The Everyday Faith Steps:

• Born-again / Saved
• Water Baptized
• Holy Spirit Activated
• Healed + Set Free
• In Community
• Contributing
• Personal Growth
• Reproducing

Faith Scripture:

James 2:17: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

All the greats in the Bible contended for the faith, fighting for what they believed God was calling them to. It was the fighting for something that created an Identity in them. 

When a butterfly breaks out of its cocoon, a contending process occurs. Scientific facts show that without contending, the butterfly will die because it is the contending process that strengthens its wings, enabling it to survive.  

When any animal hatches from a shell, whether it is an alligator or a chicken, the hatching, or contending, process of breaking free from the shell enables it to live outside.  

When a seed is planted, it has to contend with the soil and push through to grow. The astonishing part of the growth of any seed is that before it grows up to break through the soil, it grows down and roots itself in the very substance that it will contend with to break through and reach daylight. 

Most of our identity is not formed convenience but forged in our contending.

We must fight for our Identity in Christ because culture is trying to conform you. 

One of the most commonly quoted verses of scripture at weddings, graduations, and baby dedications, and often found hanging on walls in our homes, is Jeremiah 29:11.

Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The struggle is that we think God is developing the plan. God has a plan; He is developing individuals with His identity fit His plan. 

This is the part of the process when God develops you, not just the plan!

Plans are worthless until God crafts a capable person in His identity to carry them out. Crafting or forging comes through contending. 

God desires contenders to expand His kingdom, but Contenders must go through the process of contending.

Jeremiah 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?

This is one of the best passages in the Bible about contending transforming in to Identity. 

Genesis 32:22-30 22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 

Genesis 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone.” 

Perhaps God is separating you to form your Identity you and enable you to walk in His favor. 

We have to accept that is ok to be alone; not lonely but alone with God.

Pastoring and ministry is one of the loneliest places to be. You are surrounded by people that love you, care for you, and need you. In the same moment you have to accept that you have been set apart and people won’t understand you. 

Genesis 32:24: "And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day."

This is where being alone shapes an “Identity of Dependency” on Him.  

I am a loving father to my kids, and some of my greatest joys are when I get to contend with them. 

When they were kids, we would wrestle, much to their mother's dismay. Today, we contend in everything from Soccer, CrossFit, and Card Games, and we still wrestle today.

I don't contend to beat them; I contend to make them better.  God doesn’t contend with me to beat me, he contends with me to make my Identity reflect His image. 

Romans 5:3-5 “3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

Genesis 32:26 “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 

Genesis 32:28 "Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven (wrestled or contended) with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 

It wasn’t until the contending occurred that Jacob was changed. Not just his name but his identity.  

Jacob means heel-catcher or supplanter  

Genesis 27:36  

Esau speaking, “And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted (usurped or unseated) me these two times: he took away my birthright; and behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.  

"Israel" means - contend, have power, compete with, persist, exert oneself, persevere. 

God is purposefully shaping your identity because culture is trying to silence you.  

Jacob’s life was completely different after this moment does the Bible say, ‘He is the God of Abraham Issac, and Jacob - Israel.  

You cannot have an identity change until you have an encounter with God.  

This is your moment. Will you get alone with God? Will you have an encounter with God? Do you really want to change?  

Child Dedication Prayer:  

TWBC loves you always and forever no matter what. 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made,  

and God has great and mighty plans for you. 

You will be mighty upon the earth!  

The blood of Jesus covers you,  

The angels of God surround you,  

You are healed and made whole in Jesus’ name.  

You have the favor and blessing of God on your life.  

No weapon formed against you can prosper  

You’re leader among your generations,  

No curse can rest on your life.  

You’re an overcomer, more than a conqueror  

You’re an anointed man of God.  

You’re bold, confident, obedient and not afraid.