Posts Tagged ‘Regaining Your Identity’

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You are Complete in Christ

Tuesday, October 31st, 2017

complete-in-Christ

You are complete in Christ! “And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:10 KJV

God wants us to see ourselves the way that He sees us. If He says we are complete in Him, then we are complete. Even though in our humanity we are flawed and imperfect, God at salvation made us a new creation, and our spirit was born again. We want to please God, and we war against our flesh.

God sees through to the core of our being–that new creation that is us–and He sees us complete, not lacking anything. God allows us to go through trials that test our faith so that we will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4). But He knows that we will get through them.

If an outsider looks at us groaning heavenward in the midst of a fire, they will falsely judge that we are sinning in our agony, just like Job’s friends did. But if you wait until you get to the other side of the trial, you will see that you have been transformed through the furnace of affliction:

  • “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”) Isaiah 48:10
  • “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10 ESV

“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16 NASB We are given God’s fullness at salvation. We have access to everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18 KJV

complete

God’s power is also made perfect through weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), so it’s not as though we have to perform to perfection to be considered complete. God does a mightier work through our weaknesses than through our strengths. God knows we are but dust (Psalm 103:14).

While doing a study for preparing to teach this topic, I came across so many Scriptures of Jesus making people complete or whole while on this earth. Nearly every time that He healed someone physically, the Scriptures say that they were made “whole.” (Matthew 12:13; 15:28; Mark 3:5; Mark 5:28, 34; Luke 6:10; 8:48; John 5:6, 14, 15; John 7:23)

heart-sculptures

Jesus wants to make us whole. The more areas of our life we yield to Him, the more He completes us. But we are already complete in Christ at salvation! Let’s appropriate this great truth and walk in confidence that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:16). Continue yielding to Christ so that you can experience that wholeness!

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We have complete salvation, complete forgiveness, and complete victory. (If you have extra time, you can read John MacArthur’s very long, thorough sermon on being Complete in Christ for more information on this topic.) Even though God is in the process of transforming us, that doesn’t mean that we don’t already own what Christ purchased for us on the cross.

Speaking of completion, this post completes our series: 31 Days to Regaining Your Identity in Christ. Besides the art class that inspired this series, there are a couple of other books I recommend for further study in finding out your identity in Christ. (These are affiliate links, and I highly recommend all three):

you-are-a-masterpiece

 

My daughter and I created the artwork for this series from the course {aff} “You are a Masterpiece” by Alicia Gratehouse. If you love to do art and are discovering who you are in Christ, this is a great art course for you!

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You are God’s Masterpiece

Monday, October 30th, 2017

you-are-gods-masterpiece

You are God’s masterpiece! God created you exactly the way He intended for you to be, with your unique strengths and personality. Your experiences and insights add to who you are, and when you yield fully to Christ, He brings out the best you that’s possible!

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

This post contains affiliate links of a class I love and recommend.

The inspiration behind this series came from an art class I took by Alisha Gratehouse called “You are a Masterpiece.” When I saw the description for the class, I knew that God was prompting me to take the class. I was trying to heal from a trial that had taken place in my life where after a lifetime of being confident, I suddenly felt like a worthless human being. I knew this was a lie from the enemy, so I wanted to splash into the Scriptures that proved who I truly was–who Christ says I am.

Alisha let me into the class at no cost because I’m a blogger, and when I started the class, I saw that she asked questions that helped me to process who I was, and that helped me to believe that I was beautiful to God. One of the art projects that is not pictured below (because I gave it away!) is the chalkboard art that said, “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you” from Song of Songs 4:7. This Scripture hit me through the Spirit straight into my soul, and that is where my healing began.

you-are-a-masterpiece-art-class

Some of the art projects from “You are a Masterpiece” (like the Today I Choose block pictured in this post), I gave away to other women who have been struggling with the same worthlessness issues. For some reason the enemy has incapacitated almost the entire Christian female race into not knowing who we are, so that we accomplish nothing for His kingdom.

I looked around and saw nearly every woman in the same sinking boat, and I became furious at the enemy. How dare he incapacitate us, when we are powerful, accepted, loved, and forgiven? We are gifted and talented, and we have power over the enemy!

masterpiece

I was strongly prompted by God to do this series: 31 Days to Regaining Your Identity in Christ. I did it out of fury. I did it so that I myself could be healed. And as I got my hands messy with Mod Podge and paint in Alicia’s art class, the process of creating the art began to heal me. My circumstances had not changed, but I was accessing the mighty healing of God. If God came to set us free, we ought not to be living in sorrow. If Jesus came to bring life abundantly, where is that life?

I am certain that God is real, that Scripture is true, and there is no reason why we should remain in the muck of a living hell. Sorrow should not engulf us the rest of our days. All is not lost. If we are still on this earth, there must be a reason for us to still be here.

God did not create us so that we would live a life of torment, live in sorrow, unable to hardly breathe every day of our lives. He has not come to steal our hope and tell us that we are pieces of garbage that have no more use. No. These are lies from the enemy, and I’m done being lied to. That’s it. This much and no further, I say.

you-are-masterpiece

I have nearly come to the conclusion of this series, and I am astounded!!!! You guys, I have been set free, even though my circumstances have not changed! I have inward abundance, even though I have no money! I have joy and hope, even though anyone else in my situation would not bother getting out of bed!

