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The importance of nurture and discipleship Discovering ‘God’s will’ should never take priority over discipleship. If our focus is on events rather than process, we tend to concentrate on the present or the next few weeks or months. God’s discipleship plan will take a lifetime to unfold. Few people have the foresight to be able to see long-term. Sometimes the call of God can take a decade or two to mature; often we are just not ready to give God everything. God often gives us a glimpse of what he is going to do, and we tend to assume that he is going to do it right now. Abraham, Moses, and Joshua were all in their old age when the promises of God were finally realised. Many characters in the bible had to go through a sustained time of ‘training’ before they were ready to serve God at his level. So often we want to bypass discipleship and dive into the programme. For God, discipleship is the programme. Discipleship is not a means to an end; it is the main thing. He is much more interested in who we are and what we’re becoming than he is about choosing what kind of job we would like. True discipleship is about learning to lay down our will for his will. We cannot fulfil God’s will unless our own will has died. Jesus said, ‘take up your cross and follow me.’ Even he had to lay down his will in order to discover his Father’s will. Matt. 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Doing stuff for God doesn’t make us mature believers – discipleship does. Eph 4:13 … until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Heb. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Deitrich Bonhoeffer in his book the ‘Cost of Discipleship’ talks about the Christian who assents mentally to the gospel’s message but fails to put its truth into practice; he calls this ‘cheap grace’ - “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth that has a place for the Fatherhood of God but omits Christ as the living Son. … There is belief in God, but no following of Christ… He wants to follow but feels obliged to insist on his own terms to the level of human understanding. He places himself at the God’s disposal, but at the same time retains the right to dictate his own terms. This is no longer discipleship, but a program of our own to be arranged to suit ourselves, and to be judged in accordance with the standards of our own rules." When we practice true discipleship, we will be well on the road to discovering the will of God. Process is much more important than event; event is short lived and temporary; process is the steady gradual transformation of a person’s life. Discipleship is studying the life of Jesus and then putting his words and example into practice. Finding God's will require us to seek Him by spending time reading His Word, the Bible. God's Word is the primary source for discovering His will. Prayer is also essential in finding God's will. Through prayer, we humbly ask God for direction and share with Him our desire to accomplish His will. This involves placing faith and trust in Him, knowing that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 6 we consider how to offer a sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God.

Is it an event or a lifestyle? Lifestyle Versus Event Today's society is very event led; life seems quite dull unless we are doing something. Recent politics have emphasised performance related pay. At the same time many modern churches have a stringent programme of activity. The result of this can inadvertently lead to a person’s worth being measured by what they do. It can also make us believe that God is ‘programme-based’ in his love for us. We often associate God’s will as an event, i.e. doing this or that, going here or there, apply for this job, marry that person and so on... ‘God’s will’ can include specific instruction, but more often it is to do with relationship, lifestyle, and nurture. Relationship It is God’s will for us to have an intimate and close relationship with him. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Jeremiah 30:21 I will bring him near, and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the LORD. Knowing God’s will does not necessarily equate with activity. Sometimes God withholds his plans from us so that we will master the art of waiting. Waiting on God is an essential ingredient to knowing God’s will. Many people want to bypass the waiting and get straight into the doing. For some people, doing nothing is a waste of time, for God our inactivity is a vital element in getting to know him. Psalm 119:166 I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Activity without intimacy is of little importance. It’s not uncommon for people to want to know God’s will more than they actually want to know God! Activity is an event; relationship is a process. We cannot effectively hear God’s voice or do God’s will unless we have first learned the art of knowing God. It’s like having the benefits of sexual pleasure without the security of a loving relationship, or like a farmer reaping a great harvest without first labouring over the crop. Knowing God’s requires intimacy, time, and commitment. There are no shortcuts to doing God’s will. Many Christians fall away because they have become bored, impatient, or distracted. Others spend so much time trying ‘to do’ God’s will that they simply burn themselves out. Isaiah 40: 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Lifestyle Doing the will of God is much more about being the right person rather than doing the right things. People often focus on life-events rather than the process of a sanctified life. God is much more interested in ‘who we are’ than he is in ‘what we do’. It’s easy to get caught up with Christian activity and neglect the importance of Christian character. It is God’s clear will that we: Be financially responsible (Luke 12:21) Live by faith, not by sight (Rom 1:17) Live a life of sacrifice and service (Rom 12:1) Renew our minds (Rom12:2) Transform the way we live (Rom12:2) Fellowship with other believers (Rom 15:32) Give ourselves fully to God (2 Cor 8:5) Do the best job for our employer (Eph 6:6) Stand firm, and remain standing (Col 4:12, Eph 6:13) Mature into strong believers (Col 4:12) Have a servant attitude (Phil 2:5) Avoid sexual immorality (1 Thes. 4:3) Live a pure life (1 Thes. 4:3) Rejoice in every circumstance (1 Thes 5:18) Keep our eyes on Jesus – the perfect example (Heb 10:7, 12:2) Persevere in the work (Heb 10:36) Do good to all men (1 Peter 2:15) Understand that God’s will includes suffering (1 Peter 4:19) Be faithful in prayer (1 John 5:16) Most of these verses are direct references to the ‘will of God.’ There are, however, simply hundreds of other commandments on how we should live our lives. It is God’s will that we honour our parents, tell the truth; that we should be kind, generous, and gentle. We should be calm, temperate, and full of compassion. The list goes on and on. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ It is clear that our attention needs to be on our character and personal development rather than ‘activity or events.’ It is God’s will, first and foremost, that we live a life that is a true reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God wants us first of all to be pure, blameless, and holy. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 5 we see the need to be nurtured in discipleship.

Dealing with hindrances in your life Understanding God’s will for our lives is not always a straightforward process. As we have seen, we need to have a God-centred perspective, with a close intimate relationship with God and we need to have the right motives. Here are some other hindrances that may prevent us from hearing God: Deliberate Sin Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Throughout the bible, we find that sin separates us from God. Even though Christ has taken away God’s wrath, he still needs to discipline us if we stray from his standards. Hebrews Chapter 12 teaches that this only proves that we are the true children of God. No sensible parent would simply stand back and let their children do as they please. Since God is holy, he also wants us to be holy. If we want to know the will of God, we need to live a holy and sanctified life. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified… The above reference is really about sexual purity, but every act of disobedience can have a diminishing affect on spiritual lives: bad tempers, telling lies, being unkind, being argumentative and angry are just but a few vices that lead us away from God’s purpose. Disobedience 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Some people chose to only do the things that suit them, things that they enjoy. God requires that we obey whenever he speaks. He will only reveal his will to those who having an obedient heart. An Unteachable Spirit There are some people who decide that their way is the only way and there is no telling them. They are simply unable to talk or receive any kind of constructive criticism. If they are unable to take instruction from their fellow Christians, it’s unlikely that they will not take any advice from God. Proverbs 1:30 Since they would not accept my advice, and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways, and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 20:18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Pride Knowing that God wants to speak to and use us should be a very humbling experience. To serve God requires that we take on the attitude of a servant. John talks about the pride of life. This “pride of life” motivation is what drives many people to devote their lives obsessively to their career or to the pursuit of money. While we have our focus on personal ambitions, it will be extremely difficult to make God’s purpose the main thing. People who expect God to ‘fit in’ to their plans will be disappointed. Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. 1 Pet. 5:5 Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Other Distractions There are many people who are happy to do will of God - until something better comes along. Their focus is on the excitement and buzz of the event, but as soon as the event is over the ‘day-to day’ journey soon looks much less attractive. An important part of fulfilling God’s purpose is faithfulness. Many people can only hold onto a ministry for a few months before they lose interest. God can only use people who are in it for the long haul. Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Being Uncooperative God always works through community. He himself lives in complete harmony within the framework of the Trinity. We will not be able to fulfil the purposes of God unless we are prepared to work in cooperation with other Christians. We can do the ‘right thing’ but have the ‘wrong attitude.’ If we are not prepared to take advice or instruction from others, we are not going to get very far. If our way is the only way, then it’s unlikely that God will be able to entrust with ‘his way.’ If we are going to have God’s blessing, we need to submit to our leaders so that the work of the church can run smoothly. Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. No Spiritual Covering There are many Christians who just want to ‘go it alone’ and believe that they do not need the covering of leadership. God always works within the confines of leadership and government. People who reject the authority of the church are in danger of excluding themselves from the plans of God. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 4 we consider whether God's will for your life is something found in an event or is it found in your lifestyle?

