BELIEVING RIGHT

Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Today, I don’t need to depend on my wisdom—I need Jesus because His wisdom is enough for both of us. Who is the wisest man in the Bible? It’s King Solomon

August 5, 2024

1 Corinthians 1:30 – “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”

Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Today, I don’t need to depend on my wisdom—I need Jesus because His wisdom is enough for both of us. Who is the wisest man in the Bible? It’s King Solomon. Because of his knowledge, he had riches, honor, fame—everything you could imagine. But at the end of his life, as he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, he reflected on this wisdom. Let’s read Ecclesiastes 1:16-18. Starting with verse 16, Solomon says:

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 – “I said in my heart, ‘I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.’”

“And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after the wind.”

Solomon spent his entire life pursuing knowledge and wisdom, and because of that, he gained everything he had. But look at what he says next in verse 18:

Ecclesiastes 1:18 – “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

Let me put that in simpler terms: “vexation” here means frustration or depression. So what Solomon is saying is that with more wisdom comes more frustration, and the more knowledge you gain, the more sorrow you carry. Solomon didn’t end his life as a happy man. His wisdom and knowledge became a heavy burden.

In Ecclesiastes, he describes everything as “vanity”—meaningless, like chasing after the wind. This is coming from a man who had all the wisdom the world could offer.But when Jesus came, He said, “One greater than Solomon is here.” You don’t need to rely on Solomon’s wisdom, because the wisdom of Jesus is greater. The wisdom of this world can only lead to frustration or depression, but the wisdom of Jesus sets you free from that. Solomon said, “With more knowledge comes more sorrow,” but when you know Jesus, grace and peace are multiplied in your life.Peter says it like this in,

2 Peter 1:2 – “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ.”

So the wisdom we are talking about is not the wisdom of the world. It is a superior wisdom. This wisdom doesn’t depend on your capacity; it depends on the capacity of Jesus. Think of it this way: if I’m taking an exam and I’m cheating, it doesn’t matter how much I know; what matters is what the other person knows because I’m just copying. Let me give you a better example. When you use a calculator, it doesn’t matter how fast you can calculate; as long as you use the calculator, you just input the numbers and it gives you the result. Similarly, it doesn’t matter what your background is or your brain’s capacity. What matters is that you have Jesus. As long as you learn to depend on Him, you can operate on a whole other level.

That’s why Paul writes in the same book that you were chosen to shame the wise and the strong. He says, “I rejoice in being a fool for Christ because God uses the foolish to shame the wise.” People of the world study and work hard, and somehow they make it through, but they see someone who seems to be moving forward with God’s favor. They wonder, “How does that happen?” I’m not teaching you something that will make you lazy or provide a magic formula. I’m telling you that when you depend on Jesus, He becomes a superior wisdom for you. I’m not asking you to skip college or school, but while you are in school or college, you can be set apart because you operate from a superior wisdom where Jesus is your wisdom. Operate from a superior wisdom. Let me show you something.

Ephesians 3:10 – “So that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Many of you know the church is not just a building; the church is us. Through you, God has a purpose. What is that purpose? The manifold wisdom of God. Manifold means the multidimensional wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is multidimensional. It has so many different aspects to it. It’s so deep, broad, high, intense, and complex. But God is establishing the church so that His wisdom will be revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Notice it says “rulers and authorities” not in earthly places, but in heavenly places. Every ruler and authority in the heavenly places exerts influence on the earth through their earthly representatives.

So when we win battles in the heavenly realm and overcome these spiritual forces, we’re actually conquering things on earth. That’s why Paul says, “We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces.” You need to understand that your wife is not fighting you, your husband is not fighting you, and the people around you are not fighting you. There are spiritual forces behind these conflicts within your family and within yourself. We are fighting an invisible spiritual battle at all times. The moment you said yes to Jesus, you were transported from darkness into light. Do you know that even now, darkness is fighting light in this room? When I turn off the light, darkness immediately fills the space. As long as there is light, darkness is always trying to push back. When you were in darkness, you faced limited challenges. But the moment you step into the light, your challenges can seem to multiply. Why? Because by saying yes to Jesus, you attract the attention of darkness. The solution is not to retreat into darkness. The solution is to amplify the light even more. Move from one level of glory to another. God is establishing the church to reveal His plan, His secrets, and His wisdom through the church to these spiritual forces out there.

