The Babylon Mentality

We either set the culture or reflect the culture.

The Daniel Dilemma

(John 17:15-16) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Babylon Mentality

(Genesis 11:4) Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.”

(Genesis 11:9) That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world.

(Revelation 17:5) The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT. THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

(Isaiah 47:8-10) “Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’ Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells. You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’”

Babylon’s motto:

" I am, and there is none besides me."

Elevate self.

• Self- adoring.

• Self- building.

• Self- indulging.

It attempts to lower God below me.

• Says God doesn’t love me.

• Says God isn’t for me.

• Says God wants too much from me.

Sanity Restored

(Daniel 4:34-37) At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

1. I will exalt God above everything else.

(Psalm 145:1) I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2. I will acknowledge God.

(1 Corinthians 4:7 LB) What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you have accomplished something on your own?

3. I will humble myself.

(James 4:10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It's thinking about yourself less. 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-babylon-mentality

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/10-8-17.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.