The need for relationship in finding God's will for your life Finding God's will necessarily involves having a close relationship with God. This may seem obvious, but many people want to know God’s will without actually getting to know God himself. Human fathers instruct their children about what needs to be done because of their father/child relationship. God can only reveal his will to those who are close to him. Finding the will of God by its very nature means that we have to spend time with him. The bible is the primary source of revelation; prayer is the means with which we communicate with him. Trying to discover ‘God’s will’ without the bible or prayer would be a futile exercise since that would mean bypassing the two main forms of communication that God has given us. Our attitude will influence our response to God’s directions. A pliable and willing heart is an essential ingredient in hearing God. Are we willing to do what God requires? Isaiah 45:9 says, “…Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?” We need to understand that God’s plan may include difficulty and hardship. God’s will for Paul was that “he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16). When people want to know God’s will they are very often looking for assurance rather than instruction; what they want is to be assured that everything will go as they plan - without difficulty or trial! 1 Pet. 3:17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil. Many Christians are preoccupied with their own personal fulfilment. If this is the case, it will seriously restrict our ability to receive God’s instruction for our lives. God’s plan for our lives may well include a path that we did not expect. It is essential that our intent is to obey, not to evaluate. Some people believe that they have heard from God by the very fact that he confirmed what they knew already! Others desperately want something so much that they convince themselves that that is what God wants for their lives. There are difficulties with both scenarios. Often people have already convinced themselves even before God has actually spoken. They give the impression that they are really only interested in hearing from God if ‘he agrees with them’. We need to be vigilant in making sure that we are not merely listening to our own desires. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. James 1:4 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. We are often the worst judges of our own intention; that is why we need to make sure that we are seeking godly advice and that we are willing to lay down our plans. James 4:13-14 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 3 we consider how to deal with the various hindrances to finding God's will for your life.

Does God have a plan for your life? This set of teachings is a modified version of a course delivered by Pastor Paul Meiklejohn assisted by Charles Green as part of a 'Digging Deeper' module. Any changes and amendments have been made exclusively by the second author. Almost every Christian would like to know what the will of God is for their lives. What is the will of God? Does he have a specific plan and if so, how do we go about finding out what it is? It can be frustrating when we don’t have a clear sense of direction. God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, to Gideon through a damp fleece, and to Paul with a big burst of light. However, it would be fair to say that these are atypical methods of God talking to people. Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord...." Isaiah 30:2 "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." From the above three scriptures, we can see that God's word clearly is saying that God will help us find his direction, but how does he do it? Defining the ‘Will of God’. Do we mean the ‘will of God’ or the ‘will of God for my life’? There is an important difference, the former is God-centric and the other is self-centric. When we talk about the will of God for my life, then we become the subject of the enquiry and the focus is on ourselves rather than God. When we talk about the true will of God then he becomes the primary subject and we become consequential. This is a vital aspect in the study of God’s will; his will needs to overshadow our lives. If our lives are the subject of the study, then it’s necessary for God’s will to ‘fit around our lives’ and not the other way around. Keeping God central is paramount if we are to discover and do God’s will. So, we start with God, not us. If you are making decisions based primarily on what makes "me" happy, then you have your priorities backwards and you will stumble at every turn. We are first and foremost studying ‘God’s will.’ Matthew 10:39, "If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me" (The Message). Motivation is also an important aspect to our study. Many people want to find the will of God so that they can decide whether or not to do it! God will not reveal his will to people who are undecided as to be part of it, he only reveals his will to those who have already committed themselves to doing his will. If our motivation to finding God’s will is merely for information’s sake, then God will not answer our enquiry. James 4:2-3 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 1 John 3:22 We have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. What is your motivation for finding out God's specific will for your life? Amen Prayer Next time in Part 2 we consider the need for relationship when we try to discover God's will for our lives.

