Knowing Who I am
Real Relationships • Sermon • Submitted
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Real Relationships
Real Relationships
When we talk about relationships we usually think marriage/ dating
We were built for relationships
Built to need them
When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people - people we love and have relationships with.
- Rick Warren
Real Relationships
Real Relationships
So we better get these right
The nest couple of weeks we are going to look at relationships focusing on:
relationships in marriage, church, and work
Might think I left one out
In all those we are talking about God being center
Our relationship with God will define and direct all our other relationship
Today in a way we are starting with that one.
Let me ask you - Do you know who you are?
How do you define your identity?
3 most popular ways of defining ourselves:
I am what I do.
I am what I have.
I am what others think.
None of those work and leave us empty
Peter Scazzero said, in Emotionally Healthy Disciples: -
“The vast majority of us go to our graves without knowing who we are. We unconsciously live someone else’s life, or at lease someone else’s expectations for us. This does violence to ourselves, our relationship with God, and ultimately others.”
Today we want to dive into how we go about knowing and seeing ourselves as God sees us.
I know there are so many that have and continue to be defined by our culture and what it thinks of you.
The only opinion that matters is God's
I am not random or an accident
For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
I have value an I am loved
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
As we look ourselves today we are looking at Moses
Turn to Hebrews 11
Pray
Knowing Who I Am:
1. Discover who God made me to be.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter
Knowing Who I Am:
1. Discover who God made me to be.
Moses had it all - but chose to be identified with the Hebrews
God had a plan for him - God has big plans for you and me - but that’s Moses
4 Most discouraging words are “God can't use me”
Look at Abraham - 90 years old no kids
Peter - denied Christ 3 times
Paul - persecuted the church
Moses was full of excuses on why he couldn’t
God reminds us He is the I AM that can
Our only task is to say yes
Knowing Who I Am:
2. Determine my value system
and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.
Knowing Who I Am:
2. Determine my value system
Moses had it all - Power, pleasure , prestige - but knew there was something greater
We live in a world in identity crisis because we have placed value on things that cost more than they give
The issue of what the world offers is that it is fleeting
Watch the news - one day’s hero is now the worst of them all
Solomon in all his glory:
“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
What do I do?
Knowing Who I Am:
3. Stop living in fear
By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.
Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God. - Hannah Whitall Smith
Fear says not only I can”t but also God can’t
Tell me what God can’t do?
We are riddled with fear today
Everytime I turn around something new
Do you actually think God was taken by surprise by any of this
For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
How do we stop living in fear
Knowing Who I Am:
By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.
Knowing Who I Am:
4. Start saying Yes to God
We don’t have to know how or when or where
We just need to know who
Our love is demonstrated and confirmed by our obedience.
In us are God given passions, gifts, and talents that we will never know if do not say yes
Answering who I am and why am I here starts with saying yes to God
Knowing Who I Am
Knowing Who I Am
I know who I am when I know who God is in my life
Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is thinking of others, as Jesus did, instead of ourselves. - Rick Warren
Knowing Who I Am
Knowing Who I Am
I would add it all starts with knowing Christ and and defining ourselves according to Him and His love
When we base our life on who God has made us to be and live according to that -
It will bleed in all other relationships
I can be the Pastor, friend, father, husband, man I should be and the one all deserves - only through Christ
What are you basing you life and identity on?
Is it culture, feelings, fears?
For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
Why not the one who knows you best already?
Let’s pray