Identity pt. 1

Turn to Jeremiah 9. Over the last several weeks we've talked about vision and potential. Remember a vision is a future solution to a current problem. And one of the current problems that I see is a lack of striving toward their potential - especially potential in Christ. It is my perception that far too many people are either distracted from their potential (i.e. chasing wrong things), or complacent - not concerned about it, or they don’t believe they have a potential. We could come up with a hundred reasons why people falter in their pursuit of potential – but here’s the bottom line – you have a potential in Christ that He desires for you to pursue it. He has a purpose for your life. God has something or multiple things that he wants you to accomplish before your time is finished. He has something for this church to accomplish. So individually and collectively we have a potential to reach, and part of that potential is becoming a church that helps other people reach their potential in Christ. (If your unclear what potential in Christ means, I can send you my sermon notes)

Our two primary Scriptures for this whole series are:

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Complete (artiōs) - to be well fitted for a purpose, capable, or proficient. Through the power of God’s Word both written and spoken, we have the potential of becoming and doing whatever God asks of us.

Joshua replaced Moses as the leader of Israel. How would you like to be Joshua? Who could measure up to Moses? God told Joshua meditate on the Word day and night and you'll be successful.

Another reference to potential is found in

Colossians 1:28 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

James 1:4 NIV

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This idea of reaching our potential - I'm not making it up. Is something that God desires for his children. I mean what parent doesn't want their child to grow up and be mature and be the best at whatever it is that they can be. God wants us to be the best Christians we can be.

Part of reaching our potential involves knowing who we are – knowing our identity and having confidence in that identity and then allowing God to use us accordingly. But knowing our identity doesn’t begin with us.

Knowing who we are always begins with knowing God.

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

We should have a healthy fear of God. Yes, He is our friend, but He is also the Sovereign King and Lord - the most powerful being in the entire universe. He is thee Almighty! God brought you into this world – He can take you out. We need to have a healthy respect and reverence for our God. Fearing God, reverence for God is where wisdom and identity begins.

It also says that knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Knowing God is almost always presented in Scripture as experiential.

So not only are we to respect and revere God, but we're to experience Him in relationship - we're to know Him personally and intimately. We’re to love Him and be loved by Him - and that goes way beyond just knowing about God.

We'll talk more about this later, but if we are to know Him experientially, then we must position ourselves so that we can experience Him. You can read the Bible and pray every day and never experience God. So, real quick – if your lacking experience / relationship with God, then something probably needs to change. Get a devotional (Chambers, Desert …), get a study partner, put yourself in a position where you will need God (serving, witnessing), get rid of sin ….

Back to identity. Knowing who we are always begins with knowing God. If you don't know God through Jesus Christ, you will never know your true identity, and you will never reach your potential – no matter what kind of success you have in this world. Gender. Babies.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

That’s where identity begins – in knowing God.

“Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.” Danish philosopher (19th Cent.), Søren Kierkegaard.

In other words, through Christ I will find my true identity. I think this is critical – because we need God’s help in reaching our identity and potential. As we get deeper into knowing our identity and discovering our strengths, as Christians we can go maybe one of three ways. Tried to create a little vin diagram. 1) Overemphasize the flesh and overemphasize our own talents and strengths, depending too much on ourselves and not enough on God. Can become prideful – even minimize sin and disregard the transformation the Holy Spirit desires to do within us – and we don’t really become like Christ – seeing more of the person than Jesus.

Or, 2) Underemphasize our talents and strengths – neglecting how God has wired us, neglecting our what we bring to the table.

Our attempt to become like Christ is at the expense of who God made us to be – and how we’re wired. It’s still difficult to see Jesus because people like this suppress so much – forgetting that we are wonderfully and fearfully made – forgetting that God has indeed equipped us for good works. I used to be like this– self-abasing.

I believe the Biblical approach is to 3) Humbly acknowledge who we are and how we’re wired and submit ourselves fully to Christ and His Kingdom work. “God, here’s all my strengths, here’s all my weaknesses … use me.” That’s when we truly get to see Jesus.

Make sense?

Jesus didn’t call you to Himself to keep you to Himself. He wants to share you.

Again, Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.” Remember, we’re talking about reaching our potential and reaching our potential involves loving God holistically. Which is what? Loving God with all of our heart, mind, and strength. This holistic approach is consistent with the biblical exhortation to live by faith. Living by faith is more than mere mental belief.

Faith is typically understood as involving the whole self - mind, heart, and body.

Loving God holistically (living by faith) will be difficult, if not impossible if we do not know who God is as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. For instance,

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Q - According to this verse, what is so important about knowing God’s character?

How can we imitate someone we don’t know? How can we imitate God if we do not know His character? How can we form our identity if we don’t know Him? I hope the dots are connecting.

“A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse.

I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God” (A.W. Tozer).

Q - What are some consequences of having a flawed foundational view of God and His character? What are some consequences of having a right view of God and His Character?

As you can see, Knowing God’s character is imperative to knowing our identity and reaching our potential.

Remember, our goal is to Know our Identity, Discover our Strengths, and Serve our World - and we get there by first knowing God’s identity and character. Unfortunately, this is where we end today. Next week we’ll cover the attributes of God.

So, in preparation, it would be wise for everyone to meditate on

Exodus 34:5–7

all week.

If you don’t know Jesus …