Empowered for Purpose, Part 2: A New Identity
You cannot walk in kingdom purpose while clinging to an old identity.
That is a simple statement, but it carries tremendous weight. We cannot move into the fullness of what God has for us while still holding on to our past, incorrect thoughts about ourselves, ungodly mindsets, negative self-talk, shame, fear, or old patterns of thinking.
Most of us understand this more than we realize. How many of us have had an old coat, old sweater, or old pair of shoes we just did not want to let go of? Maybe someone gave us something new, something better, something more fitting for the season we were in, but we still wanted the old one because it was familiar. It may have been worn out, but it felt comfortable.
That is often how old identities work. We know Christ has made us new, but sometimes we are still more comfortable wearing the old garment. We are familiar with the past. We are familiar with old thought patterns. We are familiar with the inner narrative that says, “I am just a failure,” “I will never amount to much,” “There is no real hope for me,” or “This is just the way I am.”
But God loves us too much to leave us trapped there. His love for us does not change when we struggle, fail, or wrestle with those old mindsets. That is the beauty of the Father’s love. He loves us no matter what. Yet as a loving Father, He continues to bring us into a greater revelation of His love, mercy, freedom, healing, and purpose.
God created you with purpose. You were made in His image, recreated in Christ, born anew by the Spirit, and called into a life of meaning, assignment, destiny, and influence. Purpose is not reserved for a few extraordinary people. It is the inheritance of every believer.
The Christian life is not merely about being saved from sin and waiting for heaven. Jesus not only saves people from sin; He empowers ordinary people for kingdom purposes through identity, grace, community, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
That is the heartbeat of this series, Empowered for Purpose. It is the story of what happens when ordinary, broken people encounter Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit, renew their minds, walk in grace, stay connected in kingdom community, and step courageously into God’s mission.
And perhaps no disciple gives us a more relatable picture of this journey than Peter.
Peter’s life becomes a template for many of us. He was weak yet chosen, broken yet restored, fearful yet empowered, and ordinary yet world-changing. That sounds like most of us, doesn’t it? We are not always polished. We are not always strong. We do not always get it right. We have good days and bad days. There are times when we succeed, and there are times when we fail.
But failure is not final when grace rewrites your future.
You do not have “failure” written across your forehead. You do not have a large “F” stamped over your life. Humanity often remembers people by their faults and failures. Even the news media seems to specialize in finding the dirt in people’s lives. But God does not see us that way. He forgives, restores, and remembers our lawless deeds no more.
In Christ, your past does not get the final word. Grace defines your future—not failure, not shame, not your worst moment, and not the mistakes you made along the way.
Transitioning into a New Identity
Peter could have remained stuck in his failure. He had plenty of moments along the way where he spoke too quickly, misunderstood Jesus, or acted in human strength. But his most painful failure came when he denied the Lord three times after boldly declaring that he would never do such a thing.
Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31–34 NKJV:
“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Peter meant what he said. He was passionate. He was courageous. He believed he was ready. But when the pressure came, his bravado failed. His persona failed. His human strength failed.
Yet Jesus’ prayer did not fail.
That is important for us to remember. Our failures do not scare God. Satan may have intended to destroy Peter through the sifting, but God would use even that painful moment to refine him, humble him, restore him, and prepare him for his purpose.
The word translated “sift” in Luke 22:31 comes from the Greek siniázō, which carries the figurative idea of being tested to separate the good from the bad. In Satan’s mind, Peter’s sifting would render him useless and destroy him. But in the all-knowing mind of God, the enemy’s attempt would become a tool in the hand of God to refine Peter.
Some trials expose weakness not to destroy us, but to reveal what must be surrendered. Sifting is painful, but in God’s hands it can become refining.
Peter was in transition. He had to move from his past failure into the future God still had for him. That transition required him to face the shame, fear, and inner barriers that could have kept him from stepping into his renewed identity.
Many of us know what that feels like. We have all had seasons when we felt weak, discouraged, ready to quit, or even tempted to walk away from God. We may wonder, “What is the point? God is not answering my prayers. I do not see change happening.” Over the years, I have seen many people become so discouraged that they turned away from God.
But the Father never gives up on us. Jesus never gives up on us.
God is at work in us not only to transform us into the image of Christ, but also to empower us for His purposes and to become all He has destined us to be.
Smith Wigglesworth once said, “You can never be ordinary from the day you receive this life from above. You become extraordinary, filled with the extraordinary power of our extraordinary God.”
From the day you receive the life of God, you are no longer ordinary. That does not mean we become proud or self-important. It does not mean we pretend we never fail. It means we recognize that the extraordinary One lives inside us.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself. True humility is recognizing the greatness of the One who lives in you. It is not my righteousness; it is His righteousness. It is not my power; it is His power. It is not how well I pray, teach, lead, or serve; it is Christ in me, the hope of glory.
