Power Tools of an Explosive Life: The Mind of Christ
EXPLOSIVE PRACTICALITY
MY GOD WHY?
RECAP:
Identity Blessing and Purpose
Satan cannot change the character of God, He can not conquer the Word of God, so he attacks our ability to walk out the purpose of God.
FATHER, FORGIVE THEM
When we know His forgiveness, we are more open to repentance.
MY GOD WHY?
For three hours, beginning at noon, a sudden and unexpected darkness came over the earth. And at three o’clock Jesus shouted with a mighty voice in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” —that is, “My God, My God, why have you deserted me?” Matthew 27:45-46 (The Passion Translation)
Jesus fully man proved to us that we in our humanity can chose to do the tough things.
We may not always feel His presence, But His Word is always still true.
Our circumstances do not govern our responses, the Word of God does.
Why does God do such good things to me? – I am such a bad person.
EASY ANSWERS FOR HARD TIMES:
- IT’S YOUR FAULT.
- IT’S SATAN’S FAULT.
- IT’S GOD’S WILL/FAULT. For we know in part…Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:9,12 (New Living Translation) THE FATHER’S PART OF THE STORY THE FATHER FORSOOK JESUS BECAUSE HE BECAME SIN. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (New Living Translation) Shame keeps us from reflecting the image of God.
Shame hides us.
God removed His presence from Adam and Jesus had to feel the same despair to fully understand how shame would make us feel.
We don’t serve God for His presence, we obey God because of the supremacy of His Word.
(God’s) eyes are too pure to look on evil; (He) cannot tolerate wrong. Habakkuk 1:13
- God is holy and will not tolerate sin.
- God is just and will judge sin where it is found.
- God is love and devised a way that justice would be satisfied and forgiveness made available. Shame and promise don’t coexist well. JESUS’ PART OF THE STORYTHE SON WAS FORSAKEN SO WE COULD BE FORGIVEN. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 Jesus placed himself in the worst possible position. He had every level of shame to deal with.
He had to do that without a sense of God’s presence. He had to remain true to who He was – THE WORD. OUR PART OF THE STORY WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 (New Living Translation)
SHAME HAS NO ABILITY TO KEEP YOU TRAPPED
Our sense of His presence is not an indicator of His forgiveness.
We cannot think at the Father’s level.
He dreams bigger than us, He imagines deeper than us, and can strategize to the extent that obliterates Satan.
DOUBT OBLITERATES FORGIVENESS
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.Ephesians 3:20 (The Passion Translation)
WE SUBMIT OUR THINKING TO GOD
We offer our ideas to His character and allow his character to help us “think straight”
When we are embarrassed by what we were thinking, humility compels us to have an open conversation with God.
Jesus modeled this. He discussed what He was thinking with God and let God speak into His ideas and thoughts.
Then he withdrew from them a short distance to be alone. Kneeling down, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.” Luke 22:41-42 (The Passion Translation)
WE CHOSE THE LIFE OF GRACE
So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. And don’t live foolishly for then you will have the discernment to fully understand God’s will. Ephesians 5:15-17 (The Passion Translation)
GRACE OBLITERATES EXCUSES
The longer you distance yourself from promises, the longer you
feel forsaken, and the no longer you live in the excuse of shame. A grace-oriented life rids us of excuses and justifications.
When we are taking on shame, and He seems very far away, we trust His Word, His promises, and His forgiveness.
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