06/01/2024
Just Who ARE You?
Several folks asked me for notes and scripture references on the message delivered a few weeks ago at church. Here's a synopsis of the message …
I would implore you to ask yourself – Who do you think you are?
We may identify ourselves according to our occupation, our lifestyle, our family connections, our hobbies, or even as a fan of our favorite sports team.
Is this our true identity?
If we're honest with ourselves, we find that we're in one of the following five categories regarding our identity -
1) No Identity
2) Mistaken Identity
3) Stolen Identity
4) An Identity Crisis
5) (What should be) Our True Identity
Your identity is the key to your destiny!
1) No Identity
We see this in teenagers sometimes. They're not sure who they are, what they stand for, their set of values is either weak or non existent.
Judges 6, 7
Gideon said he was from the smallest clan and is the smallest in that clan. He considered himself a “nobody”. But God had other things in mind for Gideon, the key to gaining a new identity was his obedience.
Judges 6:15 Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
If you believe that you have “no identity”, there is hope … would you keep reading?
2) Mistaken Identity
I went in to get a haircut in town. The single mother who cut my hair said that the week before she had been told she was “damaged goods”. I told her, that is wrong, she is a child of God, here doing His work.
In Genesis 19, two angels entered S***m and Lot's house. The evil men in town demanded that Lot turn “what they thought were men” over to them. They did not know or appreciate that these men were angels.
People of this world and evil folks may look at you and identify you as someone who engages in sin or leads a sin-filled lifestyle.
The world may look at you and see a mistaken identity, but this can be cleared up.
3) Stolen Identity
The leaders of Babylon wanted to take Daniel's identity and give him a new one. They wanted to change his name, change his habits, change his diet.
Daniel 1:7 in the Bible states that the chief official gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah the name Shadrach, Mishael the name Meshach, and Azariah the name Abednego. These names replaced references to the God of Israel.
Do you feel your identity is either stolen or susceptible. We need to guard our identity in Christ … not to mention guarding our identity on the internet!
4) An Identity Crisis
We may “think” we need to be a part of the “in crowd”. We need to be a part of the popular group. We may then be conflicted between what the Holy Spirit convicts of us, and our desires to be “one of the boys”.
Okay, this one hits home for me. How often have I, personally, suffered an identity crisis? To look for a name and an identity that is popular or prominent by the world's standards then turn around and look for a different identity with Christ.
Romans 12:2 “Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind ...”
The apostle Peter comes to mind. He denied Jesus three times, desiring to be someone who was “not” associated with Christ … then the rooster crowed. But Peter was restored and he was able to establish his “true identity”. Luke 22:33–34
In my recent studies, the theme of “restoration” has been a focus. With all of my stumbles, I'm looking for the miraculous works of Christ for my life to be restored … similar to Peter.
5) (What should be) Our True Identity
As I ask my friends and those near me “Who do you think you are?”, I am enamored by the joy, peace, and contentment in the response -
“I am a child of God, here to do the work He has for me within His kingdom.”
Job 33:4
"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life"
Psalm 139:14
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well"
Can I ask again? Just who do you think you are?
((( In gathering information for this message, I came across the following article … a bit lengthy, but a good read. In the delivery of the message, I went through these 10 points and summarized them … good stuff I believe )))
Excerpt from "10 Scriptures to Read When You Don’t Know Who You Are"
Alisha Headley
Updated Dec 21, 2022
https://www.ibelieve.com/relationships/scriptures-to-read-when-you-dont-know-who-you-are.html
1. You Are Chosen
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:16)
God chose us from the beginning. He chose us knowing we would fail him time and time again. He chose us knowing we would doubt Him, and at times choose others over Him. He appointed us to go and bear His fruit knowing that we were sinners. He will never stop choosing us even when we don’t always choose Him first for we are chosen by Him. The world will reject you and judge you, but God chooses you over and over again.
2. You Are Loved beyond Measure
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)
God’s love for you is immeasurable. It’s unfathomable, infinite, completely limitless. God’s love for us is greater than our greatest sin. The world may love you temporarily or for what you have to offer in that moment. It may love you for a season and forget you the next, but God’s love is never-ending.
3. You Are Forgiven
“as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
No sin is too great, no life too far gone, for God to not forgive it. What a beautiful promise that no matter what we have done in this life, God’s forgiveness covers it all. He remembers it no more. We are to repent and ask for the forgiveness He freely offers. God is so gracious and loves us so much to forgive all our sins. The world will hold things against you, wanting you to feel shame and guilt, but God covers you in His forgiveness, removing it all.
4. You Are One of a Kind
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139)
God intentionally and purposefully created you to be only you. Every last thread was by His design, making you totally unique. There is no other you as you are one of a kind. The world will tell you that there is no room for you, and tell you that there are other people who are better than you, while God tells you, that you are one of a kind.
5. You Are Treasured and Set Apart
“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (Deuteronomy 14:2)
You are a treasure in God’s eyes. He set you apart to be a light to others who do not yet know Him. He calls you special. Which means He cherishes you; He adores you, and He views you as His most treasured prize. The world will try to tell you that there is nothing special about you, and God doesn’t see you as any different than them, but God sees you His priceless treasure.
6. You Are a Part of God’s Inheritance
“In Him, also we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
We are given an inheritance from God Himself. We are adopted into God’s royal family with all the rights, privileges, and inheritance of natural-born children. We are heirs to participate in the glory of Christ. How beautiful to know we are adopted into the most royal eternal family that exists. Let’s begin to walk in such royalty knowing that we are in our purpose if we walk according to His will for our lives. The world will try to tell you that you are nobody, but God sees you as someone who is part of His royal family.
7. You Are a Blood-Bought Son or Daughter
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)
Hear me when I say this: God sent His very own son who left the perfection of heaven to come to a sin-filled world in flesh to die a brutal death on a cross. Christ came to die for our sins so that we can spend eternity with Him as His children. He loves us so much that He bought us at a high price through the death and blood of Jesus. While the world will love us temporarily, we are forever a child bought at a high price.
8. You Are Not Your Past – You Are Made New
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You are not your past. In fact, in Christ, you are made new. You are a brand-new creation to Him when you decide to commit your life to Him, repenting of your past. We will still sin in this world because we live in a fallen world, but sin is no longer your master. When we gave our lives to the Lord, we died to sin and are now alive and new in Christ. You are finally free from the slavery of sin and death. The world will tell you that you are labeled by your past, but God will tell you that you are made new in Him.
9. You Are a Masterpiece
“For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, so we can do the things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)
When an artists calls a work of art his masterpiece, he is proclaiming how every ounce of his skill and attention and heart has been poured into the creation. In the same way, just as God intentionally made you by design, with every stroke on purpose, you are His very own personal and final masterpiece. We were created in Him, by Him, so that we can accomplish all that He has planned for us. The world will tell you that you are just another person and are not created by design or purpose. But God’s truth says He sees you are His very own masterpiece.
10. You Are Enough because He Is
“And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM…” (Exodus 3:14)
God asked Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian bo***ge. Moses told God he was the wrong man for the job. He believed the lie that he wasn’t brave enough, strong enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, charismatic enough, or confident enough to do the job God was asking him to do. Those areas where we are not enough, God says it’s ok, because “I AM.” The world will tell you that you are not skinny enough, smart enough, or good enough… but God says, you are enough because He is.
