New Perspectives New Faith New Identity

1
New Perspectives - New Faith - New Identity
Who Are You?
2

• New PERSPECTIVES will require New CLARITY
• New PERSPECTIVES will require NEW PRIORITES
• New PERSPECTIVES will require New FAITH
• New PERSPECTIVES will require New IDENTITY
• New PERSPECTIVES will require New VISION

3

2 Cor 516-17 Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation old things have
passed away behold, all things have become
new.
Key Point
New PERSPECTIVES will require New IDENTITY
4
New Perspective New Faith New Identity A
Kingdom Life!
5
Your Identity How do you identify yourself?
6
Who I am In Christ
7
New Perspective New Identity

• Tragically, most Christians never come to
  appreciate who they are in Christ. From the time
  of birth we are programmed by our environment and
  the people in our lives. We interpret the
  meaning of lifes experiences through the grid of
  our personal orientation and react accordingly.
  For the many who have experienced rejection,
  abandonment or abuse from earliest childhood are
  entrenched in their belief systems is an attitude
  that says, I am of no value, I dont measure
  up, I am unlovable. Even those of us whose
  childhood seemed wholesome have been victimized
  in some way by the enemys subtle deceptions.

8
In the Beginning Man was Physically Alive,
Spiritually Alive
9
Gen 27 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life and man became a living being.
10
Gen. 216-17 16 And the LORD God commanded the
man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may
freely eat 17 but of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
11
Physically Alive, Spiritually Dead
12

• Matt 121
• 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall
  call His name JESUS, for He will save His people
  from their sins."
• John 14,59
• 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of
  men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and
  the darkness did not comprehend it. 9 That was
  the true Light which gives light to every man
  coming into the world.
• Col 113-14
• 13 He has delivered us from the power of
  darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the
  Son of His love

13
Eph 21-10 And you He made alive, who were dead
in trespasses and sins John 1010 The thief
does not come except to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy. I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly. 1
John 511 And this the testimony that God has
given us eternal life, and this life is in His
Son. He who has the Son has life he who does not
have the son of God does not have life.
14
John 2019-23 Then, the same day at evening,
being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled, for
fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the
midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20
When He had said this, He showed them His hands
and His side. Then the disciples were glad when
they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them
again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me,
I also send you." 22 And when He had said this,
He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive
the Holy Spirit.
15
Our New Identity
UY
16

• If we have received Christ, our former lives
  (before salvation) need to be put behind us. In
  other words, how we formerly identified ourselves
  no longer applies. When asked to describe
  themselves, people usually mention race,
  religion, cultural background or social
  distinctions. But Paul said none of those apply
  anymore, because our new identity is no longer
  determined by our physical heritage, social
  standing or racial distinctions. Our new identity
  lies in the fact that we are all children (sons)
  of God and we are in Christ. Although I am
  thankful for my physical heritage, I am far more
  grateful for my spiritual heritage.

17

• 1 Peter 29-10
• 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal
  priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
  people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
  light 10 who once were not a people but are now
  the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but
  now have obtained mercy.
• John 112
• But as many as received Him, to them He gave
  the right to become children of God, to those who
  believe in His name
• 2 Corinthians 517
• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
  creation old things have passed away behold,
  all things have become new.

18
Learning Our New Identity
19
Learning Embracing Identity In Christ

• We are no longer products of our past. Were
  primarily products of Christs work on the cross.
  Remember, we were dead in our trespasses and
  sins.
• We had learned to live our life independent of
  God, our identity and perceptions of ourselves
  were formed and programmed into our minds through
  the natural orders of the world.
• To understand our identity in Christ, we must
  first obtain proper perspective.

20
Learning Embracing Identity In Christ

• We must embrace our self-worth in Christ.
• Our standing with Christ cannot be earned or
  attained, only received as a gift.
• Our true worth can only be established by who we
  are in Christ. We must see ourselves the way He
  sees us.
• Sadly, many people attempt to find their value or
  worth in their position, role, title, or
  accomplishments.
• Only in Christ can we have healthy self-esteem
  and inner peace about our identity and value.