A prisoner may be released from jail and still think like an inmate. Many believers have been freed spiritually, but still think like captives mentally. Jesus wants to renew not only our eternal destiny, but also our present identity.
Peter’s Old Identity Was Not His Final Identity
Peter was ordinary. He had a wife, a home, and a normal occupation. He was a fisherman. He was full of passion, courage, faith, weakness, and failure. Yet Jesus called him.
Peter’s story reminds us that God does not wait until we are impressive to call us. He calls us, then transforms us. He qualifies the called.
Jesus saw the rock while Simon was still wavering.
That is how God sees each of us. We may still be in process. We may still need molding, shaping, healing, correction, and deliverance from old mindsets. Others may not see the fullness of what God has placed in us, but He does.
I love doing baby dedications because sometimes, while praying over a child, the Lord gives a brief glimpse of His purpose for that little one. We may see a three-month-old or six-month-old baby, but God sees the fullness of that child’s life. He knew us in our mother’s womb. The days fashioned for us were known to Him.
That is part of the beauty of prophecy when it is healthy and biblical. Paul tells us not to despise prophecy. We should be careful, of course, especially with national prophecies and grandiose declarations. But true, heart-to-heart prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts. It calls out treasure. It gives someone a glimpse of what God may already be revealing in their life.
Jesus did that with Peter. He saw beyond Simon’s instability and spoke to the rock he would become.
God is not looking for people who are impressive in the way the world defines impressive. He is not waiting until you have a million followers on social media before He can use you. He is looking for hearts that are surrendered and yielded to Him.
When Carolyn and I returned from Haiti as missionaries in the early 1990s, I went to work for a church in Daytona Beach, Florida. I was the youth pastor and missions director, but I was only paid part-time, so I also needed another job on the side. The senior pastor, Rodney, was a wonderful, entrepreneurial pastor. During my first week, he asked me, “Do you like to paint?”
Now, for those who do not know me, I have a doctorate and an engineering degree. I worked as an engineer for years. And I really do not like to paint. In fact, I might even use the word “hate.” My wife knows this well. Anytime she says we need to paint something, I cringe.
But Rodney said, “Those posts in the back of the sanctuary need to be painted. They have not been painted in years. Can you take care of that this week?”
I had come in thinking, “I am going to bring a breakthrough. I have preached to thousands. I want to see these youth on fire. I want to see families changed. I want to see the city rocked by the power of God.” And my first assignment was painting posts.
So I said, “Yes, Rodney, I will take care of it.”
That is part of the process. God is not merely looking for people who want a platform. He is looking for people willing to serve. Are we willing to paint? Are we willing to help with children? Are we willing to do the menial thing, the hidden thing, the humble thing? Are we willing to ask, “Lord, what is in my hand? What have You asked me to do?”
In America, we tend to think in terms of big, big, big. But Jesus often thinks in terms of the least, the last, the lost, and the one.
Peter’s old identity was not his final identity. Neither is yours.
Sifting Can Become Refining
Peter had to discover that his failure did not cancel his future. After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter and the other disciples on the shore in John 21. Peter and the others had been fishing, and Jesus was there on the beach cooking breakfast.
Then Jesus began restoring Peter.
John 21:15–19 NKJV records the exchange:
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
Peter had denied Jesus three times publicly. Now Jesus restored him three times in the presence of the other disciples.
But each question—“Do you love Me?”—was more than a leadership recommissioning. It was first an act of restoration and affirmation. Jesus was affirming God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance of Peter. Before He released Peter back into ministry, Jesus was healing him at the level of identity.
Jesus was saying, in essence, “Peter, you are not a failure. You are not washed up. You are not finished. I still have a place for you. I still have a purpose for you. I need you to strengthen your brethren. I need you to feed My sheep.”
Some people need to hear this right now. The Lord still needs you in your place. I know you may have been hurt, offended, disappointed, or discouraged. Many have checked out of church because someone did something, said something, or failed them in some way. The enemy specializes in accusation. He is called the accuser of the brethren.
But the Lord says, “I need you in your place.”
We live in a world of chaos, confusion, and deep pain. Families need Christ. Children need ministry. Cities need the light of the gospel. The church needs to shine.
If you feel like retiring, maybe it is time to refire.
I am getting older, too. I do not have the same “pop” I had twenty years ago, but I can still do what God has asked me to do.
Jesus restored Peter. He built him up. He reinforced his identity. Identity must be secure before leadership can be effective.
