Why did you join this workshop?
Why are you here?
What do you think God wants to do through your life?
What are you expecting from God in this training?
Many believers know God... but don't know who they are in Him. They are still confused about who they are.
And if you don't know who you are - you won't know what you're called to do.
When your identity is unclear - purpose becomes impossible
This is not just information... This is TRANSFORMATION
God is not just going to teach you something - He is going to redefine you!
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
GENESIS 3:9-10
Genesis 3
Did God really say...
The first attack of the enemy was not on behavior... it was on identity and trust in God
The enemy doesn't need to destroy you - he just needs to confuse you
Adam hid - shame
Adam blamed - confusion
Adam forgot who he was
When identity is broken - everything else follows
ILLUSTRATION:
Amnesia
A rich man with amnesia lives like a beggar
not because he is poor
but because he forgot who he is
That's many believers
Jesus didn't just come to forgive you - He came to restore your identity!!!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
Notice the verse does not say - You are improving... It's says - you are new
The verse says, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...
New in Greek means kainos = not just improved, but completely different in nature. Brand new in nature, never existed before.
it means a completely different species of being.
You have a new heart (healthy heart)
You have a new blood (blood of Jesus)
You have a new spirit (Holy Spirit)
Creation in Greek means ktisis = something created by God Himself
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
New heart, new spirit
You are not a better version of your old self
You are not a fixed version of your past.
You are not your mistakes.
You are not your failures.
You are not a sinner trying to be holy
You are not broken trying to be fixed
When you came to Christ - God didn't repair you...
He recreated you...
You are a new creation with a new identity.
You are a new creation learning to live new.
ILLUSTRATION:
Old Phone vs New Phone
An old phone can be repaired - but still slow.
A brand new phone is completely different.
God didn't repair your life - He gave you a new one
The problem is not that God didn't change you... The problem is many believers are still thinking like their old self.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
You have to declare that you are:
a new creation
you're past does not define you
you belong to Christ
That is how you will be able to test and approve what God's will is.
Caterpillar to Butterfly
The butterfly doesn't crawl better - it becomes something entirely new
Stop trying to "improve your old life"
Start living your "new life"
Some of you are still carrying labels God already removed
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 PETER 2:9
This is your identity.
You have to understand your identity first before your assignment
You are:
Chosen Generation - God picked you, you are not rejected
Royal Priesthood - You have access to God and carry His authority
Holy Nation - You are set apart for a purpose
God's Special Possession - You belong to Him
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
You are not random
You are not an accident
You are not overlooked
You are chosen by God
You are appointed as a prophet
God's calling on your life is not random - It was designed before you were born.
Like a custom design
You are not mass-produced
You are handcrafted
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Team Selection
When someone picks you for their team - it means they want you.
God didn't end up with you, He chose you on purpose
Before you do anything for God - you must understand who you are to God first
The Orphan vs the Son/Daughter
An orphan begs for food
An orphan fears, strives, and insecure
A son/daughter knows the fridge is his
A son/daughter has security, confidence, and intimacy.
Employee vs Son
An employee works for approval
A son works from belonging
God is not your Master - He is your Father!
Many Christians live like spiritual orphans - when they are actually sons and daughters.
Some of you are still trying to earn what God already gave you.
You don't fight for identity... You fight from identity
Do not pray like strangers... when you are actually sons and daughters of God!!!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-20
Ambassador in Greek is presbeuo = official representative of a king
Represents the king
Speaks on behalf of the kingdom
Carries authority
It means:
You don't represent yourself anymore... You represent Heaven.
When you walk into a room - Heaven walks in with you!
When you gave your life to Christ - you didn't just receive salvation...
You received assignment
"You are God's strategy to reach people"
ILLUSTRATION:
Embassy Mindset
an embassy is:
in a foreign land
it operates under another kingdom
but carries authority of its home nation
That is you!
You may live on earth - but you carries/represents Heaven's authority
When you speak - Heaven speaks
When you love - God is reaching people through you
Wherever you go - God is making His appeal through you!
Some believers are waiting for a "calling"
but the Bible already gave it to you!
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
JOHN 20:21
Jesus did not say - wait until you are ready, He said GO
Go in Greek means poreuomai = as you are going (lifestyle, not event)
Not:
If you feel ready...
If you are a pastor...
This is for every believer.
ILLUSTRATION:
Firefighter Mentality
If a building is burning, a firefighter doesn't say: I'll wait until I feel ready, or I'll go next week
Souls are at stake here!
People are spiritually lost NOW
You are not just saved from something... You are saved for a mission... You are sent to people...
Jesus didn't just save you to sit - He saved you to be sent
Delivery Package
A package is useless if it never leaves the warehouse
The Gospel must be delivered
Before we end this topic, I don't want you to just remember what you learned here.
I want you to live different.
The truth is... many believers hear messages like this - and walk out and live the same.
They hear they are a new creation, they are chose, and they are called... but still they go home believing "I'm not enough"
Tonight... that ends.
Before this training, some of you are carrying labels: Failure, Rejection, Fear, Shame, etc...
And you've worn them for so long... You thought they were your identity
But that is NOT who you are anymore
2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
If anyone is in Christ - he is a new creation
Not becoming new...
Not trying to be new...
YOU ARE NEW
You are who God says you are... The enemy has been lying to you... but tonight, truth is louder
and I want you to make a decision...
will you keep believing the old version of you...
or will you step into who God says you are?
Pray to God if you feel you're ready to let go of your old identity.
PRAY
DECLARATION
From this day forward:
You will not see yourself the same way.
You will not speak the same way
You will not live the same way
YOU ARE NOT JUST SAVED... YOU ARE SENT... AND THIS IS YOUR IDENTITY NOW.