God Knows You

Message Focus: Jeremiah 1:4-5 (Identity)

Text: Jeremiah 1:4-12.

Intro

Tonight, we are beginning a three part series called named and known. Over the next three weeks, we are going to look at three key areas for our relationship with Christ.

1. Identity - learning who we are.

2. Maturity - Learning how to grow.

3. Authenticity - Learning how to be real in living for Christ.

As we jump into the series beginning with Identity, it is important to learn that Identity begins with who God says we are in his word.

If you have a bible, turn to Jeremiah 1:4-12 we are going to look at a story that lays a solid foundation for Identity. Jeremiah 1:4-12.

Jeremiah 1:4–12 “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

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Submit:

Tonight, we are going to focus on verses 4-5.

Jeremiah 1:4–5 “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

How do we find our identity in Christ?

The world vs. Christianity: The world wants you to think your value and identity are built by performance, popularity, or becoming something impressive.

The worlds formula: Performance + Recognition + Appearance = Identity

A key issue when you build Identity this way is that when your life changes, your sense of Identity changes. For example, In middle and high school, I was both an athlete and also participated in band and choir. My whole life and identity revolved around these things.

When I stopped playing football at New Mexico State for a few years I had an identity crisis. I only saw myself as Joel the athlete. When I was no longer in choir, singing the solos at competition getting awards and accolades I didn’t know who I was.

The challenge is that identity built on these things is unstable because life changes over time.

Christianity: Like Jeremiah, you were known to God before you even existed. In the Hebrew language, “to know” is the word yada, and the meaning is deep. It’s not just recognition that you would exist. Yada means that God has a deep covenant commitment, intimate love, and personal relationship.

Which means that you are not an accident or a mistake, and you’re not insignificant.

Illustration: (Blueprints for Distribution Center) - This building has yet to be created, but there has been much intentional thought and design for what is to come. This building will be a facility that blesses many people. From food distributions, to school supplies, gospel crusades, and much more.

It is not yet constructed, but there is a lot of intentionality and thought that is going into it. The buildings “identity” has been defined before anything is physically built.

With God it is the same. Like Jeremiah God Knew You Before You were born, and He has already crafted the blueprints for your life. The plans show our potential and God’s design, but the life still has to be built.

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Apply:

What does it take to build a life? TIME.

Building is a process. You don’t just wake up one day and say, you know what. I am going to build a 7,000-square-foot warehouse. There is a process that takes place over time.

You must prepare and compact the dirt, make a level spot so it doesn’t lean, lay pipes in the ground for plumbing, and then add steel reinforcement to help strengthen the concrete that will be poured.

After the concrete is in place, you begin raising the steel beams, anchoring them to the concrete, and eventually finish out the build. It takes time, adjustment, patience, and careful attention to the details in the blueprint.

How does this apply to our life?

Just as it takes time for the distribution center to be built, it takes time for us to build our identity in Christ. God starts with what is not seen by everyone.

The world builds identity by focusing on the outside. God builds identity by focusing on what’s inside.

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God begins to build by three things. The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and your willing cooperation. God draws the plans; but it is your decision on whether you will build what is on the plans.

The best part is that we don’t have to do it on our own. We have a helper, the Holy Spirit. John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

John 16:13–14 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

As you read the Word, the Holy Spirit helps you by guiding you to the truth. He will take what Jesus said and help you to understand and apply it to your life. There is a theological term for this called sanctification.

The work He does is internal and relational. He doesn’t just give us facts about God; He leads us to Him. When we put into practice what God has designed through the blueprint of His word, it changes us, and identity is formed within us.

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Closing:

This is why reading your bible isn’t optional. It is the primary tool God uses to rewire your identity. The best part is that while we are a work in progress, we don’t have to focus on our failures or mistakes. So often, we define ourselves by the mistakes we make.

It isn’t necessary. What begins inwardly will eventually be seen outwardly. That is the power of the Holy Spirit. When He leads you to Jesus through the word, the word purifies and changes you when you obey what it says.

You don’t have to perform to be better; He simply changes you so you can be better. The biggest need in the process is that you must bring your whole self to God. We can’t be half in, half out.

The goal is to follow the blueprint and let God build our Identity in Him as the master builder.

Let’s Pray.

Invite the leaders to come to pray with students who feel like they have let other things define their identity. Surrender it, and ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal who they are in Christ.

Salvation. Identity begins with being in Christ.