but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted Here are some biblical models for humility A. The Lord [Philippians 2:6, 3:9] B. Matthew 18:1-4 Verse 1 Disciples wanted privilege and glory. Verse 2 Jesus called the child, he did not know why, he just came because the Master called him. He knew nothing in a sense, but the Word’s voice. Verse 3-4; Disciples were humbled by the example of a child. This child was the closest to humility and was used as an object lesson to them because children know little but just trust in God. That is like us, we know little but must learn to trust him. There should be no place for price and ambition. You say, yes agreed, we ought to be humble but how do we do it? I do not pretend to know all the answers but here are some suggestions. 1. Level with God; Get down on your knees regularly and confess your sins to him, begging forgiveness and admit to him you can do absolutely nothing for him in the power of the flesh. Declare your total dependence on him, ask him to reveal your areas of pride. 2. Admit to yourself that you do not have all the spiritual gifts, abilities and that you are interdependent on your brother and sisters in church. Count them more worthy than yourself. 3. Confess your faults one to another 4. Confess your worldly ambitions and desires to God and ask him to remove them (red lizards). Ask a brother or sister to pray for you. 5. Ask God to remove that in you that loves to near your name mentioned. I need this. 6. Ask God for opportunities to serve people 7. Wash the feet of the saints 8. Fast regularly, puts flesh and pride down low. Caution- the danger of False Humility Colossians 2:18-23 God commands certain acts of humility, but the worshipping of angels was not one of them. We must worship God alone. The puffed up proud human mind reasoned that holy angels are superior beings. Our worship is meant to be done in humility (outward) not with inward pride and spiritual superiority. We should ask God what he wants from us in terms of humility and remember that our acts of the flesh have no reward. Amen Prayer

and he who humbles himself shall be exalted Pride comes before a fall. Satan fell because of pride because he wanted to be like the Highest. He forgot that he was a created being. Yes, pride does come before a fall, I can testify to that. A couple years ago, a colleague and I made a discovery about blood groups. He is a better scientist than me. Yet, at the scientific meeting, I sort pushed myself forward and when questions were asked at a national meeting, I completely fluffed it and ended up looking rather foolish. My wounded pride was made worse later that night when I found out that we had been favourites to win the national poster prize. Before the meeting I had asked God to bless the venture and he did so in his way, teaching me a valuable lesson. Because I exalted myself, I was humbled. Today we are going to investigate God’s word concerning the results of being humble and try to learn how we can become humbler ourselves. Key scripture Luke 14:7-11 Definition-To be Humble: To think lowly of oneself. To be meek Not to be proud, arrogant, or assuming To be modest To Exalt oneself: To elevate oneself in rank/standing. To lift oneself up (in pride) To raise oneself on high Whenever we find ourselves beginning to make comparisons between ourselves and others, we are already on thin ice. The tell-tale phrases such as “well, I am just as good as him/her” give away our own pride/ insecurity. Better that we do not make comparisons, but if we must, then count yourself the lowest in rank/standing. That is very practical and is the safest position to be in. You know your own heart and life, but so does God, and when you humble yourself in this way, he will exalt you in due season. If you ascribe the lowest level of honour/status to yourself, you can only go up! But if we push ourselves forward and take a high standing then He who knows all hearts may demote us. Do not develop a ‘top table’ mentality, which is a place of honour before men, but develop a servant’s heart like Jesus, be a foot washer. Some people can allow themselves to be exalted with religious titles. Pastor is an important role not a title. The only Reverend in scripture is the Lord God! Bishop is an important role not a title. Where we allow the accent to be on titles, there is a danger we can lead our people to exalt us in this way. Why should we be humble? A. Matthew 11:28-30 Because our God is humble. Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour, and Messiah is gentle and humble in heart, he came to serve, and totally submitted to the Father’s will. Be Christ-like, be humble, be gentle, and ask God to give you a servant heart. B. We have already seen that Humility leads to honour but pride to humiliation. In fact, God loves his people so much that he undertakes to humble them. He humbled Israel in wilderness for 40 years to test their hearts. C. For many other reasons including because Jesus tells us to be humble. James 4:6-10; God gives grace to the humble. Psalm 32:11 The humble will inherit the land and will delight in abundant prosperity. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.. Summary We should be humble because.  Our God, Jesus Christ is humble, and Jesus tells us to be humble.  There is safety in humility, which keeps us from shame.  We can receive more grace.  We can inherit all God’s promises.  It is wise to be humble  It leads to great rewards. Amen Prayer In Part 2 we will consider the biblical examples of humility and give some suggestions how to live a humble life.

