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CHANGE YOUR NAME, CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

We can never rise in life above our own understanding of who we are. Mark Hankins

Many people have an identity crisis. Numerous voices try to tell us who and what we are from the time we are born. Throughout the Bible, we can see God changing people’s identities. God called Gideon “a mighty man of valor”when he was defeated and hiding from the enemy. Often God calls us something even though there is no physical evidence to support it, but He is God.

Jesus changed people’s identities in the New Testament. Simon was changed to Peter, “a piece of the rock,” which is the revelation of who Jesus is. In Matthew16:16-19, Peter got a revelation of who Jesus was. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus changed Peter’s name, character, and destiny.

We all must have an identity change to fulfill the destiny and dream that God has for us. Do not let anyone else tell you who you are or what you are like. Only God has the right to determine your true identity.

Confession: I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works! (Ephesians 2:10)

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START DRILLING

The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

When you drill into the phrase, “in Christ,” it swallows up your past, your failures, and your old identity. Mark Hankins

There is a story about a strange happening in South Louisiana at Lake Peigneur.  Texaco was drilling for oil in the Lake and the drill got stuck at 1250 feet. It began to list badly so they abandoned it. From the shore, they watched it sink from sight.  Meanwhile, men working in a salt mine under the lake noticed it was beginning to flood, so they also escaped. On the surface, a whirlpool threatened some fishermen, eventually pulling in some barges and a tug associated with the drilling. The whirlpool grew in size until it pulled in 65 acres of land. An oil rig, a salt mine, an entire lake, and 65 acres of land disappeared!

What God did for you through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ will swallow up who you used to be. Get the drill out and start drilling. Drill in Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6, Ephesians 2:4-5, and Galatians 6:14. Drill until you hit something in the realm of the Spirit that will swallow up your past!

Confession:  My old man was crucified with Christ. I am no longer a slave to sin!  (Romans 6:6)

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OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION

Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? (Acts 19:15  NKJV)

We carry the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit as official identification. Mark Hankins

Have you ever checked in for a flight and been asked for proof of identification? You can say, “Here I am. Can’t you see–this is me; I can prove that I exist. Just look.”  The authorities want to see a passport or driver’s license. You cannot prove who you are without official identification.

Acts 19:13-16 tells the story of the seven sons of Sceva who tried to cast out devils in the name of Jesus “whom Paul preaches.”  The demons said, “Jesus we know and Paul we know, but who are you?” Jesus had official identification in heaven and hell, and so did Paul. You and I can also know who we are and the authority that is ours in Christ.

Spiritually speaking, all of us must carry some identification to do business in the realm of the Spirit. The Word of God must be engrafted into our inner man so we know who we are in Christ. We must also carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee that we are who God says we are and we have what God says we have.

Confession: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20)

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THE HOPE OF MANKIND

For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (2 Corinthians 5:14)

When you see what God has done for you in Christ, the reality of redemption will swallow up your old identity. Mark Hankins

How could Jesus Christ, one man, die on the cross and His death be for every man?  It is simply a law of identification. We were all identified with one man, Adam, and affected by him. God simply took the same law that allowed one man to mess up everyone, and allowed one man, Jesus Christ, to die for everyone.

There is no hope for man outside of the blood of Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection. A person has to be born again if he is going to get out of Adam. This changes your identity. No longer can you identify with defeat because you are identified with the triumph of Christ. No longer can you identify with failure, sickness, and bondage because you are identified with Christ. His victory is your victory! His life is your life! His blessing is your blessing! Everything that God put in Him now comes into you. You were identified with Adam before, but you are not in Adam now – you are in Christ!

Confession: I am born again! The blood of Jesus and the power of the Gospel has changed my life! I identify with the triumph and blessing of Christ!

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OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20)

When Jesus was crucified, He took you with Him because He took your identical condition. Mark Hankins

I heard the story of a fireman in California whose hand was so severely burned that his doctors determined they would have to amputate. One of the doctors wanted to try experimental surgery; he knew that the body has certain regenerative powers.  He cut the man’s side open and inserted the burned hand for a period of time. To the doctor’s amazement, when they removed the fireman’s hand from his side, it had begun to heal and grow new skin.

I believe God did a similar surgery with man. When Adam sinned, man’s condition was so bad it looked like God would have to amputate, but God had a plan of redemption. He cut open Jesus’ side and put us “in Christ.” In Him, the power and the grace of God went to work and reversed the condition that Satan had caused. A new man was created — a man in Christ — a righteous man, a victorious man, a redeemed man, a healed man!

Confession: The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)

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