That is true whether someone is preaching, leading a ministry, serving coffee, greeting at the door, working with children, or quietly helping behind the scenes. If we are not secure in our identity, even small criticisms can wound us deeply. Someone may walk up after others worked hard to prepare refreshments and say, “Why are you serving Oreos again?” It may sound small, but people can be hurtful. Church life can be one of the most challenging places because of the people involved.
That is why we must know who we are in Christ.
Fear Stops Forward Movement
Peter had to confront not only failure, but fear. The fear was connected to the shame of his failure.
Shame works by convincing us that our failure is who we are. Conviction is from the Holy Spirit; condemnation is from the enemy. Conviction says, “Let Me adjust this. Let Me heal this. Let Me bring you forward.” Condemnation says, “You are a failure. You are washed up. You are finished.”
Shame often makes us hide. We do not want others to see the failure. We may try to control circumstances, protect ourselves, or avoid vulnerability because we fear what others will think.
Imagine how much courage it took for Peter to stand before Jesus and the other disciples while Jesus asked him, “Do you love Me?” Peter did not know if Jesus would rebuke him harshly. He did not know what the other disciples would say. He may have wondered if they saw him as a failure.
Many of us understand that fear. We have been afraid to go to a leader, a boss, a pastor, or someone we disappointed because we expected the riot act. I remember one leader years ago whom I still respect deeply. We were on the mission field, and I had an argument with his wife. I was wrong. I was dead wrong. He brought me into his office and said, “You are lucky I do not punch your lights out right now.”
I promise I will not do that to you. But I understand how intense those moments can feel.
Peter was in a transitional phase between his past and his future, and transition can be unsettling. His transition included confronting the barrier he had erected in his mind between his past failure and his future hopes and dreams.
Did you ever consider that your failures can become barriers to your future until you deal with them?
As I shared last week, failure can become a backdoor to success because God works all things together for good. He uses our successes and our failures. He mixes it all together and moves us forward in His purposes.
Fear, however, will stop forward movement. Often, we attempt to control what we do not understand or what we fear. Fear keeps us from moving forward in life and purpose.
A recent survey of adults found that 31% fear failure, and this fear inhibits many people from trying new things or setting new goals. Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscience researcher since 1985, notes in Who Switched Off My Brain? that toxic emotions and negative thought patterns can have tangible effects on physical and emotional health. She has taught that fear can initiate more than 1,400 known physical and chemical reactions and activate more than thirty hormones and neurotransmitters.
Fear can be debilitating. That is one reason one of the most repeated commands in Scripture is, “Fear not.” Why? Because when we refuse fear, faith can flourish. Confident faith is free from fear and at peace during adversity.
Have you ever tried to drive your car with the parking brake on? The engine may be running, and the destination may be clear, but if the brake remains engaged, movement is limited.
Fear is like a parking brake. The power may be available. The call may be clear. The destination may be set. But fear restricts movement.
At some point, we have to release the brake.
Strongholds Are Ungodly Belief Systems
The enemy’s battleground is primarily in our minds. Christ has defeated the enemy, triumphing over powers and principalities. But until Christ returns and the kingdom is fully consummated, we are in a kind of mopping-up operation on planet earth. The enemy is still creating havoc among humanity, and with believers, he often works through the thought life.
He uses false beliefs about God, the Bible, our identity, and others to entrap us with half-truths and lies. We empower him through ungodly thinking, negative thinking, and half-truths.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 CEB:
“Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods. Our weapons that we fight with aren’t human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Fortresses are primarily ungodly belief systems. They are barriers erected in our minds that need to be dismantled and replaced with godly truth.
Think of the walls of an old fort or castle. I have seen old forts in the United States, including the fort in St. Augustine. I have also been in Romania and visited the castle associated with Vlad the Impaler, often connected to the Dracula legend. Those old castles are amazing. Brick upon brick was strategically placed until the walls looked formidable and hard to penetrate.
That is what can happen in our thought life. Old wounds, lies, fear, and negative beliefs become like castle walls. Brick by brick, year by year, sometimes even since childhood, they are reinforced.
Maybe someone believes, “God gave me this sickness to teach me something.” Maybe someone thinks, “My family was poor, I am poor, and I will never have enough.” Maybe someone says, “My dad had a temper, and I have one too, so I guess I will always be angry.” Maybe someone who experienced rejection as a child now believes, “People just do not like me.”
These are ungodly belief systems, and they have to be dismantled.
If you have been hurt or wounded in the past, you may have walled off an area of your thoughts, attitudes, or beliefs. Subconsciously, you may have erected ungodly beliefs that are now entrenched in your thinking and behavior. These walls must be removed and replaced with godly truths and healing through Jesus.
