Kings Don't Give Chicken Change: Living as the Supernatural Class

Sermon outline

Born-again believers are a new, supernatural class of being, and there is an urgency to grow up in the Spirit: to stop walking like mere men and start thinking, speaking, praying and giving like kings.

1. There's an urgency to grow in the Spirit

   God wants us to be no longer children tossed to and fro but grown to maturity. If you grow and take your place, you can change the lives of men and women; if you fail to, you can never change anyone.

   “Someone's destiny is tied to your obedience.”

   • Ephesians 4:14

2. You are from a supernatural class

   Your spirit has been recreated: you are a son or daughter of God with His nature living inside you, born from above, a new class of being. Religion teaches you about God, but a living relationship lets you call Him Abba Father, so you must change gears in how you think, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Your words carry spirit, life and seed, and they can change your situation.

   “Your words are not just words.”

   • John 3:3
   • Romans 8:15
   • Proverbs 23:7
   • Genesis 1:26
   • John 6:63
   • Proverbs 18:21
   • 2 Chronicles 20:20

3. Why are you walking like mere men?

   Paul could not give the Corinthians meat because they were carnal, arguing over Paul and Apollos and living in the sense realm. He was asking why they walked like ordinary men, buffeted by circumstances, instead of as supernatural men who think, talk and act like God and say 'with God all things are possible'. When a crisis knocks, the carnal man scrambles for faith but the spiritual man answers the door with faith, so build yourself up every day in psalms, songs and praying in the Holy Ghost.

   Illustration: A crisis comes knocking: the carnal man is trying to get faith, but when it knocks on the spiritual man's door, faith answers and doubt is gone.

   “So don't wait for the crisis to come to build yourself in the things of God.”

   • 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
   • Colossians 1:13
   • Matthew 19:26
   • Philippians 4:13
   • 1 John 4:4
   • Ephesians 5:19
   • Jude 1:20
   • Proverbs 28:1
   • Romans 1:17
   • Romans 4:17
   • Psalm 45:1

4. Stop dealing with God in an unspiritual fashion

   The Message translation says Paul was frustrated by their 'unspiritual dealings' with each other and with God. Begging God to 'please come' is unspiritual, because He has promised never to leave you. Don't wait for someone to prophesy over you: become your own prophet, speak the Psalms over your life, command disease to leave and stir up the anointing you already carry. Spirituality is not measured by nice clothes, grey hair or glasses, and God does not 'pluck young flowers' early: He promises long life.

   Illustration: At the church he used to attend, he was told to fast and pray for the Holy Spirit, and people sang and laid hands on him again and again with nothing happening. Later that week the Holy Spirit filled him in private while he was in the shower, and he realised God is everywhere.

   “Become your own prophet.”

   • Matthew 28:20
   • John 16:7
   • John 14:26
   • Hebrews 13:5
   • Psalm 23:1-2
   • Psalm 91:7
   • Psalm 91:10
   • Psalm 23:5
   • Deuteronomy 28:7
   • 1 John 2:27
   • Psalm 91:16
   • Psalm 90:10

5. Grow your spirit man on the Word

   We have grown our bodies on three meals a day but neglected the spiritual nuggets in the Word, and man shall not live by bread alone. As the Word fills your spirit you can love people you don't like, because you love with your recreated spirit, not your intellect. Confession made out of fear achieves nothing; confess out of faith, from a heart full of the Word.

   Illustration: Breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks in between have grown our physical bodies, while the spirit man has been left hungry.

   “That's why when you confess, you've got to confess out of faith.”

   • Matthew 4:4

6. You cannot think like a king if you think like a pauper

   Your giving reveals your perception of God, just as the mouth reveals the heart: the widow gave all she had and placed herself to receive from God. Supernatural men and women give big because they love God, not out of fear of a rainy day, and the way you receive a prophet is the way you receive a prophet's reward. He shares how he grew from a miser into a generous giver by learning to stretch.

   Illustration: Many years ago he put a two rand coin in the offering and the Holy Spirit asked, 'Am I worth to you just two rand?' He vowed never again to put a coin in the basket. He also tells of Pastor Ray McCauley obeying God and giving away a million rand, and then receiving over nine million for his church renovations.

   “You cannot think like a king if you think like a pauper.”

   • Acts 20:35
   • Matthew 12:34
   • Mark 12:41-44
   • Matthew 10:41

7. Live like a king and be a blessing

   Stop keeping your best dishes for visitors and your car for its second owner: a king eats, rides and thinks like a king, and prays big prayers. What keeps us in bondage is not the devil but our thinking. Look for people to bless, inside and outside the church, especially this Christmas.

   Illustration: He had a church member count the loose change he had collected, about four hundred rand, and gave it to Wesley to buy videotapes for the church. He has also paid for policemen's meals when he saw them buying food.

   “Brothers and sisters, you know what's keeping us down in bondage, it's not the devil, it's our thinking.”