May 2021 – Inspiring Identity

LIFE, in identity

Posted on May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by Tabatha Baisden

Do you have life? Or, are you just living?

God had an idea to make man after His own image, after the image of Spirit and after the likeness of the Word. However, it wasn’t until God breathed upon the image that man had life and became a living soul.

Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7 _KJV And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: …So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

{Christ is the Word. As described in Revelation 19:13,16: … His name is called The Word of God. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”}

John 1:1-4,14 _KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh so we might have life in God through Christ in Spirit.

Matthew 7:14 _KJV Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Don’t look for shortcuts to God! Easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced. The way to life (to God!) is power and Spiritual that requires total obedience. [notes from the MSG version]

Matthew 10:39-40 _KJV He that findeth his life (of the world) shall lose it (by death): and he that loseth his life (born-again) for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you (apostles of God) receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me (God).

Give the Word of God to those that are of unrighteousness and if they don’t receive it and have a change of heart, don’t take it personal they are rejecting GOD, NOT YOU.

Matthew 16:24-25 _KJV Then Jesus said unto his disciples If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Life is only given by denying self and losing your life in Christ. This means we can’t choose what we want to lose. If it all don’t die, you are not dead to self.

Romans 6:4-5 _KJV Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

We put flesh to death by water baptism in Jesus name. Raise up a new creature in Christ Jesus, being in His likeness which is Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 _KJV For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:15-15 _MSGOur firm decision is to work from this focused center (Spirit of Christ Jesus): One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

When life is given in the newness of Christ, we no longer live for self. We live to do the will of the Father.

Romans 8: 6, 8-9 _KJV For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

What is the meaning of carnally?

Relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites: carnal desire. 2. Worldly or earthly; temporal: the carnal world. 3. Of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily:

When being honest this is what the world consists of. People with strong sexual desires, building riches in temporal earthly possessions, and all about self/flesh. “This is what I want.” “This is what pleases me.” me, me, me.

It’s imperative that you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, putting on the mind of Christ. This is the only way to receive life and have peace. Why settle for just living when you can have life more abundantly? John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

2 Corinthians 4: 10-12 _KJV Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

2 Corinthians 4:10-12 _MSG What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

Galatians 2:20 _KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Colossians 3:3 _KJVFor ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

1 John 5:11 _KJV He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1 John 5:18-20 _AMP We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually (by way of habit) sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

God wants us to KNOW HIM, and the only way to know Him is to be one with Him. Having the same Spirit that dwelled in Jesus. Being born again in Jesus name and being filled with the Holy Ghost, you become a new creature, there is no more “you”. You have been put to death with Jesus and resurrected a Spiritual being. Just like Christ whom raised from the dead as Spirit. Your flesh will try to rise and that is what being tested is. For we are tested by the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Test and trials come to make you strong in the Spirit. Testing takes you from faith to FAITH, from glory to GLORY with God. With the Holy Ghost you receive power. The same power that is with Christ. This is the power that strengthens you to be able to deny sin and die daily to the flesh that tries and destroy you.

Romans 1:17 _AMP For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”

Acts 1:8 _KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

To be in Christ is to be fruitful, as the Spirit is known by. You must recognize the root of the fruit is seed; The spiritual seed is God. A seed must die first to bring forth life. Fruit is nutritious and reproduces after its kind.

Be careful to not mix fruitful with one whom has fame and/or has temporal possessions.

Having identity in Christ

No one in the old testament could get it right with what being Spiritual entails. The Holy Spirit only fell on those of the Old Testament. They were oracles used to prophesy the word of God. So, God had to send The Word to make it possible to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must be transformed as The Word was transformed from flesh to Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 _KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus came in the identity of God. God is the Word, Spirit, life, authority, righteousness, holy, and love. We too must put on the identity of God through Christ Jesus.

Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. ~God

Identity is the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. ~ you should be identified as being Spiritual.