Do you know that the devil does not know what God is going to do? However, he is closely observing you because God is revealing His secrets and plans to you. By tracking the progress of the church, the devil gains insight into what the Lord is about to do. You are on this earth to teach the spiritual forces about the wisdom of God. The gospel of Jesus does not just carry the power of God; it also carries the wisdom of God. You have access to the multidimensional wisdom of God to solve every problem on earth. You possess the wisdom needed to eradicate poverty, hunger, shame, and all kinds of issues that exist. God wants to release His wisdom through you.

Look at the technological advancements we’ve achieved since Jesus. The credit for this progress does not belong to human wisdom alone but to the power of the gospel. Wherever the gospel has been preached, it has transformed nations. Take India, for example. If the gospel had not reached India, we might still be practicing outdated systems. The prosperity of a nation often comes from the influence of the gospel. However, we tend to forget this and start attributing progress to ourselves. This is where decline begins.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – “Christ has become for us wisdom.”

Isn’t that amazing? Christ has become our wisdom. So, instead of relying solely on your own understanding, think through Jesus. Let His wisdom guide you. It will radically change your life. Before making decisions, let Jesus be the lens through which you view things. Yes, your mind may say, “This is what I should do; logically, this makes sense.” But always ask, “Jesus, what do You think?” If you receive a negative report from the hospital and expert advice suggests one path, ask, “Jesus, what do You say about this report?” 

1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to those who are being saved.”

The message of the cross is not just about delivering you from sin; it’s about delivering you from everything and anything, and it applies to every aspect of your life. The problem is that we often make the gospel so spiritual that it seems disconnected from our daily lives. But that’s not the case. Don’t be so spiritual that the message has no earthly relevance. Your spiritual knowledge should be practical and applicable to everything you do on earth.The message of the cross can be applied to every domain of your life because it carries wisdom. Whether it’s finances, emotions, health, relationships, or family, the message of the cross has something to say. There is no aspect of life where the message of the cross does not provide an answer. The message of the cross addresses every problem you face. One powerful answer it gives is, “It is finished.” Your sickness is over, your addictions are over, your lack is over. Whatever you are fighting is over. The message of the cross affirms “Yes and Amen” to every promise of God available in the Bible. 

When the world tells you that marriage is tough and encourages you to enjoy singlehood for as long as possible, the message of the cross still applies to marriage. When it comes to sex, the message of the cross has something to say. The message of the cross includes the power of resurrection. It declares, “It is finished.” Your sins are forgiven, your sickness is healed, and your poverty is over. Everything that seems dead in your life will come back to life because you have not been forgotten. God has great plans for you.

The message of the cross is incomplete without the resurrection. Crucifixion is only part of the message of the cross; the other part is resurrection.Just as you believe that your sins, your sickness, and all your iniquities have been dealt with on the cross, you must also believe in the righteousness and resurrection that comes through Christ. The Spirit of God has come upon you, and you have become a new creation. You are an ambassador for Christ. Oh my goodness, you are loved by God! You are not born of this world; you are born from a superior realm. When Jesus said you must be born again to see the kingdom, “born again” also means born from above. You are born from above; you are a heavenly being. You are not created out of Adam; you are created out of Christ.

1 Peter 1:23 – since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

It says we are born of God’s word. Therefore, you need to stop identifying yourself as a sinner. If you continue to call yourself a sinner after accepting Jesus, you are actually blaspheming against the blood of Jesus. When Paul wrote letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, or Galatians, he didn’t address them as sinners. He said, “To the saints.” You were a sinner, yes, but today you have been made righteous. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 – “Christ has become for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”

There are two kinds of righteousness: your own righteousness and the righteousness of God. Your righteousness consists of the good things you do, which can lead to self-righteousness. But the Bible says that self-righteousness is like filthy rags. In ancient times, women used rags during their menstrual cycles to protect and clean themselves. The Bible refers to your self-righteousness as being like those filthy rags. Your righteousness in Christ is what matters. It’s not about what you can do on your own but what Christ has done for you. So when you put your confidence in your prayers, your good deeds, your tithing, or your offerings, it’s not that you shouldn’t do these things, but if you place your confidence in what you are doing, that self-righteousness is like filthy rags. However, when you place your confidence in Jesus, righteousness is credited to your account. Righteousness is not something you attain; it is something you receive. It’s not earned; it is given.