Identity theft in believers Marriage bring changes to our natural identities. How much more should our identities change when we become born-again through Jesus Christ? Opening Prayer (from Ephesians 1:16-21) Father of glory, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, give us this day the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, 18 that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power 20 which You worked in Christ when you raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Amen There is a story about a young Christian who bumped into an experienced Christian whilst out for a walk one day. The older man asked the younger man, how are you? The younger man replied that under the circumstances, I am a bit depressed. The older man was shocked and said to the younger man, well if you are born again, you should not be under the circumstances but, in Christ you ought to be on top of them. It was as though the younger man’s identity as a born-again believer had been taken from him. Identity Theft Where do you take your sense of identity from today? Many Christians today gain their identity more from their family background, work, or human relationships than from their biblical identity in Christ. Are you one of them? Or did you start out taking your identity from the bible, but someone diverted you? Identity theft can happen not only at the level of the individual believer but to whole churches. A church that God has called to be holy and pure , a beacon to the lost, can also have its identity stolen, becoming involved in hyper-grace, wrong theology, including the wrong prosperity message (i.e. the best definition of prosperity it for God to meet any given need at any given time- or what about John Wesley who gave to the poor everything he earned over the £30 he needed per year to keep his family). Churches may also become morally permissive, willing to bend the scriptures to accommodate people. If the salt has lost its savour, then it is no use to the lost. In modern society, it is becoming increasingly common for thieves to steal someone’s identity so that they can plunder their bank accounts, credit cards etc. There is no doubt about it that this is a wicked crime in taking what belongs to an honest citizen and giving to a thief. Yet we do not seem to realize that this very problem is rampant in the church of Jesus Christ, where Satan is robbing many true believers of their birth right, your identity and your true riches in Christ. Identity theft can lead us to an identity crisis see 'Our identity is in Christ Part 2'. Personal prayer Amen

Our natural identities change when we get married to become a husband and a wife and that is a big change for the good but how much more are our identities changed in Christ? Prayer (from Ephesians 1) Father of glory, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, give us this day the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, 18 that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power 20 which You worked in Christ when you raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Amen There is a story about a young Christian who bumped into an experienced Christian whilst out for a walk one day. The older man asked the younger man, how are you? The younger man replied that under the circumstances, I am a bit depressed. The older man was shocked and said to the younger man, well if you are born again you should not be under the circumstances but, in Christ you ought to be on top of them. It was as though the younger man’s identity as a born-again believer had been taken from him. Identity Theft Where do you take your sense of identity from today? Many Christians today gain their identity more from their family background, work or human relationships than from their biblical identity in Christ. Are you one of them? Or perhaps you started out taking your identity from the bible, but someone diverted you? Identity theft not only can happen at the level of the individual believer but to whole churches. A church that God has called to be holy and pure , a beacon to the lost, can also have its identity stolen, becoming involved in hyper-grace, wrong theology, including the wrong prosperity message (i.e. the best definition of prosperity it for God to meet any given need at any given time- or what about John Wesley who gave to the poor everything he earned over the £30 he heeded per year to keep his family), morally permissive, willing to bend the scriptures to accommodate people. If the salt has lost its savour, then it is no use to the lost. In modern society, it is becoming increasingly common for thieves to steal someone’s identity so that they can plunder their bank accounts, credit cards etc. There is no doubt about it that this is a wicked crime in taking what belongs to an honest citizen and giving to a thief. Yet we don’t seem to realize that this very problem is rampant in the church of Jesus Christ, where Satan is robbing many true believers of their birth right and our true riches in Christ. Identity Crisis Many believers today seem to be experiencing an identity crisis. What I mean by this is that the life they are leading does not match up the life of the believer that is found in scripture. The identity crisis leads to them being defeated, dejected, downtrodden and beaten up by life whereas the scriptures tell us we should be living in victory and that we are more than conquerors, we are the head and not the tail, we are the winners and not losers etc. We are being conditioned to believe we are less than God says we are, conditioned to believe we have nothing to offer in the Kingdom, conditioned to only see the natural instead of the supernatural. Satan seeks to steel our identity in Christ. We are no longer under the circumstances, but we are overcomers through Jesus Christ. The magnificent victory of Jesus Christ God expects us to live victoriously in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus victory was achieved via the cross and resurrection but especially in his ascension to the Father’s right hand. In this way Jesus who was 100% man and 100% God, took his humanity on to the level that increased our ranking to above the angels and fallen angels.