4' Understanding my identity and value

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4. Understanding my identity and value
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• And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son,
  whom I love with him I am well pleased.
• Matthew 317

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• The foundation of our ministry
• Knowing Gods opinion about us
• Knowing our identity

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Important questions to answer
Knowing Gods opinion

• Who am I? How much does God really love me?
• Who is God?

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We are being influenced by four different
opinions about who we are
Knowing Gods opinion

• What other people think about you
• What you think other people think about you
• What you think about yourself
• What God knows about us

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Which opinion dominates our thoughts?
Knowing Gods opinion

• Our self-talk
• or
• Gods opinion about us?

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Meditating Gods truth renews our mind
Knowing Gods opinion

• Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
  this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
  your mind. Then you will be able to test and
  approve what Gods will is His good pleasing
  and perfect will
• Romans 122

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Jesus example
Knowing our identity

• Gods truths about Jesus (Matthew 317)
• This is my Son
• Whom I love
• With Him I am well pleased

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Overcoming temptations
Knowing our identity

• Matthew 41 - 11

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The first temptation
Knowing our identity

• The tempter came to him and said, "If you are
  the Son of God, tell these stones to become
  bread." Jesus answered It is written Man
  does not live on bread alone, but on every word
  that comes from the mouth of God.
• Matthew 43-4

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The second temptation
Knowing our identity

• Then the devil took him to the holy city and had
  him stand on the highest point of the temple. If
  you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself
  down. For it is written 'He will command his
  angels concerning you, and they will lift you up
  in their hands, so that you will not strike your
  foot against a stone.

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Knowing our identity

• Jesus answered him, "It is also written 'Do not
  put the Lord your God to the test.
• Matthew 45-7

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The third temptation
Knowing our identity

• Again, the devil took him to a very high
  mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the
  world and their splendor. All this I will give
  you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship
  me." Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan!
  For it is written Worship the Lord your God,
  and serve Him only.
• Matthew 48-9

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The three temptations were questioning whether
Jesus
Knowing our identity

• Knew who He was
• Was secured in his Fathers love
• Worshipped and loved only His Father

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Meditate on the truth
Knowing our identity

• Blessed is the man (or woman) who does not walk
  in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way
  of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But
  his/her delight is in the law of the Lord and on
  His law he/she meditates day and night.

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Knowing our identity

• He/She is like a tree planted by streams of
  water, which yields its fruit in season and whose
  leaf does not wither. Whatever he/she does
  prosper.
• Psalm 11- 3

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• Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
  soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor
  as yourself.
• 
  Matthew 2237

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Meditation

• Meditation goes far beyond reading and
  memorizing.
• It takes us into a realm of repeated thought and
  reflection.

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Practical steps

• I praise You because I am fearfully and
  wonderfully made Your works are wonderful, I
  know that full well.
• Psalm 13914
  

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7 biblical truths to meditate on

• I am created in the image of God
• I am very special and have a unique, non-clonable
  identity
• I am Gods greatest treasure
• I have all of Gods infinite personal love right
  now, by His grace
• I am irresistibly attractive and intensely
  desirable to Him
• I have the capacity to bring joy or pain to Gods
  heart in ways that no one else can
• I am Gods son/daughter and I am being changed
  daily to become like Jesus