Day 17: "I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM"

Knowing the truth of what GOD says about you will set you free to be you. Many people are bound up in untruths and deceptions from the enemy – and insults and criticisms and rejections and judgements that people have told us that the enemy has used to construct a prison of limitations. But Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set us free.

God’s Word is the truth. It is the truth about spiritual things and about who He is and about how we are to live our lives. It is the truth about what God can do and will do and it is the truth about who He has made us to be.

God’s Word must be elevated to the place where it is the last word in our lives.

God’s Word is the final authority in our lives.

What God says goes.

What God says is the way it is.

Not just in the DOING of our lives but in the BEING of our lives.

Not just in the DOING – the be kind and be generous, don’t give in to lust and anger and lying and ten commandments type stuff, but in the BEING of our lives – I am LOVED, I am FORGIVEN, I am PRECIOUS.

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When it is a matter of our preferences vs. His Way and His will we often bow down to the altar of self. ~Steven Furtick

God’s Word is the highest authority.  Not our feelings.  Not our preferences.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, Jesus is the rock we build our life on.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am tempted there is a way out and I can withstand it.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am lonely that God is with me.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am struggling in trial that fire and flood will not overcome me.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am weary and worried that I can cast my cares on Him and find rest.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am weak I am strong.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, I am empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

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So how does this work in real life?

We often face situations that make worry or doubt. Maybe job insecurity. Maybe having to make big decisions about study courses. Maybe health worries or financial pressures. It's at those times we have to remember that we are children of God and trust our heavenly Father and live counter culture – we need to hold onto the promises of God. And in those times our true colors are often revealed. It's like when the pressure is on all the weaknesses of our personality and self are exposed and revealed.

Some simple actions and behaviors to do – to behave your way into transformation:

Pray. 

Find someone to pray with you and for you. Text a friend.

Be thankful – thank God for this situation and for what He IS doing and WILL do.

Try not to grumble and complain and worry and get into a spiral of doubt – replace those feelings with faith and hope and if need be find a verse or a promise to COUNTER each grumble/complain/worry – so that you are fixing your eyes upon God and His reality. This doesn’t mean we turn fake, or that we paste on a happy "I’m fine" face, but that we don’t allow the feelings to detract from the reality that God is God and He is at work. Life is hard but God is real and loves us. He is great and good.

Our pastor put it really nicely a few weeks ago when he preached from 1 Peter 4:7 

1.  STOP – this puts your mind in charge. It says to your body and your emotions – ‘quiet down’.

2. BREATHE – amazing how when we start to get anxious our breathing can go weird! It settles our body and our emotions.

3.  REMIND YOURSELF OF THE PROMISE OF GOD – I’m listening to Jesus because He’s always right.

4. OPEN YOURSELF TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD – OK God, now what?

It takes practice and intention to replace a lifetime of mind habit with the truth.

To live by faith you’re going to need to become very familiar with your Bible. You’re going to need to saturate your mind with the Word of God. If your faith isn't rooted in God’s promises, its not scriptural faith. Prioritize the presence of God in your daily life. ~Steven Furtick

Sometimes we need to re-record the tape playing in our minds. Sometimes we need to pull the tape out and rip all that brown shiny stuff out and begin again. Replace the lie with the truth of what God says about you. Because it will set you free to be you and to know His love and make Him known. “Believing God for the impossible begins with seeing the invisible – understanding what He wants to accomplish through YOU.”

Its also really good to have a strong sense of who you are in God and what He says about you because we are going to meet people in life who challenge that or try to distract us from that.

Challenge: People who are negative and nasty, bullies in the workplace, people who reject us and don’t like us, people we clash with or are uncomfortable around, people who make us feel insecure and stooped!

Distract: People who try to get us to do things that go against what God would like us to do, people who are trying to force their expectations and vision upon you.

Understanding who you are and who you are made to be gives you a stability and a security to not take on their opinions or be negatively affected by them.

This is why understanding personality types is also really helpful because it gives you tools to work out how to interact with other people. There are also certain personality types and people that are more sensitive to the words of other people. If you are wired that way make sure you’re making God the loudest voice and that you also have good people around you who can encourage you and speak into your life. Also get strategies for brushing of the negativity so that you’re not limited by other peoples opinions.

 

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What Does God Say About Me?