[2] John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Ephesians 1:19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 4 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) When Jesus Christ won the victory over sin and death at the cross and then ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father he gave us victory in every area of life; we are completely identified with Jesus Christ. The picture here is like a victorious general returning to room, with his legions, and fierce captives, in Jesus case he defeated the fallen angels. Old creation vs New creation God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit I Born again believers Old Creation Order New Creation Order Angels (Elect and fallen) Angels (Elect and fallen) OT believers Unbelievers OT unbelievers Animals Animals Hebrews 2:5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour 8 and put everything under their feet.” Victory through Jesus Christ the glorified man 1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Victory with the devil under our feet Psalm 110 1The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Victory over demons Colossians 115 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Do you remember your first encounter with the demonic? As a young Christian I recall that a man at a worship service began to manifest demons. The senior pastor, pastor and an elder invited me to join them to minister to this man in a cloakroom. There was something in the man’s eyes that moved independently of his pupils I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The man locked eyes with each of the ministers trying to psyche them, but he was the one who had to break his gaze. Then he came to me the least experienced Christian, when he locked eyes on me, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit flood through me and I knew for sure that ‘’Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world’’! Needless to say, the demonized man broke off his gaze. Victory over sin and the ability to pull down strongholds 2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Our mighty weapons through God are used in the context of our righteous living (armour of God)and include the Word of God (that Rhema living word), prayer, the name of Jesus Christ, and the Blood of Jesus Christ. Victory over our circumstances 1 John 5 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Pray for God’s will, his good, and pleasing and perfect will in your life not what is gratifying to your fleshly desires. New Birth right Jesus marvellous victory purchased us our new birth right. What does the bible say about new believers? 2 Corinthians 5 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! Another translation puts it like this 2 Corinthians 5:17 … that person is a new creation. So many things happen to us when we are born-again, and we become a new creation. According to my favorite bible teacher (the late Roger Price [3]) there are at least 37 wonderful things that happen at the point of the new birth). Our victories are all in Christ; here are a few examples from the 37; All Christians have reconciled to God Rom 5:10 Eph 2:14-17 All Christians have been brought near to God Lk 10:20 Eph 2:13+19 The sins of all Christians have been judged in Christ Rom 4:25 Eph 1:7 All Christians have been forgiven their trespasses Eph 1:7 Col 1:14 All Christians have been justified (declared righteous) Rom 3:24 1 Cor 6:11 All Christians have been redeemed Rom 3:24 Col 1:14 All Christians have a new status; citizens of heaven Phil 3:20 seated in heavenly places Eph 2:6 higher rank than angels Eph 1:20-21 Heb 1:14 Rom 16:19-20. If you want a copy of the 37 things that happen at the new birth please let me know. In Christ new birth realities Ephesians 1 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Romans 14:7 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Does your day to day life reflect this, living in right standing with God , experiencing heart peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Are you sleeping well and know that whatever is going on in your life, it is going to be OK, because you are in Christ? There is an example in scripture of born-again Christians who had forgotten their born-again identities and were acting like spiritual babies. 