my God; Your Law is within my _heart_."
Next Bible Study: 39-The Holy Spirit
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