A lot of times, our greatest fears are rooted in personal insecurities. The perspective of faith enables us to see who we truly are in Christ. God is on our side. Through Jesus, we are righteous. We are cleansed. We are accepted. ~Steven Furtick

1.  I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation (Romans 8:1-2, Ephesians 1:7-8, 1 John 1:9). 

2.  I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation (Joshua 10:12-14, John 14:12). 

3.  I overcome my fear and anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart. God is with me (Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 41:10) 

4.  I am able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life (Exodus 3:9-12; Psalm 57:2, Colossians 1:24-29). 

5.  I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do (Deuteronomy 8:18, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:13). 

6.  I have no insecurity, because I see myself the way God sees me (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 5:25-27). 

7.  I am (or will be) a faithful spouse and a godly parent - our family is blessed (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Ephesians 5:25-27, Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7). 

8.  I am completely whole - physically, mentally, and emotionally (Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:24). 

9.  I am increasing in influence and favor for the kingdom of God (Genesis 45:4-8, 1 Samuel 2:26; Acts 2:37-47).

10. I am enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 1 John 3:16, 4:9-12). 

11. I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make (2 Chronicles 1:7-12; Proverbs 2:6, Ecclesiastes 2:26; James 1:5). 

12. I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus’ name (Genesis 50:20; Psalm 3:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3).

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The Big Question:

How does a lie hold me back?

What do I need to do to change the tape in my head?

Is there anything specific I need to change right now?

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SOURCE: http://onepassiononedevotion.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/i-am-in-christ/ 

Day 15: "I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM"

I am not the shy little girl sitting in the corner with no one to play with.....I am bold in Christ, and I have what everyone else wants.

I am not the fat, ugly girl that I once saw in the mirror.....I am fearfully and wonderfully made, beautiful on the inside and out.

I am not the unloved child waiting in the crib to be fed and paid attention to.....I am loved and lovable, and God is always paying attention to my needs.

I am not the second unwanted twin sister.....I am wanted. God knew me before I was even conceived in my mother’s womb. He knew my name and had a plan for me.

I am not the lost girl without a purpose.....I am found in Christ. I have hope for my future and an unbreakable joy to live my life for God.

I am not the girl who has to be perfect at everything.....I am a woman who can accept her mistakes because I am perfected through the image of Christ.

I am not the girl who can not trust anybody.....I trust my God and can rest in Him. He protects me and heals me from anything man does that may hurt me.

by Elise

Source: http://mercyministriesblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-am-who-god-says-i-am.html

You go girl!! You sound like a warrior. 

Of a truth, we MUST believe that we are who God says we are every day of our lives or we will give place to the devil. We've had enough of his lies and deception. We've listened one too many times. Our Savior suffered tremendously to give us freedom. He gave His all to give us a new life...one that is free from the burdens of our past and one that has a glorious future. I am very sure that it grieves God's heart when we live below our means. I know this because I am a mother...if I had someone telling my child that they were a nobody, that I didn't love them or care for them, that they weren't good enough it would pierce my heart and if they actually believed those lives...I can't imagine how I would feel.

I pray that in the days to come...when we get past this particular subject...that you will come back to this blog and re-read what we've talked about...that you will review the scripture that was given and I hope you have written down the lies and counter actions to carry with you so that when satan attacks you can send him packing. Always remember, we MUST RESIST. Don't let the evil one downgrade you to the person you were before Christ came into your life. You are now a child of the King. You are royalty! So, hold your head up, step into that role and don't look back.

It is my sincere desire that you will continue this study. I pray that God will be with you and that you'll always remember to tell your enemy, "I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM"! 

For His Honor & Glory,

The Princess Warrior

Visit our sister site @ http://theprincesswarriorministries.blogspot.com/ 

31 Days Closer to God: 

"I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!"

Copyright Information

Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles at 31 Days Closer to God are owned by The Princess Warrior Ministries and are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

DAY 14: “I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!”

 

SATAN'S LIE: You are unqualified. Surely, someone else would be better equipped, have more knowledge, are more spiritual than you. You’re not educated enough – smart enough – old enough – young enough – wise enough – rich enough – well enough – pretty enough – charismatic enough – can’t speak well enough – _____________ (fill in the blank enough) – you’re just not good enough.

