The Transformative Power of the Identity of Christ - Wednesday Morning Service

that it is only God that could have you standing where you standing. Where you know you know that it is only God that can bring you to a place ((music playing)) that you didn't have any idea how you got there. All you know is that you're standing there and in your heart of hearts, your soul of soul, I know this is only ((music playing)) God.

Right? So, you're looking at real time at what could only be the living God. How I got I don't know. All I know is that he is God and I am standing ((music playing)) here. And so are you. Amen. Lift your hands all over the building. Just give God praise this morning.

Hallelujah. Glory to God. Lord, we thank you. Lord, we praise you. Lord, you are mighty. Lord, you are holy. Lord, you are everything. And we give you ((music playing)) praise in Jesus' name. Amen. Hallelujah. Give a shout to Jesus Christ this morning. >> [cheering and applause] >> Hey. You can be seated if you want to.

I'm excited about the word of God today. Welcome to World Changers Nation. Can you give them a hand for being in the building with us this morning all over the world? Say good morning in the chat, y'all. How y'all feeling out there? I'm so ((music playing)) excited. I want to jump right in, right?

Because I feel like today is one of those days where it's like, "Girl, you know the Lord is about to show up. Amen." Amen. So, I'm excited. And so, today we're going to walk through the transformative power of our identity in Christ. How about that? Is that all right?

And so, even before that, I want to just give thanks to the most I say supernatural, amazing, powerful pastors in the world. Pastor Creflo and Taffi Dollar. Can we give it up for them? Like you mean it. Like you mean it. Like you mean it. >> [applause and cheering] >> You know, we're here and guess where they are?

In Africa. Ain't that something? Look, what if somebody told you this morning you got to get up and go to Africa? You'd be like, "Girl, bye." Right? And not only that, Pastor Taffi, look, she did a whole women's conference. Amen. And then a few days later, where was she?

In Africa. I'd be like, "Girl, I'll see you when you get back. I I can't go. I can't go." But I'm just so grateful to be a part of the World Changers Nation and that they would allow us to do this every single week. Amen. So, like I said, we're going to have walk through the transformative power of our identity in Christ.

And one thing about me is I like to ask the Lord questions. You know how you have those kids like you'd be having five kids, but it'd be that one kid that just want to ask the questions that you know when you're trying to cook and do stuff, they just come up to you ask questions.

You'd be like, "You know what? Sit down somewhere." Well, I'm that kid. I was like, "You know what, Lord? This whole situation, right? Where we're learning about who we are, like, why?" Why? What what's going on? Like, what what What's on your mind? Like, what were you thinking?

Cuz Lord, this is hard. I'm the only one that it's hard. Okay. I was [laughter] like I was like, "This is this is like for real. This whole situation where God is showing us and Pastor Dollar and Pastor Taffi are teaching us to stand in all of who we are in the identity of a whole living God and saying we are just like Christ.

Like, this is not a thing. And I'm realizing it's a thing because it's like every single day I'm finding like every situation and circumstance, it's like you got to do a extra pause like, "What you say?" It come out even slower. "Okay. That's what you felt? All right."

As you respond to people. Amen. Right? And so, I'm realizing like this this is a whole thing that is happening on the inside of us. There is a whole transformation that is happening on this journey to becoming just like Christ or being just like Christ. Anybody feel that?

Right? Like, it's serious. It's like, "Okay. All right. Let's see Let's see what you're talking about, God." So, as we do that, we want to see what happens when we move from just knowing who we are to actually living from it, right? Isn't that what Dr. Dollar and Pastor Taffi have been sharing with us?

And so, we're going to see how salvation establishes our significance. Say significance. How transformation begins on the inside. Say inside. And how it shows up in our thinking, our responses, and our everyday lives. How we think, how we feel, how we choose. Right? And so again, we're talking about the transformative power of the identity of Christ.

There is a whole transitioning power of God that is happening as we're walking through. So, I'm going to try to be a little still. You know, sometimes I be a little just a tiny little bit animated. Just a little bit, right? And then be But I don't know I don't Today I'm going to be like, I'm going to stand ten toes down and I'm going to just get it out.

Okay? I pray. Amen. Pray my strength in the Lord. But >> [laughter] >> because and the reason I'm saying that is because what you're watching now is this in real time. This transformative power is happening in me. It is happening in me. So, we're going to walk through this in a very clear way.

The power sources, right? So, the power source, the first thing that we're looking at, the power source is the blood of Jesus. Where we're talking about that transformative power. The power that's in motion is how transformation actually works. We want to look at that. The power over self.

And Pastor Dollar talked about that the other day, self-discipline. Everybody say self-discipline. Amen. Where we see emotional and personal change. Has that been happening to anybody out there? The expression of power. How it shows up in our words. I'm just going to let that sit in the room.

Amen. Everybody Oh, everybody just been like you've just been saying it perfect. All right. I have not. Amen. Let me tell you what happened to me the other day. Okay. I didn't think I was going to share my whole life, but you know, hey, that's what happens when you stand up here.

You know, the Lord just be like, "Hey, say that." So, anyway, right? We go went to get something to eat. It was super late. I was a little tired. Went to the restaurant, right? Of course, everybody wants to see the game. Anybody watching Michigan and Connecticut? Amen. One.

Hallelujah. Right? So, I walk into the thing, right? And you know, it's a place where you got a whole bunch of TVs, right? And so, I walk in and so, the guy, you know, I'm talking to the guy, you know, about to see he's about to seat us.

