Training Under Grace (The Practicals)
There were admittedly a few important bits of information I left out of yesterday’s sermon all having to do with the practical applications of learning to train under Grace. I want to take some time to share these with you as you are learning in your own special way how to be more intentional about engaging with God in abiding relationship, faithful agreement, and active dependence.
In Abiding Relationship I had mentioned that we are falling in love with Jesus. We only love because He first loved us (See, I John 4:19). It all begins with God and comes from Him. I mentioned that here He is breaking our false image of Himself and restoring the true image and likeness of God in our hearts and minds. He also, however, is intently interested in loving and healing your heart. He wants you to be open with Him about your struggles in life and how you are truly doing in your heart. He wants that exposed before Him so He can help you to walk out of the old patterns and wounds and into the new life and healing that He has for you in Jesus. So, in that, I encourage you to be transparent before Him in heart and allow Him the time necessary to love you well into life and healing. He certainly will (See, Philippians 1:6)!
In Faithful Agreement I had mentioned that He is working with us to know who He really is and that this will return the revelation of who we really are in Him back to us. This is a special theme in His Kingdom, that your old self, sins, and name He knows no more, but you have a new creation identity with righteousness and a new name that He forever knows you by! He wants to connect you with that reality in Jesus. I forgot to mention however that it is important to know that your experiences along the way (your mishaps, failures, etc.) will tempt you to identify yourself as who you once were before being born anew in Jesus. It is imperative that you learn to disagree with the seeming evidence of experience, and rather align yourself all the more even in your failures to Jesus Christ and who you are in Him. Never allow your slip ups to define you! The devil would love for you to do just that, but it is in those moments of mistakes and failures that God desires to love you all the more and convince you of who you really are in Him (See, I Corinthians 6:11).
In Active Dependence I had mentioned that we get to actively and dependently accept that the old is gone/put off, that we get to be renewed in the spirit of our minds to the truth of who we really are, and that the new is here/put on; therefore, lay aside everything that once defined and hindered you, be renewed to the truth in Jesus, and walk in the Spirit (who you really are in Christ). Here are some practicals for this. When you have the time, examine Colossians chapter 3: 1-17. Read these passages with God. In them you will see who you really are in Jesus vs who you once were in Adam. Now, the way to actively and dependently walk as who you are in Jesus, is to align your body and your daily life to God and the truth of who you are in Him.
Here are a couple of ways that this can look day to day for you:
Here is a pretty common one! Let’s say that there is someone at your work who everyone loves to hate. They are difficult and make everyone's life difficult. You may be tempted to treat them accordingly, but the truth that is in Jesus is that you are a lover of your enemies. So, instead of going to work in dread and dismay of seeing this employee, go to work in active dependence of who Jesus says you are and calls you to be. Ask Holy Spirit to give you the love and ability to love this person despite their difficulties, not expecting them to change or return the favor. Now, you are walking in active dependence upon who you are in Jesus rather than the old patterns of who you were before in Adam or trying to willpower yourself into loving them, which will always fail to be genuine and transformative.
Let’s say there is a sinful pattern in your life. Maybe it is a repetitive sin like substance abuse, sexual immorality, outbursts of anger, etc. (For a more complete list of what these may be, read Galatians 5: 19-21). Because you have experienced repeated patterns of failure in these areas you are tempted to believe that this is who you are and that you will never be able to overcome it. Scrap those lies immediately! What Jesus is calling you to do here is to embrace the reality of His forgiveness and of who you are as opposed to this repeated pattern. He is calling you to lean into Holy Spirit for the Grace empowerment necessary to walk free as who you really are. He is calling you to put off that old pattern, be renewed to the truth that sets you free, and walk in the new pattern of who you are (for a more complete list of these, read Galatians 5: 22-25). As you practice being open with Him about where you are at in these areas and leaning into His mercy, grace, and truth God will progressively transform you from the inside out to live free (See, Philippians 2: 13).
I hope and pray that this breakdown of how we are called to train under Grace is helpful to you. I believe that if we keep it simple and abiding in these three areas in relationship with Jesus we will see incredible growth and freedom in our lives. Lastly, I want to encourage you to gather around other believers who believe this message. Gather around those who will see you according to the Spirit and call out your true identity as you grow in Jesus. You cannot do this alone! You need the body of Christ. So, find someone you can trust to confess where you are struggling the most and stay connected for support, prayer, and encouragement in the truth. We cannot do this alone and we must grow together in a biblical community of Grace. I am praying for you all this week to experience this with God and one another. God bless! - Pastor Shane
