The Oaks

Overcome - How Your Identity is Revealed

September 23, 2019 Josh Hallmark
The Oaks
Overcome - How Your Identity is Revealed
Show Notes Transcript

We are destined to overcome in life and Jesus makes specific promises to those who do. God wants us to overcome in life's challenges without losing the sense of who we are. He also wants to show us who we are and does so as we overcome life's obstacles. 

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I'm Josh Hallmark, and I want to thank you for listening to one of the oaks podcasts. Remember this message from Isaiah? Chapter 61 God takes the seeds of Brokenness and turns them in tow Oaks of righteousness. And that's you. Hey, man. All right, So I asked the band to come up. I'm going to get them to just start playing a little bit, and we're gonna see what happens. We're gonna do something different this morning. Okay, So, um, here's the deal. I feel like the Lord wants to minister to our people this morning, so I want you get ready. Okay. So last week, here's what we talked about a little bit. We talked about my maintain, you know, we've been talking about Joseph and him, keeping a sense of who he was and discovering who he was in this whole process of the pit and part of his house and all this and and I want I want to go there a little more today, and you guys might remember maintaining your identity in the process of promotion. That's what I talked about two weeks ago. And then I was like, well, maintaining and discovering cause sometimes when you're going through the stuff, you really that's where you're discovering part of who you are, like sometimes I come into contact with with things that are really that are opposed to my value system, like bitterness or complaining or things like that. When I experienced that or, you know, not to longer there was somebody apparent that was really dog and another kid, and, uh, I didn't like it. It made me mad. And I did have some influence in that situation, and I'm Hey, I would make sure that doesn't happen again. And to someone else, you know, that was in authority. And anyway, long story short. Sometimes when you're exposed to something that's not good, it actually helps you know who you are. The reason that I did not. So this is the benefit of me saying, I don't like that and it took me a little water thing. Why don't I like that? Because one of our core values as a church and schools to believe in people right? It's to call people out to see the gold, not just see the dirt that whole thing will see. Sometimes the things we go through that air bad actually helped clarify who we are. So we discover our identity and we want to maintain our identity in the midst of the test. And I got told you guys, one of my alternate titles Toe last week was maintaining and discovering your identity in the tests that come before promotion. Just thinking that ultimately God is preparing us the promoters A man. Well, today I want to talk about this in a and basically this is part two of that thought. OK? And band? Yes, we're ready. Let's get on it. Let's start party. Look at that. I was instant. Here's what I want you guys to do for me. Could I get you to do something this morning? Could you spread out a little bit? I'm gonna be giving a sermon. Okay, but this is an interactive sermon. Okay? What does that mean? As I'm talking, this is what I believe in the Holy Spirit to do. I'm believing the Holy Spirit that help you bump into things that the enemy is trying to say about you and you say no. No, no. And then bump into things that the Lord is saying about you affirming? Oh, yeah, that's That's me. That's who I am. Here's the title of my talk is Overcome Way Just pray together real quick, Holy spirit, we have buying, you hear way Pray this morning gone that you would give us a prophetic revelation of who we are more than you'd remind us of who we are in the midst of our trials, in the midst of testing in the midst of resistance way Pray, Father, that you would show us you would show us I'm trying to remember it was one of the profits. I think it was a laja who he needed a word from the Lord. And so he called for witht ish ins. There's something about music opens our heart to revelation in the supernatural. I don't know why, but, uh um was that was that a larger Does anybody that hey, bring me and bring me a guitar player? Heart player? I can remember. I think that's who it waas anyway, There was a king was enquiring of the Lord Let's get but let's get the musicians. Let's see what happens. So as a verse I'm gonna read and where Jesus said in this life. You have tribulation. There's things that we are fighting against, things that are opposing us. They're things that are not like Jesus wants them to be. And we're called overcome in the midst of this thing. We're talking about our identity, and we're called overcome in the miss of things that are opposing us. So there's a space if you guys look right here. There's a space between this rock in this rock that we're trying to get to, and it's like God has called us from glory to glory, right? He's trying to do this from Potter's house, to the palace or from prison to the Powers. But it's not always just a jump of faith. Let's bring the drum part down just a little. Their purpose. Here's the problem. It's not just us jumping from one place to another, but sometimes there's like barriers in the way that you know, I'm saying it's not just that, but there's like a resistance where we're trying to go. You know, I'm saying anybody ever feel like that. Sometimes there's more. It's like there's crocodiles, too, just like everything is opposing us. And I guess I just want us to understand. We've been talking about this. I thought this vein We've been in first and know that there are things that come to test our faith. There are things that come to oppose us. It might be the sheer distance that we're trying to cross the, you know, the enormity of what God called us to do. It's a big jump, but then there's also