And I was like, "Yeah, can we get up, you know, kind of you know, a TV that's close up to the to the to the game?" And he's like, "Yes, ma'am, there's TVs all over the place." UH. UH. UH-HUH. I HAVE TO STOP. AND SO, I GO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I go, "Yes, I see that there's TVs all over the place."

And I walk to my seat. And I'm hot. I'm like I'm like PISSED OFF. I'M LIKE, "Did he really say that to me?" Okay, I know it's just me. I know it's none of y'all out there cuz y'all be Jesus happy and you say everything to everybody real nice.

But I was like I literally I saw myself in slow motion. He was like, "Yes, ma'am, there's TVs all over the place." I could see that there's TVs all OVER THE PLACE, BRO. I KNOW THAT THERE'S TVS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING on the inside.

But on outside I was like, "Yes, I see there's TVs all over the place." And I sit down and I'm like I'm going through it. Right? And then I I sit down to my And here's the thing, the lady took us to a spot that was right in front the game.

The Lord was like, "You know I got you, right? Even in the smallest thing." Yeah, Lord, you're right. Praise God. But as I'm sitting and I'm I mean, you know, we're preparing, you know, looking at the food. The Lord was like, "You know, that was messed up." Then I'm acting like I ain't here. >> [laughter] >> Looking at the menu. "You know, that was messed up."

Oh, I'm the only one that be rolling their eyes at the Lord? Okay, bro. All right. So, he's like, "You know, you don't know what kind of day that person had. And here you come. And I'm saying, "Your tone was horrible." Your tone. I'm looking at the menu like it's really saying something I ain't seen before.

Your tone was horrible. You know, I call you whenever whatever place you walk into, you're supposed to be the light. Even in your tone, you're supposed to show up and be me. You don't know what happened to that young man. You don't know what his day You don't know he he And then I realized as he was moving around, he was the manager for the night.

He probably had a real short staff as the Lord is showing me all the pinpoints of why what I said was a hot mess. So, I'm sitting down at my plate, right? You know, getting ready to eat the food that the Lord is blessing us to be able to go out and eat.

Hallelujah. And he's just showing me all the little things, right? And I'm like, "Lord, I'm so sorry. Lord, please forgive me. I apologize." He said, "Yeah, listen, you know, even in your tone, everything has to express me. How you say it, how you show up, how you move, it's supposed to express me.

You show up as me every single time in every moment." And then I noticed across the way he was sitting in the booth and I heard him. He was calling people to come in to work. As I sit here at the end of my day. And I said, "Well, Lord, you want me to go apologize?"

No, cuz you just be doing that for show. That's just for you. I'm trying here, LORD. I'M TRYING, OKAY? HE'S LIKE, "NO, just just sit down. Just relax cuz there's no condemnation even for you." Lord, I apologize. I'll never do that again. Please help me. Help me even in my tone.

Help me to remember that when I show up, I show up in you, with you, as you. In the smallest thing. You don't know what people are encountering when you come in front of them. But in every situation, you've got to show up in him and like him.

And I'm telling you, that situation, it changed my life because I saw me. Girl, you ain't got this all together. You don't have nothing together. You have zero together. And it's only because of me that you got it. But even that, as he's comforting me by his Holy Spirit, just walking me through, showing me me, and showing me the things, right, that need to be challenged and changed.

And so, when I'm looking at this, it allowed me to see that there is a whole transforming power that is happening on the inside of us. Does that make sense? And so, that's why I asked the question, "What's happening inside of me? What's going on as I'm becoming like you?

As I'm standing in all of who you what? Show me. Talk to me about what it is that I is intangible. This I'm I can't touch it, but it's happening in me. I can't see it. What is it?" And so, that's what we're walking through today, the power source, which is the blood of Jesus, the power in motion, how transformation actually works, the power over self, where we see emotional and emotional change, the expression of power, how it shows up in our words, and the proof of power.

The fruit that shows it's real. Amen. And so, by the end of this, my whole goal is that you don't just leave knowing who you are, but you leave living from who God says you are. Because when identity is clear, transformation becomes inevitable. It's inevitable. So, for the past two times that I was here, I spoke on uh a couple of things that related to identity.

And if you were here, one of the first things I spoke about was ID. My message was, "ID, license, and registration, please." Right? And the ID we talked about who you are. The license is that you are authorized. And the registration said you belong. And I shared how grace answers all three, that our identity is based on the finished work of who?

Jesus Christ. And then I shared the danger of presenting the wrong ID. When you don't show up on in all of who you are, how dangerous that is. We said that it's not just enough to know your identity. It's not just enough to have the right identity, but you got to show up in it.

And I walked through the different potential dangers that could have occurred had I not showed up a couple of weeks ago in all of who God said I was. Because the identity that you present determines how you respond, how you speak, how you move, how you think, how you feel, and how you choose.

Amen. Transformation. Power of the identity of Jesus Christ. And that's what we're talking about. And so, now you got a clear picture of what you're looking at standing in front of you in real time, the transforming power that's happening to me, and I'm sure, as we've shared with you, too.

And so, here's the thing. When we talk about transformation, what it's not is behavior modification. Cuz that's not what God is into. He's not into just trying to change your behavior. What he's into is reminding you of who you are. And then your behavior will follow that. Amen.

