In this How to LIVE UP to what you’ve already attained, we explore the importance of operating out of who God says you are. Many struggle with identity and purpose. Join us as we uncover biblical truths that affirm your worth in Christ. Learn how understanding your identity shapes your decisions and influences your life. We’ll discuss practical steps to embrace your God-given purpose.
Trevor Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Creative Storyteller at https://revtrev.com Check out https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen. Don’t miss the full training at http://revtrev.link/LiveLOVED
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If you’ve confessed with your mouth “Jesus is Lord, and believed in your heart God raised him from the dead—you have been miraculously transferred from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of Light and….
You ARE a child of God
Does it make a difference in your everyday life?
How often have you heard a message about your identity in Christ?
How often does it make a difference Monday morning?
Why not?
Because your identity is based on a relationship and good relationships take work and they take trust.
The Bible tells us to work at whatever we do with all our heart.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Remember again, our heart is the seat of our decision, the seat of our action and the seat of our emotion.
You need a revelation from God about being a Child of God in every part of your heart. In your thoughts. In your actions. In your feelings.
The work is to create space for the revelation to occur…and re-occur…and re-occur. It’s for the realization of His grace—that is always present and ever sufficient—is there for you in that moment you become aware that you need it desperately.
We’re going to create space for the revelation to occur today.
Can I pray?
Philippians 2:1 - 3:16 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
You and I need to live up to what we’ve already attained.
How often do you scratch your head at God?
How many of you have ever come across something in the Bible that seems to contradict something else in it?
Do you see it as an invitation to go deeper?
You can’t assume it’s a contradiction.
You should it’s assume it’s a chance to learn something.
Let me give you an example.
Jesus said,
And he said:
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
And he also said,
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. Matthew 11:12 (NIV84)
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. Luke 16:16
Does this really matter?
If you’ve never scratched your head over this, it might not seem like it really matters. But I’m here to tell you that it does.
We need to understand what is going on because we need to trust Jesus knows what He’s doing.
What’s going on?
Do we enter the Kingdom as a child or do we enter being forceful? Is Jesus contradicting himself or is he showing a deeper truth?
The deeper truth is both are true.
Yes, you’ll always have your identity as a child of God. Yes, you’ll always have access to your authority that comes from Jesus, but there are different seasons of your life when one or the other will be emphasized. It changes how we pray. It changes how we’re to act. It changes how we feel.
Different Seasons
There is season when Kingdom of God advances forcefully and the forceful lay of hold of it. It’s a season God is emphasizing your authority He’s wanting you to come face to face with how he’s equipped you to be continually victorious over the powers of darkness. Your prayer life will be to ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, knock and keep knocking.
It’s interesting to me that Jesus told them to do this after talking about the need to forgive someone else. Who we are and who we are becoming needs to be sought out and brought about. We need to ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, knock and keep knocking to become who God created us to be.
There is also a season when unless you receive the Kingdom as a child you can’t enter the Kingdom. It’s a season to emphasize your identity You’re in a place of rest where answers are brought to you. Your prayer life will be to stop babbling like the pagans because you have a Father who loves you and takes care of you. You never have to ask again and again for your needs. Your Father knows what you need and will provide.
You can’t do both the asking and the receiving at the same time. You need to know when to use the tools in one or the tools in other.
Today we’re going to look at our identity and how to live up to what we’ve already attained.
Our identity is as a child of God.
You are a child of God.
God is your Father and He is a father you can trust. You’re His child that He delights in.
The God of all hope fills you with peace and joy and joy AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, so that you’ll overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). He’s given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
That is what you have attained— you’ve attained everything you need by His grace that empowers you.
What would it be like to feel like you’re a child of the Almighty One?
You’ve experienced it at some point. It could have been the first time you knew He is Lord. Or maybe it happens when you’re in worship.
You CAN FEEL like you’re a Child of God.
You need to. I don’t know how you can walk this life without it.
