Transforming Identity: Embracing God's Purpose and Love
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, I shared my journey from arrogance and ignorance to humility and wisdom, emphasizing the transformative power of God's guidance and the importance of submitting to His will. I recounted my initial skepticism towards Reverend Joe Dunnick, who, despite never being a full-time missionary, imparted invaluable wisdom that reshaped my approach to missions and life. This period of learning and submission led to significant milestones, including founding Rhema Egypt and witnessing God's power break racial barriers through the ministry of Pastor Minnie.
I also shared personal stories of God's intervention in my life, from my troubled youth and imprisonment to a miraculous encounter with God that set me on a path of redemption and purpose. This journey underscored the importance of finding our identity in Christ rather than in our past mistakes or societal labels. I emphasized that our true identity is found in God's Word and His purpose for us, not in the opinions or expectations of others.
The sermon concluded with a call to embrace our God-given identity, to meditate on His Word, and to let go of past identities that hinder our spiritual growth. I encouraged everyone to see themselves as new creations in Christ, empowered to fulfill the unique purpose God has for each of us. By aligning our lives with God's Word and His vision for us, we can overcome past failures and step into the fullness of our calling.
### Key Takeaways
1. Wisdom Through Humility and Submission: True wisdom comes from a combination of knowledge and experience, and often requires humility and submission to God's guidance. My time under Reverend Joe Dunnick, despite initial skepticism, taught me invaluable lessons that transformed my approach to missions and life. This experience highlights the importance of being open to learning from others, regardless of our own perceived expertise. [2:00]
2. Breaking Barriers with God's Power: The story of Pastor Minnie in Egypt illustrates how God's power can break down deep-seated prejudices and bring unity. When Pastor Minnie, an African man, demonstrated God's healing power, it shattered racial biases among Egyptian Arabs, showing that God is no respecter of persons. This event serves as a powerful reminder that God's love and power transcend all human divisions. [15:00]
3. Finding Identity in Christ: Our true identity is found in Christ, not in our past mistakes, societal labels, or even our ethnic backgrounds. I shared my personal journey from a troubled youth and imprisonment to finding my true identity in Christ. This transformation underscores the importance of looking to God's Word for our identity and purpose, rather than external influences. [30:00]
4. The Power of God's Love and Forgiveness: God's love and forgiveness are unconditional and transformative. Even in our darkest moments, God pursues us with passion and offers redemption. My encounter with God in a rehab center, where I experienced His love and forgiveness, illustrates that no matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to restore us. [45:00]
5. Embracing Our God-Given Purpose: Each of us has a unique purpose and calling from God, which we can only fulfill by aligning our lives with His Word and letting go of past identities. By meditating on God's Word and embracing our identity in Christ, we can step into the fullness of our calling and see the dreams and visions God has placed in our hearts come to fruition. [1:00:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[2:00] - Learning from Reverend Joe Dunnick
[5:00] - Founding Rhema Egypt
[10:00] - Transitioning Leadership
[15:00] - Breaking Racism with Pastor Minnie
[20:00] - Working with Kenya
[25:00] - Personal Testimony: From Prison to Redemption
[30:00] - Finding Identity in Christ
[35:00] - The Power of God's Love
[40:00] - Embracing God's Purpose
[45:00] - God's Unconditional Forgiveness
[50:00] - Meditating on God's Word
[55:00] - Overcoming Past Identities
[1:00:00] - Stepping into Your Calling
[1:05:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 4:6-7 (NIV): "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
2. Galatians 3:28 (NIV): "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
#### Observation Questions
1. What did the speaker initially think about Reverend Joe Dunnick, and how did his perspective change over time? [2:00]
2. How did Pastor Minnie's ministry in Egypt impact the racial biases among Egyptian Arabs? [15:00]
3. What was the speaker's experience in the rehab center that led to his transformation? [45:00]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of finding our identity in Christ rather than in societal labels or past mistakes? [30:00]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does James 4:6-7 relate to the speaker's journey from arrogance to humility? What does this passage teach us about the importance of humility and submission to God? [2:00]