Romans 5:17 – “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

The good news is that righteousness is free. God’s righteousness is a gift. When Jesus becomes your righteousness, you become God’s righteousness. Think about this: when Jesus becomes your righteousness, you become God’s righteousness. That’s a divine exchange. He takes your sin and gives you His righteousness.

That’s why, even when you’re struggling with sin, you have every right to proclaim the word of God that says, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” You might feel like a hypocrite, but if your name is Jeremy and God calls you David, you should believe that your name is David. It’s not leaning on our own understanding or wisdom.

When you depend on Jesus for your righteousness, it’s not hypocritical; you are declaring God’s word. You may be falling short or struggling with sin, but confessing “I am the righteousness of God” is declaring the truth of God’s word. Christ has become my righteousness. That’s why you can confidently say, “I am the righteousness of God.” Unless you confess this, you will only address the symptoms of the problem and never get to the root. Righteousness is our identity. It is who we are. In today’s world, the concept of identity is often confused. We hear about people trapped in bodies that don’t match their gender identity, which can be perplexing. However, the word of God says that once you have been identified as a male or a female, that identity is established.

Similarly, once you have been identified as a sinner, you are a sinner. No matter how much good you do, you will never become righteous. If a sinner performs a good deed, will he be called righteous? No. If a woman wears men’s clothes, will she become a man? Similarly, if a sinner does good things, he will still not become righteous. He will remain a sinner because his identity is that of a sinner. On the other hand, if a righteous person does something wrong, he is still righteous because his identity is righteous. You should read the Book of Job. The devil comes to God, and God says,

 Job 1:8 –  “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 

The devil responds,

 Job 1:9 – “Does Job fear God for nothing?” 

He suggests that Job is only faithful because of the protection and blessings God has given him. So, God permits the devil to test Job, but he must not take Job’s life. In the first cycle of oppression, Job loses his children, his property, and everything he owns. Yet,

Job 1:22 –  “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

Despite his immense suffering, Job worships the Lord. When the devil meets God again, he argues that Job’s faithfulness is due to his untested health. So, God allows further testing, permitting Job to be afflicted with painful sores:

Job 2:7 –  “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.” 

You might expect Job to continue worshiping despite his new afflictions, as he did previously. However, his response changes. Instead of worshiping, he complains and laments his condition. You should read the 40 chapters for more details. It is quite distressing; Job is not worshiping but complaining, which seems inconsistent with his previous righteous attitude.

Well, you know, what’s the beauty I want to show you is in Job chapter 42. So, when Job was lamenting throughout his trials, three of his friends came to visit him. They tried to comfort Job with their wisdom, but nothing seemed to work out. Finally, God Himself has a conversation with Job, as recorded in.

 Job 42:7 –  “After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.’’

Wait a minute—God is angry with Job’s friends! This is significant because it shows that despite Job’s complaints and doubts, his friends had misrepresented God’s character. God acknowledges Job’s faithfulness despite his struggles, and He is displeased with the friends who failed to speak correctly about Him. But if you read the passage, you’ll see that Job is complaining even more than his friends. Yet, God is angry with Job’s friends. 

Job 42:7-8 – “After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.’’

Even though Job was complaining, God acknowledged that Job had spoken rightly about Him. God instructs the friends to offer a burnt offering and to seek Job’s prayer because Job’s faithfulness and righteousness are recognized despite his complaints.

When God confronts Job, Job acknowledges and repents. Yet, God says: “You have not behaved as Job has. That’s why you need to go to him for prayers.” Even though Job had complained, God still considered him righteous. When God has released a word over someone’s life, that word cannot be negated by their temporary struggles or complaints. God called Job righteous from the beginning of the book, and despite his actions, God still sees him as righteous.