COUNTER ACTION: REMEMBER what the LORD said, “Who has made man's mouth? or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? (Exodus 4:11) and that, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (Genesis 18:14) REPEAT God’s Word to satan. TELL satan, “I am complete in Christ and through Him I am lacking nothing. God has the power to use the least likely person and He does that because it gives Him greater glory! You use the mighty to do mighty things. God uses the lowly to do mighty things. So, who has the greater power and who makes the impossible, possible? The answer forever will be: My God!

A friend of mine asked, “Why do we choose to believe satan over God?” I thought that was a very good question. Why do we choose to believe satan and not God? So, I came up with a few thoughts to answer that question and each can be applied to the lie we are studying:

1) I would say one reason has to do with our sinful nature. We will always be drawn to being negative over being positive "because" we are sinners and we will always lean toward unbelief over belief when it comes to God. Our flesh, our old nature is always at war with truth and what is right.

When God asks us to do something our sinful nature causes us to look inward and say, “I can’t!” instead of looking at God and saying, “Through Christ, I can!” We are showing a lack of faith and an immaturity that does not take God at His Word. Think about some of the patriarchs of the Bible. When they chose to believe God, He did great and mighty things through them. The first example that comes to mind is the teenage boy who went up against a giant of a man with just a sling and few stones. He didn’t stop to think about whether he could do this or not, he just reacted with all confidence that God was on his side. He didn’t even give satan the opportunity to change his mind. If David had hesitated for a moment, if he had stopped to ponder about what he was about to do, satan would have bombarded him with the fiery darts of unbelief. He would have realized that what he was about to do was humanly impossible and he would have been defeated before he even got to the battlefield. I’m so glad he didn’t, aren’t you? He is just one of the many examples of what God can do in the life of his children when we are fully convinced that we can do ALL things through Christ.

2) Many times satan skillfully shoots a lie into our mind and then we start telling ourselves the lie (because we think it was our idea) or satan tells the lie through someone else. This does even more damage -- especially, when it comes from family and worse yet, our brothers and sisters in Christ. But, regardless of how the untruth came about, satan will see to it that we continue to dwell on those thoughts until we confirm what we have believed by sabotaging our own efforts when we do attempt to do a work for the Lord.

It makes it more difficult to believe that God can use us when we’ve already bought into all the lies. It’s hard to break free from this way of thinking when we have practiced it for years. This tells me that we have got to change our way of thinking and we’ve got to start NOW. We must start replacing the devil’s lies with God’s truth (like we have been doing with the “Counter Action”) and we must do as Paul instructs: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

If we don’t start using these tools we will continue to have the “glass half empty” mentality and will never be fully used of God. We will surely miss out on the blessings that complete obedience brings.

3) Sometimes, it makes it easier on us to believe the devil. It keeps us from having to overcome an obstacle and overcoming always takes a lot of effort.

By nature, we all have a selfish streak and many times when God asks us to do something our first response may be, “What will it cost me? What will I have to give up?” We don’t stop to think about what this will do for others and we certainly aren’t thinking about the glory this will bring God. We find ourselves thinking of our own comfort over the needs of others.

What if Joseph had dwelt on God’s plan with the realization that getting to the place God wanted him to be was going to cost him so much. What if he had considered himself only a slave now and that God could no longer use him? In the end Joseph knew that the pain and suffering he experienced was more than worth the price. Through God, he was able to save many alive, including the lives of his own family.

What if Jesus’ disciples had stopped to count the cost of taking the gospel to a lost and dying world? The majority of them were beaten and stabbed, beheaded, sawn into, eaten by lions, and crucified, but it did not matter to them whether they were educated enough, wise enough, or worthy enough. All they knew was what we know…that Jesus came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay and the lost had to be told. I am so thankful that they pushed on to do the will of God despite their human frailties. It is because of their obedience that we know who Christ is and we have God’s written Word in our hands.

4) For a non-believer it would relieve them of what they feel is a huge burden…living for and answering to a holy and righteous God.

For quite a number of years now, God has given me many opportunities to witness to atheists and agnostics through online forums and I have learned much about the way they think. Now, I know that there is no such thing as an atheist because God has given light to every man to know He exists, He has written His law on our hearts to know right from wrong, and all of creation is a testament to His existence. It is plain and simple and it all comes down to this…it is a heart problem. They abhor the idea of submitting to God so they have allowed themselves to buy into satan’s lie. They have become convinced that if they come to Christ they will become His slave and will have to give up all their freedom. They love the pleasures of this life and they don’t want anyone telling them any different. They get angry if any light is shed on the darkness they so love.