1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? God wants us to be mature believers who know who we are in Christ, not babies always squabbling. To maintain our true identities in Christ we must take control of our thinking… Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed[4] 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. The world wants to squeeze us into its mould and form worldly identities in us. But God has given us new identities and wants us to fully embrace them and we find them in the bible. Do you think people will notice your new identity in Christ? How are you doing with your identity in Christ today do you recognize the desired changes? Leaving the old identity and the old life behind I remember well the joy of my own experience of being born again, the burden of my sin lifting off my shoulders, being cleansed in my heart, it felt like a sauna in that every pore of my heart was cleansed. Being delivered from swearing and bad language. My new life in Christ had begun. The selfishness, pride, greed and pleasing only myself had to come off under the water of baptism. Yet we need to keep the old man of the flesh crucified. He would like to get down of that cross, but we don’t need to let him. John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. Nicodemus was around 60-70 years old and probably had a lifetime of personal failures and character flaws behind him. Yet here was Jesus offering him a fresh start free from the old life of bondage. The picture here to a Jew like Nicodemus , is that of the Exodus, where the wind dried up the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to pass over on dry ground. The main point is that we need to leave the old life of bondage behind in Egypt and the old life of being under the circumstances. Being born again is the only way we can turn back the clock of our lives. Summary When we are born again, we are brought into all the victories of Jesus Christ All our blessings and spiritual riches are In Christ In Him we have a higher ranking than the angels In Him we are more than conquerors In Him we ought to be living in victory In Him we ought to be behaving like overcomers In Him we do not have to be under the circumstances Final Thoughts But you say sometimes God does require his people to go through suffering, and yes that is true sometimes. But the question is ‘What kind of suffering does God require us to go through?’ Perhaps the humbling of our pride or reputation, or putting under our fleshly desires? But does God require us to go through depression or live in constant defeat or fear, downtrodden, always be the tail and not the head? The answer is an emphatic No! Prayer and ministry Brothers and Sisters, it is now time to reclaim your true identity in Christ. Let’s do it. Words of knowledge False identity vs True Identity in Christ Defeated Victorious Depressed/Downtrodden Uplifted Cursed/hate your life Blessed/love your life Lonely Part of his family Sleepless Resting in Him Empty Full Worried/anxious Faith filled Poor/lack Rich/plenty Hopeless or a Loser Hopeful or a Winner Oppressed/addicted Set free Panic attacks/under unhealthy pressure Peace of mind Those wanting a new identity in Christ please come forward for prayer Amen Printable copy and much more at https://www.psalmonesermons.com/post/our-identity-is-in-christ [1] From Ephesians 1:18 [2] Roger Price, Special Topic Series no. 11: The Glorified Man [mp3]. See Additional resources menu on last dropdown menu. [3] Roger Price, Basic Bible Study no. 102: 37 Things which accompany salvation [mp3]. [4] Greek: metamorphoo (metamorphosis) same word as used in Jesus’ transfiguration, coal to diamond, caterpillar to butterfly etc.

Part 3 How ought we to live in the light of God's grace? Because God’s grace and blessings lead to eternal life, how then should we be living? Romans Chapter 6 is a go to chapter for how to live in the light of God's grace. Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. Paul here in Romans chapter 6 shows the biblical approach to our lives that we are to live in absolute, loving dedication to God the Father and Jesus Christ. We do this by walking in obedient faith through grace. Romans 6:11 Likewise, do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; rather, yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:12 For sin shall not rule over you, because you are not under law, but under grace. Now we can clearly see how we are to live our lives before God the Father. We are to do so as if we were alive from the dead; in willing, loving submission to God, and to live according to the will and grace of God. You may recall the childhood hymn 'O what can little hands do to please the king of heaven'? In this hymn the child's hands are to be used to meet someone's need, their lips for praise and words of kindness, their eyes for looking up to heaven and reading the bible, and lastly, their little hearts can love their Maker, Saviour, and Friend. Such grace to mine be given! This is an example of using our members (all our faculties and senses) as instruments of righteousness. Such grace also to mine be given! Ephesians 1:2 Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ. 4. According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, in order that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love. 5. Having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will, 6. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son. 7. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace, This chapter brings out many facets of God’s glorious GRACE. Everything that the apostle Paul speaks of in this chapter is part of and is an expression of God the Father’s GRACE through JESUS CHRIST! Chapter 1 goes on to reveal wonderful blessings to each believer. Practical Conclusions- how ought we live in the light of God's grace? Be grateful that God has poured his grace into your life. Celebrate His amazing grace. Refuse to live in sin by considering your old man ‘crucified, dead, and buried’. But rather walk in newness of life and being holy and blameless before Him in love. Such a lifestyle reflects how wonderful God was/is treating us as the targets/objects of His grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… Remember that the same sufficiency of grace that the Lord supplied Paul with, is ever available to you. The grace of God enables us to overcome sin and enter the victories that Jesus Christ has prepared for us. The grace of God is our enabler and only comes through Jesus Christ. Amen Prayer