barriers that the enemy wants to put up. You guys remember when Daniel prayed and Michael the Archangel said I came as soon as I heard Daniel Pray Daniel said I was opposed by the Prince of Persia. This was a demonic entity, as we understand that their spirit beings that are in opposition to what God is trying to do, and sometimes the enemy tries to put up barriers to us. But just because we're opposed are we called? Are we call this stuff, get what were called it recalled, overcome. We're called toe overcome now has anybody you know who this is? This is the Black Knight something you guys may not know who this is, but when I was a kid is this movie called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You guys know this. This is you know, okay. And thats King is trying to cross the bridge, right? Trying to get the other side, but just for the pennant. So where this is a role A role reversal for a second black night? Hey is a stands and further bridge and he says you may not pass. So he is. He is defending his ground. He's defending what he's supposed to defend kings like let me buy. And he's like, No. So fight ensues, right when you say fight So this is you are the black knight, by the way. And so we're being, you know, the enemy says he wants to come on our land and we're like, No, and there's a battle that we go through and Black night. Here's what happens to he gets his arm cut off, right? And the next thing that happens is that he gets his other arm cut off. He's valiant. He's like, What do you say? That's just barely a scratch. The other one was a flesh wound, right? And then he gets his leg cut off. Actually thought about show when you guys video, but it's a little gross. Uh, This is a comedy, by the way. It's like a slapstick kind of deal, but hairs up getting all four limbs. What do you say at the end, when it's four letters that I paid to draw, this guy had heart right? And some of you guys, you guys have the same kind of heart. You guys say I will not quit. I will not quit. I think that's in the heart of the people in our church is that I won't quit no matter what happens. But I feel like what the Lord lost to do in us today. He wants us to not just not quit, but he doesn't want you to lose who you are in the midst of the battle. He wants you to survive with your limbs. Now there are things that he does want to get cut off in the midst of the battle. There's bad habits. There's bad beliefs there. There are bad things that need to be dealt with. But God doesn't want you to get to the other side and not have any limbs, right? And so what I want to talk to you about, or just a few things points of your identity, if you will, that God wants you to maintain and have, as you go through the process of testing and through the park process of being opposed and having a leap across large rocks and having to go through barriers and having crocodiles try to snap in your feet in the midst of all of. And here's one thing I want to stay here. I want to share verse with you. First of all, this is Revelation 2 17 and this is what it says. He who has an ear touch. You here for me? Hey, do you have in here? Okay. That's really not what Jesus meant. He meant he that has ears to hear. He has the ability to hear what I'm saying. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Are you one of those? Right? He was speaking to the seven churches in Asia, but he says let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him. Who to? Him. Who to? Him? Who to him. Who? Okay, so let me just share this with you. This is in Revelation. Chapter two, Revelation Chapter 23 and maybe four he goes through each of the seven churches and he begins with this statement to him who overcomes that is the obstacle to him who is able to get through this. Tell your neighbor I'm going through this to him. It overcomes. There's a promise. So God says, When you overcome, there's something I'm going to give you. Recently I was journaling and I wrote everything in here. One of the things is he says, I would give you the right to eat from the tree of life. That's a good thing, right? Life is what we're looking for. So he that overcomes. I'll give you the right eat of the tree of life him and overcomes the name of God will be written on him. Did you know you have a tattoo in heaven? That's what it says. Him who overcomes the name of God will be written on you and the name of his city. That makes me, for some reason, that makes me think about like NFL teams. You know how they ripped their city, you know, But you're gonna have the City of God written on you in the name of God. Is that interesting? But Here's another one. This one has captivated me. I've read this over the years. I wondered about it recently. I was just reading this and it just it's tough women. Here's a couple things to him who overcomes. I will give some of the headman of eight say good food. Man was actually what sustained the Children Israel throughout a 40 year test. And this kind of manner is not just what will sustain you physically, but to him who overcomes. The Lord expressly says I will give you Wayne something to eat that will nourish your person. I will give you the hidden manner. Who are the hidden things belong Teoh. They belong to the ward, right? What if he says, I'm gonna show you some of my things? God tells his friends his secrets. Him who overcomes. I'll give the hidden man and I will give him a white stone. You guys are going away. He mesmerized. Always mourn allies tone. Yeah. No, I guess some rocks have more important than others, right? I don't know what charity is. Church rob. Crushing run stuff you put in your driveway. That's what I call where I'm from Church. I think it's a different material down here. But Tom crushing run is but church rock where I was from strong. But it's not very valuable. Is water off the diamonds Rock too? Yeah. What about told me that the white rocks in heaven are pretty important If I told you that God had some white rocks and they're very