Part 2
We want to shape the way we see ourselves around the way God sees us and who we are in Christ so that we can have a healthy, godly perception of ourselves and our world.
Proverbs 4:23 GNB Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
- We let culture define who we are.
- We let our past define who we are.
- You’ll never be right until you can see right.
As long as your personal assessment is based on the world’s culture, or your past, you are never going to be right.
(Romans 12:3 KJV) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Activate Your Faith!
For many believers the simple problem is a case of inactive faith. Faith that is dormant will not work for you.
Philemon 1:6 KJV That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
“…that …your faith may become effectual…”
- “…may become activated…”
(Greek: energeo - energized or activated) Paul's words could actually be rendered, "That … your faith may become energized and activated."
- “…acknowledging …”
(Greek: epignosis - a well-instructed, intensive, deep knowledge of the facts)
- “…every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
Greek: Good, profitable, and useful
Because the word epignosis depicts a well-instructed, intensive, deep knowledge of the facts, Paul is letting you know that it is essential for you to possess a knowledge of the facts.
What are the Facts?
- A knowledge of exactly who you are in Jesus Christ.
- A knowledge of what Jesus has purchased in your redemption.
- A knowledge of every good thing that God has placed in you by Jesus Christ.
There are approximately 136 expressions in the New Testament, that tell us who we are and what we have because we are in Christ.
A key in the ignition switch does no good unless it is turned. Likewise, the truth in your life does no good until it is spoken! The moment you open your mouth and start confessing the good things that are in you by Jesus Christ, a supernatural connection is made between your faith and all that Jesus has deposited inside you.
At that moment, the gifts and treasures God has placed inside you become supernaturally activated. The confession of your mouth — your acknowledgement of the truth — is what sparks these spiritual blessings and causes them to become operative, activated, and manifested realities
- When you believe a thing in your heart and say it with your mouth, it becomes real to you!
- Faith’s confessions bring about heaven’s realities in our lives.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
All of sins spiritual scars have been removed from us!
(Ephesians 1:3 NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
(Ephesians 1:3 GW) Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.
(Ephesians 1:4-10 NKJV) …just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (8) which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (9) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, (10) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.