Embracing Our Identity in Christ

Scripture: Psalm 139 (CSB)

Introduction:

Hello, everyone! This morning's lesson is all about the amazing truth that God knows us completely and desires for us to embrace our identity in Him. It can be a struggle to understand who we are and where we fit in this world, but through God's Word, we can find a solid foundation for our identity. Psalm 139 is the passage we will be diving into this morning. It's a well-known and beloved psalm often attributed to King David. It is a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for His ever-present and intimate knowledge of His people and their identity. Thesis:

Have you ever felt like no one really knows you? We all have a deep desire to be truly known, understood, and loved. But the truth is, only God has the ability to truly know us inside and out. In Psalm 139, we see King David's declaration and praise of God's knowledge and understanding of His creation, even despite the many struggles that His people were going through around the time of the writing. As we dive into this psalm, we will discover the depth of God's knowledge, which means that God is totally knowing, and how that impacts our lives. Psalm 139:1-6 (CSB) 1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. 6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach cheap jerseys china it. The Struggle: Crowd control is the method of making sure that a large crowd does not get out of hand. But the term may also refer to the control a crowd can wield over an individual. I was reminded of this in a newspaper article about an old carnival headliner nicknamed Cannonball. In his younger days, he was blasted out of a cannon 1,200 times. When asked why he did this, he replied, "Do you know what it's like to feel the applause of 60,000 people? That's why I did it!" Source Unknown. All too often, we make decisions and let our identity be defined by what gets you the applause of the masses, by what makes you fit in with the culture. It is far too common for us to let the world's applause define our identity; this happens in a plethora of ways, but let's keep in sight what God says about our identity. John 15:19 - "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." In that passage, Jesus tells us the awesome truth that our identity should lie in Him! He encourages us with the truth that we do not belong to this world but that our identity and belonging need to rest in Him. When I think about putting our identity in Jesus and His all-knowing arms, there is a certain passage that comes to mind, Matthew 7:24-25. Matthew 7:24-25 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock." If you continue to read on in this passage, it makes a direct comparison between people who built their house on the solid rock foundation that is Christ and others who build their life on the sandy and unstable foundation that is this world. Some of us in this very room today may be building our lives on a worldly foundation. Trying to fit in with a culture that wants you to conform, trying to measure up to some kind about you today, I want to encourage you right now, as we prepare to go through the rest of this week, to lean on the perfect all-knowing hands of God, who loves you and wants your identity to find rest in Him. We live in a world that bombards us with messages about who we should be and how we should look. It can be overwhelming and make us question our worth and purpose. But God's Word reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image (Psalm 139:14) and that He has a purpose and plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). The pressure to conform to this world is strong. You may have come to camp feeling that same pressure, the pressure to be who the world wants you to be, but I want you to take heart today and be encouraged by this passage. Know that God created you in His image and has a plan and a purpose for your life. God's Design for Our Identity: In Psalm 139, we see that God has uniquely designed and created each one of us. He knows us inside and out – our every thought and every step. Even before we were born, He had a plan for our lives (Psalm 139:15-16). This shows us that our identity is not based on the standards of this world, but on who God says we are. Are you trying to fit in with the culture? Are you trying to check off the boxes of the identity that other people have set for you, or are you confident and standing firm in the eternal identity that you have from God? V. Overcoming Identity Obstacles: Despite God's perfect design for our identity, we can face obstacles that try to distort our understanding of who we are. We live in a broken and sinful world that started all the way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve and by extension, even today, we are still a broken and sinful people. So there's always going to be a challenge from our sinful world toward the perfect design of God, maybe it could be comparison, insecurity, or even past mistakes and failures that will try to rob you of your identity in Christ. But as believers, we can overcome these obstacles by embracing our identity in Christ. Colossians 3:3 reminds us that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. This means that our identity is secure in Him and not in the ever-changing standards of this world. When you trust in Jesus, you have set your foundation on the solid rock that is Jesus. The storms of this world are still very real and something you will face, but you will have the solid foundation of Jesus to lean on in those times of difficulty. Living Out Our Identity: As we embrace our identity in Christ, we are called to live it out in our everyday lives. 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for His possession. This means that we have a purpose in representing Christ to the world around us. We can do this by living in a way that reflects His love, mercy, and grace. Engaging in God's Mission: Embracing our identity in Christ not only impacts our personal lives but also equips us to engage in God's mission. He has called us to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Does anyone know what the word ambassador means? Ambassador - is a representative. As a follower of Jesus, someone who has put their identity in Christ, you are called to represent Him in all that you do, anyplace, anytime, doing anything. When you do this, you are glorifying God and being like Christ in the way you conduct yourselves. Our identity in Christ gives us the confidence and strength to fulfill this mission and spread His love to those around us. Conclusion: In a world that constantly tries to shape our identity, let us remember that our true identity is found in Christ. He knows us completely and has a unique plan for our lives. We can overcome obstacles that try to distort our understanding of who we are and live out our identity by engaging in God's mission. Let us embrace our identity in Christ and walk boldly in the truth of who He says we are. Call to Action: Today, I encourage you to reflect on your identity and ask yourself if you are finding it in the world or in Christ. Let us choose to embrace our identity in Christ and live it out in our lives. It may not always be easy, but with God's strength and guidance, we can overcome any obstacle and fulfill our purpose in Him. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for creating us and knowing us intimately. We confess that we often struggle with our identity and try to find it in the things of this world. Help us to embrace our identity in Christ and to live it out in our daily lives. Give us the strength and courage to overcome any obstacles that try to distort our understanding of who we are. Use us to engage in your mission and spread your love to those around us. In Jesus' name, Amen. Closing: Thank you for joining me today. My prayer is that we can all find our true identity in Christ and live in the truth of who He says we are. Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God has a unique plan for your life. Let us go out and live confidently in this truth. God bless you all!