Are You a Non-Conformist?

I went through this period during junior high and high school where the school boundaries were changed and some of the rich kids came over to our farmer school which was Pike High School and it changed the dynamics.

I pressured my mother who tried to stay on a budget into buying me some designer clothes. I told her I got tired of the bullies who ridiculed me about the clothes I wore, and then I ran around with some of those rich kids and I found out they were the most miserable people I ever met. Their parents were miserable and they fought all the time. It got to the point where it was not worth being popular. Than, I went the other extreme in becoming the "proud rebel."

As a believer, I know we are not to "conform" to this world. There is a lot of New Age teaching going around and much of it is in the church. I turn on certain CD's and I can tell it right away. The Bible says that many will depart from the faith and give heed to deceiving spirits.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

It's tapping into this inner energy inside ourself. I don't want to tap into any power source (plug in) unless it's God. Who wants to go digging around someone's dead unregenerated spirit? Not sure what you can pull out of that?

We are made "alive" in Christ. When David said, "By my God I can run through a troop and leap over a wall," or Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me" I'm wanting to tap into the strength and energy that comes through the Holy Spirit.

It's not my will power, it's not my own strength, it's not my righteousness, it's not even my victory. The victory is through Jesus Christ.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:57

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:1-6