To further convince themselves, they blamed God when they got hurt by people who are “religious”. They hold Him accountable for the action of others (others who may not even be saved) and they try to find “so called” errors in the Bible to convince them that the Bible is not the Word of God.

If I had not heeded God’s call to witness to these individuals I would not know how to witness to my own daughter who now claims to be agnostic and has married an atheist. I could have said, “But, God, I can’t! I’m not educated enough. They seem to be so intelligent because they’re always so scientific in their speech. They seem to know more of God’s Word than I do.” 

But, no, I did not hesitate. I jumped in the deep end and found that God taught me how to swim and glory to God, swim I did!

5) And last, but not least, it is due to ignorance…our lack of knowledge and understanding of God, His character, and His ways.

I remember my own battles when God first started calling me to the mission field at the age of fourteen. Satan immediately bombarded me with his deceitful lies. “You’re not good enough. You’re too young. You’re not educated enough. I think God has made a mistake. He can’t use a poor girl like you.” The sad part is that I don’t ever remember being told that satan would attack like this. I knew that he was behind the temptations to drink, do drugs, smoke, fornicate, to commit adultery, and theft, but I was unaware of his tactics using subtle lies to discourage us. As a matter of fact, I had no idea that he was the perpetrator and the root cause of my thoughts.

But, satan doesn’t do this to just little ‘ole us. He’s been playing this game for a long time. Remember Moses…he started off his service for God after being on the backside of the desert for 40 years. When God approached Moses and told him what He wanted him to do, Moses said, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore (in times past), nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” (Exodus 4:10) Many times we judge Moses for his unbelief, but remember, in that moment, we most likely know more about God than Moses did...which brings me to my point…

We have the written Word of God. We should know the tricks of the devil and we should know the power of God. We are without excuse. Only when we read the Word and study it, can we get a better understanding of the way God does things. When we learn of God through His Word we know that He always uses the least of us to do His greatest work. Using a shepherd who was slow in speech gave God greater glory than the Moses who lived in a palace.

Moses may have doubted God in the beginning, but he did accept the task, and we all know that Moses was not the same man at the end of his life that he was when it all began. God had given him on the job training. He had lead millions. He walked with God, sought after God, and He talked with the God who had made man’s mouth. God used the most unlikely to do the impossible.

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Satan is sly. He tries to get us to disqualify ourselves, bring discouragement, and cause us to quit before we even get started. And his tactics are clever indeed, because as usual there's a big grain of truth amidst the lies. Yes, it is true! We are ALL unqualified to do anything for God and none of us are worthy, but despite all our shortcomings, sins and lack of qualification in our own eyes, God can still work through us to bless others. All he needs is a willing, humble, obedient heart. If we sit there and do nothing we will remain unqualified. He qualifies us at the exact moment we step up and say, “Here am I Lord, use me.” You’ve heard the old saying and it still stands true, “God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”

Dear Friend, if God is calling you to do something for Him don’t give place to the devil and miss out on the perfect plan God has just for you. Say with Paul, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath ENABLED ME, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” (1 Tim. 1:12) and then trust God to enable YOU.

Because of Christ,

The Princess Warrior
Visit our sister site @ http://theprincesswarriorministries.blogspot.com/ 

Copyright Information

Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles at 31 Days Closer to God are owned by The Princess Warrior Ministries and are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

DAY 13: “I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!”

READ: Matthew 4:1-11

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever taken time to consider who you really are?  Too often we allow others to define us.  We may have grown up with people around us who told us we'd never amount to anything.  Our own parents may have said that we were worthless or that we were losers.  It may have been in school that other students teased us and told us that we were ugly or stupid.  Sometimes the problem is that we compare ourselves with others and we allow unrealistic standards in the media to define us.  We look at the airbrushed magazine covers at the glamorous women, or the muscular men, and then we decide that we are somehow defective or inferior by comparison.

