Living By Faith

FROM COWARD TO MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

He quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

When Jesus came to preach the Gospel to the poor, He didn’t just pass out a bunch of fish sandwiches! Mark Hankins

The story of Gideon is another classic, yet radical identity change that took place in the Bible. He was living in a hole in the ground and hiding out from the enemy. Every time Gideon tried to do anything, the Midianites destroyed it. In the midst of his hole-in-the-ground existence, God sent an angel to Gideon with a message, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour!” (Judges 6:12) God has a sense of humor because at this time in Gideon’s life, there was no evidence of valor!

God’s Word will cause nothingto become something. Gideon chewed on God’s Word to him– “You mighty man of valour” — until he finally swallowed it.  Then with trumpets, pitchers, lamps, and a cry of the sword of the Lord, Gideon and his three hundred-man army whipped the enemy. (Judges 7:20-22) Any time you get involved with God and His Word, He will totally change the way you see yourself and the way you see life!

Confession: It is God that worketh in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure! (Philippians 2:13)

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CHANGED FROM WITHIN

Arise, and go down to the potters house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potters house, and be hold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (Jeremiah 18:2-4)

God is the original “people person”; He specializes in making people over again and giving them brand new identities. Mark Hankins

God can give you a new identity. He made you, so He ought to be able to remake you. God is not someone who just does repairs. We are talking about the One who creates people. God creates people out of nothing. No scientist has ever figured out how to make people because God is the manufacturer! 

God told Jeremiah, “You go down to the potter’s house, and I am going to show you that when people have defects in them, I will make them over again.”  God is in the business of changing people’s identities. He remakes you from the inside out. When you are born again, your spirit is recreated. Then He builds from the inside out — changing your mind, renewing it, rebuilding your thinking and attitudes, and then changing your body and your actions.

Confession: God has given me a new identity. He is rebuilding me from the inside out!

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YOUR VALUE IN CHRIST

Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 20th Century)

You became a new creation in Christ the day you were saved, but it won’t become a reality to you unless you walk in the light of the Word. Mark Hankins

You can get a whole new identity when you see who God says you are and what God says you have. Your self-esteem will go right through the roof!

The devil wants to destroy your dignity and self- esteem. But when you see your value in what God has done for you in the death and resurrection of Christ, you will hold your head up high and forget those things, which are behind.

God made provision for you to be in Christ even before you were saved, but this new identity did not become yours until you exercised faith in Him when you were born again. You’ll have to feed on the Word, get it engrafted on the inside of you, receive revelation knowledge of the Word, and let the Holy Spirit help you to see your new identity — who you are in Christ and what you have in Him.

Confession: My old life is gone and a new life has begun. God has given my life value in Christ!

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A WHOLE NEW IDENTITY

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.(Colossians 3:3)

Once you are lost in Christ, the devil can’t even find you! Mark Hankins

I believe the moment you receive Christ you become a new creation in Him. It takes a while to feed on the Word before you say, “I’m not even the same person anymore. I have a whole new identity.”

If you witnessed a crime and the FBI got hold of you and wanted to give you a new identity to protect you, they would change your address, your Social Security number, and all records concerning every bill that you owe. They would totally wipe out your past to protect you.

God wiped out your old identity when you were born again. He wiped out your past. Every account, sin, or claim the devil had on you has been wiped out. Once you are lost in Christ, the devil can’t even find you! Hallelujah!

The devil can’t find you unless you stick your fleshly head up and say,“Hey, it’s me!” Slap your head and get it back down in there, man! You want to talk about my past, my feelings, and my failures? God says, “I don’t want to talk about that. You are dead and your life is hid with Christ in Me. You’ve got a new identity now.”

Confession: I am dead to sin and my past. My life is hid with Christ in God. I am lost in Christ!

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HOW GOD CHANGES PEOPLE’S IDENTITIES

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and 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)

God was working IN CHRIST, but He was working ON US! Mark Hankins

Paul had such an extreme identity change, he said, “It’s not even me living anymore.” That’s a pretty radical change! People are trying to get God to help them deal with their problems, yet He is saying, “As my child, since I am living on the inside of you, just let Me deal with your challenges through you.”

Paul was a Pharisee, a very religious man, and he received a strong revelation of Jesus Christ.  When he was hit with the light of God, he went blind for three days. During that time, he fasted and prayed.

Someone said, “The power of God hit Saul of Tarsus so hard on the road to Damascus that it knocked the ‘S’ off the front of his name and replaced it with a ‘P’ and he became Paul.” His name changed, his identity changed, and his nature changed.

Confession: I am crucified with Christ. I have a new identity and a new nature in Christ. It’s not even me living anymore but Christ living in me!

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