My True Identity

LEARNING MY TRUE IDENTITY IN CHRIST

The Foundation for a Life Well-Lived - Part 2

Rick Warren

JANUARY 12-13, 2019

1 Peter 2:9-10

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

GOD’S TRUE VIEW OF YOU: IN CHRIST . . .

1.  

I am completely accepted.  Our deepest wounds come from rejection.  A lot of our behavior is driven by  this need.  

“You have been CHOSEN by God himself!” 1 Peter 2:9 (LB) 

• BECAUSE  

God chose me before everything.  

“He chose us in him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight by his love.” Ephesians 1:4  

• BECAUSE  

Jesus made me acceptable by His death on the cross.  

“Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 (CEV)  

2.  

I am extremely valuable.  Value depends upon who owns it.  Who do you belong to?  God.  

“You are a HOLY nation, a people BELONGING to God!” 1 Peter 2:9 

“You are a people holy to the Lord your God . . . his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV)  

God says: “You are precious to me.” Isaiah 43:4 (TEV)  

• BECAUSE  

God is my father.  

“Look at the birds . . . God feeds them and you are far more valuable to Him than any birds!” Luke 12:24  

• BECAUSE  

Jesus gave His life for me.  Value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.  The Cross proves your value.  

“You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him . . .” 1 Corinthians 7:23 (LB) 

3.  

I am eternally loved.  God's love is unconditional.  God's love is consistent.  

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.” 1 Peter 2:10 

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)  

• BECAUSE  

God is love.  We get into trouble when we doubt God's love.  

“God’s love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever.” Psalm 100:5 (TEV)  

4.  

I am totally forgiven.   God doesn't carry grudges.  

“At one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10b (TEV)  

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 

• BECAUSE  

it is God's nature to forgive.  

“I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.” Isaiah 43:25 (TEV) 

• BECAUSE  

Jesus paid for your sins, so you don't have to pay for them.  

“For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God!” Ephesians 1:7 (TEV)  

5.  

I am fully capable.   I'm not incompetent.  I am fully able of becoming what God made for me to be.  

“You are royal priests . . . chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NCV)  

“The capacity we have comes from God; it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant . . .” 2 Corinthians 3:5b-6 (TEV)  

• BECAUSE  

Christ lives in me.  How do you reverse a curse?  Start believing what God says about you in the Bible.  

“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13  

How should my identity affect how I act?

Rom. 15:7, 1 Pet. 2:17, Col.3:12, Eph. 4:32, Heb. 13:6

Your Timing is Everything by Rick Warren!

“There is a right time and a right way to do everything, but we know so little!” Ecclesiastes 8:6 (TEV) 

WHEN SHOULD I MOVE FAST THIS YEAR?

1. WHEN GOD  

TELLS ME TO DO SOMETHING.  DELAYED OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE.  IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HURRY TO DO GOD'S WILL. 

Jesus said to them, “Come follow me . . .” So, Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:17-18 (NCV)  

“Without delay, I hurry to obey your command.” Psalm 119:60 (TEV)  

2. WHEN I NEED TO  

ASK OR OFFER FORGIVENESS.  DO IT FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH.  WHO DO YOU NEED TO RECONCILE WITH? 

“If you are giving an offering at worship and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your offering and go immediately to that person and be reconciled. Then you can come back to worship and offer your gift.”Matthew 5:23-24  

3. WHEN I FEEL  

TEMPTED.  DON'T ARGUE WITH TEMPTATION.  DON'T FIGHT IT, BUT FLEE FROM IT.  

“RUN away from all evil things . . .” 1 Timothy 6:11 (NLT)  

“RUN away from the worship of idols . . .” 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NCV)  

“RUN away from sexual sin . . .” 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT)  

4. WHEN I’VE MADE  

A PROMISE TO GOD.  WHAT PROMISE DO YOU NEED TO FULFILL TO GOD?  THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING THAT GOD WILL NOT DO FOR A PERSON WHO KEEPS HIS OR HER PROMISE TO HIM.  

“When you make a promise to God, keep it as quickly as possible. He isn’t happy with foolish people. Do what you promised to do!” Ecclesiastes 5:4 (TEV) 

5. WHEN I HAVE AN  

OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD.  GOD WILL TEST YOU WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD.     IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OFF?

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, while it is in your power to act!” Proverbs 3:27 (NIV) 

Jesus: “All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the Father who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.”John 9:4 (NLT)  

6. WHEN GOD OFFERS ME  

SALVATION.  NOT TO DECIDE IS TO DECIDE.  NOT YET  MEANS THAT YOU ARE SAYING NO TO JESUS.  

“God is ready to help you RIGHT NOW! Today is the day of salvation!” 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)  

WHEN SHOULD I MOVE SLOWLY THIS YEAR?

“It's smart to be patient.” Proverbs 14:29 (CEV) 

1. WHEN I  

DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS.  DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.  YOU LIE TO YOURSELF ALL THE TIME.   

“Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.” Proverbs 19:2 (NLT) 

“To decide before knowing the facts is shameful and stupid.” Proverbs 18:13 (LB) 

2. WHEN I’M  

HURT, DEPRESSED, OR ANGRY.  

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19 (NIV)  

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered makes foolish mistakes.” Proverbs 14:29  

  3. WHEN MAKING  

A MAJOR DECISION.  WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TODAY TO GET WHERE I WANT TO BE TOMORROW?   NIP DEBT IN THE BUDGET.  

“Wicked people bluff their way (through life) but God’s people think before they take a step.” Proverbs 21:29 (CEV)  

“Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure.” Proverbs 4:26 (ESV)  

“Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.” Proverbs 22:3 (TEV)  

4. WHEN WAITING FOR  

SEEDS THAT I'VE PLANTED TO GROW.    

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven . . . A time to plant and a time to harvest . . . a time to scatter and a time to gather . . . ”Ecclesiastes 3:1-5  

“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which ones will Grow – perhaps they all will!” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (LB)  

God says “At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting – it will happen!”Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV)  

A PRAYER

“May God keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, and walking AT THE PACE AND RHYTHMS he laid down for our ancestors.”1 Kings 8:58 (Mes)  

Making the New Year New

“I know what I am planning for you,” says the LORD. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.” 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV) 

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV) 

1. WHAT DO I NEED TO  

PUT OFF

AND WHAT DO I NEED TO  

PUT ON

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.Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) 

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12 (NIV) 

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:14 (NASB, NLT) 

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 (ESV) 

2. WHERE ARE THE  

CLOSED DOORS

AND WHERE ARE THE  

OPEN DOORS

There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT)  

“See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:8 (NIV) 

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.Acts 16:6-10 (NIV) 

3. WHAT SEEMS  

IMPORTANT

AND WHAT IS TRULY  

IMPORTANT

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”Matthew 6:25,33 (NIV)  

“Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”Matthew 22:36-39 (NCV)  

What is important is faith expressing itself in love. Galatians 5:6 (NLT)