Do Not Believe the Lie: Reclaiming Your Identity in Christ
From the Sermon of November 2, 2025
We live in a world filled with voices competing for our attention. Some encourage, some inspire, but others whisper destructive lies that can paralyze our faith and steal our joy. Understanding the source of these lies and learning how to combat them with truth is essential for every believer who wants to walk confidently in their identity as a child of God.
The Accuser of the Brethren
Scripture reveals a startling truth about our spiritual enemy: his primary occupation is accusation. Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brothers" who accuses believers "day and night before our God." This isn't occasional harassment—it's his constant activity, his relentless mission.
We see this pattern throughout Scripture. In the book of Job, Satan appears before God to accuse Job of false motives, suggesting that Job only serves God because of divine blessings. In Zechariah 3, Satan stands ready to accuse Joshua the high priest, attempting to condemn him for his sins. The very name "Satan" means adversary or accuser, and the Greek word "Diabolos" (devil) means slanderer.
This enemy doesn't merely tempt—he twists truth to shame and discredit God's people. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). His weapon of choice? The lie.
The Lies We Believe
Have you ever found yourself thinking: "Am I really saved? Sometimes I don't feel saved"? Or perhaps: "I'm such a bad person. I've done things I'm so ashamed of—I'm not sure God could forgive me"? Maybe you've wrestled with thoughts like "If only others knew what I did" or "I'm not worthy to be loved."
These thoughts—along with darker whispers of self-harm, worthlessness, or violence—don't originate from God. They are lies from the accuser, designed to disconnect you from your Creator and steal your confidence in Christ.
James 1:14-15 reminds us that evil thoughts, when left unchecked, lead to sin. Sin begins in thought. When we dwell on destructive ideas rather than rejecting them, we open the door to spiritual defeat.
Taking Every Thought Captive
But we are not helpless in this battle. Second Corinthians 10:5 provides our strategy: "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Imagine a guard standing watch at the gates of a city. Every person seeking entry must be examined. If they pose a threat, they're denied access. Your mind is that city, and you are the gatekeeper. Every thought should pass a simple test: Does this align with what God says? Does it line up with God's Word? Would this thought please Jesus?
We must filter every idea, desire, and belief through the truth of Scripture. If a thought doesn't align with God's Word, it must be rejected. If it does align, it should be welcomed and allowed to shape our lives.
Replacing Lies with Truth
When Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, He responded to Satan's lies with Scripture, declaring, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). God's Word is our defense.
So what does God actually say about His children?
You are redeemed and forgiven. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
You are a child of the living God. "To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Through the Spirit of adoption, you have the privilege to call God "Father."
You are holy and blameless before Him. God "chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him" (Ephesians 1:4).
Your citizenship is in heaven. You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9).
You are clothed in Christ's righteousness. "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
These aren't empty platitudes—they're declarations from the Word of God spoken over every believer. If God says you are righteous, who are you to argue with Him?
The Power of God's Word
When accusatory thoughts arise—"I'm worthless," "Am I really saved?" "No one loves me"—take the thought captive. Recognize it isn't from God. Reject it. And answer with God's Word: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
This requires vigilance and consistency. God calls His followers to have the mind of Christ, which means being daily in His Word, praying without ceasing, and placing His words above your thoughts. When you truly listen to Scripture and talk to your Creator in obedience, you begin to think as He thinks about sin. You hate what He hates and love what He loves.
Don't be ruled by your feelings—be ruled by God's Word. The devil wants you to feel overwhelmed and discouraged so you'll give up following Jesus. He accuses you of your sin. But Jesus never throws sin in your face. He came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).
Christ Our Defender
Even though Satan accuses, Jesus intercedes. Romans 8:33-34 asks, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us?"
Satan's accusations have no power against those cleansed by Christ's blood. First John 2:1 assures us: "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Stop allowing the accuser to take you captive. God has prepared eternal fire for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)—not for you. God doesn't want you there. You're made in His image. He is "patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
An Invitation to Wholeness
God takes broken people and makes them whole again. He takes hurt people and heals their broken hearts. He takes the sinful and cleanses them from all sin.
Drugs won't make you whole. Money won't make you whole. Possessions, gossip, jealousy—none of these earthly things will help when you stand before the living God. Your physical strength will fade. Your beauty will fade.
What will make you whole and content, what will make you strong, who will guide and protect you in this life and the life to come is God and God alone.
If you're struggling with belief, come as you are right now. Don't try to clean yourself up first—God saw you in your sin and loves you anyway. Start a new life in Christ where you don't have to live in shame anymore. Walk hand in hand with the Lord, with the ear of God available through prayer, the Word of God on your heart, and the Holy Spirit convicting you to live out God's commands.
Do not believe the lies of the devil that you aren't worth the blood Jesus shed. God values you. God wants you. Christ died a cruel, torturous death, taking the sin of mankind on Himself, and He requires that we change our minds about sin and obey Him.
Truth or lies? The choice is yours. Choose truth. Choose life. Choose Christ.