21
Learning Embracing Identity In Christ

• This only happens when we change our thinking.
• Rom 122
• 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.
• Renewing our minds does not come naturally there
  is no automatic delete buttons that erases past
  programming.
• We have to consciously know the Word of God so
  that we can understand who we are from Gods
  perspective.

22
Who We Are Determines What We Do

• The most important belief we possess is a true
  knowledge of who God is.
• The second most important belief is who we are as
  Children of God, because we cannot consistently
  behave in a way that is inconsistent with how we
  perceive ourselves.
• And if we do not see ourselves as God sees us,
  then to that degree we suffer from a wrong
  identity and a poor image of who we really are.

23

• It is not what we do that determines who we are.
  It is who we are that determines what we do.
• Satan doesnt want you to know this because he
  doesnt want you to be free.
• We are under a New System a New Covenant
• Our tendency is to think only of our physical
  needs, but the critical needs are the being
  needs.

24

• What a privilege we have to tell the world how
  Christ has come to meet our most critical and
  foundational needs identity - acceptance,
  security and significance.
• Dont let the enemy blind you to the truth of
  your powerful identity. Stand strong in who you
  are.

25
Our Acceptance in Christ
I Am Accepted
Romans 157 Accept one another, then, just as
Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to
God.
26
Accepted People

• Rejection is one of the most painful experiences
  known to humanity. What is rejection?
• Striving for Acceptance Notice children from
  the earliest childhood.
• We cannot do anything to qualify for
  unconditional and voluntary love but yet
  receiving Gods unconditional love is
  foundational for all future growth. We labor
  under the false assumption that if we live
  perfect everybody will accept us, while there was
  one who lived His life perfect and everybody
  rejected Him.
• I see how Satan attacked me in the most
  vulnerable area, the need to know total love and
  acceptance.

27
Accepted People

• Relating to Others Understanding and receiving
  Gods unconditional love is foundational for all
  future growth. We dont have to do things so God
  will someday accept us. We are accepted by God
  completely as we are. Our actions and works
  should be in response to Gods love for us, not
  an attempt to earn His favor. (Parents)
• The peer pressure is so powerful and the pursuit
  of mans approval is so prevalent that people
  will compromise even their most basic moral
  principles to gain it. Lacking this, they begin
  to scheme and manipulate people or present a
  false image to gain approval.
• No need to compete.

28
The Need for Acceptance
Bucket of Life Guilt Condemnation Abuse
Verbal Rejection Frustration, Anger Pain,
Resentment Hurt, Sadness, Disappointment
29
Depression / Emotions
Physical Problems
Over Eating
Anger Outburst
Pornography Problems
Drugs / Pills
Escapism
Bucket of Life Guilt Condemnation Abuse
Verbal Rejection Frustration, Anger Pain,
Resentment Hurt, Sadness, Disappointment
Escapism
Matt 54 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted.
30
Our Security in Christ
I Am Secure
Colossians 210 and you are complete in Him, who
is the head of all principality and power.
31
Security

• The key to understanding security is learning to
  relate to the eternal, not the temporal.
  Insecurity is caused by depending upon temporal
  things we have no right or ability to control.
• Where Not to Look for Security
• Not in Financial Gain (stuff, toys, houses
  clothing)
• Not in Temporal Relationships
• Security Our Possession in Christ
• Philippians 121 says, For to me, to live is
  Christ and to die is gain.

32
Our Significance In Christ
I Am Significant
Eph 210 For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them.
33
Significant People

• People often search for significance. What is
  significance? After much thought, I came to the
  conclusion that it is a significant event or
  person, it is something or someone who made a
  lasting impact on life.
• Our Significance is not just in
• People
• Self-Effort
• Our Abilities

34
Significant People

• Significance Lies in Stewardship
• Our significance will not be measured by the
  greatness of our gifts, talents or intelligence,
  but how we have used what God has entrusted to us
  because whatever we sow, by faith, in Gods
  Kingdom, will last for eternity.

