You and I are called to live in this world but not be of the world. God has not called His people to live in some monastery away from the brokenness of the world. He has placed His people in various secular vocations in order that they may shine as lights in the darkness and be faithful to the truth of the Gospel not compromising their biblical convictions.
This is what Jesus prayed for His disciples: I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world (John 17:15-18 ESV).
Notice Jesus didn’t pray that His disciples be taken out of the world but on the contrary He sent them into the world to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel.
Pastor Mark Driscoll in commenting on this prayer petition wrote; “In reality, in his magnificent High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed against us either becoming liberals who go too far into culture and act worldly, or fundamentalists who do not go far enough into culture and act pharisaically”
There are two extremes here that we must avoid, with God’s help.

We are not to be conformed to the world by taking our cues from it’s influences, values and immoral practices. The Scripture exhorts us not to love the world, that is don’t love the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). This how we are not to be of the world because we are of God and thus we love God. When the Apostle John wrote “do not love the world” he was not referring to the not loving the people of world. If that were so, then it would contradict the rest of his letter and the rest of Scripture. So there must be a way to be in the world, loving the people of the world yet not become worldly and infatuated with “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life”. And Jesus is our perfect example to study and imitate of how to be in the world but not of the world.

I think Jesus reveals at least two things in His prayer that are crucial to being in the world but not of the world. The 1st is that we be sanctified by the truth of His word. The truth of God’s word, the gospel is to so influence our hearts and minds that it leads us into godly thinking and living. Just before Jesus prayed this prayer he told his disciples “you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” (John 15:3 ESV). The word of God has a powerful cleansing effect in the lives of those who are influenced and immersed in its truth. The 2nd thing is that we are to be on mission with God, carrying the truth of the gospel to the lost. Notice how Jesus in His prayer said “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18 ESV). We must always remember that we are to be on mission with God. There is purpose and significance in why God has placed us where we are. Whether its our family, job, city, town, neighborhood, school, Etc. God wants us to be salt and light in those places.

So lets be about our Fathers business. Let the message of the gospel and the mission of God influence how you live your life in this world.

Humility

Paul the Apostle was a humble servant. He “served the Lord with all humility” (Acts 20:19) and didn’t seek to please man or be approved by man (Gal. 1:10), but served as unto the Lord. Paul exemplified what he exhorted the saints to do (Col. 3:23, Philippians 2:5). He viewed himself as a servant who was obligated to give his time and energy to fulfill all that God wanted him to do. He didn’t even consider his life as valuable or precious to himself, so that he could finish the course and ministry, the Lord Jesus gave him, namely that of testifying of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).Serving the Lord and walking with him requires humility (Micah 6:8). Paul exhorted the Philippians to have the humble attitude of Jesus, who is the ultimate example of humility (Philippians 2:3-8). Paul also exhorted his spiritual son Timothy saying that “a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance….” (2 Timothy 2:24-25) Many have tried to serve God without humility and have failed to experience the grace that God gives to the humble (James 4:6). Paul in his humility recognized that the grace of God is what made him who he was, and what made his ministry so effective and fruitful (1 Cor. 15:10). He was aware that apart from Jesus he could do nothing (John 15:5). He recognized his need for God and depended on God to work in and through him (Philippians 2:13). Grace is experienced when one humbly recognizes in prayer their own weakness and God’s great strength that fits perfect in that weakness (2 Cor. 12:8-9, Hebrews 4:16). The grace of God leaves us sinners no room to boast before God (Ephesians 2:8-10) and if we are going to boast about anything it should Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross (1 Cor. 1:29-30,Galatians 6:14).

How can you cultivate humility?

When you recognize God’s greatness & your smallness it will generate humility in your heart. This is what happened to Job when God asked Job where he was when God did all his great work of creating (Job 38). Job’s response to God was “Behold I am insignificant; what can I reply to you? I lay my hand on my mouth” (Job 40:4). Job was humbled before God and had nothing to say. Consider God’s mercy & grace in your life and you should be brought to a place of humility. That is what happened with the Apostle Paul when he considered how God so graciously saved him and put him in the ministry. Paul knew he was undeserving of such blessings from God (1 Timothy 1:13-14). His identity and ministry was a result of the grace of God and he knew it and acknowledged it (1 Cor. 15:10). This is what helped Paul walk in humility.