If you are struggling with anything I’ve mentioned, I encourage you to go back and listen to each of the videos of this series. When you are finished, I hope and pray that you, too, will find healing and worth. You are God’s masterpiece!

If you don’t want to miss any of these posts from the series “31 Days to Regaining Your Identity,” why not sign up for my free monthly newsletter below, and follow my prayer page on Facebook.

you-are-a-masterpiece

 

My daughter and I created the artwork for this series from the course {aff} “You are a Masterpiece” by Alicia Gratehouse. If you love to do art and are discovering who you are in Christ, this is a great art course for you!

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You are Seated with Christ

Sunday, October 29th, 2017

you-are-seated-with-Christ

You are seated with Christ!

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6 NIV

What does this mean, that we are seated with Christ? Let’s start by asking what it means for Christ to be seated at the right hand of the Father. What did Christ do to earn that position for us?

When exactly did Christ sit down at the right hand of the Father? “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12 ESV

Christ’s death on the cross won the position of authority that He has, and He has won against the enemy. Christ gives us His power. The power of the resurrected Christ dwells in us. By paying for our sins, we now can’t be accused before the Father, even if we sin accidentally after salvation, because Christ has paid the penalty, and there is no condemnation for us. All the condemnation fell upon Christ. Satan sincerely did not know that by crucifying Jesus, he was losing. Satan thought he was winning in ridiculing, beating, killing, and silencing the Son of God. What a surprise when Christ was raised from the dead to sit at the right hand of the Father.

It is finished. That is why Christ is seated, His work is done. In the same way, we need to cease striving and abide in Christ. When we yield to God, we fulfill the law because we are filled with His presence, and that will be manifested through the fruit of the Spirit. Focusing on one law at a time and continuously striving to meet the entire law is working in our own strength, which is always bound to fail. Only when we yield to Christ can we fulfill the law, and the “burden” is light when we follow Christ. We are in a position of victory.

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This means we are FAR ABOVE all demonic principalities or powers, that Christ put under His feet at the cross.

“That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1:20-22 ESV

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“After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” Hebrews 1:3b-4 ESV

Our seating is in triumph. We are co-heirs with Christ, and we will rule with Christ. It has to do with our being united with Christ. If you want to know more about our authority in Christ, here is another article and video:

You are seated with Christ! You have already won the victory, even if you don’t see it yet!

If you don’t want to miss any of these posts from the series “31 Days to Regaining Your Identity,” why not sign up for my free monthly newsletter below, and follow my prayer page on Facebook.

you-are-a-masterpiece

 

My daughter and I created the artwork for this series from the course {aff} “You are a Masterpiece” by Alicia Gratehouse. If you love to do art and are discovering who you are in Christ, this is a great art course for you!

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You are Full of Grace

Saturday, October 28th, 2017

you-are-full-of-grace

You are full of grace. Grace is the means through which we receive all good things from God. It’s defined as unmerited favor–unconditional love—not based on our imperfect and sinful performance, but on the character of the one giving the grace. It’s a lavishness from the giver to the recipient who is undeserving. Grace is favor, good will, kindness.

Ephesians 4:7: “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB

Examples of showing grace would be:

  • forgiving someone who has sinned against you
  • showing kindness to a stranger
  • doing good to one’s enemies

A. W. Tozer says: “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.”

“The free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him.” – Chuck Swindoll

grace-flowers

When we get up on a high perch and talk down to people as if they were scum, that is the opposite of grace. Jesus doesn’t speak to us that way. Even if the you are right about the sin of another person, if you do not have humility and grace in delivering it to your fellow believer, they will be unable to hear you because they know that Christ doesn’t speak in a dehumanizing way to the people He loves. If someone is speaking to you this way, go ahead and show grace to them and don’t get angry and defensive. It’s possible that they are right about your sin, but now you have the responsibility to gently show them that lording it over someone doesn’t produce righteousness.

I see so many believers being harsh with each other instead of showing grace. Based on the lavish amount of grace we have been given by God, it seems like we ought to be able to show more grace to each other.

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After all, grace is intrinsic in just about everything in the Christian life:

  • Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved…”
  • Hebrews 4:16 “Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…”
  • 1 Peter 4:10 “We are faithful stewards of God’s grace…”
  • James 4:6 “But He gives more grace…” (to the humble)
  • Romans 6:14 “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

I think the key verse above is the one in James 4:6, where God says He will give grace to the humble. So if we humble ourselves before God, He will grant us grace. Then we, in turn, can extend that grace to others. You as a believer are full of grace, so exercise it!

If you don’t want to miss any of these posts from the series “31 Days to Regaining Your Identity,” why not sign up for my free monthly newsletter below, and follow my prayer page on Facebook.

you-are-a-masterpiece

 

My daughter and I created the artwork for this series from the course {aff} “You are a Masterpiece” by Alicia Gratehouse. If you love to do art and are discovering who you are in Christ, this is a great art course for you!

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Posted in Christian Living | 16 Comments »

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