Spirit Level Identity
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Last week Leroy shared a message called “A New Season”
Many of us responded to the invitation recognizing that we felt stuck or felt called to take a step into the new season that God has for us. That we would walk according to the measure of our faith.
Sometimes we talk to ourselves and say we will never....succeed…be bold…be loving...
...and we create an identity that is totally different from how God sees us.
Our society has an identity crisis. The further people go from knowing God the more they lose their identity.
People don’t even know if they are male or female! Everything has become based on feelings, but feelings change!
The goal: reveal our spiritual identity as described in scripture.
The goal: reveal our spiritual identity as described in scripture.
Describe who Moses was..
11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
Ex. 2:11-15
Moses knew his destiny, but wasn’t led of the Spirit of God
Tried to bring deliverance by his own strength
Resulted in death of a man, overwhelming fear, isolation from his family & his people
When we attempt something on our own strength and it results in failure we look at ourselves as a failure. That mindset is very hard to change.
It will only change by revelation.
It will only change by revelation.
God calls Moses
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Moses doesn’t believe God.
He questions God 5 times. It doesn’t record that God was upset until the 5th time.
His identity as a failure was so large that even God with his miracles hardly convinced Moses that he was a vessel God could use.
Jesus
Jesus
He also knew his identity and calling at a young age.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Luke 2:49-
We see that Jesus submitted himself to his parents.
We don’t hear of him until he comes to be baptised by his cousin John.
Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Even Jesus didn’t walk in his calling until his identity was affirmed by God
Jesus is our perfect role model.
He submitted himself to his parents (who were less spiritual).
He is also an example of the need to have an encounter of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t try to walk in his identity by his own strength.
Do we know our identity?
Do we know our identity?
3 Levels of Identity
Physical Level
Soul Level
Spirit Level
When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
Who are you?
Physical Level
Someone who is handsome? Beautiful? Old? Young? Black hair? curly hair?
Soul Level
Mind, Will & Emotions
We can get a glimpse into someone’s soul by their emotions
Happy? Sad? Bored? Bitter? Hopeless? Loving? Peaceful? Grumpy?
Failure? Successful?
How do you arrive at these conclusions? Usually it is based on what others say or it is on you comparing yourself with others. It is natural and normal.
But we are not called be just natural OR normal!
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Our spiritual identity is not just based on our past actions. We have something that is up to us to receive by faith.
Spirit Level
We cannot discern spiritual things with our eyes.
Spiritual realities and spiritual truth cannot be discerned by our feelings. It is received by faith -not feelings!
Sometimes the Spirit affects our emotions, but only sometimes.
If you are outside of Christ, then your spiritual identity is that you are a sinner. - and you separated from God
However, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have a brand new identity.
Spirit Level Identity
Spirit Level Identity
We have been adopted into the family of God. We are one of his children...
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Eph
We are loved...
We are loved...
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Read & expound
v. 14 -we died with Christ on the cross
We are a new creation...
v. 15 -we are called to live for him who died for us
v. 16 -we are to know (or value) anyone according to a human point of view
Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods, Leroy Miller
Moses
Moses
Describe who Moses was..
11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
Moses knew his destiny, but wasn’t led of the Spirit of God
Tried to bring deliverance by his own strength
Resulted in death of a man, overwhelming fear, isolation from his family & his people
When we attempt to fulfil our calling without a proper identity it results in unwanted results or in complete failure.
Just like Moses, we can look at ourselves as a failure. When we identify with our past (or anything else) it becomes part of our identity.
God calls Moses
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Moses doesn’t believe God.
He questions God 5 times. It doesn’t record that God was upset until the 5th time.
His identity as a failure was so large that even God with his miracles hardly convinced Moses that he was a vessel God could use.
As God spoke with him he slowly started to believe God.
What we believe forms our core identity. God desires to change our identity by having us hear from Him.
Jesus
Jesus
He also knew his identity and calling at a young age.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Jesus submitted himself to his parents even though he was more spiritual.
We don’t hear of him until he comes to be baptised by his cousin John, known as John the Baptist.
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Jesus was so secure in his identity that he didn’t have to do anything “real spiritual.”
He submitted himself to his parents (who were less spiritual).
He is also an example of the need to have an encounter of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t try to walk in his identity by his own strength.
When I say the name Jesus, what comes to your mind?…the head of the church…one spirit with you!?
We are a new creation...
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
…old things are passed away. What things? Our old identity -our sin.
---all things are become new -this happened when we were joined to Christ, when his Spirit came in us. It has already happened.
(skip reading?) Summary of our identity from God’s perspective...
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Called priests…those who can come into the presence of God
We are not only a new creation...
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2
Summary of our identity from God’s perspective...
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:23-27
The Father sent the Holy Spirit to us as believers to teach us all things
…and to bring all things to your remembrance -to remind us of what he has said
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
They were edified
and because they walked in the fear of the Lord
and the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
They were multiplied
Jesus’ words in were fulfilled!
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Were -alienated, enemies in our mind by wicked works
Col 1:20-
Now -at peace with God, reconciled, holy, unblameable, unreproveable in his sight
-the mysterious plan of God that was hid from people since the beginning of time until the time of Jesus Christ, is for Christ’ spirit to live in us
-
To summarize, our identity can be given to us in many ways.
Parents, siblings, friends, the things that we do -
Practically anything can mold our internal identity (the way we see ourselves) -if we let it, if we believe it
But now we are one with Christ -God is living within us!
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. What is the word of Christ?
Let the annointed word of Christ dwell in you richly (in full measure).
Who are you? Are the words of Christ what is more real in your heart? Or your own words coming from what you see or what you did?