Just like when a baby poops, you don’t discard them—they remain part of the household. Similarly, even if you struggle in some areas, it doesn’t negate the righteousness that God has declared over you. You are still righteous in God’s eyes. Just like a man who is smoking a cigarette is still a man, his identity doesn’t change. Similarly, your identity in Christ remains constant, even if you struggle with sin. Until you believe and accept what God’s identity is for you, you cannot walk in the fullness of His identity.

So, when a man is behaving in a way contrary to his identity, he needs to be affirmed in his true identity—not as something else, but as who he truly is. That’s what God is affirming to you again and again. Even when you don’t behave like a righteous person, God is affirming that you have been made righteous. You have been declared righteous by the blood of Jesus. You are righteous.

Righteousness means having the same nature and life of God. When you receive Jesus, you are given the same nature and life of God. If anyone tells you that as long as you’re on earth, you will always struggle with sin, cut every connection from that person. That’s from the devil.Bible says:

1 John 5:18 – “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

It does not say “He will not sin” or “probably sin”; it says it is an impossibility for someone born of God to continue sinning.

You may still struggle with sin because you haven’t fully embraced your identity. You may know it intellectually, but it hasn’t penetrated deep within. When someone identifies as something they’re not, they need to be reaffirmed in their true identity. You must believe it—how? By hearing the Word again and again. Faith comes by hearing. Hear it repeatedly: “I am the righteousness of God.” Even when you are stuck in the pit of sin, keep confessing that you are the righteousness of God. That confession will lift you up, empower you, and make you an overcomer.

The Bible says: 

1 John 5:4: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 

So, your identity is that of an overcomer, but the power to overcome is through your faith. How does faith come? By hearing. And how is faith exercised?. If you don’t hear God’s Word, you won’t have faith. If you don’t release God’s Word, you aren’t releasing faith. Amen.

You need to believe: “I am the righteousness of God.” Your righteousness is not your own; it is Jesus’s. You have not been made righteous because of your obedience but because of the obedience of Jesus. So, when you’re stuck in sin, but you confess that you are the righteousness of God, you’re not being hypocritical; you are crucifying your flesh.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When you want to operate as the righteousness of God, you need to put your faith in Jesus. If you put faith in your own faith, it won’t work. When you’re stuck in sin and try to pray by putting your faith in your own faith, the issue is not with the prayer itself but with the root of that prayer. If you put faith in yourself, it won’t work. Most of our prayers go unanswered because they are prayers of the flesh. When we put faith in our ability to pray, we are putting faith in our flesh.

You can be stuck in sin, make two hours of prayer from the flesh, and nothing may change. But if you say one word, “Help me, Jesus,” that one word can deliver you. So don’t put faith in your faith. Put faith in Jesus. When Jesus becomes the object of your faith, you can operate in your identity. This is not my righteousness; this is the righteousness of Jesus. I have the righteousness of Jesus. Since 2012, the day I knew this gospel truth, I tell myself, I have not backslid. I am a saint made righteous. Yes, I fell, but.

Proverbs 24:16 – “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”

I don’t put my confidence in myself or in my ability to pray; I put it in what Jesus has already done. I am here because of what Jesus has already done. Your many prayers will not make you more lovable in the sight of God. You’re not going to earn brownie points. I’m not saying you shouldn’t pray or read the Word, but that’s not the intention. You should know that you are loved by the Father even when you were His enemy, even when you were a sinner.

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I do pray for long hours, but not to become righteous. I pray because I am righteous, and a righteous man prays. I don’t read the Word to become righteous; I read the Word because I am righteous, and a righteous man feeds on God’s Word. 

Psalm 1:2-3 – “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

That’s why you need to put the horse before the cart. If you put the cart before the horse, the cart will not go. My horse is Jesus. And righteousness will follow my faith in Jesus. Regardless of your spiritual history, you can start fresh today because your righteousness is Jesus, and your faith is in Jesus.

Psalm 103:1-2 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” 

Psalm 103:3 – “Who forgives all your iniquities.”

