It’s Really Okay to Be Who You Are | Pastor Tre Townsley | 11.30

 It’s Really Okay to Be Who You Are

REVIEW

• Do you not know?
• In Christ we must function from who we are
• We are new creations 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
• We are accepted Ephesians 1:5-6
• We are (already) delivered from the power of darkness Colossians 1:13
• We have overcome 1 John 4:4
• We have everything we need Ephesians 1:3
• When you don’t know who you are, you are unlikely to fulfill your potential.
• When you ask the average person “Are you saved?” What is the likely response?
• Ask the average person “Have you been rescued?” What is the likely response?
• Luke 19:1-10 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. ² Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³ And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. ⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” ⁶ So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. ⁷ But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” ⁸ Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
• Salvation: G4991 (so-tay-ree’-ah) n. rescue/safety, deliverance. Deliverance not just from the debt, but from that which causes us to be debtors.
• This opportunity to be rescued is available to everyone 
• Titus 2:11 ¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
• However, it will only be received by a select few 
• Mark 2:15-17 ¹⁵ Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. ¹⁶ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
• When we were rescued from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13), we were identified as Christ’s own (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Notice that when identity was being changed, there was opposition present
• This opposition is seen clearly in Luke 15:1-3 and 11-24
• Luke 15 ¹Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:..          …¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
• Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…
• Who is the enemy? The weapons we are given in battle are determined by the enemy we fight. 
• 2 Corinthians 10:4 ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments [imaginations] and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ    (bold text added from KJV) 
• Strong holds: arguments used to fortify an opinion
• Imaginations: reasonings, computations
• Knowledge: the knowing in the intellect
• Thought: perception in the mind
• Each of these exist in the mind
• How do we walk in this?
• 1) Homologeo: to voice the same conclusion; to agree; to speak the same thing.
• Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
• 1 John 1:9 ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
• 2) Heart Belief: connect your heart (meditation) with your words 
• Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
• James 1:14-15 ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
• Psalm 1:1-6 ¹Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. ⁴ The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. ⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. ⁶ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
• 3) Activation: Neural pathways are like a pioneer trekking through uncharted territory. The first pass is supremely difficult. However, the more passes she makes, the easier it is. Not only that, the path becomes more pronounced. Eventually, it becomes the path of least resistance (automatic behavior) 
• Galatians 5:16, 25 ¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…   ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
• Luke 4:3-4 ³ And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” ⁴ But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

It’s Really Okay to Be Who You Are | Pastor Tre Townsley | 11.30.25

 It’s Really Okay to Be Who You Are

REVIEW

 Do you not know?

 In Christ we must function from who we are

o We are new creations 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

o We are accepted Ephesians 1:5-6

o We are (already) delivered from the power of darkness

Colossians 1:13

o We have overcome 1 John 4:4

o We have everything we need Ephesians 1:3

 When you don’t know who you are, you are unlikely to fulfill

your potential.

 When you ask the average person “Are you saved?” What is

the likely response?

 Ask the average person “Have you been rescued?” What is

the likely response?

 Luke 19:1-10 Then Jesus entered and passed

through Jericho.  2  Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus

who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.  3  And he sought to see

who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of

short stature.  4  So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree

to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.  5  And when Jesus

came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to

him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay

at your house.”  6  So he made haste and came down, and received

Him joyfully.  7  But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He

has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8  Then

Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my

goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false

accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9  And Jesus said to him, “Today

salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of

Abraham;  10  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that

which was lost.”

 Salvation: G4991 (so-tay-ree’-ah) n. rescue/safety,

deliverance. Deliverance not just from the debt, but from that

which causes us to be debtors.

