I challenge your identity 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (Nkjv)

• The other day, my heart was full- It was my beautiful wife’s birthday, and we decided to watch a movie – and she chose the original Lion King 
• Disclaimer: Simba – Lion, Rafiki is friend- they were not being very creative with the names, they just translated them to Swahili and all the people went wild 
• The story is of King Mufasa whose son Simba is set to inherit and rule the jungle 
• However, his uncle Scar comes up with a plan to have King Mufasa killed and then blames Simba for his father’s death
• Scar gets into Simba’s head and assures him that when the rest of the clan finds out he killed his father they would never forgive him and so he urges him to run away as far away as possible and never to return
• Simba goes on to live in the jungle with two vegetarian friend Pumba and Timon 
• All along forgetting that he is a king, he is strong and the most important part, that he is not a vegetarian!
• Why do I take you to African even though we are speaking about the Bible?
• Because all Scar had to do was to challenge Simba’s identity and Simba took it from there – He lived not as who he truly was, but as what others thought and said about him 
• We have to be careful about what we answer to, what we allow others to say about us and more important that we do not loose who God has called us to be 
• Today everywhere you go there are voices that says:
  • You don’t do that? – I challenge your identity 
  • You don’t support that – I challenge your identity
  • You believe in God and do the church thing – I challenge your identity 
  • If you have to be successful, loved, voted in, good person, you need to check what you stand for –How much do you want it – I challenge your identity  
• Here is how Paul responds to those who are questioning his identity: 

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (Nkjv) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our [b]consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

• • Paul writes another letter to the Corinth church 
  • There is about a year apart between the 1st letter to the Corinth Church – The timeline is important because, a year, a month, a week, a day, an hour, minute decision can undermine the integrity of what God is doing in your life
  • The enemy is looking for a vacuum in your life to come and be the source -Seeking to destroy
  • At this point, in just a year, the church is already undermining the authority of Paul 
  • Just like Simba, some of the people are taking up Scars position and saying – You are not who you say you are, you are not capable of what you think you are capable of, you are not a child of God, you will never be forgiven for your past mistakes, everyone knows what you did, if they find out what you struggle with, they can never be your friend – run, run , run as far away as possible, isolate, be fake – they don’t want to see the real you!
  • It’s clear that those in the Corinth Church that had issues with the leadership (issue with the guy far away) they much have deeper internal issues that they choose not to address
  • It’s interesting to note that before someone is against authority – church specifically, they don’t have their stuff right 
  • We also see that there are false apostles questioning Paul’s authority, and the same is true in todays church 
  • The Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun…the enemy uses the same tactics then and today 
  • Have y’all been watching all the campaign ads – it’s been 27 years since I came to this country and man, y’all are dirty players
  • It’s no longer, if you choose me, this is what I will do for you, it more like, let’s me tell you how evil other guy is- He is —- and the list of bad things goes on – No wonder this guys get voted in and there are no developments because of they know how to do is sling mud and cow poo at others 
  • It’s the same voice – Lets challenge his/her identity
  • I challenge your authority; did He really say you can’t eat the fruit from that tree?
  • In the movie, Simba, Timon and Pumba even come up with a phrase “Hakuna Matata” – means —
  • This is how deep we can be so far away from our true identity that we build comfortable songs, behaviors, friendships, idols 
  • For the one who has been called for greatness – Hakuna Matata is a curse – its comfort in the enemies’ camp- it’s you taking the false identity and owning it now knowing that you are masking fear, doubt, self-hate, lies from the enemy, you have been robbed – Wake up!!!
  • Hakuna Matata! – yes it means no worries – But honestly when your identity has been challenged and you have forgotten who you are – there is Matata!! 
  • We can sing all we want, but the truth is someone who’s identity is compromised is like a city with broken walls 
  • Hence Paul’s introduction is a reminder, a statement of who he is!

• 2 Corinthians 1:1 (AMP) Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah) by the will of God

• • Personally chosen as a representative of Christ Jesus the Messiah (if you didn’t catch the first line, let me explain further what that means
  • I am King Simba, son of King Mufasa the ruler of this Jungle – “everywhere the sun touches is mine”
    • I am a Child of God – John 1:12 
    • I am created in the Image of God -Genesis 1:27
    • I am chosen – Ephesians 1:4-5
    • I am forgiven and redeemed – Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:13-14
    • I am more than a conquer – Romans 8:37
  •  And there is Matata if you question who I am
  • And this is not by my strength – Its “By the will of God!!”My king, My Father, My Lord!!!
• Even though some of the members of the Corinth church held Paul in low regard, that did not diminish his standing as a called vessel by God himself 
• Though the external forces were opposing, it didn’t change who Paul was 
• The enemy will come against you, and he will use people to diminish who you are, the truth is that, that power will only goes to the extent that you allow it 
• This next season of being a Christian will require us to know in our know know who we are, if you want to overcome and be victorious against persecution that is coming- you better have your identity in Christ on Lock down!!