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Offering your bodies as living sacrifices Holy and Pleasing to God Rom. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed 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. These two verses are central to our pursuit of ‘knowing God’s will.’ Living Sacrifices: Living as disciples of Jesus often means living sacrificial lives. Jesus said, ‘take up your cross and follow me’ (Matt 16:24). Sacrificial living is costly and means preferring others more than we prefer ourselves (Rom 12:10). Sacrificial living is not easy, we often feel unappreciated and misunderstood. Holy: Peter says, ‘But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:15:16).” God’s will be that we live holy lives (1 Thes 4:3). Consequently, living a life that is contrary to God’s standard is going to seriously impair our ability to actually hear God when he does reveal his will. Pleasing: The whole purpose of finding and doing the will of God is to please him (Col 1:10). All too often people want to know God’s will so that they will be happy themselves. Even Jesus surrendered his own pleasure in order to please his Father. Rom. 15:1-3 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Conformity: The world is in darkness. When we refuse to conform, we reveal God’s light and expose their darkness (John 3:19-21). When we come to Christ we are to live with a new standard of purity and obedience (1 Peter 1:14). Transformation: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17), we are to ‘put on the new self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:23).’ We are to no longer live the way that we used to before coming to Christ; we are to be different – we are to be like Christ. Renewed Minds: Whatever is true, lovely, praiseworthy… (Phil 4:9) we are to think on those things instead. We are to set our minds on God (Col 3:2) and not on earthly things. Real change can only happen if we change our thinking, that is why we need to address this vital area of our lives. Once we have fulfilled these conditions then we will be able to test and approve what the will of God is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. The Permissible Will of God 1 Cor. 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” — but I will not be mastered by anything. There are many things that are permissible for Christians, but some things are better left alone. Paul mentions two areas in the Christian life that can easily entangle the believer: food and sex. These two areas can be used for good or for ill. Paul is saying that in his pursuit of God’s will he is not prepared to be mastered by anything – for Christ has set him free. There are things in life we are free to use at our discretion. What to wear, what to eat, what kind of music we prefer, films to watch at the cinema etc. If we do these things with thanksgiving, God will bless them. These are permissible choices. However, in our choice we must ask ourselves are they constructive for godliness. Clothes, music, media, and the arts can all master us unless we use them wisely. With choice comes responsibility before God. 1 Cor. 10:23 “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is constructive. Paul uses introduces another factor in helping us make good choices – the ‘weaker brother’. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 Paul says that even if something is perfectly acceptable, if it causes someone else to stumble in their faith, then we should be prepared to forfeit that for their sake. 1 Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 7 we consider how we cant test the will of God.

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.