 This opportunity to be rescued is available to everyone

 Titus 2:11 11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared

to all men

 However, it will only be received by a select few

 Mark 2:15-17 15  Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house,

that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and

His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  16  And

when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax

collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He

eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17  When Jesus

heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a

physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to

call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

 When we were rescued from the power of darkness

(Colossians 1:13), we were identified as Christ’s own (John

1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

 Notice that when identity was being changed, there was

opposition present

 This opposition is seen clearly in Luke 15:1-3 and 11-24

 Luke 15 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to

Him to hear Him.  2  And the Pharisees and scribes complained,

saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”  3  So He

spoke this parable to them, saying:.. … 11  Then He said: “A

certain man had two sons.  12  And the younger of them said

to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So

he divided to them his livelihood.  13  And not many days after, the

younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and

there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14  But when he had

spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to

be in want.  15  Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that

country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16  And he would

gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and

no one gave him anything. 17  “But when he came to himself, he said,

‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to

spare, and I perish with hunger!  18  I will arise and go to my father, and

will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before

you,  19  and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like

one of your hired servants.”’ 20  “And he arose and came to his father.

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had

compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  21  And the

son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your

sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22  “But the

father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him,

and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23  And bring the

fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;  24  for this my

son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they

began to be merry.

 Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my

enemies…

 Who is the enemy? The weapons we are given in battle are

determined by the enemy we fight.

 2 Corinthians 10:4 4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal

but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  5  casting down

arguments [imaginations] and every high thing that exalts itself

against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to

the obedience of Christ (bold text added from KJV)

 Strong holds: arguments used to fortify an opinion

 Imaginations: reasonings, computations

 Knowledge: the knowing in the intellect

 Thought: perception in the mind

 Each of these exist in the mind

 How do we walk in this?

o 1) Homologeo: to voice the same conclusion; to agree;

to speak the same thing.

o Romans 10:9-10 9  that if you confess with your mouth the

Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him

from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For with the heart one

believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation. 

o 1 John 1:9 9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to

forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

o 2) Heart Belief: connect your heart (meditation) with

your words

o Romans 10:9-10 9  that if you confess with your mouth the

Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him

from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For with the heart one

believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation. 

o James 1:14-15 14  But each one is tempted when he is drawn

away by his own desires and enticed.  15  Then, when desire

has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-

grown, brings forth death.

o Psalm 1:1-6 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the

counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor

sits in the seat of the scornful; 2  But his delight is in the law of

the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3  He shall

be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its

fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and

whatever he does shall prosper. 4  The ungodly are not so,

but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5  Therefore

the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the

congregation of the righteous. 6  For the LORD knows the way of

the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

o 3) Activation: Neural pathways are like a pioneer

trekking through uncharted territory. The first pass is

supremely difficult. However, the more passes she

makes, the easier it is. Not only that, the path becomes

more pronounced. Eventually, it becomes the path of

least resistance (automatic behavior)

o Galatians 5:16, 25 16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you

shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… 25  If we live in the Spirit, let

us also walk in the Spirit

o Luke 4:3-4 3  And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of

God, command this stone to become bread.” 4  But Jesus

answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by

bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

IT’S OK TO BE WHO YOU ARE? | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 11.23.25

 IT’S OK TO BE WHO YOU ARE?

I. REVIEW

We often struggle with an identity problem

Paul and Others Had to deal with this…

1 Corinthians 3:16

 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you

 

Issue: They were dividing into factions and boasting in human leaders instead of honoring God’s presence.

 

1 Corinthians 6:2

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”

Issue: Believers were suing each other in secular courts instead of resolving disputes internally.

 

1 Corinthians 6:3

“Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”

Issue: Same issue — they were acting spiritually immature by taking small matters to unbelieving judges.

 

1 Corinthians 6:9

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom…?”

Issue: Some were excusing sinful lifestyles, acting as if salvation permitted moral compromise.

 

1 Corinthians 6:15

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”

Issue: Some believers were engaging with prostitutes, misunderstanding holiness and union with Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 6:16

“Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body…?”

Issue: Same issue — sexual immorality and a failure to grasp the spiritual consequences of joining oneself to sin.

 

Romans 6:3

“3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life

Issue: Some believers were using grace as an excuse to continue sinning, 

 

James 4:4

“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

Issue: Believers were adopting worldly attitudes — pride, quarrels, coveting — becoming spiritually “double-minded.”

