Discipleship: Discover Your Identity In Christ

DAY 122

Transformation - 3 of 7
Reading: Acts 13:1–14:28
Memorizing: Phil 4:8

IDENTITY IN CHRIST

The more we see of Jesus in His Word, and through the Holy Spirit, the better we can defend His name and more efficiently destroy the works of the devil wherever we see them. It is in beholding the glory of Jesus that we can display His wonderful attributes like love, faith, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, etc. The fruit of the Spirit, according to Gal 5:22-23, became ours when we became born again. When I know that I have the fruit in the same measure Jesus had it while He walked on this earth, I need to do the responsible thing, and be disciplined in how I follow Him, and how I dispense His attributes to those around me.

The Kingdom is about influence, and we need to be seed minded people by being intentional to touch people around us. We do not have to become legalistic about the way we follow Jesus, we should just explore the relationship we are in, with this amazing God and Father, with diligence and excitement.

Just to think that I can hear the voice of God is an incredible thought, and energizes me to read the Word and to spend time in His presence. 1 Tim 4:15 says, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”

There has to be progress in our walk in faith. Transformation brings progress, as we shake off the old thoughts and ways of doing things, and adapt to the newness of life which is in the likeness of Christ.

Col 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” We can do this because we are born from above, from the Father's heart.

We are either earthly bound or heavenly minded. We are part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and are only passing by. The Word says we are aliens in this world, and should stand out as citizens of another country, Kingdom country, wherever we are.

When we came to the US and I talked to someone they would always ask, “Where are you from?” This was because of my South African accent. We have a Heavenly language and accent which is unique. It is called "agape love" or unconditional and unmerited love. When people hear us speak that language, it should prompt them to ask, where are you from?

Phil 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

If an eagle’s egg is hatched by a chicken, the eagle will always feel uncomfortable. He is not designed to be a chicken with a chicken’s attributes; he is designed to do something very different. His wings are designed to fly and his beak to tear apart his prey. If this little “chicken” can be helped to find his true purpose and identity, he can become who he really is, he will be able to reach his destiny.

It is the same with us. It is about discovering your true Identity In Christ. It is about transforming your mind through the Word, to embrace your Identity, and to live it out every day. We are created to fly like eagles, and only in beholding Jesus and who He is, and finding your identity in Him, will you truly understand who you are and be inspired to rise up to become who God intended you to be.

Note: God is a God of relationship and wants to be in close fellowship with you. His Word should be the primary source of study, in the life of every believer. (Sometimes people know more about what a preacher said and who said it, than what God is saying). Our Father desires to be in close fellowship with you through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, hear what He has to say, and declare His Word for yourself, over your life and circumstances continuously.

Holy Spirit, help me to have sensitive ears to hear Your voice. Strengthen my heart to obey Your promptings, and to follow after the example Jesus set for me in His Word. Heavenly Father, speak to my heart, and guide me in the way I should go. I trust you with all my heart, and refuse to rely on my own understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DAY 119

Faith - 7 of 7
Reading: Rom 10:1-21
Memorizing: 2 Cor 4:18; Heb 11:6

FAITH IS A CONTINUOUS WALK

The biggest enemies of faith are our senses and the tendency of our minds to ignore the things that are impossible, instead of believing that all things are possible in Christ. What we see with our eyes and hear with our ears can have a negative effect on our walk in faith; we should deliberately choose to believe what God says in His Word.

2 Cor 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”.
2 Cor 4:18 says, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.

These two scriptures make it clear that we should look at things differently through our faith eyes. Faith looks beyond the natural into the unseen.

So What Does Faith Look Like?
Faith sees the impossible and unthinkable.
Faith stands only on one thing—the Word of God.
Faith is a continuous walk and not something we do occasionally.
Faith means I receive now, although I might have to give it time to manifest in the natural.
If faith receives now, praise should follow immediately.
I am convinced that our Father in heaven thoroughly enjoys it when we choose to believe Him for the impossible, because He has already provided the answers. Think of it this way: It will be of no satisfaction and joy to me if I give a gift to someone and they never open it. A gift is meant to be accepted, opened and enjoyed. My faith in God’s promises and the finished work of Jesus on the cross is the way to open the gift of grace, and allow it to work miracles in my life.

Hebrews 11 has been described as the Hall of Fame of people who walked in faith. As believers who walk in faith you might want to add your name to these giants of faith.

Declare this with me today and say it loud so that you can hear yourself.

According to Romans 4:18–21, I will, contrary to hope, in hope believe that everything in my life that seems impossible, is possible, I will not be weak in faith and I will not consider my own inabilities or strength. I will not waver at the promises of God through unbelief and will not doubtingly question the authority of the Word of God, but I will strengthen myself in faith, giving glory to God. I will stay fully convinced that what God has promised He is also able and willing to perform in my life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, I choose today to act on what Your Word says. I choose to believe You in spite of what my circumstances, friends, family, or bank account says. I decide today to believe Your Word as the truth in spite of the facts I might see with my eyes or hear with my ears. I submit my emotions and feelings to You and decide to stand on Your Word every day. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

DAY 118

Faith - 6 of 7
Reading: Rom 4:1-25
Memorizing: Gen 15:1; Rom 4:19-20

ARE YOU FULLY PURSUADED?

