Embracing Identity: Stepping Out of Fear
Summary
### Summary
Today, I want to share a message titled "Come Out of Hiding." This message is deeply personal, rooted in my own journey of overcoming fear and embracing the identity that God has given me. From the moment I was born, the enemy tried to silence me, but God had other plans. I was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck, declared dead, and later revived with the prognosis of being brain dead. Yet, here I am, standing before you, a testament to God's miraculous power and purpose.
Growing up, I was extremely shy and fearful of speaking in public. The enemy whispered lies to me, telling me I wasn't good enough, smart enough, or capable. These lies kept me in a state of hiding, much like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They hid from God because they were afraid and ashamed. But God calls us out of hiding, into His presence where there is healing, restoration, and freedom.
At a recent women's retreat, we did an exercise called "Switch," where we wrote down the lies we believed about ourselves and then replaced them with God's truth. This exercise was transformative, reminding us that we are loved, worthy, and chosen. It's crucial to replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's Word.
We often hide from God because of our inherent nature to sin, but God knows us intimately. He discerns our thoughts and knows our hearts. We can't hide from Him, and we shouldn't want to. Instead, we should come before Him in our brokenness and allow Him to heal and restore us.
In this season, God is calling us to greater obedience. Instead of asking "why," we should ask "why not." We need to stand on the truth of God's Word and declare His promises over our lives. The world is getting darker, and as Christians, we need to look different. We need to be set apart, not walking in fear, doubt, or anxiety, but in the confidence of who God says we are.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Miraculous Power and Purpose: From the moment of my birth, the enemy tried to silence me, but God had a different plan. My life is a testament to His miraculous power and purpose. No matter what the enemy whispers, God's truth about who we are prevails. [06:03]
2. Replacing Lies with God's Truth: At the women's retreat, we did an exercise called "Switch," where we replaced the lies we believed about ourselves with God's truth. This practice is essential for spiritual growth and healing. We must continually remind ourselves of what God says about us. [09:41]
3. God Knows Us Intimately: God discerns our thoughts and knows our hearts. We can't hide from Him, and we shouldn't want to. Instead, we should come before Him in our brokenness and allow Him to heal and restore us. His presence is where we find true freedom. [32:37]
4. Greater Obedience and Trust: God is calling us to greater obedience. Instead of asking "why," we should ask "why not." We need to trust Him fully, allowing Him to take the driver's seat in our lives. This means surrendering our control and trusting His plan. [26:08]
5. Standing on God's Truth: In a world that is getting darker, we need to stand on the truth of God's Word. As Christians, we should look different, set apart from the world. We should not walk in fear, doubt, or anxiety but in the confidence of who God says we are. [27:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Introduction and Testimony
[02:00] - Prayer and Acknowledgment
[04:12] - Women's Retreat Experience
[05:06] - Birth Story and Early Life
[06:03] - Lies of the Enemy
[09:41] - The "Switch" Exercise
[12:05] - Keeping God on the Throne
[14:49] - Adam and Eve's Hiding
[17:15] - Illustration with Nala
[19:49] - Tangible and Intangible Struggles
[21:54] - Psalm 32:3 Reflection
[23:42] - Pandemic Reflections
[25:24] - Highway 1 Experience
[26:08] - Greater Obedience
[27:05] - Standing on God's Truth
[29:08] - Trusting God with Our Children
[30:43] - Public Speaking Journey
[32:37] - God Knows Our Thoughts
[34:11] - Psalm 139 Reflection
[35:23] - Encouragement to Come Forward
[36:02] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 3:8-11 (AMP): "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?' He said, 'I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.'"
2. Psalm 32:3-5 (AMP): "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my wickedness; I said, 'I will confess all my transgressions to the Lord'; and You forgave the guilt of my sin."
3. Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."
### Observation Questions
1. What was Adam and Eve's reaction when they heard God walking in the garden, and why did they react this way? (Genesis 3:8-11)
2. According to Psalm 32:3-5, what happens when we keep silent about our sins?
3. How does Psalm 139:1-4 describe God's knowledge of us?
4. In the sermon, what exercise did the women at the retreat participate in, and what was its purpose? [09:41]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Adam and Eve chose to hide from God after they sinned? How does this reflect our own tendencies when we sin? (Genesis 3:8-11)
2. What does Psalm 32:3-5 suggest about the physical and emotional effects of unconfessed sin?
3. How does the knowledge that God discerns our thoughts and knows our ways (Psalm 139:1-4) impact our relationship with Him?