When you can’t feel you’re a child of God, you can’t stop from worrying; you hardly ever have peace; it feels like you’re always striving; you have a hard time forgiving; you feel like you’re always lacking; you give problems a place of influence in your life.
And yet, you are a child of God. That is who you are.
You can live up to what you’ve already attained. We do that as we seek the Kingdom. This is what Jesus told us in the sermon on the mount. Matthew 6:25-34.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
You have a good Father who takes care of you. So to LIVE UP to what we’ve already attained, we seek the His Kingdom and righteousness first in all we do.
I’ll explain this more as we go through the tool
LIVE UP to what you’ve already attained Tool
L - Look to Jesus - Philippians 2:3-11
I - Invite Joy Philippians 3:1
V - Value your Identity Philippians 3:10-11
E - Expect Progress Philippians 3:12-14
U - Understand Holy Spirit Teaches and empowers you Philippians 3:15
P - Pray Fervently and Effectually Philippians 3:16
Let’s unpack this.
L - Look to Jesus
Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Self ambition is saying or thinking “I need to look good or I need to avoid looking bad.” Vain conceit is saying or thinking, “I deserve this”
Set your sights on the ultimate goal: knowing Christ more deeply and becoming more like Him. This helps to keep your focus aligned with God's purpose.
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need to have the same mindset as Christ.
We receive the Kingdom with humility.
Luke 18:14 Right before the children come to Jesus, Luke records Jesus saying, “the one who humbles himself will be exalted” . In Matthew 5:5 During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says it is the meek who will inherit the earth and in Matthew 5:3 the poor in spirit will receive the kingdom of heaven . Then in both Luke’s and Mark’s account, right after the story of the children is the story of a man with great wealth and power who missed the way of the kingdom. God’s kingdom is not like the world’s. Entering is not about power, money or influence. We receive the Kingdom with child-like humility.
In humility do I value others above myself?
I - Invite Joy
Philippians 3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you
Remember Paul wrote this letter while he was in jail.
What excuses do you use to not have joy?
The God of hope fills you with peace and joy as you trust in Him, so you can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit.
Giving thanks with your whole heart—deciding to give thanks, feeling grateful for what you give thanks for and showing appreciation for what you feel grateful for—opens to door back to joy. Check out the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need to have His peace, hope and joy.
By the way…
We receive the Kingdom with joy. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus tells the story of a man who joyfully sells everything to buy land that has hidden treasure. The kingdom is of priceless value, so our inheritance and our future and what Jesus did for us already should bring us great joy. Remember the Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). We receive the kingdom with child-like joy.
Do I invite God’s peace and hope and joy into my life?
V - Value your Identity
Philippians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
As a child of God, we need to grow into our identity in Jesus. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and people. You need to do the same.
How do you live up to what you’ve already attained?
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need to know what you’ve already attained.
We have a tool for you to help with knowing what you’ve already attained. It’s only going to work if you work it.
Go to https://MyKWC.ca and click on your Identity in Christ; It will take you to https://revtrev.com/realme where you can type in your name; press go; and print off your personalized Identity in Christ.
This is not just repetition or memorization, it’s creating space for the revelation of the truth to come to you.
In Christ you are Valuable.
You are God's Child (John 1:12)
You are a part of the true vine, and a channel of Christ's life. (John 15:5)
You are a friend of Christ. (John 15:15)
You are a joint heir with Christ, you share Christ's inheritance with Him. (Rom. 8:17)
You are God's co-worker. (I Cor. 3:9)
You are God's temple. (I Cor. 3:16)
You have been adopted by God as His child. (Eph. 1:5-6)
You have an inheritance in Christ. (Eph. 1:11)
You have been made alive with Christ and you are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5-6)
You are God's workmanship, His handiwork. (Eph. 2:10)
Christ Himself is in you. (Col. 1:27)
Your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)
In Christ you are Loved.
