🔥From Revelation to Application 

Introduction to the Series "From Revelation to Application"

• The new teaching series is entitled "From Revelation to Application" and is structured as a journey through the book of Ephesians.
• Three core focuses are established for the series, namely knowing your identity, walking in your calling, and living out your faith.
• One of the biggest challenges facing the church today is identified as an identity crisis among believers.
• Many people who profess Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are described as having little to no genuine relationship with Him.
• This misrepresentation by those living a double life is noted as having caused a negative perception of Christianity among non-believers.
• The stated goal of the series is to encourage, empower, correct, and stretch believers so they can apply God's word by revelation and become who God has called them to be.

The Devil's Strategy of Challenging Identity

• The devil's primary weapon of choice is identified as the challenge to a person's identity.
• Modern society is described as being in a state of confusion regarding identity, with many people seeking new labels or pronouns to define themselves.
• Men and women are noted as actively searching for answers about who they are, yet often finding that those representing God are equally lost.
• A common but misguided response to an identity crisis is the belief that relocating to a new place will bring self-discovery.
• Changing one's physical location without resolving internal issues is described as merely rearranging a mess and dressing it up with a lie.
• Not knowing one's identity is presented as leaving a person subject to their own ignorance, regardless of where they are in the world.

Identity Rooted in Christ According to Ephesians Chapter 1

• The body of Christ is called to know who they are specifically in Christ Jesus, which requires a genuine relationship with the Creator.
• Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3 is highlighted to show that God has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing, not a limited or conditional portion.
• This truth is presented as evidence that no believer is a coincidence or an accident, but rather someone of great worth in God's eyes.
• Verse 4 is referenced to establish that God chose believers before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him.
• The fact that God thought of each person before their parents even conceived them is used to counter any sense of insignificance or low self-worth.
• Thinking little of oneself is described as making God look small, since believers reflect the God who created and chose them.

God's Ownership of the Earth Versus the Devil's Ownership of the World System

• A distinction is drawn between God owning the earth and the devil being the prince of the world's system.
• Believers are described as not being subject to the devil's system but rather as partakers of the inheritance given by God, the owner of the earth.
• The legal concept of a deed and the title of landlord is used to illustrate that God's children have authority and rights over what He has entrusted to them.
• The presence of God upon a believer's property is described as something that shines and distinguishes it from surrounding properties, not because of material improvements but because of God's presence.
• Tension and hostility in a home or business are presented as signs that something is spiritually wrong, while peace is identified as a sign of God's presence.
• Anything God gives a believer is expected to reveal who He is, meaning Christians are called to reflect God's order and character in all areas of life.

Identity Crisis and the Danger of Excuses and Disorder

• A lack of identity is described as leading people to make excuses for their personal mess rather than taking responsibility.
• Blaming external circumstances such as disobedient children, an unresponsive spouse, or demanding work schedules is presented as a choice to remain in disorder.
• God is described as a God of order, referencing the creation account where He brought light and structure to a dark and formless world.
• Just as God organized creation before placing life within it, believers are called to prepare and align themselves before expecting God to place blessings in their lives.
• Lining oneself up with God's principles is presented as the believer's responsibility, after which God is trusted to do the rest.
• God is described as removing people and situations from a believer's life in order to prepare them for a greater blessing that has long been reserved for them.

How God Defines Identity Versus Worldly Standards

• Biblical identity is defined as how God views a person and their relationship with Him, rather than through worldly achievements or social labels.
• Comparing oneself to others is identified as a key indicator of an identity crisis, as it shifts focus away from one's own relationship with God.
• Evidence of God in a person's life is said to be demonstrated not only by outward appearance but by conduct and actions that speak louder than words.
• First Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 is referenced to establish that God does not look at outward appearance but at the heart, defined as the mind, will, and emotions.
• Admiring others is noted as acceptable, but losing oneself or comparing oneself to others is described as the point at which identity crisis takes hold.
• A believer whose life is hidden under God is described as protected from viruses, disease, economic crises, and any threat, drawing from Psalm 91.

God's Complete Knowledge of Each Person

• Psalm 139 verse 2 is referenced to describe God as having perfect knowledge of every person, knowing their sitting down, rising up, and every thought.
• Nothing can be hidden from God, and this truth is presented as both a comfort and a call to accountability.
• The struggles believers face daily are acknowledged as real, and God is described as caring deeply about those struggles.
• God's goal is presented as not merely deliverance from problems but full restoration, since deliverance without restoration leaves the underlying damage unaddressed.
• Restoration is described as the work of the word of God, which repairs the damage caused after a spiritual problem has been removed.
• Emotional responses during worship services are cautioned against as a measure of genuine spiritual encounter, with God's true work described as hitting the conscience and producing lasting change.

The Apostle Paul's Establishment of Identity Through Jesus Christ

• The Apostle Paul is noted as establishing identity by connecting it directly to what Jesus Christ accomplished.
• Jesus is described as the second Adam who restored the broken relationship between fallen humanity and God the Father that the first Adam had severed through sin.
• Jesus is presented as the door through which believers must actively choose to walk, rather than simply admire from the outside.
• Many Christians are described as standing outside the door, admiring it without entering, because they are unwilling to fully commit and leave their sin behind.
• Making excuses for continued sin, such as attending church only when convenient or claiming God knows one's heart while living contrary to His word, is presented as a dangerous pattern.
• Dying in one's sin is presented as the ultimate consequence of refusing to come out of it, making the call to repentance urgent.

The Consequences of Hidden Sin and the Importance of Living with Integrity

• Galatians chapter 6 verse 7 is cited to establish that whatever a person sows, they will reap, making the state of one's life a reflection of what has been planted.
• A person's fruit, meaning the visible evidence of their life, is described as the true indicator of their relationship with God rather than their words or claims.
• The example of a pastor whose hidden sins led to the death of his wife is used to illustrate the destructive consequences of living a double life in ministry.
• The fact that over 700 people attended that pastor's church is noted as a sobering reminder that large attendance does not validate spiritual integrity.
• Public figures and celebrities are referenced to illustrate how decades of achievement can be permanently overshadowed by hidden sin that is eventually exposed.
• O.J. Simpson's exclusion from the Buffalo Bills' legacy wall despite holding the franchise's all-time rushing record is used as a concrete example of how unresolved sin can erase a lifetime of accomplishment.
• Hidden sin that is not overcome is described as ultimately leading to destruction, with the television series "To Catch a Predator" cited as evidence that sin crosses all professional and social boundaries.

Next Steps

• Believers are called to actively receive the revelation presented in this series and apply it to their daily lives in order to experience genuine transformation.
• The congregation is encouraged to pursue a real and deepening relationship with God as the foundation for knowing and living out their true identity.
• Members are directed to take personal responsibility for the condition of their lives, including their environments and habits, rather than attributing their circumstances solely to external factors.
• A posture of readiness and alignment with God's principles is presented as the necessary preparation for receiving the blessings God has prepared.
• Believers are urged to confront and surrender known sin before it leads to public exposure or irreversible consequences.
• An altar call is extended to the congregation as an immediate opportunity to respond to the message and take a step toward restoration and identity in Christ.