Spiritual Awakening – Which Version of Your Life Do You Want to Live?
Proverbs 4:10-12, 23 (NCV)
"My child, listen and accept what I say… I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed…"Be careful what you think because thoughts run your life."
Ephesians 4:22-24 (Msg)
"Everything - and I do mean everything - connected with that old way of life has to go ... Get
rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed
from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His
character in you."
Romans 5:15, 17 (NIV)
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many…For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 (GW)
It is certain that death ruled because of one person's failure. It's even more certain that those who receive God's overflowing kindness (grace) and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.
Βασιλεύω - basileuo – Literally or figuratively to rule and reign over life
Galatians 3:3 (NCV)
"You began your life in Christ by the Spirit. Now are you trying to make it complete by your
own power? This is foolish."
1. The secret to the reigning in the life of grace is receiving, instead of achieving everything that Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross
Romans 5:17 (NIV)
… how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 (GW)
… It's even more certain that those who receive God's overflowing kindness (grace) and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.
2. We receive at the point of realization that God has already approved you, and given you all you need to reign in life
3. When we finally taste and feel the truth of God’s approval of us and that He has already given us all we need to reign in life, then we are beginning to receive…
Ezekiel 16:30-34, 62-63 (NLT, Msg)
“What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign LORD, to do such things as these, acting like a shameless prostitute. 31 You build your pagan shrines on every street corner and your altars to idols in every square. In fact, you have been worse than a prostitute, so eager for sin that you have not even demanded payment. 32 Yes, you are an adulterous wife who takes in strangers instead of her own husband. 33 Prostitutes charge for their services—but not you! You give gifts to your lovers, bribing them to come and have sex with you. 34 So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay your lovers instead of their paying you...62 I'll firmly establish my covenant with you and you'll know that I am God. You'll remember your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make everything right after all you've done, it will leave you speechless.'"
Receive like a little child – who naturally receives simply as if it was so natural to depend on the Giver
Mark 10:14 (Msg)
…Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.
Matthew 18:3 (Msg)
Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Psalm 23:1 (NLT)
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…
John 10:11, 2 (NIV)
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Sheep are in their very nature dumb – but they thrive and become their best when they simply receive without question all that the Shepherd provides for them