"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:16-25

Now that we have laid the foundation—that identity becomes calling—we move into the first and most essential expression of our response: surrender. Identity without surrender becomes theory. Identity with surrender becomes transformation. Knowing who you are in Jesus must lead to a yielded life, because the Spirit does not shape what we withhold. He forms what He fills, and He fills what is fully surrendered. Paul lays out this Kingdom reality in Galatians 5:16-25, calling us to walk by the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the desires of the flesh. The flesh pulls us downward; the Spirit sends us heavenward. The flesh moves us toward self; the Spirit moves us toward Jesus. The flesh demands control; the Spirit demands surrender. And the two are at war within us -- not because we are weak, but because we are being transformed. The presence of conflict is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of transformation. To walk by the Spirit is not a one-time choice—it is a daily yielding, a moment-by-moment surrender of our will. Every day we lay our preferences, our impulses, our reactions, and our desires before God and acknowledge that His way is better. Every day we choose the voice of the Spirit over the voice of the world, the voice of truth over the voice of impulse, the voice of obedience over the voice of convenience. For when we yield, the Spirit produces His fruit in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not the results of human effort; they are the evidence of divine occupancy. They are proof—not of our discipline—but of His dominion. The fruit of the Spirit is the fragrance of a surrendered life. And as we yield daily, the inner war begins to shift. Desires change. Reactions soften. Thoughts align. And slowly, the life of Jesus becomes visible within us. To surrender is not to lose yourself—it is to discover who you truly are. It is to allow the Spirit to bring your Kingdom identity into full expression. It is to give Him access to every hidden corner so that nothing within you resists His shaping hand. True identity always leads to Spirit-led obedience, and true calling always flows from Spirit-filled surrender. Brothers & Sisters, this is the hour to yield. Lay down the illusion of control and break agreement with every impulse that resists the Spirit. Open the gates of your will and let the King of Glory come in. The Spirit cannot fill what you clutch, nor form what you refuse to surrender. Yield—fully and fearlessly—until the old nature loses its grip and the fruit of the Spirit burns within you. This is the divine exchange: your will for His, your strength for His power. Step into the river of surrender and let the Spirit carry you into the fullness of your calling. THE SURRENDERED WILL: YIELDING TO THE SPIRIT!

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2

If you’re just joining us on this journey, welcome. I’ve just completed a month-long series exploring our identity in the Messiah -- who we are because of His finished work, His love, His calling, and His transformative grace. We discovered that identity is not something we earn; it is something we receive. It is not fragile; it is rooted. It is not changing; it is anchored in the eternal purposes of God. But now we turn a corner, because identity is never meant to be the destination. It is meant to be the foundation. Identity is not the finish line -- it is the starting gate. And now that we know who we are in Messiah, we step into the next essential revelation: identity becomes calling. Paul urges us in Romans 12:1–2 to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. He calls us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so we may walk in the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Mercy comes first -- God reveals who we are; surrender follows -- we offer Him our whole lives; transformation unfolds -- our minds are renewed; and calling emerges -- we step into His will. Identity is the soil; calling is the fruit. You cannot live out your purpose until you’ve embraced your identity, and you cannot fully walk in your identity until you surrender to your calling. Identity demands a response. When God reveals who you are, He is inviting you into something greater. If you are beloved, live loved. If you are chosen, walk set apart. If you are redeemed, stop living like a captive. If you are His workmanship, step into the works prepared for you. If you are a temple of the Spirit, honor the Presence you carry. If you are a new creation, walk as one whose old life has died. Identity is a holy summons -- calling you away from the patterns of this world, into the renewing power of the Spirit, into a life of worship expressed not merely in song, but in surrender. Brothers & Sisters, your identity in Jesus was never meant to sit unused like a forgotten gift. It was meant to shape how you think, how you speak, what you pursue, what you refuse, and how you live your life before God and before the world. In the Kingdom, identity is always connected to assignment. You are not just saved -- you are sent. You are not just forgiven -- you are formed. You are not just redeemed -- you are recruited into God’s purposes. And now begins the journey of walking this out in practical, daily obedience, letting the truth of who you are ignite the life you are called to live. WHEN IDENTITY BECOMES CALLING!