Probably one of my most favorite scripture, when my faith is challenged, is what we read in Rom 4:18-21 Amp. This is about Abraham, the father of faith and it says, “[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone, But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,”
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In Gen 15:5 we read how God gave Abraham a promise that his descendents would be like the stars in heaven. This previous scripture says: human reason for any hope to see that happen was gone. It was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have children at that age. (Sarah was already post-menopause.) But this scripture says Abraham hoped against a hope that was set on human reasoning, and he believed that God was able and willing to do what He said.

The scripture says, no unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God. The devil wants you to doubtingly question God’s promises for your life, for your marriage, your children and your future. He wants you to walk with hesitation instead of with boldness. The enemy wants you to distrust your Father who has entered a blood covenant with you. Who says in His Word, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Abraham did not focus on the reasons or the excuses why this cannot happen. Actually he walked with intention, grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. That’s right. When you praise Him in the storm you will grow strong in faith and be empowered to stay the course and to never quit. If you, instead of praising God, are always looking for reasons and answers and focusing on the problem, it will change your faith into fear and you will miss the opportunity to receive the impossible.

While Abraham was giving glory to God, he was fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word, and to do what He had promised. One translation says he was fully persuaded.

How assured and satisfied are you that God is able to perform what He had promised you? One way the enemy tricks us is to make us question if God has promised it. My friend, shake it off and set your heart on Jesus while you ask the Holy Spirit to confirm and re-enforce God’s promises for your marriage, your career, your family, etc.

Take anything you might face right now and compare that with what Abraham had to hope for. Maybe all human reasoning for hope in your situation is gone, but like Abraham, you can put your hope in a mighty God who can do the impossible things.

Faith is not meant for the possible, it is meant for the impossible. If we are only applying our faith to what we can do ourselves, we are living lives lacking the abundance of the life God has planned for us. We should always remind ourselves of God’s promises for our lives, and live our lives fully persuaded that God our Father will do what He said.

Holy Spirit, confirm with me the promises God has for my life as I set my heart on You today. I choose to believe, Father, that You are able and willing to perform what You have promised me. By faith I receive it and choose to strengthen my faith and give glory and praise to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DAY 116

Faith - 4 of 7
Reading: Matt 14:22-36
Memorizing: Mark 11:23-24

FAITH & AUTHORITY

Matt 8:23-26 says, “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

This is faith in action. How many times in your life were you saying those words, maybe in a different way, but like the disciples were saying, “Lord, save me! I am perishing!”. I know I did a few times and then our precious Jesus came to my aid, lifted me out of my problem, and set my feet on solid ground again.

IT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE WAVES AND THE STORM AND TOOK MY EYES OF JESUS.

Jesus challenged His disciples to stand in the authority He had given them. We are to stand in the same authority because of who we are in Christ Jesus. Any storm that might threaten our lives—whether it relates to our finances, relationships, families, business or in our personal lives as we serve God—should be addressed with this kind of authority. When Jesus spoke to the storm it became quiet, but His response to His disciples was, “Why are you so fearful, O you of little faith.” Jesus was actually saying to them that through faith and His delegated authority they were supposed to still the storm themselves.

In the same way, He has given us the authority to speak to the things in life that threaten us, and to believe Him for a favorable outcome. The enemy wants to fill you with fear, but faith is the opposite and the answer.

KEEP YOU EYES ON JESUS!!

The authority and power that God has delegated to us as His children, is to address the storms and defeat the giants in our lives. We have to have a faith that lasts, as we face the challenges in life. When Jesus said to the disciples that they had little faith, it actually means that their faith did not last. It was strong in the beginning, but then they forgot that their Savior was sleeping in the boat, and everything was actually under control.

Their response was the same as we respond sometimes, when we go through a difficult time. We want God to interfere, to show up in His power and bring relief, but He has delegated that authority to us. Jesus is sleeping in your boat. He wants you to stand in the authority of His name and speak to the mountain to remove itself (Mark 11:23-24). It has everything to do with our Identity in Christ. If you know who you are, you will not let a storm push you around, and if you build your life on Jesus, the rock, you know for certain that your house will stand (Matt 7:24-25).

We see the same in our reading for today in Matt 14:28-31, “And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
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When Jesus said to Peter “come”, it literally means that Jesus said to Him, Peter, I authorize you to walk on top of your problem like I am walking on it. Whatever you might face right now, Jesus is walking on top of that problem and He authorizes you to do the same.

You have His name in your mouth, and His word in your heart, to speak His life and promises into the situation you face right now. We are not supposed to be boat sitters. In the above scripture, we only remember Peter, we do not even know the names of those who sat in the boat.

Holy Spirit, you are my Strengthener, and I give You full permission to touch me in every way, that I might walk on the water with Jesus today. I say to my mountains move, and because of Your authority and power on the inside of me, I walk as a giant slayer and a water walker, because I walk by faith and not by sight. This day is filled with Your blessings and Favor and I receive it all in Jesus’ name. Amen.