2. In what ways does Galatians 3:28 reflect the story of Pastor Minnie breaking racial barriers in Egypt? How does this passage challenge our own prejudices? [15:00]
3. Reflect on 2 Corinthians 5:17. How does the speaker's testimony illustrate the concept of becoming a new creation in Christ? [45:00]
4. How does the speaker's story of redemption and finding his identity in Christ challenge the way we view our own past mistakes and societal labels? [30:00]
#### Application Questions
1. The speaker learned invaluable lessons from Reverend Joe Dunnick despite his initial skepticism. Is there someone in your life from whom you can learn, even if you initially doubted their wisdom? How can you open yourself up to learning from them? [2:00]
2. Pastor Minnie's ministry broke down racial barriers in Egypt. Are there prejudices or biases in your own heart that need to be addressed? How can you actively work to break down these barriers in your community? [15:00]
3. The speaker found his true identity in Christ after a miraculous encounter in a rehab center. Have you had a moment where you felt a significant shift in your identity in Christ? How did it change your life? [45:00]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of letting go of past identities that hinder spiritual growth. What past identities or labels are you holding onto that you need to let go of? How can you begin to release them this week? [30:00]
5. The speaker mentioned the transformative power of God's love and forgiveness. Is there an area in your life where you need to experience God's forgiveness? How can you seek His forgiveness and embrace His love this week? [45:00]
6. The sermon calls us to meditate on God's Word to align our lives with His vision. What specific steps can you take to incorporate more time for meditation on God's Word in your daily routine? [1:00:00]
7. The speaker's journey involved significant milestones, including founding Rhema Egypt. What unique purpose or calling do you feel God has for your life? How can you take a step towards fulfilling that purpose this week? [30:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Wisdom Through Humility and Submission
True wisdom is often a blend of knowledge and experience, and it requires humility and submission to God's guidance. Learning from others, even those we might initially underestimate, can lead to profound personal transformation. This is exemplified by the experience of learning from Reverend Joe Dunnick, whose wisdom reshaped approaches to missions and life despite initial skepticism. This teaches us the importance of being open to learning from others, regardless of our own perceived expertise. [02:00]
James 3:13-17 (ESV): "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."
Reflection: Think of a person in your life whom you might have underestimated. How can you approach them with humility and openness to learn from their experiences and wisdom today?
Day 2: Breaking Barriers with God's Power
God's power can break down deep-seated prejudices and bring unity among people. The story of Pastor Minnie in Egypt, where God's healing power shattered racial biases among Egyptian Arabs, serves as a powerful reminder that God's love and power transcend all human divisions. This event illustrates that God is no respecter of persons and that His love can bring unity where there was once division. [15:00]
Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Reflection: Reflect on a prejudice or bias you may hold. How can you ask God to help you see others through His eyes and break down these barriers in your heart today?
Day 3: Finding Identity in Christ
Our true identity is found in Christ, not in our past mistakes, societal labels, or even our ethnic backgrounds. This transformation is highlighted by the journey from a troubled youth and imprisonment to finding true identity in Christ. It underscores the importance of looking to God's Word for our identity and purpose, rather than external influences. [30:00]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: What past mistakes or societal labels are you holding onto that hinder your spiritual growth? How can you begin to see yourself as a new creation in Christ today?
Day 4: The Power of God's Love and Forgiveness
God's love and forgiveness are unconditional and transformative. Even in our darkest moments, God pursues us with passion and offers redemption. This is illustrated by a miraculous encounter with God in a rehab center, where His love and forgiveness were experienced firsthand. It shows that no matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to restore us. [45:00]
Psalm 103:10-12 (ESV): "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt far from God. How can you embrace His love and forgiveness today, knowing that He is always ready to restore you?
