IDENTITY THEIF
Have you ever asked yourself questions like: Who am I? Why am I here? And, what should I do with my life?
Most of us have, Google’s most searched ‘Who’ question is: ‘Who am I?’.
Often, we can find that we have been taught to seek identity in social media, relationships, careers, kids, money etc. We can seek identity everywhere but in Jesus – the author and creator of our identity!
When we get to know all the great things he has to say about us in his Word, that knowledge first changes how we see ourselves, and then it impacts our entire life.
God’s word helps us to find our true identity and to become all He has planned and purposed for us to be.
So, the question is, how do we find our identity?!
And the answer: Through the invitation of Jesus.
Jesus extends the invitation to Belong
SCRIPTURE Matt 4 v 18: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
Biblical insight: You have a God who pursues you
Discussion: Put yourself in the shoes (or sandals) of the two. How would you have responded?
SCRIPTURE John 10 v 4: When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Biblical Insight: He calls us by name & He knows us intimately – from conception; you were no accident
Discussion: Share your testimony of your first encounter with God / when you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour.
SCRIPTURE John 1 v 12: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Biblical Insight: When we are born again, we get the right to become children of God; the right to know freedom (Romans 8 v 1), peace (Philippians 4 v 7), love (Romans 8 v 38 – 39), etc
Question: Will you trust Him? What does it mean to trust Him? (Eve fell because she was tricked into question the goodness of God.)
Jesus extends the invitation to Believe
SCRIPTURE Matthew 4 v 3: 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Biblical Insight: When Jesus was in the wilderness, the enemy intended to make Jesus question his identity.
Question: All around us, the world, the media, and the culture is making us question our identity.
Here are five things the Bible says about who we are. Discuss what these mean to you.
You’re Blessed (Psalm 1 v 1 – 3)
You’re Saved (Romans 10v 9 – 10)
You’re a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5v 17)
You’re Loved (Romans 8 v 37 – 39)
You’re Victorious (1 John 5 v 4)
SCRIPTURE Ephesians 4 v 20 – 24: That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Biblical Insight: We are called to “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Question: Some examples of “putting off our old self” – the way we think, react, find meaning, etc. Discuss – what does the world say vs what the Bible says about: love, money, power, status, forgiveness, etc.
SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 10 v 3 – 5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Biblical Insight: We are called to live according to the word of God (i.e. how God sees us as sons and daughters of God), not how we “feel”. If we listen to what’s right, what makes sense and is logical according to the world, we miss what’s right in the eyes of God.
Question: What does it mean to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”?
Jesus extends the invitation to Build with Him
SCRIPTURE John 21 v 16 – 18: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Biblical Insight: Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loved Him. Jesus then says to Peter to “feed my lambs”, “take care of my sheep” and “feed my sheep”. In other words, Jesus invites Peter to participate in building His kingdom by taking care / nurturing / encouraging His people.
Question: What can you do in the coming week to “feed my lambs”, “take care of my sheep” and “feed my sheep”?
Check out this weeks message with Ps Nadia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dKVWgk2oZ0
Expansion E – MAG: https://www.expansion.org.au/e-mag