You have eternal life in Christ. (John 3:15-16)
You are not judged by God, because you are in Christ. (John 3:18)
You cannot be separated from the love of God. (Rom. 8:35-37,39)
You may approach God with boldness and confidence. (Eph. 3:12)
You have been rescued from the domain of Satan's rule and transferred to the kingdom of Christ. (Col. 1:13-14)
You may come boldly before the throne of grace through Jesus Christ to receive mercy. (Heb. 4:16)
In Christ you are Victorious.
You have been set free. (John 8:31-32)
You died with Christ and you died to the power of sin's rule over your life. (Rom. 6:1-4)
You are more than a conqueror in Christ. (Rom. 8:37)
You are led triumphantly by Christ. (II Cor. 2:14)
You were crucified with Christ. (Gal. 2:20)
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil. 4:13)
You have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. (II Tim. 1:7)
You have overcome the world. (I John 5:4-5)
In Christ you are Complete.
You are joined with Christ, and you are one spirit with Him. (I Cor. 6:17)
You are a new creation. (II Cor. 5:17)
You are the righteousness of God in Christ. (II Cor. 5:21)
You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. (Eph. 1:3)
You have Christ's mind. (Phil. 2:5-7)
You are firmly rooted in Christ and you are being built up and established in Him. (Col. 2:6-7)
You have been made complete in Christ. (Col. 2:10)
In Christ you are Chosen.
You have been chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit. (John 15:16)
You have been established, anointed, and sealed in Christ. (II Cor. 1:21-22)
You have been reconciled to God and you are a minister of reconciliation.( II Cor. 5:18-19)
You have been chosen by God to be holy. (Eph. 1:4)
You have been given a holy calling. (II Tim. 1:9)
You are washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)
You are a member of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. (I Peter 2:9)
You have boldness and are not ashamed. (I John 2:28)
In Christ you are Forgiven.
You have passed from death to life in Christ. (John 5:24)
You have been justified through grace. (Rom. 3:24)
You have been justified, completely forgiven, made righteous, and have peace. (Rom. 5:1)
You are forever free from condemnation. (Rom. 8:1-2)
You are free from any condemning charges against you. (Rom. 8:31-34)
You have been redeemed and forgiven and you are a recipient of His rich grace. (Eph. 1:7-8)
You have been forgiven in Christ. (Eph. 4:32)
That is what the Bible says about you. That’s what you have attained as a child of God.
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need to know what you’ve already attained.
We do what we do because we have God’s favour on us, not to curry God’s favour for us.
I listen to Lee Strobel on TikTok this week. Lee Strobel wrote “The Case for Christ” He said out of all the 4200 religions in the world that he’s studied, all of them say what you can DO to maybe have an in with god. They have things you can do so maybe (or maybe not) you can earn your way into whatever is next. Christianity should not spell it D-O, because Jesus said, it is D-O-N-E. It’s done. It was finished at the cross. What we do isn’t to curry God’s favour on us, but in response to having God’s favour on us.
As a reminder…
We receive the Kingdom with innocence. Matthew 5:6-8 that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled and the pure in heart will see God. We trust in our good, good father and that he’s taking care of us. We receive the Kingdom with child-like innocence.
Do I value my identity in Christ?
E - Expect Progress
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I had a friend tell me, “I wish I had your start”. To which I instantly reply “Why? The finish is more important. “ God is going to finish the good work he’s stated in me, just like he’ll finish the good work He’s started in you. His good work is to make us more and more and more like Jesus. So you’ll look like Jesus they why Jesus wants you to look and I’ll look like Jesus the way Jesus wants me to look.”
BTW comparison is not from God. Look at how Peterson transliterates Galatians 5:25-6:1a:
Galatians 5:25-6:1a Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Live creatively, friends.
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need know He will finish the good work He’s started in you.
Remember to receive the Kingdom with expectancy.
We receive the Kingdom with expectancy. Hebrews 11:6 says that faith requires knowing that God rewards those who seek him. Did you catch that? God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. We don’t have to babble our prayers like the pagans who think they’ll receive because of their many words. We have a Father who loves us and delights in us. We receive the kingdom with child-like expectancy.