valuable Whitestone. Okay. What if I told you that God, if you will overcome, will give you a white stone that has been engraved? What if I told you that God will give you a white stone that has been engraved with your name on it? But not just any night? Let's read what it says. Who gets the stone? By the way, man, can you guys see this? Who gets the stone? Him, who overcomes. I'm telling you, there is something worth going through. The pain of trial and overcoming. Here's the deal is as you're test that the devil wants to steal who you are. But the Lord expressly says if you will overcome, not only will you not lose who you are, but I will tell you who you really are. This is what I think The white Stone is This is what it says to him. Whoever comes, I will give him a white stone and all that stone, a new name written which no one knows except him that receives it. Really thought about it. And guys, this is Josh's opinion, okay? I don't know. I know the White Stones valuable. I'm not getting a new name on White Stone. Pretty valuable too, right? But here's the thing. God knows who you really are. I talked to somebody recently right back here in this kitchen. They just stopped by there, no longer serving the Lord. And, uh, I said, Listen, ever since I've known you, I feel like you've asked seven questions. Who am I? I said you have tried to figure out who you are. This person's explores things that that are far away from Jesus. Try discover who he is, and that's what I said. I said, The Lord knows they really are, and it's not too late to be an over comer. You can steal, overcome. And if you do, Lord knows that you really are in. The promise to overcome Er's is that he will give you guys realize that the Lord like were confused about our live. You guys know that we're in a time of great confusion, people confused about their gender. It is a time of great great confusion about our own identity. You understand? That is the work of the enemy in terms of trying to confused who we are. But the Lord himself knows critics. He knows who you really are. He knows who you really are. Not having a project. Not that Southern version of yourself as I have you. I'm fine. How are you? How's your mom? And then we're all good. He actually knows Miss Susan, how he created you and why he created. And if we can overcome, he will give us a rock that has that name written. And here's the amazing Onley. You will know it. And I've thought about this. What does this mean? I just got one thing. Ok, um you guys remember when God spoke to Mary the angel spoke to Mary and said, You are blessed. You are the one that God has chosen to carry his son Emmanuel God in the flesh. Mary says she just This isn't Mary treasured these things in her heart. Guys, I believe that God has a word for you. A name for you that is so intimate and so personal that it stays under under under your shirt. It might be a so great and so grand that other people will be jealous If they told you if you told him what it waas it might be so amazing. Name that God has for you that other pick. You might feel just goofing share in that. Rob. What if the Lord gave you White Stone and said Superman, He's like, you have to shoot. Everybody heals. That's what I think. I'm saying you're not to tell her by kids, but I've got a revelation for you, Kelly, that lets you know that you are more special. Only you know this. This is the reward. Jeffery knows who you really are. Always ask. It's do. It is for you to overcome and not be overcome. This is what he wants from us. Is just say no matter what. I will serve the Lord no matter what. I'm going to go through it. The great opposition that I feel like I'm being pressed up. I must say I will overcome you guys realize that in every case where Jesus says to him, who overcomes, he's talking to people who were going through crap. They were being opposed. Realized that the church was not born into some institutionalised Christianity. They were born in pluralism. There was all kinds of God's off kinds of ideologies and thoughts and ways that people try to get to the supernatural. The church was born in a hotbed of opposition, and they overcame. In fact, Jesus said, when he told Peter his real name, he said, You will be called Peter. And upon this revelation that you just set out of your mouth, Peter, that I'm the son of the living God. I will build my church on that, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. You guys ready for our new name? It's exciting, isn't it? You don't hear just a little bit. This is the side with the Bible, actually says that Jesus will get in today. Read it. And this is what I think. I think we have these amazing names. We called him, but after this all wraps up and we see it, we're gonna realize that he was also this you know, Jesus has lots of names, right? But he was like, he's Emmanuel God with us, right? It Jesus. Which means the Lord, our savior. Right? But he's gonna get a name, and I don't know if we always call him out, and I'm not sure. Hot words, OK? I don't understand it. All right, But I know what it says. This is also who has been to us. This is I think our name has to do with our essence. It has to do with what we are. You guys remember when names were changed in Scripture when Jake of the Deceiver became Israel? That's pretty powerful, right? God knows who you really are. So hear things here. Four limbs, if you will. That God does not want you to lose in the midst of of being being tested. Okay, number one, I'm gonna go through these real quick. Okay? Number one. God wants you to maintain this sense of I did. I'm God, Center dog. No matter what you're going through, no matter what hell you're going through, no matter what pain you're going through, no one, no matter what opposition or betray or anything like that God wants you to know that you are his son. You're his daughter. Okay, so that's number one. So if you got this limb wave at me, all right, you still got it. Okay, I said this last week, but who I think