The problem with allowing others to define us is that we tend to live our lives in a way that reflects who we think we are.  If we think we're a tough guy then we have a tough guy persona.  If we think we are a loser then we never even try to achieve anything.  If we think we are ugly then we do not take care of ourselves physically.  If we think we are not worth loving then we reject others before they can reject us.  The point is that how we live our lives is a reflection of who we think we are, and who we think we are is often defined by the world, or by the people around us.

Here's a thought, how about we let God define us?  God said we are created in His image and in His likeness (Gen.1:26-27).  God said we are the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8).  God said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3).  And if that wasn't enough, God said that you are so valuable to Him "that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). 

The world will try to define you, will try to tell you who you are, what you can do, and what you have, but you must not allow the world to have this power over you.  You must remember who you are in Christ Jesus.   You are who He says you are; you have what He says you have; and you can do what He says you can do.  The Word says "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  The Word says that you can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13).  The Word says that "we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom 8:16-17).  This is who He says you are.  Now whose report are you going to believe?  I shall believe the report of the Lord.  I chose to believe what "thus saith the Lord" concerning me.

When we doubt who we are, when we question our worth, our ability, and our value in the kingdom of God, then we either attempt less than we should and achieve less than we could, or we overcompensate by trying to prove ourselves (if we would only hold on to who we are in Christ).  But, you've met people like that.  They have an inferiority complex and to compensate they talk louder than everyone else, they act bolder than they need to, and they have an air of conceit or pride about them.  In reality it's just a facade, a mask that they wear to hide their own self-doubt and fears.  People who allow the world rather than the Word to define them will usually fall into one of these two extremes.

I) THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Now let's return to our text.  Most of us are familiar with this text.  We know that this is the account that follows the baptism of Jesus.  He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days and afterward He was hungry and He was tempted by satan.

We know that this is what is in this text, but when we talk about the temptation of Jesus it seems that we often fail to appreciate the fact that Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are" (Heb. 4:15).  I think that sometimes we have a borderline docetic view of Jesus.  Docetism was a heresy in the early Church that taught that Jesus didn't really have a human body, but that He only appeared to be human.  The docetic view is that Jesus wasn't really human at all.  But the Bible says that "He became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).  I say that sometimes we have a borderline docetic view of Jesus, because when we talk about the temptation of Jesus there is a tendency to think, "Well, He was tempted, but He couldn't possibly have been tempted like I am tempted." 

The Bible is clear that Jesus became flesh and blood.  The Bible is equally clear that Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are."  So when we read of the temptation of Jesus in our passage, we need to appreciate the fact that Jesus was tempted.  He was hungry and He was tempted to turn stones into bread (illus.), but He allowed the Word of God to be the guide for His actions.  He was tempted to throw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple to see if angels would catch Him, but He allowed the Word of God to direct His actions.  He was tempted to bypass the crucifixion and take the easy road, but He resisted and triumphed over temptation by coming back to "it is written".

This illustrates how important it is to know what is written.  It illustrates how important it is to read the Word and to know the Word.  Jesus overcame the temptation of Satan by saying, "It is written".  I hope that you will join me and others in the church this year by reading through the Bible.  It may save your life, but even more importantly, it will let you know who you are in Christ Jesus.

There is no doubt that from a youth Jesus studied the scrolls of the Old Testament and Jesus knew the Word.  The Bible says He "grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom" (Luke 2:40).  When Jesus came out of the wilderness, the Gospel of Luke tells us He went to the synagogue where He had grown up and found in the scroll of Isaiah where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me."  He didn't have the Bible like we do, divided in chapters and verses.  Jesus was so familiar with the Scriptures that He was able to take the scroll and roll it out to the passage that affirmed that He is Messiah.  This is why Jesus could stand up to satan and say with authority, "it is written".

This is important because as Jesus illustrates in our text, a key to spiritual victories is found in "it is written".  Likewise, a key to answered prayers is found in the Word.  Jesus said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).  In addition, the key to faith is found in the Word.  The apostle Paul said, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).  Yet there are so many people trying to live victorious lives without getting into the Word or letting the Word get into them.  They may attend church and even Sunday school, but until you read and study the Word for yourself you will always be at a disadvantage to the enemy when he comes to tempt you.

II) THE TEMPTATION OF SELF-DOUBT

         

As I said earlier, the Word of God is the only sure source for telling us who we are and what we have in Christ.  Without the Word we will be allowing the world to define us, and our lives will be a reflection of those definitions.  But when we know who we are in Christ, our lives will reflect that self-concept, that self-understanding of who we are.   We will truly talk the talk and walk the walk.