So, what transformation is is spiritual. It's mental, emotional. It's verbal. It's behavioral. It's relational. Let me say that again. Transformation is spiritual. It's mental. It's emotional. It's verbal. It's behavioral and it's relational. Why you saying all these things, Melissa? Because as you are transforming, as you are becoming more like Christ, you'll begin to cherish what you see happening in you.

You'll give yourself a little bit more grace because you understand that there's a supernatural power that's happening and touching every aspect of my world, of my life, down to the core of my soul, how I think, how I feel, how I choose. So, you know what? There is no condemnation as you saw with me sitting at the table, right?

Because I realized, now, okay, wait, you're you're you're doing something in me. Let's look at Romans 12:2, and I'm looking at it in the New King James version. And it says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your what?" "Of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

And here's the thing. But before we even talk about trying what from transformation does, we have to step understand where it starts. Where do you think it starts at? Huh? Okay. Well, the first power source that we talked about what? Is the blood of Jesus. Why sometimes we forget to go back to that main power source?

Because transformation doesn't start, like I said, with behavior. It starts with that moment. There's a moment where you hear about Jesus, and then that that something happens. You hear about him. You heard about him. You realize how much he loved you. And you accepted him as your Lord and your savior.

And you realize that it was the power of his blood that was shed that took care of everything. Took care of your sins, your past, your present, and your future. The power source of this transformation started with your salvation when you gave your life to Jesus Christ. Amen.

You know, my husband shared uh in our family, he's uh the hero what we call the hero motive coach, and he coaches families in different areas of life. And when you talk about the blood of Jesus, he shared that when he watched our daughter being born, uh what stayed with him was not the process, but he saw the blood that was shed after she was born.

And he said it was at that time that he understood her life came at a price. "My life, Mom, was laid down on that bed." And he saw the process of her coming through, her life came at a price. It came at a cost. And from that moment on, he always shared that it was in that moment that her significance was established.

Not by what she would do, but by what was paid for her. And the same thing for Christ. That blood that was shed. You can't go back up in that dirt and put it back together. And and you can't go back to that. You can't change that. You can't pay that like, "You know what, Lord?

I'm sorry. My bad. Here's Here Here you go." You can't redo that. That That That There's no price upon that. That thing is too costly. But what we have to understand is everything that is occurring, every situation, every circumstance, it was already paid for. Huh? >> [snorts] >> Today I feel like it's a it's a little intimate, just like, you know, big brother, big sister conversation, so we could really just, you know, look at, "Lord, look at what you're doing on the inside of me."

Yeah? Let's look at this in 2 Corinthians 5:21. And so, like I said, that same thing that happened with my child and my husband seeing that her significance was established when that blood was shed, it's the same thing for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21. It says, "For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him."

So, this, my friend, shows that transformation begins with the exchange. Say exchange. And his righteousness becomes my identity. So, that first power source is the blood of Jesus. Let's look at Ephesians 1:7. And I'm reading in the New King James version. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his what?

Grace." This, my friend, shows that transformation begins with redemption. My past no longer defines me. Huh? And you know, it's not the it's not the past like long ago. Well, for me, let me say it for me. Let me talk to me. My past is 5 seconds ago.

You understand? My past is like when I From the time I walked into that restaurant and sat down and God corrected me, that was my past right there at that counter. Does that make sense? And that no longer defines me, which is why in that moment I'm supernaturally brought right back up to place, right back into power.

No condemnation. It happens in seconds. THAT'S WHY IT'S A SUPERNATURAL PROCESS. What's happening to us IS A TRANSFORMATION THAT IS SUPERNATURAL. My past NO LONGER DEFINES ME. IF I CUSSED YOU OUT 5 MINUTES AGO, THAT DON'T EVEN DEFINE ME. I literally can do like Paul like, "I don't know who you're talking about." "Well, listen, but you just" "I don't know who you're talking about."

THAT WEREN'T ME. "NO, YOU DID. YOU SAID MY MAMA WAS" "NAH, that weren't me, dog." That weren't me. I don't know who you thought it were, but that weren't me. You know what I'm talking about? That ain't that I don't know who that WERE, BUT THAT WEREN'T ME.

HEY, 5 SECONDS AGO DOES NOT define me. Give God praise FOR THAT. YEAH, THAT WAS IN THERE. THAT WAS so cool. That was so sweet. Let's look at Titus 3:5. It says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, which we have done, which I thought I was doing, but according to his mercy."

My God, his mercy. Sometime I like you know, I have to sit down at the word of God. I have to literally like, you know, walk myself back because the thing is so rich that if you just walk through that thing too fast, YOU GOING TO MISS WHAT IT'S TALKING ABOUT.

LOOK WHAT IT SAY. It says not by works of righteousness which we have done. Which means you ain't do nothing. You did nothing. He said, "But according to his mercy." He had mercy upon me. He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

O to bo so. And this shows that transformation begins with regeneration. I am made new from the inside out. Say inside out. Woo! So, look at this now. The blood is the reason transformation is possible. Don't ever take that part for granted. Because it changed who I am before I ever changed to what I do.

It changed who I am before I ever changed what I do. Transformation begins the moment my significance is settled. First drop of blood that was shed, boom, it settled who she is, how she is, how she coming. I wasn't even here yet, but it was settled 2,000 years ago.

And as for you. So, now that I've been made new, we've talked about the blood of Jesus, the significance that was established, now the transformation begins. Say transformation. So, the other power is the power in motion, which happens in your mind. Say your mind. That's the biggest situation right there.