He forgives all. How many? All your past iniquities are forgiven. Yes. Your present iniquities are forgiven. Yes. Your future iniquities are forgiven. Yes. You have to live life like you are forgiven because that is the absolute truth that does not change. Live free. Live free. No guilt, no shame, no condemnation. 

In front of the Father, you should not have these things because righteousness gives you the ability to stand right in front of God. Just as you imagine Jesus standing in front of God, you can stand in front of God the same way—with confidence, without any fear. Not looking down, but looking Him in the eyes. 

Exodus 33:20 – “But,” God told Moses, “you cannot see my face.” 

But through Jesus, we see and behold the glory of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18 -: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

You have to understand something: what the Old Testament people did not have, you have. That’s why they did not receive everything they were believing for. It says they died in faith so that their faith would be completed through you, because what they were believing for, God completed in you. 

Hebrews 11:40 – “Since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

They believed for a life without struggle, where the Spirit of the Lord came and went. But now, the Spirit of God has come to reside in you—

Colossians 1:27 – Christ in you, the hope of glory.

You know, the Old Testament sayings are probably talking about you. 

Matthew 11:11 –  “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

The least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist. Think about this: Abraham, David, Joshua, Moses—whom you admire, John the Baptist ranks the highest. But the one who is least in the kingdom, even the youngest one right now here in this room, like a two-year-old, is greater than John the Baptist.

John 8:56 – “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

You have a cloud of witnesses that is cheering for you because what they believed they could not receive, but you have the promise. 

Galatians 3:13 – “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” 

The promise of the Holy Spirit is for you.But the problem is when we take all these spiritual truths and we are like, Why do we do it? Because we don’t know what we have.

Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” 

When are we going to stop being carnal?

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

We don’t get enough likes on Instagram and our identity is shaken. “I’m so depressed; I don’t have friends.” You are a spiritual being. You are a heavenly being. You are born from above. You don’t have the permission to behave like an earthly being.

Ephesians 4:1 – “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

Have you been made righteous? How? By putting faith in Jesus. Now, walk as a righteous person. A person who falls into sin and is delivered by God does not stay in sin. The problem is not falling into sin; the problem is living in sin. If you are comfortable with it, then you need to understand—you have been delivered from sin. So walk as a righteous person.

Pastor Sam, the reason why I want to live here is because every time I step out and start walking, I fall. Think of a baby trying to walk. How many times does a baby fall? Is there a limit that a parent has? “Okay, you know what? It’s enough. Don’t walk now. Just crawl all your life.” No! A parent believes in the baby and encourages it to keep trying. Similarly, don’t stop trying just because you fall. Even if you stumble, keep moving forward. A man went to the office crawling because his parents stopped believing in him when he fell down as a child.

See, even if you stop believing in God, God cannot stop believing in what He has done in you. You know, I heard this word which says, “I was saved when I believed in God, but I was transformed when God believed in me.” Hallelujah. So you put faith in Jesus and become the righteousness of God. A righteous person is royalty. Walk as a son of God. Walk as God’s representative on the earth, as an ambassador of God. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah.

Now, when an ambassador is sent to another country, he might make a mistake. Even if he makes a mistake, the country will just call him back, but the country will not kill him. You see the difference? The country will call him back and probably send him to another country as punishment, but the country will not kill him. So, as an ambassador of Christ, can you make mistakes? It can happen, but your Father will correct you, but He will not kill you. Worst comes to worst, He’ll call you home. But you have to understand that He will not let you perish. Amen? He will not let you perish, not let you perish. “No one can snatch you away from My hands.” Hallelujah. Amen. No one can snatch you from My hands. There is no devil, Lucifer, or demon—name it. There’s nothing out there that can touch you, that can snatch you away from the hands of Jesus. Amen. So put your faith in Jesus.

Walk in your identity. What’s your identity? Let’s come back to that word.
1 Corinthians 1:30 says this is your identity:

1 Corinthians 1:30 –  Jesus has become for you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 

I’ll take all these four points very quickly, 

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in Your truth; Your word is truth.”

So how are you sanctified? By God’s word, so you can live a set-apart life. Jesus has set you apart through God’s word so that you can live that life of being set apart.

