Our True Identity

SALAVATION
 Our spiritual life and victories rest in some key factors:
*Being spiritually born again and receiving the Holy Spirit through acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He died on a cross for the sins of mankind and on the third day, He rose again.
~”If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” ~Romans 10:9
*A personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
~On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord!  Lord!  We prophesied in Your Name and cast out demons in Your Name and performed many miracles in Your Name.’  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you evil doers.'”
~Matthew 7:22-23

SUBMISSION TO JESUS AS LORD
~…”saying that God’s marvelous Grace allows us to live immoral lives.  The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.” ~Jude 1:4
~Living and standing firm in our true identity against the lies and assaults of the enemy. 

1 Thessalonians 5:21 calls us to, “Test everything that is said.  Hold onto what is good.”  We are to, “Study the Word of God to show thyself approved.” ~2 Tim 2:15
When we get a check in our spirits over what we have heard in conversation, Bible studies and from the pulpit, we need to go to the Word of God and research it in context.  We often hear, “We are sinners” or “We are sinners saved by grace.”  The truth is we WERE sinners; now we are Saints who sin.”  BIG difference.  Again, who we believe we are is crucial; being powerful expressed in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks and believes in his heart, so he is.”

The act of sinning is no longer who we are; it is what we do and of course, we must continually confess our daily sins committed in thought, word and deed.  We must also avoid intentionally sinning with the “excuse” we can merely confess the sin and continue on.  Confession must be accompanied with repentance.

It is vitally important we remain diligent in our care and mindfulness with what identity we choose to wear, believe, profess, and walk in throughout each moment of every day.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17.  “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” ~Gal.5:24.   “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true Righteousness and Holiness.” ~Eph. 4:22

It is imperative we understand who we truly are.  In Judges 6:12, “The angel of the Lord said to Gideon, ‘the Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’”  Regardless of our circumstances, we need to believe and proclaim who we ARE in Christ and what He says about us!  Gideon was nowhere near being a mighty warrior at the time Christ addressed him as such, but he was obedient to God through each step and he did eventually become that mighty warrior!  It would be wise to read the entire account of Gideon’s story.

How we inwardly view ourselves, what we profess out loud about ourselves and our lives, is tantamount in our sanctification, our transformation and the fulfillment of God’s perfect will and calling for each one of us.  “Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God, hearing the Truth.” ~Rom 10:17
The translation of the Hebrew word “Satan” means “accuser.” ~Rev. 12:10.   We will hear words of accusation, judgment, and condemnation coming from our own faulty mental programming, from messages we received in the past, as well as, the enemy.                      
The devil means “deceiver” ~Rev. 12:9. The enemy often speaks in first person.  For example, “I’m so stupid” or in third person, with accusations such as, “You don’t matter…or you are a terrible person.” The way to combat these lies is through the steps God gives us in His Word.  We combat the lie by professing the truth out loud.  Lie: “No one will ever love you.”  Truth, “I am God’s prized possession.  I am His Masterpiece.”

In Romans 12:2, God calls us to, “Be transformed by the renewing of our minds.”  We are to, “Take every thought captive under the obedience of Christ. ~ 2 Cor. 10:5.   Jesus Christ is the Truth, therefore, we are to take every thought captive under truth!   “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” ~ John 14:6.  Phil 4: 8 instructs us to, “Think about things that are TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE, EXCELLENT, OR PRASIEWORTHY.”

God instructs us to, “Stand firm”; ~1 Cor. 16:13, “Submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee.” ~James 4:7.  It often takes time but the enemy will eventually flee.   When the Satan comes at us with the lies, we are to resist them and speak the Truth out loud to renew our minds and be transformed.  We are to, “Hold up the shield of faith which extinguishes all the fiery arrows of the enemy.” ~ Eph.  6:16

One certain way to determine if our thoughts are aligned with God’s Truth or the accuser’s lies is by our emotions.  Emotions are not good or bad; they simply reveal what we have taken into our hearts through our thoughts and they help us experience life.  “You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” ~John 8:32.  With freedom comes Joy and Peace; with lies comes bondage and emotional turmoil.

The previously listed “Identity Statements” are Scriptures revealing your true identity.  As you read through them you can  make a mental note of the Scriptures that specifically catch your attention.  These will be the verses to begin to profess out loud in order to demolish the strongholds that have been established from the lies  you are currently believing about God,  yourself,  your life and your future.  As you diligently continue to do this as often as needed, God promises you will be transformed.

“ALL of God’s Promises prove true.” ~ 2 Sam. 22:31
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The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing the Word." These identity statements come from the Word of God so it is vital to say them out loud repeatedly, in order to "reset" our mental tapes.  We are transformed by renewing our minds and this is the process.  
 
The battle for our minds, for our identity, and for our perception of God is where the enemy's highest levels of attack resides.  We need to become Warriors in the spiritual realm so we can become the women of God He has called us to be; part of His Royal Priesthood, His Ambassadors. 

This is the only way we will fulfill His purpose for our lives and reach the people He intends to reach, specifically through us.  There is a lot at stake for all of us and time is running out, now more than ever before.
 
“But you are a chosen people, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation.  God’s special possession, that you may declare the praise of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful Light.” ~1 Peter 2:9