Day 5: Embracing Our God-Given Purpose
Each of us has a unique purpose and calling from God, which we can only fulfill by aligning our lives with His Word and letting go of past identities. By meditating on God's Word and embracing our identity in Christ, we can step into the fullness of our calling and see the dreams and visions God has placed in our hearts come to fruition. [60:00]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to align your life more closely with God's Word and embrace your God-given purpose? How can you let go of past identities that hinder your spiritual growth?
Quotes
1. "When you take knowledge and experience and you put them together, that becomes wisdom. And I got to tell you, the wisdom that I gleaned from those that year was, it blew my mind. It changed the way that I approach missions. It changed the way that I see people. But I was already a missionary. But that's okay, because in that season of life, I submitted myself to good teaching and training, and God changed things." [00:02:00] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you don't go, they can't grow. And that was hard. It was difficult to realize that I needed to get out of the way so that they could step into their next season of life. And our motto as missions has always been raising up a team around us. And when they're ready, we get out of the way. That's what we've always done. We raise disciples. I'm not interested in converts. I love converts and I need converts. The evangelists are for the converts, but I want to see the disciples raised up to continue on, to move on." [00:05:00] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It's not about us. It's about connecting people to him. You know, during that time, Tracy and I really, really refined what it is that we do. And our friends Catherine and Vidar had been in Kenya for many, many, many years, and we had been working with them. God had blessed us so much when we moved to Egypt." [00:07:00] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you see a nation take the gospel for themselves, it changes. Now, Kenya was a colonized nation. Britain colonized Kenya, just like Britain colonized Belize, and tried to colonize the US and things along those lines. And so, you know, you have a lot of colony mindset, but when Jesus gets in there, Jesus begins to change their mindset. And I'm watching Kenya start to propagate the gospel without missionaries. I'm watching Kenyans building churches. I'm watching Kenyans pastoring churches of 510 thousand." [00:15:00] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We were created to be a body. We were created to be interconnected. Just like I'm sure somehow, some way, we're going to do something. I don't know why you're here today, but I know that God is not accidental. I've been in this stuff far too long to think that God does things by accident. But we're to be interconnected. We're to be working as a body, as one." [00:20:00] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Each one of us is not accidental. You have a voice. You have a vision. You have a supply that God deposited in you at birth. It says, the Holy Spirit distributes gifts as he wills. There are things put in you that are there to be utilized by him. But sometimes we have to yield ourselves and let him use us. That is where I want to start at today." [00:22:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So oftentimes we allow everything around us to dictate who we are, and we do not allow the one truth to guide us to who we are. We look to social media, we look to superstars, basketball stars, sports stars. We look to everything to tell us who we are, to tell us what our identity is. But we don't spend time with the creator. And that's just so funny because we're all created by him." [00:24:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I met the one who had the keys to the chains. And he didn't care that I was in a drug rehab. He did not care. His spirit went into Lincoln Trails Memorial Hospital, where all these drug addicts, all these crackheads were. He didn't care about no crackheads. He didn't. It didn't bother him to be in a prison. It didn't bother him that his spirit was in a hospital because Jesus said, I did not come to call the righteous but the unrighteous, he said, I didn't come because of the well. The well do not need a doctor. It is the sick that need a doctor." [00:35:00] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I am a child of God who is called and empowered by him to do the works that he created me for. That's who I am. I'm not someone bound by my past. You are not someone bound by your past. You were created for a purpose. You have been set free. And in him you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. In him, we live and move and have our being. It is in him that he empowers us." [00:50:00] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The funny thing is, the salvation really was kind of, to me, only a percentage of why Jesus died. He didn't just die so we could go to heaven. He died so that we could live as his hands and feet on this earth. He died so that we could be empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that we could continue to do the work that he was doing on the earth and greater works than he was doing will do. And those were Jesus words, not my words." [01:10:00] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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