Going the extra mile What is the most unfair thing that has ever happened to you? You might have been passed over for a job or promotion when you were best qualified or placed to get it. Your parents might have shown favouritism towards one of your brother or sisters e.g. Jacob/Joseph. Your husband or wife has let you down badly, or you might have been accused of something you never did by your family, neighbours or even the police leading to a false imprisonment. Personal testimony When I was a boy, my family were quite poor and did not have many valuables. However, one time my mother received a Churchill crown (a coin), considered to be valuable. When I was a young teenager, my mother took me aside one day, and entrusted the Churchill crown to my safe keeping, I hid it in an old piece of furniture. I forgot all about it for several years, when the matter of the coin was raised at a family gathering, I could not account for it. I knew that I had not sold it or disposed of it, someone in the family had taken it! I became the butt of family jokes, such as do not give anything to him to look after, look what happened to the Churchill crown! The stigma of an unjust accusation hung over me for many years until eventually a family member gave me another Churchill crown. This experience helped me to identify in a very small way with those suffering from injustice or unfairness. It is not a nice feeling, when you realize that you are being treated unfairly but we must handle unfairness or sense of injustice in a Godly way. Let us turn to God’s word to learn how to cope with unfairness and injustice. Definitions Unfair: is not fair, unjust, or not just, biased, prejudiced, contrary to rules of the game (or life). Matthew 5:38-45 God’s instructions on how to deal with unfairness or injustice. Verse 41; In every situation going the extra mile, there are two parties. The one is you (in your circumstance) we always assume the Christian will be one compelled but are you the one forcing another person to go the extra mile. Make sure you are the one being forced to go the extra mile and not the other party who is doing the forcing! Extortion (see 1 Corinthians 6:10) Demanding more of them than is fair or necessary. Does your spouse always have to give in? Do you always insist on getting your own way? This is the sin of extortion which is forcing people to go or to give more than they are willing. Extortion is not just about money but making unfair demands on someone’s life with the threat of emotional blackmail. Love never demands its own way. Love never is not selfish and self-seeking. Matthew 5:41 The act of love (by going an extra mile) defuses an act of selfishness. Love covers a multitude of sins. Jesus tells us if someone forces us to go one mile, then go with him two miles. Somehow this going the extra mile neutralizes the power of selfishness. 2 Timothy 3:12 The devil has a special form of unfairness called persecution through which he tempts the believer to be ashamed of being a Christian and with the goal of getting you turn away from God and his word. How did Jesus Christ handle his persecution and unfairness? Acts 8:32-33 (see also Isaiah 53:7-8) Humiliated and persecuted he did not even speak in his own defence. Jesus Christ would be tortured and killed, but because of his love for God the Father and his love for mankind he endured the ultimate injustice and unfairness and was silent like lamb before his shearers. He who was without sin, was made to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteous of God (2 Corinthians 5:31). God the Father did not spare God the Son from great suffering in his earthly ministry. It seems that for all Christians living Godly lives, then we can expect some persecution and unfairness will come. But don’t despair, but count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must develop so that you may become mature and complete, lacking nothing in your walk with God. God although allowing some injustice in our lives, never lets us be tempted above our measure when we are hurting through injustice. We can go to God and ask for judgement in the Old Testament sense, knowing that the judge of all the earth will do right. Psalm 7:8 Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteous, according to my integrity says the psalmist. God is the one who vindicates his people. Conclusion When unfairness comes, walk the extra mile, show love which disarms evil or selfishness and when the pressure gets too great, then call out to the judge of all the earth knowing that he will do right. Amen Prayer

Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 In this study we consider the Spirit-anointed prayers of the Apostle Paul. These prayers were given of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray for ourselves and others. The prayer we are focusing on today is in Ephesians 3:14-21. The prayers of Paul listed below are not in the word of God by chance but are there that Holy Spirit can use them to lead us into how we might to pray. They are found in Ephesians 1:17-19, Ephesians 3:14-21, Philippians 1:9-11. In Ephesians 3:14-21 we see a stepwise progressive revelation of the God’s Word. Step 1. Being strengthened with might in our inner man by Holy Spirit Step 2. That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, that we be rooted and grounded in love Step 3. That we might comprehend the dimensions of God’s love, practically experiencing it for ourselves Step 4. That we might be filled with all the fullness of God Comments Verse 16; It is the dunamis or dynamite power of the Holy Spirit that will strengthen us spiritually. It is part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to build us up that we might be ready for the next step of this progression. It is that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwells in us so we can ask Him to strengthen us. Verse 17; As Christ dwells (is at home) in our heart by faith we become rooted like a tall tree. A tree planted by running water yielding its fruit in season, prospering in every way. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, our roots are in Him grounded like a building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus is building the stones in his body into a perfect temple for the Father (1 John 4:19). The Christian walk of obedience is in response to his love which was given first to us. As we are strengthened with might in the inner man by Holy Spirit, Christ begins to live in our hearts by faith and we become rooted and grounded on his divine love. Verse 18; Then we are in the position to begin to discern the dimensions of God’s love. We can only hope to have any possibility of achieving this through the Lord’s grace i.e. through the Holy Spirit revelations to our hearts. Verse 19; To know the love of Christ that surpasses and bypasses mere head knowledge. Amen Personal Prayer In part 2 we consider the individual dimensions of width, length, depth, and height in Verse 18.

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.