The major strategy of Satan is to distort the character of God and the truth of who we are. He can't change God and he can't do anything to change our identity and position in Christ. If, however, he can get us to believe a lie, we will live as though our identity in Christ isn't true. Neil T. Anderson.
Many people are having an identity crisis. There are people who have told us what we can't do or can't have. Also, people may have have tried to put you in box, label you and tried to make you conform to their standards and not God's standards. Also, many of us have settled for less than God's best for us because of some of the things we have been told by people. As a result, many people are not doing God's will because we do not know who we are in Christ.
The message that I have for you today is to be who God has called you to be and don't let people try to make you conform to less than God's best for you. In other words, know who you are in Christ.
The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope". This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. God did not call us to live a life of defeat, poverty, sin, sickness and disease. God did not call you to live a life of mediocrity. God has a great and awesome plan for you.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, "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." Isn't that amazing! God knew you before you were born. God has called many us to be prophets, teachers, leaders, pastors, business people, doctors, lawyers, singers, etc even before we were born. God has given each of us unique gifts before we were born. God has intended for out gifts to be used for his glory and purpose. Each of us are unique. God knows every piece of hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Everyone has a different footprint and fingerprint. You can't be like anyone else nor can anyone be like you. It makes me cringe when I hear people say you should be like this person or that person. Don't they know that it will never happen. You will never be anyone else but what God has created you to be. Accept who you are.
Also, stop trying to conform to other people's opinion of you. Be a non-conformist. Jesus was the perfect example of a non-conformist. Jesus refused to conform to the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. Jesus knew who he was and he knew why God had placed him on this earth. Because Jesus knew who he was he was not intimidated by the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. Jesus walked in authority and power because he was the son of God. He healed people on the Sabbath. He walked on water. He talked to sinners. All of these things intimidated the Pharisees.
In conclusion, I challenge you today to know your identity in Christ. Listed below are some of the things that will help you know your identity in Christ.
1. Know how God sees you.- God does not hate you nor are you a filthy rag in his sight. God loves you. God sees you through the eyes of Christ.
2. Ask God what is his will and purpose for you?
3. Don't try to conform to the opinions of others. Be yourself. Learn to like yourself and to be comfortable with who you are.
4. Don't let persecution bother you. Because Jesus would not conform to the Pharisees religious rules, he was persecuted. Some people are not going to like the fact that you refuse to conform or be placed in a box. Like I said before, outlive your critics and haters.
Many people are having an identity crisis. There are people who have told us what we can't do or can't have. Also, people may have have tried to put you in box, label you and tried to make you conform to their standards and not God's standards. Also, many of us have settled for less than God's best for us because of some of the things we have been told by people. As a result, many people are not doing God's will because we do not know who we are in Christ.
The message that I have for you today is to be who God has called you to be and don't let people try to make you conform to less than God's best for you. In other words, know who you are in Christ.
The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope". This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. God did not call us to live a life of defeat, poverty, sin, sickness and disease. God did not call you to live a life of mediocrity. God has a great and awesome plan for you.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, "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." Isn't that amazing! God knew you before you were born. God has called many us to be prophets, teachers, leaders, pastors, business people, doctors, lawyers, singers, etc even before we were born. God has given each of us unique gifts before we were born. God has intended for out gifts to be used for his glory and purpose. Each of us are unique. God knows every piece of hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Everyone has a different footprint and fingerprint. You can't be like anyone else nor can anyone be like you. It makes me cringe when I hear people say you should be like this person or that person. Don't they know that it will never happen. You will never be anyone else but what God has created you to be. Accept who you are.
Also, stop trying to conform to other people's opinion of you. Be a non-conformist. Jesus was the perfect example of a non-conformist. Jesus refused to conform to the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. Jesus knew who he was and he knew why God had placed him on this earth. Because Jesus knew who he was he was not intimidated by the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. Jesus walked in authority and power because he was the son of God. He healed people on the Sabbath. He walked on water. He talked to sinners. All of these things intimidated the Pharisees.
In conclusion, I challenge you today to know your identity in Christ. Listed below are some of the things that will help you know your identity in Christ.
1. Know how God sees you.- God does not hate you nor are you a filthy rag in his sight. God loves you. God sees you through the eyes of Christ.
2. Ask God what is his will and purpose for you?
3. Don't try to conform to the opinions of others. Be yourself. Learn to like yourself and to be comfortable with who you are.
4. Don't let persecution bother you. Because Jesus would not conform to the Pharisees religious rules, he was persecuted. Some people are not going to like the fact that you refuse to conform or be placed in a box. Like I said before, outlive your critics and haters.
Jeremiah 29:11 has been one of my favorites for many years, too.
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