Apicontent – Page 226

32310 Embracing Your New Identity in Christ

Who are you, really?

As you consider this question, what (or who) is influencing your answer? Your vocation? Your self perception? The opinions of others?

We often are unsure about who we are because we use others think as our point of reference. What we do is often measured and judged by them–either as acceptable or unacceptable–and we allow our performance to define us.

However, the only reliable source of our identity is God! He created each one of us, loves us, sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, and transforms our lives through His Holy Spirit! In fact, at the moment we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are born again spiritually and our identity is radically changed.

“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

When we allow Him to define our identity we stand on a sure foundation for a life of peace, contentment, and yes, even some adventure! When we establish our identity in how God sees us we can confidently live our lives in the assurance of His perfect plan for our lives.

Discovering and embracing your new identity in Christ can be an exhilarating–and intimidating–experience! The following concepts and scripture passages will deepen your understanding and experience of the identity you have in Christ (assuming you have received Jesus into your life as your Savior and Lord).

Meditate on the following Bible passages and ask the Holy Spirit to help you firmly establish your identity in Christ. (see Bible passages)

30010 TLD Overview

Total Life Discipleship begins with God’s vision that leads to personal transformation and results in eternal impact.

It is relationship-centered, grace-based, Spirit-dependent, love-motivated, and biblically-focused.

Total Life Discipleship is RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED

Christianity is about relationships: our relationship with God, our relationships with others in God’s family and our relationships with non-Christians.

God desires a whole-hearted love relationship with us. He wants to be our priority relationship above all others.

Total Life Discipleship is GRACE-BASED

God bestows his goodness on us, not because we are worthy, but because he is gracious.

Certainly God wants us to live righteous lives and reflect Christ-like character qualities. But we are not able to be “good enough” to “earn” God’s goodness and loving-kindness. God’s grace is given freely.

Total Life Discipleship is SPIRIT-DEPENDENT

God wants us to live supernatural lives by depending on the Holy Spirit for wisdom, power, ability, and resources that are not available though human means.

If we trust in the power of self to live the Christian life, we will fail. Self is always ultimately powerless. Self relies on the “try harder self-effort” model. Instead we must trust the Holy Spirit for the power to live each day successfully.

Total Life Discipleship is LOVE-MOTIVATED

God is love and love permeates his entire being. He wants us to be immersed in his unconditional love and share his love with others.

God is the source of the love. It starts with Him. We can’t generate it or work it up in ourselves. We just give away the love we have received. We love others only by sharing the love he first gave to us. The more we understand the depths of God’s love for us, the more fully we will love others.

Total Life Discipleship is BIBLICALLY-FOCUSED

God wants us to view life from a biblical perspective and adopt a mindset that reflects his values.

We all have a natural perspective that is influenced by our core convictions. These convictions have been developed by our education, experiences, and life circumstances.

The Holy Spirit renews our mind with God’s truth revealed in the Bible.

God’s Vision

Personal Transformation

Eternal Impact

32101 Seeing The Truth

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness.” —Matthew 6:22–23

How often do you question if what you see and hear is the truth? This is particularly important when it comes to people who want us to trust them. Who can we believe? How can we separate fact from fiction? What is really going on? How can we know our decision-making is based on truth and not simply perception?

It starts with perspective. We all have a natural perspective that is influenced by our core convictions. These convictions have been developed by our education, experiences, and life circumstances. Perspective is the way we look at life. It is our mindset. And it affects all that we assume to be true and important.

“What we believe determines how we behave, and both determine what we become.”
– Warren Wiersbe

However, sometimes we arrive at our conclusions in the midst of an environment that is filled with scams and deception. If our perspective is wrong, we will be taking in falsehoods that we believe are true. And yet with the passing of time the future will reveal the wisdom of our reasoning. Deceptions are always eventually exposed, and the truth prevails.

If we want to experience God’s best in life then we must first make sure that our core convictions are consistent with the truth he has revealed to us in his Word.

God wants us to ground our life in his perspective because his view is not limited by anything. He sees it all. Our perspective is limited by what has been presented to us by appearances and surface issues. True perspective is only possible by believing God about what he sees and knows.

John 16:13 tells us, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (NIV). We are exposed to God’s perspective when the Holy Spirit reveals truth to us:

—through God’s Word

—through prayer

—through other people

—through circumstances

—through the Holy Spirit’s prompting

Truth demands application. We must allow the truth to change us as God desires. To do so, guard against ignoring what God has revealed to you, or minimizing the importance of the truth and rationalizing a way around it.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your life and all its circumstances from God’s perspective. When we see God’s truth, we can believe and trust his direction. We can make wise decisions, based on beliefs and values that will lead to a future built on a solid foundation.

32291 Jehovah

Jehovah is said to be the name of God in the Old Testament.

In the Hebrew (Old Testament) Bible, the name of God is spelled יהוה. Using the English alphabet, it is transliterated to YHWH.