Part 2 the all-sufficient enabling grace of God The all-sufficiency of God’s grace This passage of scripture (below) tells of Paul’s experience with his so called ‘thorn in the flesh’. 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Many have speculated on the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh with various approaches including it being an eye condition etc. However, I am persuaded that since Paul uses the Greek word ‘angelos’ in v7. translated as ‘messenger’ this refers to a hindering spirit that followed Paul and stirred up trouble and persecution of him everywhere he went. Sometimes as we try to discern the nature of the thorn, we can miss the big story. Paul’s thorn in the flesh whatever it was, we should note that God’s grace was enough to cause Paul to succeed in everything God had called him to do. God’s grace was enough to keep Paul going through many trials and difficulties. Paul realised that he could welcome the many difficulties in his life because where his own strength was insufficient then God’s all-sufficient grace kicked into action to enable him to succeed and keep on going in his mission. Whatever buffeted Paul, God’s grace was sufficient to keep him going…what about you? Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, Whatever sin can do in the life of a person, God's grace can thwart it and overcome it to produce wonderful outcomes. How amazing is God's grace? God’s enabling grace for us. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: God’s attribute of grace seems to have a double action which firstly deals with sin in our lives bringing us to repentance and salvation which in turn enables us to have the sublime rewards and privileges of being seated in heavenly places as members of God’s royal family. Without God’s grace we would never be enabled to come to repentance, salvation, and the heavenly rewards. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 3 of God's grace we consider how we ought live in light of His grace.

The grace of God Part 1 A.W. Tozer has described the grace of God as follows. ‘His goodness directed toward human debt and demerit. It is by His grace that God imputes merit where none previously existed and declares no debt to be where one had been before. Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving.’ [1] God has an inherent inclination to pity the wretched, spare the guilty, welcome the outcast, and bring into favour those who were before under deserved disapproval. Grace makes it possible to save us sinful persons and not only this but to makes us to sit in heavenly places as we see the exceeding riches of God’s kindness to us. Modern definition “Grace,” according to the dictionary, is the unmerited favour of God toward humanity. The word “grace” is used over 170 times in the New Testament alone. Grace is not bought. It is a free gift of almighty God to needy humanity. Billy Graham EA. God’s grace flows out to the believers through the channel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. The Pauline epistles of the New Testament extol the power of grace in our redemption but always with the conjunction of God’s grace with God’s crucified Son e.g. in… Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. John 1:17 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Tozer urges us not to make the mistake of trying to make this verse stand by itself by suggesting that Moses knew only law and Jesus Christ knows only grace. The law was given to men through Moses, but it did not originate with Moses. It had existed in the heart of God from before the foundation of the world. On Mount Sinai it became the legal code for the nation of Israel; but the moral principles it embodies are eternal. There never was a time when the law did not represent the will of God for humanity nor a time when the violation of it did not bring its own penalty, though God was patient and sometimes “winked” at wrongdoing because of the ignorance of the people. Paul’s careful arguments in the third and fifth chapters of his Epistle to the Romans support the above conclusion. The source of Christian morality is the love of Christ, not the law of Moses; nevertheless there has been no removal of the principles of morality contained in the law. No privileged class exists exempt from that righteousness which the law enjoins. The Old Testament is indeed a book of law, but not of law only. Before the great flood Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. and after the law was given God said to Moses, “Thou hast found grace in my sight.” Exodus 33:17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. What else can we expect from God-the God of grace? Grace is an integral attribute of His Holy Being. The heroes of the old testament needed the same grace that we need today. No person has ever been saved except by grace and there is no path back to God except through the goodness and grace of God. Grace only comes to us through Jesus Christ which worked prospectively in the old testament and prospectively in the new testament. God’s grace like all his attributes is infinite and eternal and where our sin abounds God’s grace abounds much more. Hallelujah! God’s grace allows us to lift our heads up to God seeking his forgiveness, mercy, help etc. Prayer Father God, we bless you and praise that your amazing grace expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has provided a way for sinful people like us to be reconciled to you, the Holy God. We continually acknowledge your grace in every area of our lives. Thankyou Father Amen [1] A.W. Tozer The knowledge of the Holy: Chapter 19 In Part 2 we consider the idea of grace before judgement .