Living In a New Identity

New Life, New Potential

We becoming more and more dependent on electronics.

PHones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

I am all wired in and everything communicates, most of the time, better than me and Sara sometimes.

Look at how I use these things: My Ipad. I preach, study, read, email, books, news, FB, etc.

This is my second or third.

When an IPad dies, it dies. You have to replace it.

Or, before it dies, it runs out of space.

The memory, storage, processor can’t keep up as all my apps automatically update.

Basically, it’s worthless if it won’t run my apps.

It won’t do what I need for it to do, nor will it do what I want it to do.

It’s supposed to make my life easier. And, it does, when it works.

If you’re in the Mac world then when it is not longer making your life easier you just have to buy a new one.

If you’re in the PC world then you can crack most of them open and put new guts in and create more opportunities.

New, larger hard drive

New, faster processor

New, more memory

All more powerful but in the same box.

Aren’t you glad that when you come to Jesus, He treats you more like a PC than a Mac.

He has every right to throw us away b/c there’s no way we are capable of doing what He wants us to do.

We can’t get to heaven.

We can’t make spiritual impacts in lives of people.

We can’t do miracles.

We can’t be or do what He’s called us to be and do w/out Him doing what He needs to do to us.

But, b/c He treats us more like a PC, same box, just all new guts.

More powerful, able to store more applications, capable of doing everything He wants us to do.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

What does this mean? I look the same as when I did before I knew Jesus.

I didn’t lose weight, I didn’t grow taller, nothing about how I looked changed. I was 17. I’ve aged just like every other former 17-year old has aged.

But, something was very different on the inside.

And, what God changed on my inside made it possible, gave me the potential to live differently.

Romans 6:4 NIV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Now, Paul says, b/c we’re different on the inside, we can live a new life.

The inside change is a done-deal. The outside life is just potential. It’s possible.

So, God upgrades us when we receive Jesus. Same box, new guts.

Easter made this upgrade possible.

Then, it’s up to us to live a new life, to use our new innards to their full potential.

One problem too many of us

Too many of us live the Christian life like we’re new on the inside, w/ the biggest, baddest hew hard drive, processor, memory; the most powerful machine on the shelf; then all we do is use it to play solitaire and send email.

The power and applications that have been installed are capable of so much more. But, it’s only potential if all we’re going to do w/ it is play solitaire.

What’s possible?

What’s our potential?

What can a new life by a new creature look like?

It’s Easter. We celebrate the day Jesus walked out of his tomb and made it possible for us to live a new life.

What’s possible? What can a new life look like?

For those who believe this and receive Jesus the changes on the inside are a done-deal. The rest is just potential. What are you going to do w/ it?

We’re going to begin w/ the done-deal. This is the most significant change that we go thru when we come to faith.

The Holy Spirit, God Himself, takes up residence inside us.

We are Connected

John 14:15–17 NIV

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 17:15–17 NIV

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

The HS is like a combination of the most powerful processor and the strongest wi-fi connection you can get.

The Processor is the brain of the computer. It evaluates the command you’ve given the computer and determines what needs to be done in order to fulfill the command.

“Open Solitaire”

Double-click on the card you want to move.

Click “Send”. The email goes.

The processor gets what you want to have happen and makes it happen.

The more powerful the processor, the more info it can receive and evaluate, and then the faster it can perform.

The larger applications require more powerful processors.

We have God Himself living inside each one of us who believe. And, He is available to process every command we are given in every situation we encounter and help us perform in it.

We have a wireless connection to God that will never fail.

John wrote that the Holy Spirit lives in us and will be with us forever.

We can ignore Him.

How many times to find myself working on my taxes, adding up long lists of numbers by hand when my IPad, w/ a calculator app is sitting on my desk right next to me.

We can choose to ignore the powerful processor we have inside of us and try to do life on our own. But, that’s the old life.

The HS is the done-deal for believers. But, taking advantage of what He can do is only potential, it’s possible.

And, it’s also possible for us to try everything on our own.

What’s possible? What potential do we have?

So, what are some of the things that we have access to, that are possible b/c the HS lives inside us?

God would never put us in a round room and tell us to sit in the corner. He would never command the impossible.

So, the place to begin is w/ what makes everything possible.

We have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Power

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

“Timid” Fearful. Lacking self-confidence.

We don’t have to be timid, at all. Or afraid. Sometimes fear can be debilitating. We are afraid to do something, afraid to do the wrong thing, afraid we don’t know what to do.