Amen? Look at Philippians 2 and verse 5. It says, "Let not Let this mind be in you, which also is in Christ Christ Jesus." Where is the mind supposed to be? Where is it supposed to be? It's supposed to be It says, "Let this mind be where?" Say in me.

In me. Okay. So, you know how people like, "Girl, you going to make me lose my mind." No, you're not. Girl, you going to You No, you're not. No, you're not. Because it says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." I wanted to look at the guy cuz you know I love You know I love looking at the Bible and my people in the Bible.

And I came upon Gideon. Y'all remember Gideon in the word? I'mma read Judges 6 through 11 cuz you know I like You know I always bring y'all a story. You know I bring my stories. Let's look at Judges 6 through 11. You know I like reading like it's all animated, like it's a movie, like it's a movie script.

So, here we go. Now, the angel of the Lord came and sat down under the terebinth tree. That right THERE IS SUPERNATURAL. HOW ABOUT AN ANGEL come sit next to you under a tree? You'd be like, "Wait, hold on. Hold on. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Hold on.

Hold on, bro. Hold on. I don't know what you think this is, but you a whole angel and I'mma need for you to YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LOOK SO, SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO really look at what's HAPPENING IN THE BIBLE LIKE IT'S A WHOLE MOVIE. Like the angel of the Lord.

Okay. Maybe it was just me, but that thing blew my mind. It blew my mind. Now, the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree, which was in Ophrah, which belonged to the Joashite the Abiezrite. While his son Gideon threshed wheat in the wine press in order to hide it from the Midianites.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "Come on, y'all." Come on, people. Come on, people. WE GOT ANGELS TALKING. >> [crying] >> WE GOT ANGELS TALKING. We got angels moving. We got them angels under trees. Okay. Let me And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor."

Gideon said to him, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord is with us." You know how we'd be doing that? We'd be like, "Lord, you know, if it's REALLY YOU." IT'S HIM, Y'ALL. You know, Lord, I don't know, but I want you to um like, you know, when I turn this corner, if I see a Chuck E.

Cheese, then I'll know it's you. What you doing? What What are we doing? What are we doing? Okay, I'mma sit here and if she pass by, if she say hello, then I'mma know it's you. But if she don't say nothing, then I'mma get up and I'mma leave. Okay, here she come.

Here she go. SHE AIN'T SAY HELLO. SHE AIN'T SAY HELLO. OKAY, I'M GOING. YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WASN'T GOD. THAT WASN'T WHAT ARE What are What are we Gideon said to him, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord is with us." If the Lord is with us? He just sent you a whole Is it me or is this A TRIP RIGHT NOW?

OKAY. HE SAID, "Why then has all this happened to us?" Bro, first of all, okay, let's just keep reading. "And with all of his miracles which our fathers told us about." So, you heard about miracles and now when you see one, you still ain't convinced? "And with all of his miracles which our fathers told us about saying, did not the Lord bring us from Egypt?"

So, your ancestors are telling you of the goodness of God. Your ancestors are repeating to you what God has done. "But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Oh, so you thought trials and tribulations were not going to come? Even though you heard the testimonies that have come, you thought you think that trials and tribulations are not supposed to come to you?

But here's the thing what is so powerful, even before the trials and tribulations came, he told him that God was with him. Does that make sense? So, then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.

Have I not sent you?" Gideon was like, "Wait, wait, but didn't I And the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you. And you shall what? Defeat the Midianites as one man." Let that sit in the room for a second. When you walk into these job interviews or when you walk into those the the the gas company and the light company and the, you know, the situations and when you got to deal with conflicts at your job, he was like, "I'm with you."

No, I I'm with you. That's enough. And your significance has already been established. So, every word that comes out your mouth, I'm going to go ahead and envelop every word that comes out of your mouth. And first of all, the just the fact that I'm with you, it's it's good.

Right? So, you can see the transformative power that is happening on the inside of you as you walk up and and stand 10 toes down in these trials and tribulations that are coming cuz they coming. He said, "Surely I will be with you and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

And he's telling him this before it even what? Happens. [snorts] Transformation starts when I believe what God says over what I feel. Do you understand? When I believe cuz my feelings are going to go ham as they always do. Clearly, y'all see that mine do. Right? But that's when the transformation That's when the transformation is starting.

When I believe, no matter what I'm feeling right now, Lord, I really want to punch you in the face. Lord, I really want to punch this dude in the face. How you going to talk to me like that? You know what I'm saying? You know, what what Listen, boy, I mean I'm I'm old enough to be your mama.

You know what I'm saying? I'm talking about. I don't know where this accent is coming from right now. I am not even from Atlanta like that. It's cuz I'll be around Pastor Anthony. Pastor Anthony will roll out like he a whole guy. Be roll brother, right? You know what I'm saying?

It's like and you can't help it, but you He just exudes Atlanta. You know what I'm talking about? But he from New York, too, but he just be exuding it. And like when you around him, you can't help but just be like, "You right, bro. You right." Ha! >> [gasps] >> But even before I move on, I want us to I like to ask the Lord I like to look at it.

You know, we're trained to look at, you know, what is happening during that time? So, with Gideon, Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh living during a time when Israel was under oppression from the Midianites. So, it's good to know like, you know, what what was occurring? What caused him to act like that?

What was happening that he felt like, you know, even though because even though the living God was with him, he still had to have a little doubt. But here's what was happening. The Midianites would repeatedly invade their land over and over. So, imagine somebody coming to your house and stealing from your house every day.

