Mistaken Identity
Notes
Transcript
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see as through a glass, dimly, but then, face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, even as I also am known.
Understanding Identity
Understanding Identity
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines identity as
Individuality
the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality
the relation established by psychological identification
the condition of being the same with something described or asserted
This definition tells us that we defuse ourselves both as individuals and as the groups we belong to. We work so hard to establish our identity—those things that define us—whether it be those things that make us unique, or those things that make us a part of something bigger. And everyone around us is more than happy to tell us who we are.
Today, it’s not enough for someone to disagree with you or comment on your actions. They attack your character. They label you as good or bad. And once a label is given, it’s hard to get rid of it. More and more people begin treating you based on those labels. Eventually, you quit fighting the label. You begin defining yourself and the way the world works according to those labels.
The definitions apply to things like how we measure success. What we need to be happy. What we need to do to be loved and accepted.
And we all react differently. Some of us hide what we’re feeling because we were taught that emotions are weakness. Some of us don’t control our emotions at all, because the only way to be heard is to be loud and passionate, so we are passionate about EVERYTHING. Some of us learned that the only way to not be abused by others is to be the abuser. Get them before they get you. So you don’t let anybody in.
Every person in this room deals with issues of mistaken identity. We suffer because we are defining ourselves the wrong way. We hurt inside, and we don’t know what to do to fix it. So we lash out in anger at others. Or we numb the pain with drugs or alcohol. Or we distract ourselves from the pain by pursuing pleasure. Or we keep ourselves too busy to think about how much we’re hurting.
Like I said, we suffer because we define ourselves the wrong way. We live with a mistaken identity. And the reason we have mistaken identity is because we are going to the wrong source. There is only one person who can define who you are, and that is God.
God Defines Us
God Defines Us
God is the only person in all the universe who has the right to define us.
God created us.
God owns us.
God has authority.
God knows us better than anyone else
Made in God’s Image
Made in God’s Image
Every good quality we have is a reflection of God’s nature in us.
God made us with purpose. He caused us to be born into the families we have at this exact moment in history for a reason.
He made us because he wants us around. He loves to be with us.
God doesn’t make mistakes; and yet, there are some of you here today who feel like you are nothing more than a mistake and a waste of space. You have become trapped in certain relationships, caught up in situations that aren’t good. You’re bound by addictions—and I’m not just talking about chemicals. You’re addicted to things that make you feel in control, that make you feel like you are free from your problems for a little while. It can be pornography, or having a string of meaningless physical relationships. It can be unhealthy habits like physically hurting yourself or starving yourself. Whatever the behavior looks like, it comes from the fact that you see yourself a certain way, and you hate it. You hate yourself. You hate your life. And you have no idea how to change it. Maybe you think it can’t be changed.
You think, “This is who I am. This is how I feel. I want these things. I am attracted to these kind of people.” But the Bible tells us that we should not be led by our feelings.
The heart is more deceitful than all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?
So you can’t trust your feelings, but you still have these feelings. They’ll never change, right?Well, the fact is, you can’t change them. You can’t change much of anything. But God can. He can change it all. And the way he starts is by changing you. He changes you by stripping away the false identity you have been carrying all this time and revealing your true identity—who he created you to be.
We said earlier that God is the only one who can properly define you. Do you know what he has to say about you?
Loved
Loved
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Redeemed
Redeemed
You were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Free
Free
Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.
New Creation
New Creation
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.
That means that however you defined yourself before doesn’t matter to God. He sees you as you are now, and he loves you. He also sees who you were created to be, and he wants to help you become that amazing person. He is calling to each of us to let go of our old definitions of ourselves and let him define us. His definitions are much better than ours.
His Child
His Child
For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”