One of the most dramatic healings I have ever seen was not a blind eye opening or deaf ears hearing, though I have seen those. It was a young woman being set free from a phobia of clowns.
Years ago, near Thanksgiving, we were giving away turkeys to families. Some teenage girls dressed up like clowns to do face painting for the children. They looked cute and harmless, but as one young lady came through the line, I noticed she was becoming increasingly anxious. She was shaking badly by the time she reached us.
I asked her what was going on, and she said, “I am afraid of clowns.”
I set the turkey aside, stepped around the table, and asked if Carolyn and I could pray for her. She said yes. I asked when it first happened. She told us that when she was five years old, she was at a birthday party and a clown scared her. Since then, she had been afraid of clowns.
That moment had become a belief system in her mind. So we led her through a simple prayer. We helped her forgive the clown from when she was five years old. We asked God to replace the fear with His peace and joy.
Almost instantly, the shaking stopped. She received freedom. We even got a picture of her with one of the girls in the clown suit. Then she got her turkey.
That may sound simple, but when someone is struggling with fear or a phobia, it is real. Just like a little child who says there is a monster in the corner of the room, the fear feels real.
Those strongholds have to be addressed with the truth of God’s Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and often the help of prayer ministry and trusted believers. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10–18 to use the spiritual weapons God has given us. We take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. We replace ungodly thinking with God’s truth through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The question is this: What fortresses, ungodly belief systems, or old thought patterns do you recognize in your own thinking that may be holding you back from your identity in Christ?
Confess God’s Truth Over Your Life
When facing challenging situations, declare and believe God’s Word.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV says:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
That is more than a slogan. It is a truth to be believed, confessed, and lived. When fear tells you that you cannot step into a room, build a relationship, serve, lead, forgive, pray, or obey God, you can declare, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Proverbs 23:7 says:
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
If we continually think negative, ungodly thoughts, those beliefs will shape how we live. But we can also agree with heaven. We can declare, “I have the mind of Christ.” We can choose to believe what God says about us more than what fear, shame, failure, or the enemy says.
There have been many times over nearly thirty-five years of ministry when I have had to bring situations before the Lord. I have faced criticism, disappointment, conflict, and challenges from many directions. In prayer, I often ask the Lord two simple questions: “Lord, how do You see this situation?” and “Lord, how do You see me?”
One thing I have heard Him say to me many times is simple: “Bob, you are a good man.”
Am I perfect? No. Have I done everything right as a pastor? No. But I have to know what God says about me and be secure in that. Otherwise, I will forever doubt myself, my calling, and my place in His purpose.
You have to know the truth of what God says about your life.
What lie has become familiar to you? What truth must replace it? What would you speak over your life if you agreed with heaven?
From Broken Sinner to Beloved Saint
Like Peter, we can approach Jesus confidently, without shame or fear. He loves us and wants to forgive, heal, and restore us to purpose.
We must recognize that our old man has been crucified and rendered powerless. That includes human reasoning, carnal thinking, shame-based identity, fear-based living, and old patterns of unbelief. We are now empowered by the Holy Spirit to become someone we were not before conversion.
God wants us to live godly lives where the fruit of the Spirit is evident. But He also wants us to operate in the power of Christ and the gifts of the Spirit. We have passed from broken sinner to beloved saint.
First John 3:14 says:
“We have passed from death to life.”
That is the truth. We have passed from death to life. That does not mean we are perfect. It does not mean we never fall short. But it means the very life of God has come within us. We are beloved saints, set apart for Him.
This is a season to walk in freedom—freedom from the prison of fear, shame, and ungodly thinking. The enemy wants us to stay walled in, convinced that failure is our final word. But Jesus walked through those walls to find Peter at a charcoal fire and give him a future.
And He is doing the same for us.
Picture that beach in John 21. Jesus is there, relaxed, cooking breakfast. Peter comes to Him, carrying the weight of failure, shame, uncertainty, and fear. Jesus does not crush him. He restores him. He asks, “Do you love Me?” And when Peter says yes, Jesus begins to call him forward again.
Jesus is still doing that today. He wants to disarm fear, break down walls, heal shame, and restore identity.
So bring Him the failure. Bring Him the fear. Bring Him the shame. Bring Him the ungodly belief. Ask Him to take you back to the place where that lie took hold. Forgive those who need to be forgiven. Release what needs to be released. Receive His truth.
You are not a failure.
You are beloved of God.
You are accepted in the Beloved.
Your old identity is not your final identity. In Christ, you have passed from death to life. The Holy Spirit lives within you, and God is empowering you for His purposes.
Come to your prayer time this week ready to pull down a wall!