Every day of every day? Of every day, somebody come on your door. You know what it is, bro. Open the door. Open the fridge. You know what it is. Go get your wallet. You know what it is. You know what this is. We was here yesterday. We back again today.

Go ahead and get No, I know YOU JUST WENT GROCERY SHOPPING. GET ALL THE FREEZER GOODS OUT. Put them in my freezer bag. No, we taking that. Oh, yeah, we taking that, too. Yeah, put the dog in the car, too. We taking the dog, too. You know what it is.

And so, that's what's happening. And steal their crops. He stole They were stealing their crops and leave the people in fear. And the people leave were living in fear and lack. This was what was happening in his world. Because of this, Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press.

So, I was like, "Why would a person be at a WINE PRESS?" BECAUSE ALL THIS STUFF was happening around him. He was feeling hopeless, powerless. And he was HIDING IN A PLACE not meant for that purpose, just to survive. Huh? That's one reason why you can't judge. See how I I judged what was going on with that guy?

I didn't even consider what was happening in his world. That's why the Lord said that. You don't even know what was going on in that young man's life. He could be here just trying to survive. And here you go with your smart, nasty, rude tone. Huh? He said he saw himself as the least.

This is how he's seeing himself. He saw himself as the least in his family and came from what he described as the weakest clan. His identity had been shaped by fear, insecurity, and his environment. What is occurring in the people that you are encountering? Yet in that very place, God called him a mighty man of valor.

In the very place where trials, tribulation, loss of hope, lack, no identity was happening, God called him mighty man of valor. God did not speak to his condition, he spoke to his identity. See how that work? Transformation emotion begins when I stop agreeing with what I feel and start agreeing with what God says about who I am.

As for you. And then the other source of power that is happening in this transformation is power over self. Thank you for the three mhm. Thank you for the three mhm. The power over self, emotions and self-discipline. Somebody just say amen. Cuz you know what is coming. Cuz you know right now the Holy Spirit about to talk to you about your mouth, about to talk about your money, about to talk about you not getting in the gym when you said you supposed to, you know, you said you was going to, you know, it's top of January, you're like, "Girl, I'mma be in that gym.

I'm about to get my summer body, you know what I'm talking about? I'm about to be in there January forever. I'm about to be there every week." Girl, where you at? But this part right here, these emotions that try to drag us. It's this this discipline of every day in this word.

Talking to the Lord. Seeing what he's saying. Consistently. Let's look at Galatians 5:22 and 23. And I'm reading in the New King James Version. It says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, and goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." You know, we could leave right there.

And as you walk to your car, the Lord will give you a whole download about you. Would he not? From this, I wanted to bring up my boy Joseph. Everybody say, "What's up, Jo Jo?" Let's look at Genesis 50:19-21. I like to look at God, these these these people that existed in the Bible because I like to see who's walking through stuff and how they walk through it.

How about that? So, it says in Genesis 50:19-21. It says, "Joseph said to them, do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God." For am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant He's talking to his brothers. But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

In order to bring it about as as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and he spoke kindly to them. Transformation gives me power over myself. I can respond from my identity, not from what I went through.

His brothers took him through a lot. But even as he he saw them, even when he was in his pre- in their presence, he still spoke out of the resource, check it, the resource of his identity. Your identity is a resource. That just hit my head. That just That literally my identity is a resource.

Amen. Let's look at Joseph. I wanted to look at and kind of as I'm studying it out. Joseph was the son of Jacob and lived long before Jesus came to the earth. He was favored by his father. It's good to know what's happening. And even as you leave out of here, every person that you encounter, you'll start considering that what?

There's a transformation also happening in you, in your mother, in your father, in your sister that don't talk to you. In your children that don't talk to you. In your child that is wayward that won't come home. There is still a transforming power that is happening in them.

We can respect it now, can't we? So, here's what's happening to Joseph, the son of Jacob lived long before Jesus came to the earth. He was favored by his father, which caused jealousy among his brothers. Because of that jealousy, they betrayed him, threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery.

These are his siblings. From there, he was taken to Egypt, falsely accused, and imprisoned cuz I was trying to put all this together like, "You know what?" Joseph experienced years of rejection, injustice, and hardship. However, over time, God elevated him to a position of authority in Egypt. When Joseph finally stood face to face with the same brothers who hurt him, he chose to respond with what?

Forgiveness instead of revenge. Saying, "What you meant for evil, God meant it for good." Huh? Somebody even got to look down at me right in his face, "Oh, what you thought Oh, you thought that was going to work? Watch God turn this around. Watch. Stay right there. Watch what he do with that."

Wat- Watch what he do with this addiction right here. Watch what he do with it. Haha. Wat- Watch what he do with this alcoholism. Stay right Stay right there. Let me Let me show you what he about to do. Transformation gives me power over myself. I am no longer controlled by my past, my pain, my emotions, and I can respond from my identity.

Amen. This is self-discipline produced by identity. I can walk this out day by day because of who God says that I am. Say who God says I am. That's where it's at. Then is the expression of, as you heard me share my whole life, the expression of power.

Your words. And so, what happens now during this transformation is now your tongue is the weapon. Huh? Your tongue is the weapon against the enemy, against situations and trials that try to come for you. And now transformation shows up in what comes out of your mouth. Transformation shows up in what comes out of your mouth because when identity is clear, your words change.

