Identity

Intro

Many of you, perhaps, went to high schools like I did. At the end of your senior year, they give out little awards. Most popular, most talented, who remembers those awards? Let’s look at it, maybe some of you were best looking. Any of you best looking people out there? We didn’t like you. Most popular? Yeah, most popular. We didn’t like you, either. How about this one, most likely to end up in prison. Yep, we’ve got more of those than any others. Welcome to Life Church. Anyone want to guess what award I got?

Best Smile?

Goofiest?

Worst Driver!

A Question of Identity

John 1:19–23 ESV

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Who are you?

John 1:19-20 “And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.””

You aren’t who others say you are

Others were say he was the Christ

Are you Elijah?

Your identity is not in your past accomplishments

English Standard Version Chapter 3

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Are you the Prophet?

Your identity is not in your assignment

Between 2002-2012 I preached less than 10 times

Clear Identity

It’s not about who you are, it’s about whose you are.

Galatians 2:20–21 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

You are God’s masterpiece

Historically, stonemasons chiseled their maker’s mark into the cornerstone, leaving their identity on their work for all to see for as long as the structure stood (“Artistry of the Early American Stonemason,” January 22, 2015, Old Stone Houses, https://oldstonehouses.com/2015/01/22/early-american-stonemasonry/). There are three specific types of stones used in designing and building a structure: the capstone, the keystone, and the cornerstone. “The cornerstone’s three distinct characteristics distinguish it from the other stones used in construction; building orientation, history, and celebration” (“The LittleKnown Purpose of the Cornerstone” [blog], July 24, 2019, https://www.billwarch.com/blog/the-little-known-purpose-of-the-cornerstone/). The cornerstone is an integral piece of construction

Chisel Video

He knew who he was and followed his calling

He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be

Ask God, “What is it you are teaching me right now?”