 

II. IN CHRIST WE MUST FUNCTION FROM WHO WE ARE!

 

It’s OK to be who we are in:

Value –

Supply and Demand – Only one you

Price – The blood of God

Substance – Fearfully and Wonderfully made Temple of Holy Spirit

In Christ we become then we Walk it Out!

1. We are a new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new

​

 

2. We are accepted in the Beloved

Ephesians 1:5-6

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 

 

3. We are delivered from the Powers of Darkness

Col 1:13

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  

 

4. We Are Victorious: Greater one lives in us

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 

The early church was being infiltrated by:

• False teachers

• False prophets

• Spirits denying Christ

• Early forms of Gnosticism

• Teachings that Jesus did not truly come in the flesh

 

5. We have everything we need

Eph 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

We are The blood-bought,
Spirit-filled,
Grace-covered,
Mercy-washed,
Heaven-called,
Truth-rooted,
Destiny-marked Saints of the Most High God

We are redeemed from ruin,
Rescued from darkness,
Ransomed from chains,
Restored from brokenness,
Revived by His breath,
Renewed by His Word.

We are saints He sanctifies,
Temples He inhabits,
Branches He prunes and prospers,
Sheep He guards and guides,
Soldiers He trains for triumph,
Ambassadors He sends with authority.

We are chosen people,
Royal priesthood,
Holy nation,
Set-apart ones,
Carriers of light that cannot be hidden,
Hope that cannot be stolen,
Truth that cannot be silenced.

We are forgiven - Not forsaken.
Cleansed - Not condemned.
Strengthened - Not shaken.
Appointed - Not abandoned.
Anointed - Not rejected.

We are joy of the Father,
Reward of the Son,
Dwelling place of the Spirit,
Loved without limits,
Kept without question,
Held without hesitation.

We are image-bearers,
Reflecting His character.
Glory-carriers,
Hosting His presence.
Promise-walkers,
Standing on what He said.
Miracle-testifiers,
Living proof of His power.
Overcomers,
Born of God and built for victory.

We are salt of the earth,
Planted with purpose.
Light of the world,
Shining with conviction.
City on a hill,
Seen by generations.
Letters of Christ,
Read by a watching world.

We are beloved,
Kept,
Called,
Commissioned,
Sealed,
Strengthened,
Steadfast,
Sent.

We walk in identity,
Stand in authority,
Live in purity,
Grow in maturity,
Speak with clarity,
Shine with eternity

We are His —
Forever chosen,
Forever cherished,
Forever changed,
Forever held,
Forever loved,
Forever Spirit-filled.

With every breath,
Every step,
Every moment,
We boldly declare:

We are who God says we are —
Nothing less.
Nothing else.
Nothing broken.
Nothing stolen.
Nothing missing.

We are His —
Now and forever.

 

III. HOW DO WE WALK IN THIS

1. Homologeo

Romans 10:9-10

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Mark 11:23-24

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them

 

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

 

James 3:4

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires

Ex. Tongue sets the course of our whole lives. 

 

 

What we repeatedly say becomes what we repeatedly think.
What we repeatedly think becomes what we repeatedly believe.
What we repeatedly believe becomes what we repeatedly do.
And what we repeatedly do becomes who we become.

 

Neurologically: Your brain believes what your mouth repeats.

The brain has a mechanism called neuroplasticity.
It rewires itself around repeated thoughts and repeated language.

When you speak something often:

• The brain fires the same neural pathways

• Those pathways get stronger

• They become automatic

• They become identity

• They become behavior

Ex. Neurosurgeon – Speech center of brain controls whole nr=nervous system

Ex. We are speaking spirits

2. Heart Belief (Connection)

Romans 10:9-10

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

James 1:14-15

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

 

Meditation – Leads to conception.

Ex. Cows chew the cud. 

 

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6​For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish

3. Activation

We do the deeds until it becomes automated

Eph 4:1-2

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love

 

Gal 5:25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

 

Col 3:12-13

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do