When you know who you are and your identity is your source, right? Your tone changes. Not just because it's the right thing to do, but it's because of who I am. That I'm not curse you out. Because it's who I am that I'mma make sure my tone pleases the Lord.

Because of who I am, I'm going to make sure that my answer is yes and amen. And if I don't know the answer, I'm not going to be like, "I DON'T KNOW." SHOOT. SEE HOW SEE ALL THAT SEE ALL THAT RIGHT THERE? LOOK, THAT WHOLE SITUATION RIGHT there will just cut somebody right there.

But now the transformation is occurring in my mouth and my now my tongue becomes the weapon that the Lord can use. You know what? I don't know, but I'mma find out. Oh, you know what? I apologize. I could have Hey, how can I help you? Now my identity becomes a resource for others by what's coming out of my mouth.

Gee, let's look at 2 Corinthians 10 and verse 4. And I'm reading from the New King James Version. It says, "For the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, for pulling down for pulling down strongholds." That means I can sit in my seat and pull down strongholds.

Just by the words that are coming out of my mouth because my identity is my resource and the word of God is now what? Sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces asunder to the bone and to the marrow. So, that means it's going to get to the get get.

It's going to get down to whatever it need to get down. All I have to do is believe it and say it and then stand 10 toes down as he brings it to pass. Amen. Give God some praise for that right there. Yeah, I'm walking through these scriptures look cuz that's the only thing the way I can survive.

I don't know about you, but I need it. Look at Psalms 45 and verse 1. It says, "My heart is overflowing with a good theme. I recite my composition concerning the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." So, I'm giving my tongue an assignment to reflect and to respond based out of my identity.

You can no longer just make the excuse, "Well, you know what? This just who I am. I'm sorry." You got to throw that in the trash cuz it's trash. This just how I WAS RAISED. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAME FROM. Nobody Listen. You came from a living God.

You were born again and because of the blood of Jesus, all of that was washed away. Your sins have been forgiven, past, present, and future. And so, WHEN YOU STAND IN ALL OF WHAT YOU STAND, you can't use that no more. IT'S NOT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I USED TO GET OUT OF IT doesn't matter who you used to who you used to be.

It's who you are right now. And that's why you move and you express the way that you do. Your tongue now has an assignment to show up and respond just like God. Make sense? Look at Proverbs 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the what? Are in the power of the what?

Are in the power of the what? And those who love it will eat its fruit. Those who love it will eat its fruit. Before transformation, your mouth reacts. After transfer transformation, your mouth responds. That thing come out of you like, "What? What you OH, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T.

OH, I know Did she try Conscious, DID SHE TRY ME? IS SHE" All of that You You know, you got THE WHOLE NOTICE THAT MY BODY FOLLOWS WHAT'S COMING OUT MY MOUTH. Notice what I'm saying? YOU SEE HOW THAT WORK? OH, I KNOW SHE DIDN'T Look at your your All of this, right?

It just GO WITH IT. CUZ I KNOW SHE DIDN'T IT'S ALMOST LIKE A WHAT? HOW SHE GOING TO WHAT? OH, SHE NO, SHE DIDN'T. NO, SHE WHAT? NO, SHE HUH? OH, THAT OH, IT LIKE YOUR WHOLE YOUR WHOLE YOUR YOUR WHOLE NEURAL SCIENCE SYSTEM START GOING HAM. BY WHAT'S COMING OUT YOUR MOUTH.

BUT NOTICE TOO, when I decide to respond, respond not react. And I respond based on my identity, it brings that whole thing down. Because what? It allows the Holy Spirit to not move. In my soul. And then the Holy Spirit is comforting me. Me first. So that whatever comes out of my mouth now becomes the pen of a ready ready writer.

And I realize that the words that's coming out of my mouth are literally writing on the heart of another. When you understand what the transforming power is doing, you can respect it in another. Now we're talking to our husbands. Oh, I know Oh, so So, are you going shopping or are you So So, are you going now or are you I'm just checking because you know, you said you were.

So, I'm Notice my body going again. You see that? You see that? Cuz I was No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, cuz I want TO YOU KNOW, I WANT to operate in grace. I want to give you a little grace. Girl, stop. Throw that in the trash.

Because God is transforming him, too. In the journey that he's in. When you talk to your children, you know, you got to you I know it's hard with these children out here. But you know, you going to have to change this tone that you coming with because it's cutting them like a knife.

Imagine that every time your tone is nasty, you're just stabbing them in the heart. And you chopping them at the knees. How many times I GOT TO SAY WHAT? OKAY, SO WHAT? YOU DON'T HEAR ME NOW? SO YOU DEAF? So you So you So you Okay, so you act like you don't hear what I'm saying to you?

Oh, you don't know? What you think this is? Wait, first of all, first of all, be glad that I let you stay here. You understand what I'm saying? Be glad that you You know, all you got to do is GO TO SCHOOL, EIGHTH GRADER. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?

YOU SUPPOSED TO GET ALL A'S. I don't WANT TO HEAR WHAT? WHAT? OKAY, SAY it again. NO, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. All of that chop. Chop. Shh. Shh. That's what's happening. Get it in your mind of what's happening. Shh. Huh? Cuz there's a transformation that is occurring in them, too.

Let's look at Jesus. Matthew 4:1-4. I want to read this through. It says, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, afterward he was hungry." Now when the tempter came to him, he said, "If you are the Son of God If I'm the Son of God That's a whole 'nother That's a whole That's a different sermon.

