ID Theft

Identity Theft!

Intro

“The New Crime Wave…”

There is a new kind of crime wave going on in our country…

Stories

I recently was disabled on the job and I filed for disability. After a few days I get a call from the government saying that I cannot qualify for disability benefits because I'm making a six figure income in Florida. I said what!!!??? Two years ago my purse was stolen by another woman. I called all my credit card holders, bank accounts, savings, and loans, credit lines and what not. I failed to call the government offices and especially the IRS. I'm still trying to clear up my name and get my life back. Because she didn’t steal my identity, she stole my life.

I had allowed someone to get between me and my grocery cart that resulted in my purse being stolen. I immediately filed a police report at the store and called my husband to bring me my spare key to the car so I can go home.

I called the bank first to put a hold on accounts. Thief had already emptied them. Next called credit card companies, thief had already used them. This in less than two hours of robbery.

Knowing the thief had my address and keys to home, I could not sleep for fear they would come in and help themselves to my home too. This went on for days until I was able to access money to have locks changed. I hid my car at friend’s homes because even though locks were changed they had keyless entry to get into car just not able to start it.

Then the bad check notification started coming and coming and coming.

Every time I was contacted due to the theft I relived that few days of overwhelming fear, anger, embarrassment, resentment, and complete lack of trust in society. I did shut down for awhile trying to deal with everything. I couldn't believe how much I had to try to convince people over the phone that I am not a crook or scammer. My whole character was ripped into pieces. I am trying to put it behind me, but still will not shop alone.

Living a Lie!

John 10:10 (NLT) "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."

**Show video clip: LOTR 58:10-1:01:45**

Right now you are living a lie…a false identity.  This is not who you are supposed to be!  You were created with purpose and destiny.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made!

At the garden our Identity as children of God was stolen!  We were meant to be complete, whole, having perfect fellowship with the Lord and with everyone else.  We were never meant to now defeat, discouragement, emptiness. 

There is only one way to get your Identity back!  When the opportunity comes…jump on it.  Fight back!

Don’t have to wait for life changing opportunities…in face you shouldn’t cuz it may not come.  You can begin to shape your identity right now by the Word.

Who are we supposed to be?

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV) "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. "

Romans 8:37 (NKJV) "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Psychologists say that a persons self-image is pretty much set by the age of 4 or 5 by their parents mainly.  Can be a wonderful thing…and can be a terrible thing.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NLT) "Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves (to me), and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”"

The Promise of more:

1 John 3:1-2 (NLT) "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is."

Witness Protection!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

It’s almost like witness protection…only much better and more powerful!

There is an enemy, a thief is trying to keep you in a false identity or steal your identity in Christ. 

Some have a stronghold.

You + Christ = wholeness and meaning

New Names many times given after rebirth. 

Saul ->Paul (Latin for small)

Joses->Barnabas (son of Encouragement)

Simon ->Peter (Greek for Rock, stone, or pebble)

Our identity is found in Christ.  First the Lord asked Peter who He was (Christ, Son of the Living God) then He said yes…and you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church!

Even with future failings of Peter…right here was who he REALLY was.  That is what he held onto…it defined who he was and changed the world through that fact.

Even if your identity has been shaped by tragedy you can turn it around. 

Jeanne Mayo – conceived in rape

My friend’s book…

Philippines…

Stolen identities…

The people they call scavengers in Payatas garbage dump…they are not scavengers…they are our brothers and sisters being robbed of their destiny in Christ by poverty, the enemy convinces them that their identities are formed by what their families do and have always done, by the gnawing of hunger in their gut, by the ravaging of their bodies from disease.  We stand as agents of God’s justice, bringing hope to the hopeless.

2 Cor. 10.  talk about those that measure or compare themselves to those around them.  If someone that is gifted makes you feel bad, that is a sign that your identity is in the wrong place!