         

Look closely at the text we read today.  Notice how satan prefaced the first two temptations.  He said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" and, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down."  This was part of the temptation.  Jesus was being tempted with self-doubt.  Jesus was being tempted to prove it, to do something stunning and spectacular to prove to satan and to prove to Himself that He was the Messiah.  (Pharisees and even His mother also tried to get Him to prove it.)

         

Satan wants to fill you with self-doubt.  He'll say, "If you are really a Christian, then do something spectacular to prove it."  Some people will go far beyond what God's will is trying to prove something.  They will go into debt and acquire bills they cannot pay, and call it faith.  They think that gain is godliness and they try to prove their faith with their possessions.  When you know who you are in Christ, you don't have to try to prove anything to anyone. 

         

Jesus didn't have to turn stones into bread or leap from the pinnacle of the temple to prove who He was.  He knew who He was and all He said was, "it is written".  He came back to the Word.  Remember what Jesus told the Pharisees when they denied that Jesus was the Son of God.  Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

         

Jesus knew who He was because He knew the Scriptures and He knew that "it is written".  And because Jesus knew this, He didn't have to prove anything to the devil.  You don't have to prove to anyone how spiritual you are.  You don't have to prove to anyone that you are some great saint or some great preacher or teacher.  All you need to do is know who you are in Christ Jesus, know what the Word of God says about who you are and then live it. The fruit will follow when you live a life that is in line with who God says you are.

         

Self-doubt robs us of the victories that should be ours.  Self-doubt steals the joy out of our walk with God.  Self-doubt causes us to either go to extremes to try to prove something.  You've seen people like that; their first time in a church they have to testify and talk about how much faith they have and start speaking things over the church.  Or self-doubt causes us to retreat and never try anything for fear of failure. 

         

So where should we be?  What should we do?  We should be the sons and daughters of God.  We should do what He calls us to do in His Word.  We should stand up to the enemy and let him know that we don't have to prove anything to him, and we will not allow him or the world to define us.  We are who God says we are.  We have what He says we have.  And we can do what God says we can do.  How do we know these things?  We know them when we know what thus says the Lord.  We know them because "it is written".

         

We often live far short of our true potential in the Lord simply because we don't know what God has spoken in His Word over our lives.  God said, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.(Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Did you know that God has been thinking about you?  His Word says that His thoughts are for your peace and not evil, and for your future and hope.  It is written.

III) VICTORY IN THE WORD

         

Verse 11 tells us that after the third time Jesus said, "it is written"; the devil left.  In other words, it was clear that Jesus knew who He was, He knew what was written, and He didn't have to prove anything to the devil.  The devil gave it his best shot, but it wasn't enough to cause Jesus to fail.  If we will stand strong in who we are in Christ, and if we will stand upon what thus saith the Word of God, with the shield of faith in one hand and the sword of the Spirit in the other, then we can also put the enemy to flight.

         

However, if we don't know the Word, then we will inevitably fall.  David wrote in Psalm 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee".  The Word of God tells us who we are and the Word of God enables us to live a life that reflects the fact that we are the children of God.  The Word of God sets the boundaries and points us the way to victorious living in Christ.  But if that Word is not in our heart, if we don't know it and won't live it, then we are vulnerable to the attack of the enemy and we will fall to temptation.

         

If you will join me and the church in a renewed emphasis of the Word of God in our lives this year, I know that you will find yourself stronger in faith, better equipped to overcome temptation and sin, and you will know who you really are in Christ.  It will change your life.

         

When satan tempts you to be unfaithful, you will say, "I know who I am in Christ. I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!"  I am married to the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with, and I will not sin against her or God and be unfaithful." 

         

When the enemy tempts you to take drugs or drink that alters your mental capacity, you will stand up and say, "I will not take that drug, I will not drink that drink, because I know who I am in Christ.  I have put on the mind of Christ and I will not distort it or destroy it with drink or drugs."

         

When the devil tempts you to hide in the shadows and not to do anything to advance the kingdom of God, you will stand up and say, "I am a child of God, the enemy is under my feet, and I will I stand up and be accounted for in the kingdom of God."

