ALIGNING OUR MINDS TO RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD
(Living in the Spirit)
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Introduction: The finished work of Jesus Christ has already been established within our spirit. This is called the grace of God. It is free and available to all believers. However, we have to establish those works within our minds in order to see the manifestation of them. A wandering mind is the devil’s workshop. His constant mental attacks consist of always suggesting that we think in opposition to the Word of God. Many people are confused about what it is to be a Christian living in the grace of God. We must first define what the word "Christian" means. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Acts 11:26 says: “And they gathered there a whole year with the church and taught many people, and the disciples were called Christians for the first time in Antioch.”
What is grace? “Grace is unconditional love toward a person who does not deserve it.” Grace” is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ. Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely; the peace of God given to the restless; the unmerited favor of God.
A. There are people who consider themselves Christians but their actions or their way of thinking or their lifestyle do not support it. Let’s consider these 7 characteristics necessary to be a true Christian.
1. BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS: JOHN 3:16 and 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God is upon him.”
2. RESPONSIBLE/DILIGENT: 2 TIMOTHY 4: 5 But be sober in everything, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
3. UNWAVERING FAITH: Hebrews 11:16 But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
4. HOLINESS: 1 PETER 1:16 for it is written: Be holy, for I am holy. Separated for God. Christians live every day by the grace of God. We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace, and grace drives our sanctification.
5. OF GOOD TESTIMONY: ROMANS 10: 2 For I bear witness to you that you are zealous for God, but not according to science. (Calm. Temperate, God-fearing) 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God's.
6. EXHIBIT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Galatians 5: 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ROMANS 12: 9 “Love be without pretense. Hate the bad, follow the good. "
7. OBEDIENT: 1 PETER 4: 7 “For it is time for the judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (Prayer, good works) ISAIAH 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
B. Our thinking must always be directed by God.
The mind is part of the soul and it is the part of us in which our faith is established. With our minds, we can take possession of what Jesus has done for us. For this reason, Satan attacks the mind. Therefore, we must tame the mind by bringing it into submission to God’s word. 2 Corinthians 10: 5 knocking down arguments and every arrogance that rises up against the knowledge of God and taking captive every thought to obedience to Christ.
The spiritual battle we fight as Christians is within our minds. So in order to operate in victory, we must begin to submit our minds so that our thoughts can be aligned with God’s word. Isaiah 26: 3. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You.
Philippians 4: 8 For the rest, brothers, all that is true, all that is honest, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is kind, all that is of good name; if there is any virtue, if anything worthy of praise, think of this.
Conclusion:
We must learn how to respond to the enemy when he begins to bombard us with his suggestions 2 Cor. 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
Satan has blinded the minds of those who do not believe or have been disobedient to God’s word. He has used religion to blind the spiritual eyes of many Christians. This is the reason why you meet so many people calling themselves Christians but their lifestyle does not support what a true Christian should be. When we remove the religious veil, we will be able to see God’s grace in operation. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Romans 8: 5 For those who are of the flesh think about the things of the flesh; but those who are of the Spirit, in the things of the Spirit.
(Galatians 5: 16-25)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is against the flesh; and these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
And manifest are the works of the flesh, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, enmities, lawsuits, jealousy, anger, strife, dissension, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. But those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
We are responsible for taming our minds to receive the finished work of Grace in our life and living the life of a truly Christian person.
Grace is the basis for:
• Our Christian identity: “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
• Our standing before God: “this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2)
• Our behavior: “We behaved in the world … by the grace of God.” (2 Corinthians 2:12)
• Our living: those who receive “the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ,”(Romans 5:17) by the “grace of life.” (1 Peter 1:7)
• Our holiness: God“called us to a holy calling … because of his own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 2:9)
• Our strength for living: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:1) for “it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.” (Hebrews 13:9)
• Our way of speaking: “Let your speech always be gracious.” (Colossians 4:6)
• Our serving: “serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 1:10)
• Our sufficiency: “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 2:9) “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 2:8)
• Our response to difficulty and suffering: We get “grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16) and when “you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 1:10)
• Our participation in God’s mission: As recipients of grace we are privileged to serve as agents of grace. Believers receive grace (Acts 11:23), are encouraged to continue in grace (Acts 13:43), and are called to testify to the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). God’s mission is to the entire world.
• Our future: God, and his grace, is everlasting. “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)
• Our hope beyond death: “grace [reigns] through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)
1 Corinthians 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