This word with four Hebrew letters—yodh, he, waw, and he—is known as tetragrammaton. It is close to the verb הוה, “to be.” God revealed Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM.” It signifies God’s self-existence.

While there is no universal agreement as to how to pronounce YHWH, Yahweh is a likely pronunciation.

“Jehovah is essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH.” (Is Jehovah the true name of God?, gotquestions.org)

In today’s English Bibles, YHWH is written as LORD with all capital letters.

Remember that Jehovah (Yahweh) signifies God’s self-existence and self-sufficiency. He is the One who is, who was, and who is to be.

As you read the following verses, the names of God reveal His nature and character. Make sure to read the entire story that the quoted passage is part of. What does the story tell you about who God is?

JEHOVAH —LORD, I am who I am.

God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘The LORD —the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 3:14–15)

JEHOVAH-JIREH —The LORD provides.

Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place “The LORD provides.” It is said to this day, “In the mountain of the LORD provision will be made.” (Genesis 22:13–14)

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH —The LORD who makes you holy.

“You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. You must be sure to obey my statutes. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” (Leviticus 20:7)

JEHOVAH-NISSI —The LORD is my banner.

Moses built an altar, and he called it “The LORD is my Banner,” for he said, “For a hand was lifted up to the throne of the LORD—that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:15–16)

JEHOVAH-ROHI —The LORD is my Shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd,
I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1)

JEHOVAH-ROPHE —The LORD who heals.

So the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What can we drink?” He cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the LORD made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them. He said, “If you will diligently obey the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the LORD, am your healer.” (Exodus 15:24-26)

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH —The LORD of heavenly hosts.

This man would go up from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at Shiloh. (1 Samuel 1:3a)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM —The LORD is peace.

Gideon built an altar for the LORD there, and named it “The LORD is on friendly terms with me.” To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:24)

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH —The LORD is there.

“The circumference of the city will be 6 miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The LORD Is There.’” (Ezekiel 48:35)

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU —The LORD is our righteousness.

“I, the LORD, promise that a new time will certainly come
when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David.
He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding
and will do what is just and right in the land.
Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety
and Israel will live in security.
This is the name he will go by:
‘The LORD has provided us with justice.’” (Jeremiah 23:6)

32282 God is Sovereign

The Supreme Authority in All the Universe

God is absolutely free

“Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!” —Psalms 115: 3

“All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth.” — Daniel 4:35

God is all-powerful (omnipotent)

“He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the LORD’s power and so you might always obey the LORD your God.” —Joshua 4:24

“From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it?” —Isaiah 43: 13

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” —Luke 1:37

God is all-present (omnipresent)

“Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.” —2 Chronicles 16:9

“For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person’s steps.” —Job 34:21

“’Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?’ the LORD asks. ‘Do you not know that I am everywhere?’ the LORD asks.” —Jeremiah 23:24

“… And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20

God is all-knowing (omniscient)

“You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.” —Psalms 139:2

“Our LORD is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom.” —Psalms 147:5

“For the ways of a person are in front of the Lord’s eyes, and the Lord weighs all that person’s paths.” —Proverbs 5:21

“…that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.” —1 John 3:20

God is all-wise

“He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has resisted him and remained safe?” —Job 9:4

“With God are wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” —Job 12:13

“Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.” —1 Corinthians 2:7

32283 God is Holy

The Supreme Standard of Moral Righteousness

God is Righteous

“You are just, O LORD, and your judgments are fair.” —Psalm 119:137

“The LORD is just in all his actions, and exhibits love in all he does.” —Psalm 145:17

“Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.” —Revelation 15:4

God is Truthful

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?” —Numbers 23:19

“For the LORD’s decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.” —Psalm 33:4

God is Just

“As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright.” —Deuteronomy 32:4

“God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.” —Romans 3:25

God is Impartial

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who is unbiased and takes no bribe, …” —Deuteronomy 10:17

“He will reward each one according to his works…. For there is no partiality with God.” —Romans 2:6,11

God is Forbearing

“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.” —Numbers 14:18

“The LORD is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.” —Psalm 103:8

“He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.” —Psalm 103:10

“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9

32284 God is Good

The Supreme Bestower of Blessings

God is Loving

“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

“By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.” —1 John 4:9

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.” —1 John 4:16

God is Gracious

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.” —Psalm 86:15

“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.” —2 Corinthians 9:8

“Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” —Hebrews 4:16

God is Faithful

“So realize that the Lord your God is the true God, the faithful God who keeps covenant faithfully with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,…” —Deuteronomy 7:9

“For the Lord’s decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.” —Psalm 33:4

“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.” —2 Timothy 2:13

God is Merciful

“The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.” —Isaiah 55:7

“Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” —Daniel 9:9

“…from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.” —Luke 1:50

God is Compassionate

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,” —2 Corinthians 1:3

“The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.” —Lamentations 3:22

32285 God is Incomprehensible

The Supreme Being of Absolute Preeminence

God is Infinite and has no limits

“He counts the number of the stars; he names all of them. Our LORD is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom.” —Psalm 147:4-5

