Chariot June 2005 - Norm Wakefield

Many new resources are now available! 

All of Norm's individual messages are now available in MP3 format. We also have a new book, The Spirit and Presence of Christ, by Norm's spiritual mentor, Jerry White. You can read a review by Norm of this incredibly challenging and encouraging book here. The first DVD of a series for parents of special needs children, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made is now available, entitled, Life With Amanda.

Get Resources to Give to People! - Major Sale Online Till July 10th

Equipping Men Video Set - $65  $35
Unshakable Faith Video Set - $65  $35
Marriage for God's Glory 6 Audio Tape Series - Only $10

Go to: http://www.spiritofelijah.com/shop

Identity Principles - Part 2  

    Last month's article began a series of articles on identity. The purpose of this series is to equip you and your family to be secure in your identity in Jesus Christ as well as encourage your children in their identity with you as their parents. Knowing identity principles are important because they equip you with tools to understand yourself, your spouse, your children, and why you do what you do (or why you don't do some things). One's identity determines how one responds to people and situations, why one develops the relationships he or she develops, and what values one has. When a child's identity is secured, he or she has a built-in protection to the world's destructive appeals. The primary goal of this series is to secure your identity in Jesus Christ and to help you know what it means to walk by the Holy Spirit.

    The first principle we mentioned last month was this: Identity has to do with the one(s) to whom you belong. You may find this article at www.spiritofelijah.com/chariot. I suggested a family devotion idea of each person making and sharing a list of the people, groups, or activities to which he or she has been connected or belonged. This month, I would encourage you to take that list and consider the second identity principle and its relationship to those on the list.

Principle Two: Identity Has to Do With Power

    In Matthew 16 Jesus talked with Simon Peter about this issue of identity. He first asked Simon, who he thought Jesus was. Simon replied that he believed Jesus was the son of the living God, the Messiah. On the basis of Simon's response, Jesus gave Simon a new name (identity), Peter, meaning Rock. He also informed Peter that this revelation of Jesus' identity was an indication not of natural intellect or understanding, but of revelation from Jesus' father! We might say that Jesus was informing Peter that he was now connected to or belonged to His father in heaven.

    This new connection was a powerful connection. In fact, Jesus said, it was how His church was going to be built: the powerful connection between His heavenly father and the members of His church. This power comes through the revelation regarding Jesus' identity. It's a power that even the gates of Hades cannot withstand. Jesus told Peter,

  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:18-19).

    It is helpful for our understanding that we see that Jesus' connection and belonging to His father was the source of His power. After Jesus was tempted by the devil, we read, "And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). Where did that power come from? It came from His father. Jesus was recorded by the Apostle John, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working" (John 5:17). Jesus didn't do anything on His own initiative, but drew His words and strength from His father. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works" (John 14:10). Jesus' displays of power testify to His identity as the Son of the living God.

    What do our actions display? They testify to our source(s) of identity. We don't want to connect with someone unless they offer us something we treasure or hope for. It is the power to fill or to provide significance or a perceived happiness that attracts us. The reason we want to be identified with a person, a group, or an organization is the perceived gain we think is associated. For instance, a comely teenager may seek a friendship (a connection) with popular, better-looking teenagers because with that association comes popularity, significance, or the power to influence people. Another example: a fatherless, inner-city youth may join a gang because he thinks it opens the door for him to girls, money, and influence (power) and it gives him a sense of belonging. In a sense, the gang also becomes a surrogate father and family, making him feel significant. I remember observing the fraternity rush during my college days. The frats sought to convince the freshmen recruits of the advantages of being associated with them. Each student joined the fraternity he thought would benefit him the most. Identity is about power.  

What Power Did They Offer?

    May I suggest you take the list you compiled last month (by the way, if you didn't do it last month, why not make it a family project this month?), and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal why you wanted to connect with each one. Ask yourself, "What did I think I would gain if I connected with that person?" Another beneficial exercise is to consider the power offered by God if you identify with Jesus Christ. What do you stand to gain by knowing and connecting with Jesus Christ? Making a list of the promises of God and the related Scriptures should be a faith-building, identity-establishing family worship time.

New Resources for Your Family 

    This month we are continuing a special for those interested in the Equipping Men and Unshakable Faith video series. We now have study guides for leaders and group participants available to download for all of Norm's series as well as the Equipped to Love book. Also, there is a new CD series for everyone, On Fire for the Gospel. The messages are:  

*   What Sets a Man on Fire? 

*   How Does a Man Burn for God?

*   What Has the Gospel Changed, Part 1 and 2

*   The Gospel Applied to Relationships  

*   The Doxology of the Gospel  

*   What Do You Do in Troubled Times?  

*   The Gospel in a Sentence  

*   Thirsting for Jesus  

Would you like to be on the Elijah Ministries Prayer Team?

    The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team".

    If you haven't visited our website, www.spiritofelijah.com, please stop by sometime. You'll find:

*   Resources to equip you and your family

*   Previous Chariot articles

*   Norm's speaking schedule

*   Free MP3 downloads  

*   Various pages translated and available in Spanish  

*   An online store to purchase resources and make tax-free contributions by credit card