Hardships

Paul served God with tears and trials (Acts 20:19). He had enemies out to harm him. He had afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger… (2 Cor. 6-10). He wrote in his last letter to his spiritual Son Timothy, assuring Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). You may not see that promise on any refrigerator today, but it is one that Jesus himself gave to his disciples (John 15:20) and believers should expect it to happen if they are living godly and serving Christ faithfully. Following Christ is a difficult path to follow but it is not a joyless path (John 15:11, 1Peter 1:6-8). Though there is persecution and tribulation for the Christian we can take heart and be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Remember the lyrics to the old hymn It Is Well With My Soul “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.” Paul had the perspective of a victor not a victim when it came to these hardships.

Paul wrote “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV) For Paul life and death was a “win win” outcome for him. He said “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). If he lived it meant more fruitful labor for him and if he died he went to be with Jesus, but either way Christ was going to be honored and glorified (Philippians 1:20).

Honesty

Paul “did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable” nor did he “shrink from declaring…the whole counsel of God”… (Acts 20:20, 27 ESV). Again Paul was exemplifying what he exhorted the church of Ephesus to do, namely speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). He loved people enough to speak truth even when it hurt or made them uncomfortable. Many times people became angry at Paul because of the message he preached and to whom he preached. He was willing to die for the truth of the gospel and eventually he did. Because he didn’t hold back from declaring all that he was supposed to (the whole counsel of God), Paul was innocent of the blood of all men (Acts 20:26). The implication of him being “innocent of the blood of all” is that one can be guilty of the blood of men. Paul was referring to Ezekiel 33:1-6. God said if the watchman sees the sword coming upon the land and he doesn’t sound the trumpet to warn the people, than that watchman would be accountable for the blood of those not warned. Christian leaders must warn people of the consequences of sin which are judgment, wrath and hell. That’s why God commands all men everywhere to repent because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). This is not the most popular message but it is biblical and Paul didn’t shrink from preaching it. He preached repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Likewise Paul certainly didn’t hold back from speaking the GOOD NEWS of grace and forgiveness found in Christ. Jesus “paid it all” when he went to the cross and he conquered death, when he rose from the dead three days later. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and he was faithful to speak what the Lord told him to. So, “let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25 ESV) and don’t shrink back in fear of man.

Holy Spirit Led

The Spirit of God guided and spoke to Paul (Acts 20:22-23). He wasn’t doing what he wanted to do but rather what the Holy Spirit had put in his heart and confirmed in various ways. The Holy Spirit is a key character in the book of Acts and he is a key character in the life of every Christian. Luke mentions the Holy Spirit much in his gospel and in the book of Acts. Perhaps we don’t acknowledge and depend upon the Holy Spirit enough, but Paul certainly did and the results were fruitfulness for the glory of God in his life. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and he is not a thing or merely a force, he is God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons yet one. This is a great mystery but it is important biblical truth. The Father and the Son are in Heaven but the Holy Spirit has been given to every Christian to lead, guide, teach, comfort, seal, and empower us. Those who try to lead without following the leadership of the Holy Spirit will be unproductive and unfruitful.

Honorable

Paul guarded his heart from loving this world or the things in this world. He didn’t covet anyone’s gold or silver (Acts 20:33) but rather lived in an honorable way. The love of money has been a snare for many leaders and is mark of a false teacher or prophet (2 Peter 2:3, 1 Timothy 6:5). So Paul was careful not to appear to have a love for money or a self-seeking agenda. He labored in love to help the weak and was eager to remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). Living a holy and honorable life involves more than merely abstaining from what is evil, it also involves the active pursuit of what is right, godly and good. Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy with these words in 1 Timothy 6:10-11 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” Notice that he didn’t stop at “flee these things”. He went on to write “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentlness”. This is what a holy and honorable life looks like and Paul exhorted from his own example.

Hardworking

Paul worked hard so that he might help the weak and give to those in need. This is something he exhorted the church at Ephesus to do (Ephesians 4:28) and he pointed to his own example to exhort the elders of Ephesus. He also exhorted the Colossians to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Paul acknowledged that all his hard work in ministry was a result of the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10) so he certainly didn’t become proud in what he accomplished. He did not work hard to get more comfort and stuff for himself he wanted to help people and honor Christ (Acts 20:35).

To hear the I sermon peached on this titled Leading By Example go to this link:

http://citychurchintl.org/connect-with-cci/english-sermons/