Confidence to Conquer

Context: Jesus has been performing miracles and had been out with the disciples. People are starting to wonder who this man is because of the works that He is doing.

Hasn't provided insight into his journey/mission the way that He is going to.

Matthew 16:16-23

Starts out having a conversation with Simon and Peter - He asks, "Who do men say that I am?"

He then asks Peter who he thinks He is. Peter was bold enough to respond with confidence about who God is.

"You are the son of the living God." (Matthew 16:17)

Because He knows who Jesus is, Jesus tells Peter who he is.

"... I will give you the keys of the kingdom." (Matthew 16:19)

Receives insight to His strategy because Peter knows who He is.

Jesus affirms their identity where there was a loss of perception about what it truly takes to conquer and have victory.

Cliques are good to explore our personal identities without judgment.

Just because you are in a crowd doesn't mean we are always connected to Him.

John 6:26 - You don't really want me for me, you want me for what I can do.

Most miracles we're praying for have an expiration date.

John 6:27 - I will give you something that will never expire (Your relationship with Him.)

Less about what I can do for you, more about what I can do in you.

God giving you his peace is a miracle by itself. Thinking differently and learning how to be whole is the miracle within itself.

If you make the miracle about what you get, you'll miss who you can become.

The miracle starts to get stale and we start praying for a new one instead of asking God what the miracle was supposed to start inside of you.

God is either performing a miracle in us, for us, or through us at any given moment.

Just because you don't see the miracle you want showing up, doesn't mean there isn't something taking place.

When He performs a miracle in you, it may change the miracle that you think you need for you. Sometimes you can't get the miracle you're praying for because you're not the version of yourself that you need to be to receive it.

Giving us a better prayer to pray for instead. Sometimes we're praying for something that may slow me down in a season where I'm supposed to be accelerating.

Changing our appetite for the type of miracles He wants us to pray for.

Doesn't want to give us the bare minimum of what a miracle is. There's a version of your existence where the thing that you're praying for will be will be the organic byproduct of you stepping into the fullness of Him.

You're asking for something that's already taken into account when you step into the fullness of your identity.

The miracle in you is going to change what you ask for.

Ezekiel 36:26

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit"

He won't just heal what broke you, but give you a heart so pure and whole it'll be like it never happened.

The new heart is going to establish you.

My Word is connected to the new version of you; to the person that I know you're going to become.

"I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them." (Ezekiel 36:27)

If there's a disconnect between who you know you're supposed to be and where you are right now, it's in the heart.

What heart posture is required for this yes?

You cannot afford to stay the same way. Can't really have confidence of who you are if you have not experienced the transformation within your heart.

He gives you courage, boldness and confidence.

A kingdom mentality requires you have to be confident before you conquer.

Jesus makes sure Peter is confident before He moves him to the frontlines.

God is building your confidence for where He is placing you. Had to make sure you had the endurance before He puts you in the race. He's getting ready to put you on the front lines.

Starters, get in position.

God was working on you and transforming you in the background.

When Jesus asked Peter these questions, it was a confidence test. Some things God can't give you until you are thinking and seeing on the level God needs you to be.

Testing how you respond and engage with certain people.

Peter passes the test.

It was risky to say that He believed who Jesus was. Now he can receive power and access by knowing who He is.

If we really know who Jesus is, there's power and authority granted to us.

Ephesians 1:11-12

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance"

We don't have to do things in our own strength because of the access.

The enemy is after your confidence in who God is.

If you lose confidence in who God is, you lose access.

Don't forfeit your inheritance - you are never out of strategy.

All of heaven's resources back you up.

Your confidence is in your inheritance. You receive access through Jesus.

God is going to show up every time.

What does your inheritance look like? Who are you supposed to be in this earth? What has God called you to do?

Walk like you've got an inheritance.

You'll never be without creativity, wisdom, strength - you have an inheritance for every season of your life.

Ask God how am I supposed to spend my inheritance in this season of my life?

Peter knows who He is and what he has access to. So many of us are stuck because we don't realize this.

Something powerful happened when Peter passed the test.

Trust who God says that you are.

The goal: Build in spaces where people know who you are.

The gates of hell will not prevail but they will try. Have to have the confidence to know it will never break loose.

Someone has to be willing to stand on the frontlines. We have to find our way to the front.

Not every season is a frontline season. Let God heal and restore you as you prepare to get on the frontlines.

If you need to take a break, take a break. Get your mind and heart right.