35
Significant People

• 1 Corinthians 41-2
• So then, men ought to regard us as servants of
  Christ and as those entrusted with the secret
  things of God. 2 Now it is required that those
  who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

36
I Am Accepted
I Am Secure
I Am Significant
37
New Perspective New Identity

• It is important for every Christian who has truly
  been born again to know that we have been born
  again with a purpose in mind. God has a destiny
  for each one of us to fulfill.
• Ephesians 111 In Him also we have obtained an
  inheritance, being predestined according to the
  purpose of Him who works all things according to
  the counsel of His will.

38
New Perspective New Identity

• 2 Timothy 19 who has saved us and called us
  with a holy calling, not according to our works,
  but according to His own purpose and grace which
  was given to us in Christ Jesus before time
  began.
• The emphasis of todays message will bring an
  understanding that God is always at work in our
  lives to bring us to the place where we can
  discover and capture the destiny that He has
  marked out for each one of us and to recognize
  our identity

39
New Perspective New Identity

• Jeremiah 15 "Before I formed you in the womb I
  knew you Before you were born I sanctified you
  I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
• We may not all be called to be prophets to the
  nations, but the fact remains that through the
  foreknowledge of God, He is all knowing and knows
  our lives from the beginning to the end and as a
  result He has called us, shaped us and even
  molded us according to His Divine purpose for our
  lives.

40
New Perspective New Identity

• 1 Peter 12
• Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
  Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for
  obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus
  Christ Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
• The point I really want to drive home today is
  that there are defining moments in our lives
  where God allows us to see things from His
  perspective concerning our lives.

41
New Perspective New Identity

• It is at these moments that we are called to come
  into agreement with His purpose and calling by
  committing ourselves wholeheartedly to what He is
  desiring to do. When we do this we are forcibly
  laying hold of the destiny that God has marked
  out for each of us.

42
New Perspective New Identity

• What should be our active response?
• Romans 121-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren,
  by the mercies of God, that you present your
  bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
  God, which is your reasonable service. 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.

43

• Our plans and decisions in life should now begin
  to evolve around the destiny God has ordained for
  our lives.
• When these defining moments come they are for a
  purpose. God is wanting for us to not only renew
  our commitment to Him, but to aggressively take
  it to a new level. It demands an active
  aggressive response from our part.
• Matthew 1112 From the days of John the Baptist
  until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
  forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold
  of it.

44

• John 140-42
• Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first
  found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We
  have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the
  Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now
  when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon
  the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas"
  (which is translated, A Stone).

45

• Rom 417-22
• (as it is written, "I have made you a father of
  many nations") in the presence of Him whom he
  believed God, who gives life to the dead and
  calls those things which do not exist as though
  they did 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope
  believed, so that he became the father of many
  nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall
  your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in
  faith, he did not consider his own body, already
  dead (since he was about a hundred years old),
  and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not
  waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but
  was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
  21 and being fully convinced that what He had
  promised He was also able to perform. 22 And
  therefore "it was accounted to him for
  righteousness."

46

• Abraham was a friend of God who was a man of
  faith
• When God says something to you It is already a
  reality in the realm of the Spirit. It already
  exists It just hasnt been brought into
  existence yet.
• That is when we do what Abraham done. Trust God
  until the promise comes to pass.

47

• John 131-6
• Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus
  knew that His hour had come that He should depart
  from this world to the Father, having loved His
  own who were in the world, He loved them to the
  end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having
  already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
  Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that
  the Father had given all things into His hands,
  and that He had come from God and was going to
  God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His
  garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5
  After that, He poured water into a basin and
  began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe
  them with the towel with which He was girded.

48
Who I am In Christ
49
Who Im Not Do you know who youre not?
50
John the Baptist demonstrated this the best I
must decrease, but He must increase.