In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” He didn’t ask because HE didn’t know who He was. Jesus knew exactly who he was. He had a firm grip on his identity and was able to walk out the plan and purpose of His life. Jesus wasn’t who people expected Him to be, the way he looked and lived didn’t fit their narrative. Jesus was the master at feeling comfortable being uncomfortable.
When John the Baptist showed up on the scene, he was very different from everyone else. He wore camel hair for clothing and ate locusts and honey. The religious leaders didn’t like different, it made them uncomfortable. But the words John spoke came across with conviction and authority. For people to accept John’s words meant getting out of their place of comfort and getting uncomfortable.
When Jesus arrives, He is completely different from John. Opposites in appearance and demeanor. The grace’s and calling on their lives were different. Like John, they wanted to change Jesus. Make Him fit the narrative of what they expected Him to be. They weren’t willing to move past their comfort of religion and traditions. Jesus refused to change His identity, and this is why so many didn’t see Hi for who He truly was.
DON’T TRADE GOD’S TRUTH OF YOU FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION OF YOU
Don’t miss what God has for you! Don’t be unwilling to accept the calling on your life! Don’t give into the comfort of being who others want you to be! So many people live their lives’ for the approval of others. If you are living your life centered around on other’s opinion of you, you have an I-dentity problem! Center your life on who God says you are!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
The old man of comfort has been done away with. You are a whole new person-a new creation! God doesn’t see you as just an old sinner saved by grace, He sees that you were once a sinner who has been saved by grace. Through the redemptive blood of Jesus!
Your biggest enemy in this I-dentification fight is not satan, but yourself (the I factor). When something arises, you find yourself running back to the comfort zone of the past-what used to define you, rather than WHO defines you now.
Science tells us our identity is determined one of three ways:
1. Genetic determinism- I am who I am because of my parents and family
2. Psychological determinism- I am who I am because of the way I think, the past experiences that have shaped me.
3. Environmental determinism- I am who I am because of my surroundings
Using these to shape our identity is comfortable-but they are excuses. There is a war over our identity. You must allow your identity to change into who God says you are. God cannot fully work in you and through those who are having identity issues. But He isn’t looking for perfect people either! He’s looking for your “yes”! Your “yes” to His will for your life and “yes” to who He says you are! Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship. Workmanship in Greek means a product. We are a product of the Great I Am!
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 NKJV
Renewing means renovation, that’s what takes place in us! A mind and life renovation bringing forth total life transformation! The renewing of our minds moves us out of our natural mindset into a Christ-like mindset.
“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 KVJ
Jesus was our substitute. God saw us as though we were on the cross. So, everything God did through Christ, He did for us as a credit to our account! We were crucified with Him, died with Him, went to the grave with Him. But on the third day we were made alive and righteous with Him!
Jesus didn’t come bringing religion, but rather He came bringing an identification change! Your identity is: forgiven, righteous, sanctified, redeemed, reconciled to God! Holy, blameless, without fault, without condemnation! Having liberty, free from guilt and shame, abundantly loved, filled with life! You are filled with the fullness of God, full of joy and peace, full of boldness, confidence, strength, might and power! You are filled with God’s spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge! You are fearfully and wonderfully made and complete in Him!
Learn to know who you are in Christ. Know your identification!
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