Jun. 29, 2025

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 16:55 min into the video. The music "May God Bless America", "Just a Closer Walk with Theee" , "Standing on the Promises of God", "Are your Washed in the Blood", and "I'll Flay Away" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

Living Differently: Embracing Your True Identity as God's Child:

What if the secret to living with purpose wasn't about trying harder, but about thinking differently? This powerful message from 1 Peter reveals how God calls us to live as transformed people in an unchanged world. You're not just surviving your journey through life—you're meant to thrive as God's beloved child, standing out with holy confidence and grace-filled purpose.

As believers, we are pilgrims passing through this world, not permanent residents. This changes everything about how we think, act, and live. The foundation of our different life isn't built on our performance but on God's amazing grace.

When you truly understand that you've been saved by grace, are being sustained by grace, and will be glorified by grace, it transforms how you approach every day. You're called to live so differently that others notice something special about you—not because you're trying to be weird, but because you're reflecting your heavenly Father's character. This isn't about perfection; it's about progression in your relationship with God.

Pastor Dave’s Key Teachings

1. Take control of your thought life by applying the biblical principle of "girding up the loins of your mind" as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:13. Just as ancient people would tuck up their robes to run without tripping, you need to tie up the loose ends in your thinking that could cause you to stumble spiritually. As Pastor Dave illustrated, "You can't keep a bird from flying over your head, but you don't have to let him make a nest up there." Your thoughts determine your direction. While you can't stop every wrong thought from entering your mind, you can refuse to let it take up residence there. Practice taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, as advised in 2 Corinthians 10:5. When negative, lustful, or ungodly thoughts arise, acknowledge them but don't dwell on them. Replace them with Scripture, prayer, or worship, as your thought life shapes your character.
2. Being spiritually sober means maintaining clear-headed thinking that isn't influenced by worldly ideas, activities, and attitudes that constantly bombard us. Just as physical intoxication puts you "under the influence," spiritual intoxication happens when you allow ungodly influences to control your thinking and decisions. Stay focused on eternal things and maintain self-control. In a culture full of distracting messages, you need spiritual sobriety to discern what aligns with God's will and what doesn't. This requires intentional choices about what you watch, read, and think about. As the biblical principle from 1 Peter 1:13 suggests, "Be sober and rest your hope fully upon the grace."
3. As believers in Jesus Christ, we should live our lives as obedient children, marked by our obedience to the Father. The biblical principle from 1 Peter 1:14 encourages us not to conform to former lusts. Instead of letting the culture around us press us into its mold, we should allow God's grace to transform us into Christ's image, recognizing that we are not the same people we were before knowing Jesus. In daily life, when facing decisions, we should ask, "What would an obedient child of God do?" rather than "What do I want to do?" Our relationship with our heavenly Father should influence every choice we make.
4. Rest fully in God's grace, as the biblical principle from 1 Peter 1:13 advises: "Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you." Pastor Dave cautioned against becoming "works-driven people" who shift their confidence from God's grace to their own performance. It is crucial to remember that everything in your salvation—past, present, and future—depends on God's grace, not your efforts. Your good works should flow from gratitude, not from trying to earn God's favor. In daily life, when you make mistakes, run to grace, not away from God. When you succeed, give credit to God's work in you. Let grace be both your foundation and your confidence.

Scriptural Foundation

• 1 Peter 1:13-21: The primary passage calling believers to live differently through mental preparation, spiritual sobriety, and grace-centered hope
• 2 Corinthians 10:5: Taking every thought captive to Christ's obedience, emphasizing the battle for our minds
• Romans 12:2: Being transformed by the renewing of our minds rather than conforming to the world's pattern
• Genesis 1:27: Understanding our creation in God's image and our calling to be His image-bearers on earth

 Your Journey Forward

1. Guard your mind daily by starting each morning asking God to help you think His thoughts. When negative or ungodly thoughts arise, immediately replace them with Scripture or prayer. Evaluate what you're allowing into your mind through media, conversations, and entertainment.
2. Practice spiritual sobriety by identifying one area where worldly influence has been affecting your thinking. Make specific changes to reduce that influence and increase your intake of God's Word and worship.
3. Embrace your identity as God's child by considering what an obedient child of God would do before making decisions. Seek opportunities to reflect your Father's character to others, and remember that your behavior flows from your relationship, not from trying to earn approval.
4. When you fail, remind yourself: "I am saved by grace, sustained by grace, and will be glorified by grace." Thank God daily for His unmerited favor in your life. Let gratitude, not guilt, motivate your obedience.

Questions for Reflection:

• What "loose ends" in your thinking need to be tied up?
• Where are you being pressed into the world's mold instead of Christ's image?
• Are you resting in God's grace or trying to earn His favor?

 Closing Prayer and Reflection

"Father, I thank You for Your word today. I thank You for speaking to us. And I pray, Lord, any areas of my life and our lives that need to be brought into alignment and agreement with You and Your will, that we would be better reflectors of Your image in this earth. Lord, that others would see You in us, that we would live Your way as we pass through and sojourn. And we pray, Lord Jesus, that You give us Your strength and Your power and Your wisdom, that we would live for Your glory. And we ask it in Your name, Jesus. Amen."

Remember the Pastor Dave's closing challenge: "What is God through the Holy Spirit in His word saying to me today? And how am I going to respond to that?"

Your journey of living differently isn't about perfection—it's about progression. God's grace gives you both the power to change and the freedom to fail and try again. You're not just passing through this world; you're representing your heavenly Father with every step. Let His grace transform your thinking, guide your choices, and give you confidence for the journey ahead.