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7 ; "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27

Every journey of identity culminates in this: you are the Bride of Messiah. Not merely a servant, not merely a disciple, not merely a child — but a Bride being prepared for eternal union with the King. Revelation declares, “The bride has made herself ready,” and Paul reveals how: Messiah “loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify her… and present her to Himself a glorious church.” Your identity is rooted in love — not human love, but covenant love, eternal love, bridal love. The Bride is not chosen because she is perfect; she becomes perfect because she is chosen. The Bride is not radiant because she strives; she is radiant because she is loved. The Bride does not prepare herself in fear, but in affection — responding to the One who laid His life down for her. Identity becomes destiny when love becomes union. You are being made ready — washed by the Word, strengthened by the Spirit, adorned with righteousness, purified by His presence. And the more you understand who you are to Him, the more your life aligns with the purity and passion of the Bride. Brothers & Sisters, awaken to the love that chose you before time began. Respond to His pursuit with your whole heart. Let His affection become the measure of your worth, His gaze the fire that purifies you, and His voice the invitation that draws you deeper into intimacy. Shake off every lesser identity and rise into the one He has spoken over you. You are the Bride of the Lamb — desired, cherished, pursued, and destined for unbreakable union with your Bridegroom King. And with the Spirit burning within you, lift your voice in harmony with heaven’s deepest cry: “Come, even so, come Lord!” THE BRIDE MADE READY -- IDENTITY IN CONVENANT LOVE!

"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:4 ; "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2

Your identity is grounded in the present, but its fullness is revealed in the future. John writes, “Beloved, now we are children of God,” but also, “when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Identity begins now, but destiny is unveiled then — at the moment you behold the Bridegroom in glory. Colossians echoes this truth: “When Jesus, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Your life is hidden with Him now, but one day it will be revealed in brilliance. Everything you have become in the secret place will shine openly. Everything He has formed within you will rise in splendor. The identity we discover by faith today will be seen in fullness on that Day. Your destiny is not merely heaven — it is union. Every moment of your journey is preparing you for the unveiling of eternity. You are being fashioned as a Bride adorned for her Bridegroom — radiant, pure, and filled with the very glory of God. The Spirit is shaping you, refining you, and clothing you with splendor for that holy moment when the heavens open, the Bridegroom calls, and you appear with Him in glory. Redemption, transformation, adoption, sanctification — all of it is leading to one breathtaking revelation: you, fully restored, fully radiant, fully like Him. Brothers & Sisters, so set your hope with unwavering certainty on that glorious day. Let every heartbeat lean toward His appearing. For when you behold the Bridegroom in His glory, you will step into the fullness of who you were created to be — perfected in love, crowned with light, and united forever with the One your soul loves. DESTINY AND ETERNAL GLOTY -- WHEN WE SEE HIM. WE BECOME LIKE HIM!

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18

You become like whatever you behold. Identity is not shaped by striving but by seeing -- by gazing upon the glory of Jesus. Paul writes that as we behold "the glory of the Lord," we are "being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." Identity begins with revelation, but it matures through beholding. Transformation is not self-improvement -- it is spiritual metamorphosis. Just as Moses' face shone when he encountered God on the mountain, your inner life shines when you behold the face of Jesus. Beholding Him is not a moment; it is a posture. It is fixing your eyes on the One whose glory redefines your own. Every glimpse of His love transforms your heart. Every revelation of His truth renews your mind. Every encounter with His presence reshapes your identity. This is why the enemy fights to distract your attention -- because whatever captures your gaze eventually captures your nature. But when you behold the Lord, you rise into the identity He prepared for you. Brothers & Sisters, lift your face and fix it upon Him day after day, moment by moment. Do not let the distractions of this world dim the radiance of His presence. Let His glory wash over you like a consuming fire and a cleansing river — reshaping your desires, renewing your mind, and awakening your spirit to who you truly are. For as you behold Him — deeply, consistently, intentionally — you will become like Him. His nature will mark you, His light will fill you, and His beauty will be reflected through your life. Behold Him… and watch His glory transform you from the inside out. TRANSFORMED FROM GLORY TO GLORY -- BECOMING WHAT WE BEHOLD!

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Revelation 12:10-11

From the beginning, the enemy’s strategy has never been raw power — it has always been accusation. The serpent did not overpower Adam and Eve; he distorted their identity. He didn’t attack their strength; he attacked their perception of who they were and who God is. The battle has never changed. Revelation calls Satan “the accuser of our brethren,” whose weapon is the distortion of identity, shame, and fear. But it also declares his defeat: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” The blood answers every accusation. The testimony establishes who you now are. The accuser speaks from your past, but the blood speaks from your redemption. The enemy whispers, “You are what you did,” but heaven declares, “You are who He made you to be.” Overcoming happens when you refuse to agree with the lie and stand firm in the truth — that you are forgiven, cleansed, righteous, beloved, and sealed by God. The accuser seeks to remind you of who you were, but the Spirit reminds you of who you have become. Every time you declare your identity in Jesus rather than your identity in the flesh, you strike a blow against the kingdom of darkness. Overcomers silence the accuser not by shouting louder, but by agreeing with the blood that speaks a better word. Brothers & Sisters, rise up and stand unshakable in the identity the Lamb purchased with His own blood. Let His voice define you and silence every lie of the accuser. The blood speaks a better word — let that word thunder through your spirit. The enemy has no authority over what God has redeemed. So claim your victory, walk in that victory, and live from that victory — for you are redeemed, you are made new, and you belong wholly to Him. OVERCOMING THE ACCUSER -- STANDING FIRM IN YOUR TRUE IDENTITY!