         

When the enemy tempts you to hold back your tithes and offerings, you will pull out your wallet and say, "I know that God is my provider.  He'll never fail me.  He'll never let me down.  He said that if I seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then He will supply my needs."

         

When satan tries to silence your witness, you will step up to the plate and say, "I've got a testimony and I'm not going to be afraid to tell it to the lost and dying world.  He said that I am His witness and I have the power of the Holy Spirit on me to tell the world that Jesus saves!"

CONCLUSION

Do you know who you are today?  You may have had, and you may still have, people in your life who have tried to tell you who you are.  But unless they are speaking God's Word over your life, then they don't know who you are.  God says you are His child.  The apostle John says, "Beloved, now we are the children of God" (1 John 3:2).  The apostle Peter said that we have been called "out of darkness and into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).  We are children of the light (1 Thess. 5:5).  We are devil stompin', victory walking, Jesus talking, Spirit filled, sons and daughters of God and we don't care who knows it.  We're not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe (Rom. 1:16).

         

Do you know who you are and if you do, does your life reveal it by how you live?  John wrote: This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)

If you are a child of God, let your light shine, let your love show, and let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

If you're here today and you know that your life does not reveal that you are a child of God, if you are trying to overcome the definitions that others have tried to put on you, or if you are ready to break out of the self-doubt and walk in confidence in the Lord, then I want to pray with you today.  I want you to walk out here humbled by that fact that God calls you son or daughter, but also empowered by that reality to live the abundant life.

By Mark E. Hardgrove, D.Min.

Source: http://www.conyerscog.org/index.php?p=2_348

DAY 12: “I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!”

Please read each and every one of these "I AM's". When you read them the Holy Spirit can bring them to mind when you least expect it. Oh, and also please read my comments below. This is a handy list that you may want to use often. I will probably come back at a later date to add more. When I do I'll advise. Anyway, I hope it will help you in your quest to be closer to God!

 

I am delivered from sin......Romans 6:7

I am a child of God…… Romans 8:16

I am a joint-heir with Christ……Romans 8:17

I am glorified……Romans 8:17
I am the righteousness of God in Christ……2 Cor.5:21
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit……1 Cor. 6:19
I am redeemed from the curse of the law……Gal. 3:13
I am an ambassador for Christ……2 Cor. 5:20
I am free from condemnation……Romans 8:1
I am more than a conqueror……Romans 8:37
I am the salt of the earth…….Mathew 5:13
I am the light of the world……Mathew 5:14 & Eph. 5:8
I am the apple of His eye……Zechariah 2:8
I am a member of the household of faith……Gal. 6:10
I am a branch of the True Vine……John 15:5
I am in the palm of the Lord’s hand……Isa. 49:16
I am in God’s Hand and no one can pluck me out……John 10:28
I am complete in Him……Col. 2:10
I am translated into the kingdom of God’s Son……Col. 1:13

I am delivered from the power of darkness……Col. 1:13
I am accepted in Christ……Eph. 1:6
I am loved by God like He loves Jesus……John 17:23
I am dead to sin and alive to God through Christ……Rom. 6:11
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ……Eph. 2:6
I am in Christ……1 Cor. 1:30
I am hidden with Christ in God……Col. 3:3

I am covered by the shadow of His hand……Isa. 51:16

I am the will of God……James 1:18

God has not hidden how He feels about His children. His Word is there for the world to see, yet satan revels in the fact that many times he has caused, even the elect, to question God’s love and affection for His own.

“Lord, help us to stay in Your Word. Help us to hide it in our hearts so that when the evil one comes to tempt us with his lies we will not sin against You through our unbelief.

You build our faith through trials and suffering and when Your Word is hidden in our hearts we have the power to overcome and Your promises are brought to mind. Let Your Words remain in our hearts and do not allow satan to snatch them away. Crush him under your foot, Lord. Squelch his plot to steal, kill, and destroy your children.

Help us to remember that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God because of Your great love and the sacrifice of Your perfect SON. Help us to remember that we were “chosen” before the foundation of the world to be Your witnesses in this world and to do Your will. And help us to remember, our Heavenly Father, that You have promised to lead, guide and provide for us all the days of our lives. Amen.”

For His Honor and Glory,

The Princess Warrior
Visit our sister site @ http://theprincesswarriorministries.blogspot.com/ 

31 Days Closer to God: 

"I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM!"

 

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