Upgrade Your Standards

In this sermon, we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus as captured in John 6:25-35. This passage serves as the foundation for understanding how to "Upgrade Your Standards" in life, focusing on the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers as the "bread of life."

The sermon begins with a reflection on the previous week's theme of upgrading relationships. This week, the focus shifts to upgrading our standards—a necessary step for enhancing our relationships and spiritual journey. Pastor Winfred Burns II emphasizes that in the Kingdom of God, a standard is an "authorized divine measure or model" rooted in God's character, guided by His word, and led by the Spirit.

• Definition: A Kingdom standard is a divine benchmark that defines righteousness, guides living, and helps evaluate truth.
• Purpose: It serves as a guide for authority, unity, and conduct in the Kingdom of God.
• Application: Having standards makes it easier to discern where things or people fit in our lives.

One of the key insights shared is the relationship between self-awareness, self-esteem, and standards. Low self-awareness and self-esteem often result in low standards, leading to indiscriminate intimacy with others. Conversely, a healthy self-awareness and self-esteem lead to higher standards, allowing us to recognize who belongs in the intimate spaces of our lives.

In John 6:35, Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." This statement exemplifies Jesus’ self-awareness and the high standards He sets for those who wish to follow Him. He challenges us to pursue eternal nourishment rather than temporary satisfaction.

The sermon highlights the tension between cultural norms and Kingdom standards. Our culture often promotes low standards and self-esteem, making it challenging to maintain a Kingdom mindset. However, Jesus demonstrates a healthy self-awareness that is neither proud nor insecure, enabling us to stand firm in our identity as children of God.

• Upgrade Standards: To upgrade your standards, start by upgrading your self-awareness.
• Evaluate Relationships: Use standards to determine the place and purpose of people in your life.
• Embrace Kingdom Living: Move away from cultural norms and embrace the covenant of grace.

The sermon concludes with a powerful call to embrace Jesus as the bread of life, moving away from the "bread of culture" to the "bread of the Kingdom." By doing so, we align ourselves with the Kingdom of God, where we are promised to never hunger or thirst again.

The session ends with a prayer, asking for transformation into the likeness of Jesus, that we might produce Kingdom outcomes in our lives. This transformation begins with recognizing Jesus as the ultimate standard and aligning our lives accordingly.

By upgrading our standards to align with the Kingdom of God, we not only enhance our relationships but also deepen our spiritual journey, living out the true essence of being followers of Christ.