God is Eternal and not bound by time

“’May the LORD God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore.’ Then all the people said, ‘We agree! Praise the LORD.’” —1 Chronicles 16: 36

“O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations! Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God. You make mankind return to the dust, and say, ‘Return, O people!’ Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.” —Psalm 90:1-4

“Your throne has been secure from ancient times; you have always been king.” —Psalm 93:2

“Trust in the Lord from this time forward, even in Yah, the Lord, an enduring protector!” —Isaiah 26:4

“He took his battle position and shook the earth; with a mere look he frightened the nations. The ancient mountains disintegrated; the primeval hills were flattened. His are ancient roads.” —Habakkuk 3:6

God is Self-sufficient and has no needs

“The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.” —Acts 17:24-25

“Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.” —Psalm 50:12

God is Self-existent and has no origin

“’You are my witnesses,’ says the LORD, ‘my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe in me, and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and none will outlive me.’” —Isaiah 43:10

“This is what the Lord, Israel’s king, says, their protector, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but me.” —Isaiah 44:6

God is Immutable and never changes

“Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.” —Malachi 3:6

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it?” —Numbers 23:19

“ I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.” —Ecclesiastes 3: 14

“The Lord revealed his faithful acts to Moses, his deeds to the Israelites.” —Psalm 103: 17

32270 Cultivate 7 Habits

See “Habits for Greater Intimacy with God” main menu

Watch the summary video

Here are seven important habits for building our relationship with God. You can form new habits that are in line with your new identity in Christ. All seven involve acknowledging God’s presence, communicating with Him through prayer, and thanking Him for His gracious involvement in our lives.

It takes time and consistency to develop a new habit. There are times when you may not “feel like” pursuing or loving God. Feelings come and go, and they are influenced by so many factors. For example, if you are physically tired, you may not feel any desire for God. In those times when feelings are absent, it is okay to “choose” to pursue or to love God simply because it is the right thing to do (a sense of duty).

You need to replace an old habit with a new one. For example, to know God, you want to develop a habit of spending time in the Word (reading the Bible). In order to do that, you will probably stop spending time doing something else. These habits should be practiced daily, and that requires discipline. But do not rely on your own strength. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

When we have developed a new habit, it becomes second nature. Practicing these habits now become a delight.

It begins with a desire. The desire results in pursuit. You will get to know God more. As you do, you will come to both love him more deeply and fear him more reverently. As a result, you will trust him more. This leads you to enjoy him in a way you never knew before. You treasure just being in his presence as King David did.

“I have asked the Lord for one thing—this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4

When you enjoy nothing but the presence of the Lord in your life, it creates a deeper desire for Him in your heart, and the cycle continues.

The diagram below shows how these seven habits are related and work together to develop greater intimacy with God.

This diagram also shows that sometimes you can start the cycle at a different point. You may simply choose to pursue God without having a strong desire. You may start with “Know God” or “Love God” when you have an encounter with Jesus in your life. You may be overwhelmed by the love that his presence brings.

Wherever you start, what is important is to develop all of these seven habits over time.

32271 Habit 1. Desire God

Watch the summary video

Desire is an important starting point for any relationship. It is the degree of value you place on wanting to know the other person more. The desire for God needs to become a habitual driving force in our relationship.

David had a passionate heart for God. Here is how he expressed his desire:

“As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, ‘When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?’” – Psalm 42:1,2

What kind of relationship with God do you have? Is it just an acquaintance relationship — your knowledge of God is superficial and not personal? Is it more of a business relationship — you do something for God and in return expect Him to do something for you? Is it a casual friendship relationship — sometimes you want to be with God, but at other times you want to be left alone? Or is it a passionate relationship like David had — one of reverential intimacy?

How much do you desire God? Don’t ignore this vital habit. Once you have lost your desire for God it is much more difficult to regain it. Unfortunately, it is much easier to neglect desire than it is to nurture it. Nurture requires commitment, effort, and investment. The desire for God can be measured by how much we invest in the relationship.

How much do you desire God?

Time — How do you spend your time?

Do you carve out time in your schedule to be with God?
Do you think about your relationship with God throughout the day?
Do you read and meditate on God’s words for you?

Energy — What are your efforts focused on?

Does God get the tired hours of your day or your best hours?

Money — What are you spending your money on?

Are you willing to spend money on things that will enhance your relationship with God?
Is making money more important to you than spending time with God?

Reputation — What do others think of you?

Does your concern about what other people think hinder your relationship with God?

Ask the Holy Spirit to create a growing love within you for God. He can bring revival to your heart. Ask Him to fan the flames of your desire for God and replace a lukewarm attitude with a passionate longing for closeness.