4. In the sermon, the speaker mentioned replacing lies with God's truth. Why is it important to actively replace lies with truth, and how can this practice affect our spiritual growth? [09:41]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need to hide from God due to sin or shame. How did that affect your relationship with Him, and what steps did you take to come out of hiding? [14:49]
2. The speaker shared a personal testimony of overcoming fear and embracing God's identity for her. What fears or lies have you believed about yourself, and how can you replace them with God's truth? [06:03]
3. Psalm 32:3-5 talks about the relief and forgiveness that comes from confessing our sins. Is there something you need to confess to God today? How can you create a habit of regular confession and repentance?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of standing on God's truth in a world that is getting darker. What specific steps can you take to ensure you are living out God's truth in your daily life? [27:05]
5. The speaker mentioned the exercise "Switch" from the women's retreat. Can you identify a lie you have believed about yourself and write down God's truth to replace it? How can you remind yourself of this truth daily? [09:41]
6. How can you practice greater obedience and trust in God, especially in areas where you tend to ask "why" instead of "why not"? What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God? [26:08]
7. The speaker talked about the importance of not walking in fear, doubt, or anxiety but in the confidence of who God says we are. What practical steps can you take this week to walk in that confidence? [27:05]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Miraculous Power and Purpose
From the moment of birth, the enemy may try to silence us, but God's plans are always greater. The speaker's life is a testament to God's miraculous power and purpose, having been declared dead at birth and later revived. This miraculous event serves as a reminder that no matter what the enemy whispers, God's truth about who we are prevails. We are not defined by the lies of the enemy but by the purpose and power of God in our lives. Embracing this truth allows us to walk in the confidence of our God-given identity. [06:03]
Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV): "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt silenced or defeated. How can you remind yourself of God's miraculous power and purpose in your life today?
Day 2: Replacing Lies with God's Truth
At a women's retreat, an exercise called "Switch" was conducted where participants wrote down the lies they believed about themselves and replaced them with God's truth. This practice is essential for spiritual growth and healing. By continually reminding ourselves of what God says about us, we can combat the lies of the enemy. This exercise was transformative, reminding everyone that they are loved, worthy, and chosen. Replacing lies with God's truth is a daily practice that brings healing and restoration. [09:41]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What lies have you been believing about yourself? Write them down and replace them with specific truths from God's Word.
Day 3: God Knows Us Intimately
God discerns our thoughts and knows our hearts. We can't hide from Him, and we shouldn't want to. Instead, we should come before Him in our brokenness and allow Him to heal and restore us. His presence is where we find true freedom. Just as Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden, we often hide because of our inherent nature to sin. However, God calls us out of hiding and into His presence, where there is healing, restoration, and freedom. [32:37]
Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you hiding from God? How can you bring these areas into His light for healing and restoration?
Day 4: Greater Obedience and Trust
God is calling us to greater obedience. Instead of asking "why," we should ask "why not." We need to trust Him fully, allowing Him to take the driver's seat in our lives. This means surrendering our control and trusting His plan. In a world that is getting darker, we need to stand on the truth of God's Word and declare His promises over our lives. As Christians, we should look different, set apart from the world, walking in the confidence of who God says we are. [26:08]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: Standing on God's Truth
In a world that is getting darker, we need to stand on the truth of God's Word. As Christians, we should look different, set apart from the world. We should not walk in fear, doubt, or anxiety but in the confidence of who God says we are. This means declaring His promises over our lives and living in the light of His truth. By doing so, we become beacons of hope and light in a dark world, showing others the transformative power of God's Word. [27:05]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: How can you stand on God's truth today in a specific situation you are facing? What promises from His Word can you declare over your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I want them to know that they can walk in their calling, that the things that the Lord says about them are true, that they are more than enough, that they are loved, that they are worthy. And they, too, have seen transformation in me, too, as well." [02:00] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I am a good public speaker. I am a good teacher. I am all these things that the Lord has called me into and says that I am. So, I had to do the switch. Instead of saying that I'm not good enough, I'm not this or that, I had to tell myself that through God, through my weaknesses, he is made strong." [11:21] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One moment in his presence sets people free. People get delivered. There's healings. There's restoration. Just one moment in his presence." [16:26] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is all-knowing. What can we say to ourselves today that needs to come out of hiding? What in my life doesn't align? What in my life, what on my list, what do I tell myself, what am I believing that doesn't align with what the word of God says about me? Because that needs to come out. That needs to come out of hiding." [28:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Lord, I can't. Left to my own self. God, I can't. I don't want to be in the driver's seat. Lord, I want you in that seat." [25:24] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I just believe from that very point in time that the enemy at that point started whispering, even as a newborn, started whispering lies to me, lies that I'm not good enough, I'm stupid, I can't do this, I'm not that, and I'm not this and that." [06:03] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I want to declare that instead of my why, though, with the shrugging shoulder, when asked to do something, when the Lord has asked me to do something, I want to say why not, though. So I want to change and do that switch." [13:52] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I want to talk about our inherent nature to sin. And the first scripture I'm going to use is Genesis. It's 8 to 11, and I'm going to be speaking out of the amplified version today with an exception of one verse we'll get to towards the end." [14:49] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I think back to this past year and a half, almost two years now, we're going through the pandemic and it's just, I've grown, we've grown. As a church, we've become unified, even more so. And we've built relationships. We were on the prayer call almost nightly for six months." [22:51] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need to look set apart. We need to not be walking around with depression, worry, doubt, unbelief, questioning God. Because if we're doing that, if we're looking like that, what difference does it make? What difference does it make? Shoot, I want to be in the driver's seat. I want to look just like you." [27:05] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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