We live in a world filled with voices competing for our attention. Some encourage, some inspire, but others whisper destructive lies that can paralyze our faith and steal our joy. Understanding the source of these lies and learning how to combat them with truth is essential for every believer who wants to walk confidently in their identity as a child of God.
The Accuser of the Brethren
Scripture reveals a startling truth about our spiritual enemy: his primary occupation is accusation. Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brothers" who accuses believers "day and night before our God." This isn't occasional harassment—it's his constant activity, his relentless mission.
We see this pattern throughout Scripture. In the book of Job, Satan appears before God to accuse Job of false motives, suggesting that Job only serves God because of divine blessings. In Zechariah 3, Satan stands ready to accuse Joshua the high priest, attempting to condemn him for his sins. The very name "Satan" means adversary or accuser, and the Greek word "Diabolos" (devil) means slanderer.
This enemy doesn't merely tempt—he twists truth to shame and discredit God's people. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). His weapon of choice? The lie.
The Lies We Believe
Have you ever found yourself thinking: "Am I really saved? Sometimes I don't feel saved"? Or perhaps: "I'm such a bad person. I've done things I'm so ashamed of—I'm not sure God could forgive me"? Maybe you've wrestled with thoughts like "If only others knew what I did" or "I'm not worthy to be loved."
These thoughts—along with darker whispers of self-harm, worthlessness, or violence—don't originate from God. They are lies from the accuser, designed to disconnect you from your Creator and steal your confidence in Christ.
James 1:14-15 reminds us that evil thoughts, when left unchecked, lead to sin. Sin begins in thought. When we dwell on destructive ideas rather than rejecting them, we open the door to spiritual defeat.
Taking Every Thought Captive
But we are not helpless in this battle. Second Corinthians 10:5 provides our strategy: "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Imagine a guard standing watch at the gates of a city. Every person seeking entry must be examined. If they pose a threat, they're denied access. Your mind is that city, and you are the gatekeeper. Every thought should pass a simple test: Does this align with what God says? Does it line up with God's Word? Would this thought please Jesus?
We must filter every idea, desire, and belief through the truth of Scripture. If a thought doesn't align with God's Word, it must be rejected. If it does align, it should be welcomed and allowed to shape our lives.
Replacing Lies with Truth
When Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, He responded to Satan's lies with Scripture, declaring, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). God's Word is our defense.
So what does God actually say about His children?
You are redeemed and forgiven. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
You are a child of the living God. "To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Through the Spirit of adoption, you have the privilege to call God "Father."
You are holy and blameless before Him. God "chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him" (Ephesians 1:4).
Your citizenship is in heaven. You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9).
You are clothed in Christ's righteousness. "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
These aren't empty platitudes—they're declarations from the Word of God spoken over every believer. If God says you are righteous, who are you to argue with Him?
The Power of God's Word
When accusatory thoughts arise—"I'm worthless," "Am I really saved?" "No one loves me"—take the thought captive. Recognize it isn't from God. Reject it. And answer with God's Word: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
This requires vigilance and consistency. God calls His followers to have the mind of Christ, which means being daily in His Word, praying without ceasing, and placing His words above your thoughts. When you truly listen to Scripture and talk to your Creator in obedience, you begin to think as He thinks about sin. You hate what He hates and love what He loves.
Don't be ruled by your feelings—be ruled by God's Word. The devil wants you to feel overwhelmed and discouraged so you'll give up following Jesus. He accuses you of your sin. But Jesus never throws sin in your face. He came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).
Christ Our Defender
Even though Satan accuses, Jesus intercedes. Romans 8:33-34 asks, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us?"
Satan's accusations have no power against those cleansed by Christ's blood. First John 2:1 assures us: "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Stop allowing the accuser to take you captive. God has prepared eternal fire for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)—not for you. God doesn't want you there. You're made in His image. He is "patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
An Invitation to Wholeness
God takes broken people and makes them whole again. He takes hurt people and heals their broken hearts. He takes the sinful and cleanses them from all sin.
Drugs won't make you whole. Money won't make you whole. Possessions, gossip, jealousy—none of these earthly things will help when you stand before the living God. Your physical strength will fade. Your beauty will fade.
What will make you whole and content, what will make you strong, who will guide and protect you in this life and the life to come is God and God alone.
If you're struggling with belief, come as you are right now. Don't try to clean yourself up first—God saw you in your sin and loves you anyway. Start a new life in Christ where you don't have to live in shame anymore. Walk hand in hand with the Lord, with the ear of God available through prayer, the Word of God on your heart, and the Holy Spirit convicting you to live out God's commands.
Do not believe the lies of the devil that you aren't worth the blood Jesus shed. God values you. God wants you. Christ died a cruel, torturous death, taking the sin of mankind on Himself, and He requires that we change our minds about sin and obey Him.
Truth or lies? The choice is yours. Choose truth. Choose life. Choose Christ.
Posted in Christian Walk
Posted in Spiritual Warfare, Redemption, Christian Walk, Identity in Christ
Posted in Spiritual Warfare, Redemption, Christian Walk, Identity in Christ
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