We're not even going. And then what did he say? He said, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones become bread." But he answered and said Everybody say, "But he answered and said Notice that his tongue was used. Cuz you know, he could have burnt the enemy up all day long.

He could have had 10,000 angels come up and just be like, "You know what? Get away from me. I'm hungry. Leave me alone. M F angels, come handle this." And it would have happened just like that. He said, "But he answered and said, 'It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" In his most treacherous time, hungry, and I know some of y'all been hungry before.

And I know there've been times that I've been hungry, and I will cut you like It's just me. Nobody Nobody else and nobody else in here. Look what was happening even with Jesus. It It when you get the perspective, right? Not only will you give grace to yourself, but you will then be able to extend grace of others because just like the the identity of Christ is being transformed in you, it is being transformed in others, too.

So here's Jesus in the wilderness. It says, "This moment takes place at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry before he went to the cross, immediately after his baptism." He said, "The Bible says he was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights."

Just want us to see what was going on in his world. After fasting, he was physically weak and hungry, and that is when the enemy came to tempt him. The first thing the enemy attacked was his identity. See how that work? Saying, "If you are the Son of God."

The enemy even used scripture. How about the enemy knows the word? He knows what you know. He knows what you supposed to know. And then HE GOING TO TRY YOU. REMEMBER I talked about that? He wants to try you to see if you believe what you supposed to know.

It says, "He did not respond from his condition." Jesus did not respond from his condition. Jesus did not respond from his condition. Jesus did not respond from his condition. Jesus did not respond from his condition. He responded from his identity and what the Father had said. Cuz here's THE THING, THAT WHOLE SITUATION WAS STILL HAPPENING.

It was still going on. THESE MORTGAGES ARE STILL HAPPENING. They're still going on. The rent is still happening. It's still going on. Amen. But he responded from his identity and what the Father had said. Here's the thing, transformation is expressed through what I speak. When I know who I am, my tongue becomes my weapon, and I respond with truth instead of responding and reacting from pressure.

How many people know when the enemy came to him and he was weak and he was hungry, that was pressure. He could have said a whole lot of things as we do. But he chose to respond from his identity. Here's the thing, the enemy questioned his identity, and Jesus responded with truth.

That is where it's at. When I know who I am, I speak from it. My tongue is no longer just talking. My tongue is now my weapon, and I keep saying that because I want us to be very mindful the next words that you speak what's really going on now.

I do not fight with emotions. Amen. I do not fight with emotions. I fight with what God said. That's how I fight. I fight with what God said. Then we talked about that there was another power in motion, the process. I want you to know how it's happening, what it moving, what it looks like.

So here's what it looks like, the word enters. Your mind is renewed. Your thinking shifts. Your emotions align. Your choices change. Your words change. Your actions follow, and then the fruit appears. See what that that That's the process of what is happening in this transformation that you're coming into who Christ is.

I'mma say it again. Your word The word enters. Your mind is renewed. Your thinking shifts. Your emotions align. Your choices change. The words change. Your actions follow, and fruit appears. The transformation in motion, it moves from the inside out. Everybody say, "Inside out." And there's also transformation in your relationships.

Listen, this one right here. Let's look at Colossians 4:6 as we get ready to wrap this up. Colossians Colossians 4:6, it says, "Let your speech always Everybody say, "Always." Say, "Always." Say it like we a choir. On 3, 1 2 3, "Always." Say it again. "Always." Okay, I'm going to do something.

When I point to you, say, "Always." Ooh, y'all ain't on the praise team. Y'all ain't on this praise team. Amen. But it says, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." You know, that need to be our memory verse for every single day.

Amen. Or No, me. Okay, well, I'mma memorize it. How about that? Let's look at the woman at the well. This was my girl right here. In John 4:28-29, can we look at that quickly? It says, "The woman who left her who The woman then left her water pot and her went her way into the city and said to the men, 'Come see a man who told me all the things that I ever could.

Could this be Christ?'" So she's sitting at the well. The whole situation is Look at her. And and you know, I admire her. I admire the transformation that happened in a supernatural lightning what I call a New York minute. Look at what happened to the woman at the well.

The woman at the well, known as the Samaritan woman, was from Samaria near a town called Sychar. The encounter happened when Jesus went to the cross during his earthly ministry. At that time, there was strong division between Jews and Samaritans, and me and men typically did not publicly engage women in this way.

So here you got Jesus going against all rules, all regulations, all situations. He's sitting there talking to a woman, and she is talking back. She came to the well at noon, likely to avoid others. Check what's going on in her world. She came to the well at noon, likely to avoid others due to shame and her past.

That was going on in her world. Jesus met her there, spoke directly to her life, and revealed himself as the Messiah. He will show up into your situation and reveal himself to you as who he is. Take that to the bank. In one encounter, say one. In one encounter, she went from hiding and isolation to boldly telling others, "Come see a man."

Come see this man. SHE WASN'T THINKING ABOUT HERSELF. SHE WASN'T THINKING ABOUT HER WHAT WHAT WHAT HAPPENED to her in her 5 seconds ago, 5 minutes ago. SHE KNEW HER PAST, EVERYBODY ELSE KNEW HER PAST, but because of the ENCOUNTER OF JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE OF THE ENCOUNTER OF YOU, SHE SAID, "COME COME SEE THIS MAN RIGHT HERE."

