As we join God in His Work in places like Babylon, or Columbia -what is the biggest thing that gets in the way?

The first scene-Pride Warps. Pride is one of the hardest things to see in yourself.

Questions to gauge your pride level. – ''I often compare myself with other people.'' C.S. Lewis wrote that the essence of pride is competition, so you're constantly comparing yourself with others, and it's very important that you feel like you measure up to their attractiveness, and their intelligence, and their success. - ''I find it hard to celebrate someone else's success- especially when it's in my field.'‘ – It bothers me deeply when I'm ignored or not chosen. – ''When I fail, I get embarrassed easily.'‘ – ''When someone points out a fault, I get defensive and angry.''

There’s a God who loves us so passionately and so personally that he will not leave us in our pride. He will step in. He'll intervene.

God Corrects. God has all kinds of creative ways to get our attention. – He removes something that we really value. – God gets your attention by removing your influence. – Or maybe God has removed something else from you that was kind of propping up your pride.

Humility Restores. V.37- “And those who walk in pride he is able to abase.”

No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. God won't leave them alone. God will unsettle them somehow. As resident aliens, who are sent into our Jerusalem to continue the mission of Jesus, -let's carry out the mission of Jesus in a Jesus kind of way. Does that make sense? You can't do the work of Jesus in a non-Jesus kind of way.'' Because if you do, it just cancels out the message!

In this post-Christendom world that God has sent us into. Let's do the work of Jesus and let's do it in a Jesus kind of way.