I am determined my behavior more than any other factor. And, uh, who I think that's why the devil takes every time that you make a mistake. Wayne, He comes in to say you're a failure. That's that's what he does because he's trying to get you to believe something about yourself. You understand, Tyler, Every time you make a mistake, the devil comes in and he says that's because you're a failure. That's why you made a mistake. But that is a lot you say Lie dental ago. Have you ever heard of Steve back line? We did some of this stuff a couple years ago when we did our declarations, but he has to say he's like when it comes to the devil's lies, Lister's life of that in the whole place. When he does talk, they just laugh. But he's learning to laugh of the devil's lies. Devil says your failure. You say match try. So who I think I am determined my behavior or any other factor. There is one exception, right? I think God is determines my behavior with these racks of the biggest too. Here's here's the thing. When you go through the stuff one of the first things that enemy says If he doesn't say you're a failure or you're never gonna make it or see I told you so you're never gonna be a Christian. If he doesn't go that around, then he goes this round. He'll say he'll go after this. God is good because they know the wars opposing Lourdes. Naga. Remember when Adam and Eva were being tempted? What did the devil say? Ive like, we're not supposed to do that. Um, God told not to. And in the depth of the way. Listen, you're not a girl. This God, no, that when you do this, you're gonna become like him. That's why I told you not to do that. He doesn't want you don't want you taking his space, you know? So the devil actually is implying that God is not good and these commands are good that God gave this command somehow to hold out, and that's what we think is a lot of times that God is holding out on us. That's exactly look at that is the voice of the animal. That's the voice of the evil one that says God is holding things from me. Bill Johnson says. God is holding things for you, not from God's. Commands are good. That's the next hold on. Just say if you know God is get you wait the other hand, say it's still here and if it's not here, pick it up off the ground and put it back on, okay, He is good. I want you guys to know that God is a good guy. He's good and third his shaking leg for his commands or good right, when God gives us, come in. So here's another thing that can fall off you when you're being tested. When you're being tested, enemy would love to get you to fall into sand. He would love to get you to sin against him, right? He would love to entice you and say it didn't really matter. But no, God's commands are good. He's good, his commander. They actually keep us on the path of life. We don't fall into the trap If we're on the road, you guys see the rather. We're on right here. Here's a road overhears a ditch on this side of the road that just called lawlessness. Sometimes when we go through stuff instead of turning to the Lord being refined, having the bad stuff knocked off, keeping the good stuff own way for the lawlessness Senate make excuse for it. And that's a ditch, right? That's a bad name. But I will tell you there's another ditch over here. Okay, this ditch is legalism. Sometimes when we get there stuff people get super committed. But they're committed to something that God is not asked, and that's where they you know where they you know, Paul said. They say touch, not taste not. And I'm just gonna completely withdraw from everything. But Paul said, that has no ability, deliverance from the works of the flesh, and so there's two ditches, but they're inside is the path of life and then let's on this path. We know that God's commands are good, but also the reason I share this is because I live. There was a time where I lived it I never feel like I could please the Lord. So I wasn't so far. I was so close to this ditch over here of lawlessness. I was over the closure of this ditch where I never felt like my life or my obedience. Even I was fasting twice a week. I was praying I was witness to a telephone pope and stand there long enough. Um, I was I was, And it was good. I'm not saying it was bad, but it was also awful because I did not know that God loves me exactly like police. You guys remember the first thing that God told Jesus before he did any ministry. I've always said 100 million times over the last couple of years. This is my son whom I love I'm well pleased with. So we're live from love, right? No. God loves us. Can you shake that other legs? You know God loves. All right, let's stay in. We're gonna ask the band. Bring us back here. Look to him. Who has an ear. Let him hear this. I've got a promise Free that if you will overcome, I'm gonna give you some hidden man. I'm gonna give you a white stone with a new name. A man Who is that when it comes to overcome? And Jesus said, I'm saying these things to you so that you have peace in this world. You have trouble. Take heart because I have overcome the world. So Jesus is overcoming were in him. That puts us in a pretty good position. Overcome ourselves, right? Look, band's gonna play here. Thank you, guys, for accompanying me there. My talk today you turn it loose. Now Way Sing this song and this is a declaration. This is says the king of my heart. But But it says you're good when we get to that part where it says you are good. You know, I'm just saying that, but could you make it a declaration like I might be? Let me tell you, this is where you might be right here. And this is the spot. Wait. This is the spot where you make that declaration here. I'm not gonna lose in the battle. I'm not gonna lose that part of me that says God is good. I'm not always that part of me, okay? I'm an over comer. I am overcome island over Ramona Lose that morning, Mrs God's commands with my child. Good God loves loathe. For more information about the oaks, visit the oaks dot org. Thanks for listening.