Identity is a transformation that leaves an object unchanged. ~Born Again from flesh to Spirit

Identity is serving to establish who the holder, owner or wearer is by bearing their name. ~Obedience in Jesus name

Life identified by the fruits of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 _KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 _AMP But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish, concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 _MSG But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance (excitement) about life, serenity (peace). We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates (infuses) things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal (arrange) and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

Here’s a thought, someone can be a participating believer and not have the Holy Spirit. A person can also “act” the fruits of the Spirit without being the fruit of the Spirit. We can meet generous good people all day. However, they are not born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. So, what is the evidence of life?

to be continued …

STANDING ENDURNCE IN THE TEST

Posted on May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by Tabatha Baisden

Test and trials come to make you strong.

James 1:2-4 _AMP Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. ³Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. ⁴And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

Are you Praising and thanking God for the test?

Test: for measuring the skill, knowledge, intelligence, capacities {how much can you be entrusted with}, or abilities of an individual (2): a procedure, reaction, or substance used to identify or characterize a substance

You can be tested on your reaction to a situation to identify what’s really imbedded in you. Just as a washing machine that agitates the dirt for cleaning. God is getting out of you what’s still in you that’s adverse to the Word.

How you react to stuff of the world identifies your mindset/Spiritual character. Does it line up with Kingdom?

Test is a critical examination, observation, or evaluation
Test is an ordeal (trial, suffering, tribulation, test) or oath(promise) required as proof of conformity (compliance, obedience) with a set of beliefs (the Word of God)

Trial: a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation. To test the quality, value, or usefulness of (something).

Trials will let God know if you really trust Him or not. Is your faith in Him or mankind(self)?

The Word of God lets us know the 3 main areas we will be tested by. As He too was tested by in the wilderness.

Matthew 4 _KJV Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Tempted: entice or attempt to entice (someone) to do or acquire something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or not beneficial. Have an urge or inclination to do something. Attract; allure. Risk provoking (a deity or abstract force), usually with undesirable consequences.

Wilderness: a neglected or abandoned area of a garden or town. (Garden of Eden)

So, Jesus was led back to the wilderness from the beginning to be tested in the very ways that we are all tested by today. Jesus overcame the test with the Word of God.

1 John 2:15-17 _KJV Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Trials are to evaluate how determined you are to endure in gaining strength thru sorrow, grief, misery, and temptation of the flesh. All that is required to purify you for the Kingdom.

Do you qualify to be used by God for the Kingdom?

Kingdom is royalty. Royalty is people of royal blood or status. The status or power of a king or queen. Majestic Glory.

Test and trials are given to make known the wisdom that God has entrusted you with. Your response will determine if you move to the next level in Glory.

Your next level may require more then you expected. More studying, more fasting, more praying, more of your time. What you expect may not be what God has done.

Will you stand in the test and trial that’s at hand?

Standing: 1. position, status, or reputation.

2. used to specify the length of time that something has lasted or that someone has fulfilled a particular role. {gaining Endurance}

Our role in Christ is to preach the Word of God to the upmost parts of the world. Live a life free from sin and be holy as the Lord God is holy.

Remaining in force{Spirit} or use; permanent. {Everlasting}

~God dwells in eternity.

Be stagnant or still. {Dead to flesh, undisturbed by wind, sound, or current; calm ~remain humbled in the storm}

Endurance: the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. {Sufferance, patience, determination}

The capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear. {Longevity}

Have you a made-up mind to be in Christ Jesus for eternity?

1 Peter 1 _AMP
Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,
To those [elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen ²according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].
³Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴[born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. ⁶In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of ^[^a^]your souls.
¹⁰Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation], ¹¹seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow. ¹²It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.
¹³So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴[Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. ¹⁵But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; ¹⁶because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.”
¹⁷If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. ¹⁸For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, ¹⁹but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. ²⁰For He was ^[^b^]foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake ²¹and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
²²Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], ²³for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.
²⁴For, “All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers
And the flower falls off,
²⁵But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you.

(Let he who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, and may it be a fruitful blessing.)

The best position to remain in while enduring a test & trial is in worship with your life. Praise the Lord anyhow! He has already won the VICTORY!

Scripture for encouragement.

Philippians 4:4-9 _AMP

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. ⁷And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

⁸Finally, ^[^b^]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. ⁹The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.