Self-confidence in a Christian is not confidence that we can figure it out on our own. But, self confidence in follower of Jesus is confidence in the HS who lives inside.

That comes from w/in. Confident we’ve heard from God and know what to do, how to do it, and have the ability to follow thru.

We don’t have to be timid any more; but, we can be.

“Self-discipline” “Self-control” The regulation of yourself for the sake of improvement.

Exercise. I hate it. It hurts. It is an immediate, but short-term pain. I can’t breath, my legs ache, I want to quit.

But, after exercising, everything works better. I feel better, I sleep better, I think better, and it seems like every system in my body works better.

We moved here almost 3 years ago. Up to that point Sara and I were regular exercisers. Then, money was tight. We just couldn’t find a way. Then, we got lazy. We stopped altogether.

And, the lack of exercise for so long had it’s affect on my body.

About a week ago we started up again. It hurts. But I feel better.

We have the power w/in to be self-disciplined, to regulate our activity for the sake of our body’s improvement.

We can diet. We can have quiet times. We can do bible study. We can read. We can face life’s most difficult challenges and be disciplined enough to make a bad situation good and a good situation better.

We can do whatever it takes to improve our situation. But, we don’t have to.

Like timidity, we don’t have be, we have the power to not be. But, we may still choose be timid.

We don’t have to diet, we can gain weight.

God gives us everything we need for self-discipline. But, He doesn’t make us be self-disciplined.

We can be unselfish and loving. We can do things for people that they both enjoy and don’t deserve. We can make sacrifices to make these things happen.

This is what comes with the new life Jesus gives us.

We have the ability w/ in us. Not that it was there before we committed out lives to Jesus. But, the ability came in when the HS came in.

It may take a lot of strength to do these things. But we have it. How much strength and power do we have?

Ephesians 1:18–20 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 1:19

This is not the power of a wimpy little hybrid Prius. This is the power of a 1-ton Cummins Diesel truck.

The same type, amount and source of power that raised Jesus out of the ground and up into heaven is the same power we have access to b/c the HS reside w/in us.

The phrase “I can’t” should be used far less than it is in most of our lives.

Yes, you can. If you want to split hairs, no you can’t, but God can and He lives in you and He can do it thru you so it looks like it’s you doing it.

As new creatures w/ new lives we can do this.

We don’t have to be timid.

We can be self-disciplined and do the things that improve our lives.

We can sacrificially love others who don’t deserve it.

All b/c the HS lives w/in making this new life possible.

So, w/ this power, in this new life, what else can we do?

There are 2 categories of things. First, fruit.

Fruit

2 Peter 1:5–9 NIV

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

2 Peter 1:5–8 NIV

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Make every effort, requires strength, power.

W/out the power this would be impossible.

Have these in increasing measure. Growth. Constant.

“Goodness” the deliberate preference of right over wrong. The ability to always tell the truth in love. To turn away when you see or hear something that tempts you to do the wrong thing.

The ability to not take a 2nd look. (David & Bathsheba)

We have the strength w/in to always do the right thing.

“Knowledge” Greek word: Gnosco. This is relational knowledge, not factual knowledge. That means, we have the ability to learn more about each other leading to close relationships and community. I can know who you are, personality, strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes and how they all work together to make you, you.

And, you can do the same for me.

No excuses not to. And, like timidity and self-control, these things are only possible. We have the ability, though.

There’s that self-control, self-discipline again.

“Perseverance” to wait actively, patiently, intentionally, until the storm you are in passes or you leave the valley you are currently in. Not give up hope, faith, trust just because times are really, really hard right now.

Right now does not define you. God does not over react to a snapshot of your life. God defines you by the movie that is you.

In our new life we can persevere thru the most difficult of circumstances. We don’t have to. But we can.

“Godliness” We can worship, praise, repent, and show proper respect and reverence regardless of our circumstances.

Sometimes things are so good we don’t think we need God.

Sometimes things are so bad we think God forgot about us.

A fruit of our new life that the Holy Spirit brings w/ Him is the ability to relate to God appropriately regardless of what is happening at the time.

“Mutual affection” We can be part of a community that looks out for each other, cares for each other, serves each other, and feels something for each other.

No believer is alone in this. Don’t believe our Enemy’s lie that no one loves you or understands you. Yes we do.

Again, all of this is only possible. But not only is it possible to be this, experience this, do this; we can in increasing measure.

We can know more about each other, persevere longer and thru deeper valleys, feel stronger, deeper emotions for each other as time goes on.