 

Ephesians 1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

So anything that you’ve lost in your life, I’m telling you, everything is redeemable by the blood of Jesus. You have to believe in the blood of Jesus to be redeemed completely. So any area of your life where you still find that old pattern, that old nature, I’m telling you, that is not your identity. That’s not who you are. You need to believe in the blood of Jesus to be completely redeemed. The blood of Jesus can redeem you from the love of money. The blood of Jesus can redeem you from the fear of your future. You have to live a life of redemption, fully free. Free from the fear of death. Nothing can hold us down. As your righteous identity, walk in wisdom, walk set apart, and walk in complete redemption. Never give up. Never. If the devil comes to steal anything in your life, never give up because the redemption of God will restore all things. My friends, this is the gospel. Yes, it is the good news of Jesus. Jesus came to give us good news. Turn to one another and say, “The gospel is the good news.” Did it make you happy? It should make you happy because good news makes us happy. You’re not a sinner. You are righteous. Now, next time somebody calls you, tell them, “I am Saint Samuel.” Why? Because you’ve been made a saint. How? By the blood of Jesus.Put your confidence in Jesus. I’m telling you today you’re excited, but tomorrow when the devil comes to you bringing your report card, tell him it’s washed by the blood of Jesus.

This generation faces attacks from the devil through their emotions. He’ll give you jealousy, depression, anxiety, and more. The problem is that we often take these emotions as part of our identity. You should never say, “I am jealous.” Instead, say, “I am feeling jealousy.” They are two different things. Emotions don’t get to define who you are; they are just feelings.

So when emotions come to you and you feel jealous, acknowledge, “I feel jealous,” but remember, “I don’t have to be jealous.” Why? Because you have a loving Father. The problem arises when you take that feeling and make it part of your identity. Instead of simply feeling, you become, “I am jealous.” That is when the problem happens.

I’m telling you, if you spend a lot of time in prayer, you might find people stop praying because they can’t handle the emotional outbursts that happen. God is dealing with your trauma and the things that have been suppressed within you. You might experience anger or other strong emotions after prayer. My wife tells me that when I’m in prayer, she notices a change in my mood, often because what has been suppressed is coming out. Let it come out. Don’t let it define who you are.

In the morning when you go to the washroom, you let things come out and then flush them. Just proceed with your day. Similarly, when those emotions come up, let them out and be washed by the blood of Jesus. Declare, “I am righteous by the blood of Jesus.” Only when these suppressed things are released can you truly move to the next level of God’s glory.

So prayer will actually bring all of these suppressed things up. For example, how many times when you pray do you remember all the things you need to do? “I need to call that person, oh man, I forgot. I need to go there. I need to buy a gift for that person. Oh, that person’s wedding is coming.” All of these things that are suppressed within you come out. But the trick is to stay in prayer. Address each thing as it comes up and present it to the Father. Don’t say, “I am jealous.” Instead, say, “I am feeling jealous.” Similarly, don’t say, “I am addicted.” Instead, say, “I am feeling the addiction.” These are two different things.

Never identify yourself with sin, sickness, or pain. Always remember that you are the righteousness of God. Nothing ever changes that. These are things you experience, not who you are. I’m telling you a true story: Yesterday, I was praying and had an amazing time in the presence of God. Suddenly, I felt something happening that I couldn’t deal with. I asked, “God, why Lord? Why am I feeling this?” Then I realized, this is just a feeling. Why am I taking responsibility for it? What I don’t like, I discard.

You are not a sad person; you feel sadness. You are not depressed; you feel depressed. Don’t take ownership of these feelings. If I gave you a snake as a gift, how many of you would accept it? Except my wife, I hardly know anyone who would. What you wouldn’t receive, you’d discard. So when you feel these emotions, address them and discard them. Nevertheless, it does not change your identity. Amen.

About the author

Samuel Thomas

Samuel is a second-generation pastor with a rich heritage in the Holy Spirit. He has been the pastor of Lighthouse Church since 2017 with a two-word mission statement: transforming lives. Samuel's priority in life has been to know Christ and to grow deeper in His love.

Recent Sermons