Simple reads: Identity in Christ

Aloha,

Each week in DTS (discipleship training school) a different topic is taught so this past week we learned about our identity in Christ and the things I learned last week are so important that I feel the NEED to share my notes with you! I can remember back to my Dts almost 2 years ago, this stuff is so important! Knowing your identity in Christ is so important!!

Last weeks lecture notes:

When I said yes to Jesus I got access to the future "heaven"

"Finding your identity in Christ is finding that first love again, discovering who you already are."

I am Yours, You are mine
And we'll be together forever

And you don't have to pretend to be something or someone your not.
Cuz I know you better than that, even better, even better than that.
Listen my Beloved.

I knew what I was getting into when I called you.
I knew what I was getting into when I said your name.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10 MSG)

{Love, grace & overcoming sin}

Without the structure and mind change of knowing your identity in Christ you will just be on an emotional roller coaster your whole life
Strongholds are "a house of thoughts"
Renee your mind back to the New Testsment
The way you are renewed is the transforming of your mind

When you feel the emotions like jealousy, anger, anxiety, worry, manifesting in your head..look back the the place in your mind where Jesus isn't there and you've believed those lies.Renewing of the mind!

We were made in the image of God from the beginning but then Satan tempted Eve in Genesis 3 saying we are separated from God

The world says:

You do something good/cool and then you will become worthy and accepted

Jesus says:

I forgive you, I died for you, I accept you, I love you, FIRST, then you walk in that

When you harden your heart it gives less access for the Holy Spirit to convict you

How do I apply taking down strongholds (lies) in my life?

Start turning back to truth and stop believing those lies
What I just did wasn't worthy behavior but I am still worthy in Christs eyes
Overcoming sin= fear of God turns into loving God}
Choose to believe Gods heart for us is restoration and redemption

TRUTHS/ good gems 💎

Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8) When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God..but what did he do? He pursued them, we in our minds separate ourselves from God
What sin is beyond the grace of God? NONE
When we sin, God still loves me
Sin hurts me and hurts others
When you start to feel guilty about your sin, you miss out on grace, HELLO
God doesn't cut us off from grace when we sin, we cut ourselves off (therefore renew your mind with truth)
Start believing what has already been accomplished on the cross over 2,000 years ago (you are made alive in Christ) Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. (Romans 6:6-11 MSG)
Once we believe the lie that sin separates us we veil our hearts from God (not good)
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
Yes, sin has consequence BUT it doesn't cut you off from grace! We should be so in love with a jesus that we wouldn't want to sin
Church and pastors try to scare us away from sin but we are sinners because of the fall of man
My growth in God is up to me, only my wrong unworthy thinking can separate me
Jesus can't make you love Him, He's giving you a grace filled invitation to be with Him, because He is worthy
Sin= choosing to put your soul in a dangerous place
Say NO to flesh and access grace

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose Allie in him before the foundation of the world, that Allie should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined Allie for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him Allie have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon Allie, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him Allie have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that Allie who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him Allie also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV)

An exercise for the reader, replace Allie with you name and own this and declare this truth!

Seek wisdom, cry out for wisdom from God

Friday-

The power of influence (Satan's nasty little secret for taking over the world)

Government
Education
Religion
Media
Arts and entertainment
Family
Business

The only way to change culture is to create more of it. - Andy Crouch

We can sit here and complain about things in our world that we hate OR we can do something about it, stir up your passions that Jesus gave to you!

Also I know I blogged like a week ago but I just wanted to say again how grateful I am to be here, to completely rely on God, working for a non-profit origination and not knowing how or where my staff fees will come each month is scary but awesome because every time my needs whatever they may be are met by God it proves time and time again of His faithfulness, that's all I have to say.

Some of my life in the form of photographs;