Making every effort using the power God supplies thru the HS who lives in us these things are possible.

One of the ways we create a stronger community is by serving each other. And, we can do that using the 2nd category of things God provides for us to use.

The second category of things we can do is gifts. Abilities the HS brings w/ Him when He moves in.

Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:

1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Every believer is given at least one, in most cases more, ability to apply to help others.

W/ the power that the HS provides, some can lead people, some manage details, some provide mercy to the hurting, some take care of details behind the scenes, some can teach, some can talk to others about Jesus easily and let rejections roll off their backs, some speak powerfully into others lives, and the list goes on.

These are applications that require a powerful processor.

They are given to be used for the common good.

So, every time you use your gift the way it was intended to be used your are having a significant impact in the life of another person.

How would you like to go to bed every night knowing you were used by God to change someone else’s life for the better that day?

Giving your life value, significance, meaning.

You accomplished something that made an eternal difference in the life of someone else.

How great is that! Your new life contributes to the lives of others.

So, we have God Himself living inside us, we have power to run all sorts of applications that make a difference in our own lives and in others.

What else do we need? What else has to come w/ our new life that allows us to maximize our potential w/ these apps?

The wisdom to know what to do and when to do it.

Wisdom

James

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 3:17 NIV

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

We have wonderful tools and abilities to apply in the most difficult of situations. But, how do we when and how much?

Men, especially, who reads the directions.

We just turn it on and start pushing buttons, double-clicking, swiping, and wondering why nothing works, it locks up, we get that spinning beach ball of death or the hour glass that freezes on the screen and we end up having to press the magic button to restart one more time.

We don’t know what to say or what to do because we don’t ask. We have direct link to the Creator of the universe. He knows the future. He knows ALL the facts. He knows things about you that you don’t know yourself. You’d think it would be a no-brainer for us to stop and ask.

You’d think.

This is the new life that’s possible b/c Jesus walked out of the tomb.

Jesus rec’d a new life. His old life died and our old life died w/ Him. As new creatures w/ a new life all these things are possible. We have real potential.

But the only sure thing is the HS who lives in us.

This Easter, not only should we celebrate Jesus walking out of his tomb and into His new life, but also celebrate our own new life by fulfilling our every potential by accessing the new guts in our old boxes and double-clicking on every application God has loaded into our system and using them for everything they are worth.

Can you imagine a community, a church full of people who regularly do this?

Let’s be that church.

Applications

Do I need to list anything for you today?

You have the power and self-discipline to do any of what I’ve already talked about and more.

God is talking to you right now. There is something you need to do and maybe you’ve not believed you could, you haven’t tried yet. Maybe it’s something you’ve never thought of or needed to before. Whatever.

Develop a fruit

Goodness. Stand up to temptation. Stand on high moral ground. Walk away. No second look. You can do it.

Godliness. Worship God even though things are so good right now you may think you don’t really need Him. Or, they’re so bad you think maybe He’s forgotten you.

Persevere. You’re about to give up. Don’t. You don’t have to.

Use a gift

Lead your family.

Manage a big project

Cry w/ someone who’s hurting

Explain to somebody that Jesus died for them and wants them to have this new life you have

Speak powerfully into someone’s life.

Ask for wisdom

You don’t know what to do or to say.

You don’t have b/c you don’t ask.

the verse goes on to say have the courage to ask believing you’re going to get it then act on what you get from God.

If you don’t, then you’re not going to get the wisdom you need. And, God knows whether or not you believe you’ll get it and act on it.

Believe and receive

Maybe you’re sitting here and God is calling you for the first time. You know if He is.

Obviously, if God is calling you, you believe He’s there.

The next necessary step is to receive what He’s calling you to do.

Accept Jesus. His death on the cross for you.

You’re busted. You know you’ve done wrong and you’re facing punishment. Jesus will take your punishment for you and give you a new life.

This new life opens up all these possibilities.

If you’ve never done this before make this Easter your birthday. They day you were born again into a new life.

When Jesus walked out of His tomb in His new life He made it possible for us to live a new life, too.

The HS is a guarantee, a done-deal. Sealed. Forever. He lives inside you.

The new life is all potential, possibilities.

Plug into the power, make use of the self-discipline and live up to the full potential God re-created you for.

God has put new guts in these old boxes. A new powerful processor to run huge and important applications that will change your life and the lives of those around you for the better.

Communion:

What is God telling you to do to fulfill the potential He re-created you for?