ARE THERE LIES ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY THAT YOU BELIEVE IN TODAY? GOSPEL CORNER : BREAK THE POWER OF THOSE LIES BY DECLARING YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST. , SPEAK YOUR TRUE IDENTITY IN JESUS.

28/05/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13, NIV

A TIME TO HONOR
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to put down “memorial stones” as reminders of past national victories. Every time they or future generations passed by a memorial, they would remember the mighty things God had done and honor the people who gave their lives for others. All throughout the Scripture, we see that God blesses an attitude of honor. To show honor simply means that you give respect and recognition to others with your attitude, actions, and words.

Today, we recognize Memorial Day as a time when we honor all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service for this country. As we remember them, let’s honor the gift of freedom they have given us by saying thank you with our actions and choosing to love and honor others. Let’s also honor all those who are serving in our armed forces and their families who are sacrificing so much today. Let’s pray for God’s peace, protection, and provision over every area of their lives.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for this special day to honor the men and women who have given their lives to secure and keep our freedom as a nation. Thank You that You are with our soldiers and their families wherever they go. Protect and provide for them, and help them to know Your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO
Several years ago, I preached a message on how the devil sometimes uses the first-person pronoun to plant thoughts in our heads to deceive us. For example, he doesn’t say, “You have an eating disorder” or “You have an addiction.” The devil uses the first-person pronoun to sow thoughts such as these in your mind: “I have an eating disorder” or “I am addicted to pornography.”

He makes you think that you are thinking those thoughts of defeat. He wants you to believe that is who you are.

Upon hearing this message, a man named Walter, whom the devil had used this strategy on and trapped in a destructive addiction for many years, went home after church, locked himself in his room, and for the first time declared out loud, “I am not an addict!” He chose to reject this evil mind-set in the name of Jesus.

He related this: “At that very moment, I felt something powerful happen inside me. I don’t know how to describe this. It was as if life became spectacular because of the love of God, and I couldn’t contain the feeling.”

After making that confession out loud, Walter said, “My addiction stopped. I just lost all interest, and I don’t feel even a little bit tempted. All the wrong desires are gone, and best of all, I know I love Jesus more than ever before and I can’t live without Him. I am renewed. I am reborn. I know that everything is in His control, and I am blessed and forgiven.”

Wow! What an amazing testimony of God’s power and goodness in this brother’s life. With just one declaration, he broke the mental stronghold that the devil had placed him under for many years.

That is truly the power of right believing. If you can change what you believe, you can change your life, just like this brother did.

Are there lies about your identity that you believe in today? Break the power of those lies by declaring your identity in Christ. Say out loud, “I am a child of God. I am healed, forgiven, righteous, and holy in Christ Jesus.” Instead of believing the devil’s lies when he uses the first-person pronoun strategy against you, speak your true identity in Jesus.