Petra Podcast

Today is part four of the series we are doing about our identity in Christ. We are answering the question “Who am I”. We have embraced the truths that …..
- We are designed and created by God.
- We are chosen and adopted by our Heavenly Father.
- We have been born again and given a new nature – the old self or old nature has been crucified with Christ and we have a new nature that desires to please God.
- We have been set free to live in the newness of the Spirit –We are set free from earthly ambitions and given spiritual ambitions. We are here on a mission from God.
To walk in our freedom and to fulfill our mission assignment on earth we need to have our minds renewed or transformed by the power of God.
If we try to live the Christian life with an un-renewed mind we will live a life of frustration because we keep hitting the wall. Our un-renewed mind keeps us locked into old patterns and mindsets. It keeps us bound to a form of godliness or spirituality without the power to go with it.

Today is the third message in our series on our identity in Christ, helping each of us to have a clear sense and understanding of who we really are because of our belonging to Jesus Christ; helping us to see ourselves in light of what God has done for us and in us in Christ Jesus.
Today we are focusing specifically on our freedom in Christ. We are free in Christ is something often said. This sounds wonderful, but what does it really mean. What are the practical implications for our lives?
I want us to look at four passages of scripture that will help us to understand more fully what freedom in Christ actually means. Three of these passages use the same Greek word translated free, freedom or liberty. The idea conveyed by this word is literally “unrestrained”, that is to say, to come and go at your pleasure, not a slave, exempt from obligation. As the redeemed of Jesus Christ this is our standing, freedom, unrestrained by outside forces, no longer a slave.

Today is part two of the series we are doing about our identity in Christ. In this series we are going after a foundational core issue of how God sees us and how we see ourselves.
I believe that our spiritual growth, authority in prayer and ability to walk in victory is directly related to our understanding of who we are in Christ.
The devil knows if he can keep you from understanding who you are in Christ, he can keep you from experiencing the victory and freedom which is your inheritance as a child of God.
This is so important because how we perceive ourselves affects our behavior. The devil knows if he can deceive us in this area he can more easily trip us up. For instance….
If we see ourselves as weak we will give in more
If we see ourselves as failures we will fail more
If we see ourselves as poor we will have a poverty spirit
If we see ourselves as victims we will continue to act like victims
If we see ourselves as inadequate we will walk in fear
If we see ourselves as having little worth we will live in insecurity
If we see ourselves as sinners we will act like sinners
Here is a good theological question. In our present identity in Christ are we sinners saved by grace or are we saints who still sin at times? There is an important difference.

Christian faith is not about what I need to do or believe, per say. You can do all the right things and believe all the right doctrines and still miss the very essence and spirit of our faith.
At it’s core our faith has to do with relationship and personhood. Who do I belong to, and how does he relate to me and see me. Out of that core truth will flow these six messages that touch on:
- Our relationship with God
- His victory over sin, and freedom in us
- His authority to conquer darkness under us
- His purpose and ministry flowing through us

Just the countdown portion of the Christmas Eve Special. A look back to the favorite memories.