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." Romans 8:16-17

One of the most breathtaking truths of your identity in Jesus is this: you are not merely forgiven — you are an heir. Not a servant in the house, not a distant relative, and not an outsider tolerated at the table, but a co-heir who shares the inheritance, authority, and destiny of the Son Himself. Paul declares, “If children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Messiah” (Romans 8:17), a truth that reshapes everything about who you are. You do not inherit from God; you inherit with the Son of God, and whatever belongs to Him He joyfully shares with you. This is not poetic imagery but heaven’s legal decree — you are written into the Father’s will because you are united with His Son. In ancient times, to be a co-heir meant full equality of inheritance, shared rights, and shared access. The Father placed everything in Yeshua’s hands and then placed you in Him, meaning you share in His life, His promises, His authority, His righteousness, His destiny, and even His glory. You are not standing outside the gates; you are seated at the table of royalty. Your inheritance is both future and present — you walk in the Son’s authority today, steward His Kingdom on earth now, and carry the Spirit as the down payment of what is to come. Scripture says, “We will reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12), revealing that your destiny is royal and your life is meant to reflect His rule. Being a co-heir crushes every lie of insufficiency; you are not lacking, powerless, or insignificant. You carry the wealth of heaven, the authority of the Son, and the destiny of the Kingdom. Everything you need for your calling has already been placed in your inheritance. Brothers & Sisters, lift your eyes — you are royalty. You are not striving to earn blessing; you are learning to steward it. You are not begging for access; you are living from it. You are not trying to create a destiny; you are stepping into the one He already prepared. Walk with the confidence of a son, stand with the authority of a royal heir, and live with the expectation of one who shares the destiny of Messiah Himself. You are not merely in the Kingdom — you are a co-heir with the King, sharing His inheritance, His authority, and His glory. CO - HEIRS WITH MESSIAH -- SHARING HIS INHERITANCE AND DESTINY!

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." Revelation 2:17

All throughout Scripture, when God called someone into a new destiny, He gave them a new name. A name wasn't merely a label -- it was an identity, a calling, a destiny spoken into being by the mouth of God Himself. When the Almighty changes a name, He is not describing who you were -- He is declaring who you are in Him. Abram became Abraham -- exalted father became "father of many nations." Sarai became Sarah -- barren became "mother of nations." Jacob became Israel -- deceiver became "one who prevails with God." Each new name carried divine purpose and heavenly authority. It was God's way of rewriting a person's story, breaking the identity of the past, and revealing their destiny in the Kingdom. And beloved, the God who renamed them also renames you. In Jesus, you are no longer called by the names your past gave you -- sinner, broken, rejected, unworthy, forgotten. Heaven calls you by a name that reflects who you are in Christ, not who you were in Adam. God does not speak to your failures; He speaks to your future. Revelation 2:17 unveils this mystery: "To the one who overcomes... I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." Think of this -- heaven has a name for you that no one else knows. A name whispered from the heart of God, spoken in love, tailored to your identity, your calling, your story. A name that only your Father can give. A name that carries your destiny. Jesus Himself promised that His sheep would be called by name. "He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out" (John 10:3). He does not lead you with labels -- He leads you with identity. The world may call you one thing, but the Shepherd calls you by the name heaven has written over your life. In Jesus you have been given names that reflect your true nature: Chosen. Redeemed. Beloved. Son. Daughter. Priest. Overcomer. Bride. But these are only the beginning. Above all of them, the Father has spoken something personal, unique, eternal -- a name no one else knows but you and Him. This name carries your identity, your purpose, your calling. It breaks the power of every false name spoken over you -- every insult, every wound, every lie the enemy ever used to shape your identity. The new name God gives is not earned -- it is received. It is the fruit of intimacy, identity, and transformation. As you walk with Him, the more clearly you hear it. The closer you draw, the more deeply it shapes you. Heaven's name over you is stronger than every label the world has tried to place on you. It is louder than the voice of shame, bolder than the wounds of your past, and more enduring than any earthly identity. Brothers & Sisters, lift your heart today and ask the Father to speak His name over you. Silence the voices of the past, the accusations of the enemy, and the labels of men. Listen for the whisper of heaven -- the name spoken from the throne, the name written on the white stone, the name that reveals who you are in Him. You are not who you were. You are who He says you are. You carry a new identity, a new destiny, a new name. Let heaven's declaration define you -- for the Father has named you, and His word is final. A NEW NAME: IDENTITY DEFINED BY GOD'S DECLARATION!