Am I expectant for the good things of God?
U - Understand Holy Spirit Teaches and empowers you
Philippians 3:15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
The Holy Spirt teaches you all truth (John 16:13) and empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. What did Paul say?
…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
It’s not fear and trembling that we’ll do something wrong, it’s fear and trembling that it’s GOD—creator of all, outside of time and space, who is present in your time and space—who will and act in you to make you more like Jesus. For a Christian “being in the moment” is being aware of GOD in the moment.
How do we become aware of God in the moment?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need to be in the Word.
We receive the Kingdom by seeking first the Kingdom Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We seek God with our whole heart (Psalm 119:10) . We are to seek Him always (1 Chronicles 16:11). We seek Him and live (Amos 5:4). He has promise we will seek him and find him when we seek him with our whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Prioritizing God's kingdom in your life is essential for receiving it.
As we seek Him we’ll find Him. As we ask for wisdom He’ll give it generously.
Am I in the word and do I let it read me?
P - Pray Fervently and Effectually
Philippians 3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
To live up to what we’ve already attained, we need to get this prayer thing right. I’ve learned there are different seasons in my life, so my prayer life has changed over the years. When our kids were small and I thought sleep was for wimps, I’d get up early and be back home to drive the to school. I need more sleep now, so I have to figure out how to carve it into my day, and since I have meetings some mornings, every day is different.
But I hear him calling me back to fervent, effectual prayers.
James 5: 16 says in KJV -
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
The NLT puts it this way:
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
If we’re in a relationship and a good relationship takes work and trust. How do we show we trust God?
I know I’m trusting home when I have peace and joy and hope because the God of hope fills me with peace and joy as I trust him so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit, but how do I show I trust God?
I show I trust God in prayer.
I show I trust He cares for me because I cast my cares on Him because HE CARES for me. I exchange my problems for His peace in prayer.
If you want to live up to what you’ve already attained you need prayer as the centre of your relationship with God.
Why? Because
We receive the Kingdom with trust. In Luke 18:9 Jesus’ parable, told immediately before the children coming, about the two men praying. It says, “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous…” . This is a season of trusting God and not relying on ourselves. In kids, trust leads to boldness, like the blind beggar in Luke 18:38 who cries out to Jesus for healing as he passed by. We receive the Kingdom with child-like trust.
I’ve been studying up on prayerlessness.
Billy Graham “A prayer less Christian is a powerless Christian”
FB Meyer “The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayers but unoffered prayers.”
Bill Hybels “The most common cause of unanswered prayers is prayerlessness.”
Prayerlessness…
….invites temptation - Mt 26:14
…prevents receiving help from God - John 16:24
…results in lack of wisdom - James 1:5
…fosters self-reliance over God-reliance - Proverbs 3:5-6
….impacts peace of mind - Phil 4:6-7
…leads to weakened relationship with God - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
… creates lack of spiritual strength - Luke 18:1
…hinders spiritual growth 1 Peter 2:2
…is a sin against God 1 Samuel 12:23 - Matthew 26:4 - 1 Thess 5:1
And Jesus told His disciples parables so that they would- Pray always and not give up (Luke 18:1)
Do I pray fervent, effectual prayers?
Will you LIVE UP to what you’ve already attained?
Will you seek first His Kingdom and righteousness?
Will you?
L - Look to Jesus In humility do I value others above myself?
I - Invite Joy Do I invite God’s peace and hope and joy into my life?
V - Value your identityDo I value my identity in Christ?
E - Expect progressAm I expectant for the good things of God?
U - Understand Holy Spirit teaches and empowers you Am I in the word and do I let it read me?
P - Pray Fervently and Effectually Do I pray fervent, effectual prayers?
Next steps
Maybe you just need to hear from God today? Maybe you need to cuddle up on your daddy’s lap or sit in awe of his majesty. Let’s take a few minutes to hear what he has to say….
Close in prayer.
Reflection.
