In this message, pastor Jimmy Witcher teaches us how we draw our authority from our identity. When our identity is in Christ, we are strong! When our identity is in anything else, we are weakened.

Series: Epic
Message: A Hero's Crew
Speaker: Jimmy Witcher

Notes:

Ephesians 2:10 (TPT)
We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each
of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned
in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

• We draw our authority from our identity. When our identity is in Christ, we are
strong! When our identity is in anything else, we are weakened.

Judges 6:33-38 (NLT)
Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance
against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the
Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the
clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun,
and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. Then Gideon said to God,
“If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I
will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning
but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you
promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he
squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.

1. Prophetic confirmation increases our faith and reinforces our identity!

Judges 7:1-3 (NLT)
So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of
Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the
Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.
Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’”
So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.

2. Having a crew of courageous, faith-filled friends strengthens our true identity!

Judges 7:4-8 (NLT)
But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will
test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” When Gideon took his warriors
down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all
those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group
put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” Only 300 of the men
drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in
the stream. The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory
over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’
horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him.

3. Wise friends help our true identity be expressed in our true purpose!