HUH? SO, THE TRANSFORMATION changes how I show up, Alyssa. I move from hiding to representing Christ when my identity shows up. I move from hiding from my past. Well, you know, they're not going to listen to me cuz everybody know everybody seen that picture. Everybody seen that Everybody know My family know what I used to do.

Now, she said, "Come see a man." Yeah, you forget about You know what? Here's Here's the thing. You got to let other folk worry about what your past is. Let them figure out how they going to say good morning back to you. Let them figure out when you say, "Hey, I love you."

Let them figure out how they going to say say about I I love you, too. >> [laughter] >> That's not your job. Right? So, here's the thing. In John 4:28, transformation changes how I show up with people. I hope you're catching these different processes and how the power of the transformation happens as we are walking our way into and up through and for.

And the last is proof of the power, which is the fruit. Galatians 5:22 and 23, it says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is what? Love, joy, peace." Say it with me. Joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. The fruit that you show up in is the proof that the transformation is real.

That's how you know it's real. That's how you know it's changing. WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID TO YOU, HOW I COULD HAVE SAID IT TO YOU, I'M JUST LIKE, "It's okay. Take mine. You'll be all right. Don't worry about it. We good. I'm good. It's okay. Fruit is the proof.

Listen, transformation is not about trying harder, it's about living from who I already am. My significance has already been settled by the blood of Jesus. I am not working toward my identity. I am living what? From it. And because of that, what you used to control me no longer controls me anymore.

What used to define me no longer defines me. I am transforming to be I'm not transforming to become valuable. I am transforming because what? I already Amen. Stand to your feet and give God some PRAISE FOR THAT. >> ((applause)) >> REAL TIME, REAL SITUATION. JUST LIFT your hands all over the building.

Father God, we just thank you so much for this moment even of intentionality of transforming our thinking, oh God. Thank you, oh God, for the processes that you have given us. Thank you, oh God, for the power of the blood of Jesus that is the source of this transformation.

Thank you, oh God, for the power that is in motion, how we go from transformation and how it actually is working and moving. Thank you, oh God, that we have power over ourselves because of your Holy Spirit. Thank you, oh God, for the expression of our power because our words are now the words of a person who understands that they are showing up and speaking just like Christ and the proof is in the power, Lord, that we would operate in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, and self-control in Jesus' name.

If you agree, say amen. COME ON, SAY AMEN. Give God some praise. You can be seated for a second. LISTEN, I'M SUPER EXCITED AND I PRAY THAT YOU GOT SOMETHING TODAY. AMEN. It's a wonderful time right now to be able to give out of who we are. And you can raise your hand if you'd like an offering envelope or you see the ways on the screen that there are to give.

You can text, you can mail in anything that you would like to give because we are people who are just like Christ. We are givers. We are givers. Father, thank you for the seed that we are about to sow. We thank you, Lord, that we give based on who we are in you, oh God.

We are generous because you are generous. We are givers because you are a giver. We give you praise in advance for that in Jesus' name. Amen. And on your way out, you can give, but listen, we want to make sure that even before you leave, that you have the opportunity for your soul to be transformed.

If you've never said, "Jesus, come into my life." and if you're seated in your room or if you're at the job and you're listening to my voice and you've never said, "Jesus, come into my heart. I want you to be my Lord and Savior. I want you to repeat this after me.

God, I know that you died on the cross for me. I believe that I'm a sinner, but I confess that I repent. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. I believe that your blood was shed and that my sins are now forgiven, past, present, and future.

I receive you as my Lord and my savior in Jesus' name. Amen. Give God praise for those who said that for the first time. >> ((applause)) >> That's a big deal. That is a big deal. And if you said that for the first time, we'd like for you to go ahead and text the word I'm saved, one word, I am s a v e d, so that we can go ahead and make sure that we give you the opportunity to know how to walk in this new identity.

It's like buying a new coat. You got to know how to put it on. You got to know how to style it. You got to know what to put with it. Amen. You got to know whether you put a hat with it or a scarf with it. And so, that's the whole thing.

Once you say, "I receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior." now you got to know how to walk in that thing. And so, we want the opportunity to do that with ((music playing)) you. If you've said that again, text I'm saved to 51555 for a free gift that we can share share with you.

((music playing)) Amen. Y'all good? Stand to your feet, let's go. Father, thank you so much for this opportunity. We give you praise in advance for the day that we are walking in the transformation of who you've called us to be in your identity in Jesus' name. Amen. You are dismissed.

God bless. Something happens when you step out of ((music playing)) the noise. When you give yourself permission to breathe again. To feel joy without pressure, without performance. This is where the awakening continues. Not forced, not loud, just real. Join us. >> ((music playing)) >> It's time to awaken. You don't have to stay where you've been.

Come be refreshed. Come be restored. Come experience what happens when you make room for joy, peace, and something real. It's time ((music playing)) to awaken. Join us Saturday, April 25th for an outing that is exactly what you need ((music playing)) and don't want to miss. >> ((music playing)) >> I'm a world changer. >> ((music playing)) >> Changing the world everywhere I go.

You know I'm a world changer. >> ((music playing)) >> Anointed with the power of the Holy Ghost. I'm a world changer. Telling the world of God's saving grace. ((music playing)) You know I'm a world changer. And we're making a mark that can't ((music playing)) be erased. I'm a world changer. I'm a world changer.

You know I'm a world changer. I'm a world I'm a world I'm a world changer.