Who Am I?
I am Favored
April 18, 2010
INTRODUCTION
When we understand truth in changes how we live.
In Time magazine's regular column "10 Questions," readers are given the opportunity to interview celebrities and world leaders through questions submitted via e-mail. In the March 22, 2010, issue of Time, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu , author of Made for Goodness (HarperOne, 2010), was featured. Here are two questions readers submitted (in bold), each followed by Tutu's answer:
After all you've seen and endured, are you really as optimistic as your book, Made for Goodness, says you are? (Zelalem Dawit, Addis Ababa)
Tutu: I'm not optimistic, no. I'm quite different. I'm hopeful. I am a prisoner of hope. In the world, you have very bad people--Hitler, Idi Amin--and they look like they are going to win. All of them--all of them--have bitten the dust.
What is your favorite Bible verse and why? (Satu Rahikainen)
Tutu: Romans 5:8. "[While] we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It sums up the Gospel wonderfully. We think we have to impress God so that God could love us. But he says, "No, you are loved already, even at your worst."
"10 Questions," Time magazine (3-22-10), p. 4
At the heart of Desmond Tutu's worldview is an understanding that we stand in a very unique position before God--We are favored.
1:3 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
WHEN WE TRULY UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST IT CHANGES EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW WE LIVE.
I am Blessed -- I AM FAVORED -- I in the place of benefit.
Favored:
Date: 15th century
1 : having an appearance or features of a particular kind
2 : endowed with special advantages or gifts
3 : providing preferential treatment
T.S. This "favored" Life in Christ is based upon four new realities. The first to explore is this reality.
Who Am I? I am favored as the focus of His love.
3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
As the Focus of his love I am adopted into new standing before him.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
January 18th, 2010
Brangelina skip Golden Globe Awards to spend weekend with kids
WASHINGTON - Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie skipped Golden Globe Awards to spend the weekend with their kids.
Brad Pitt and Maddox, 8, went to the Louisana Superdome on Saturday in New Orleans. The father son duo cheered on the sidelines as the New Orleans Saints emerged victorious over the Arizona Cardinals, beating them 45-14.
Meanwhile, mum Angelina Jolie went out with daughters, Zahara, 5, and Shiloh, 3.
They were seen grocery shopping at Whole Foods Saturday morning in Sherman Oaks, California.
Why is it news, because we want to watch the favor lives of three children adopted by such wealthy famous people. We expect their lives to be special.
Appl: Do you expect your life to be different because you are now an adopted daughter and adopted son of God? What do you expect to get as a favored son or daughter?
Ill: In early twenties, I was pulled over for speeding. I was guilty, but I had my military id on my and when the officer saw it he gave me a warning and I avoided a ticket. Unfortunately that led to my false assumption that my military ID was a license to be and idiot. So I began to drive with less regard for the posted speed limits. That continued until the day I was pulled over doing 85 in a 55. Flashing my military ID died nothing to avoid the ticket. I had a false understanding of what a military ID would do for me.
T.S. Paul clarifies some of what our benefits are as God's adopted sons and daughters.
As the Focus of his love I am being made whole.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole . . .
What was broken is mended.
What was wounded is healed.
What was missing is added.
What was lost is restored.
What was undiscovered is found.
What was marred is renewed.
As the focus of his love I am being made whole.
As the Focus of his love I am being made holy.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made . . . holy by his love.
Character change
Who were when it relates to sin is being changed because of our relationship.
Sinners -- forgiven
Morally indifferent -- morally convicted
Desensitized -- sensitized
Bent toward sin -- desire for uprightness
Tempted -- victors
Weak -- strong
Who am I -- I am Abundantly Free
7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Nothing hangs over my head
we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.
Casting Crowns -- East to West
Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
Nothing hinders my potential
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
I taught Kneeboarding for years at BB splash camps. One year we had a boy with only one arm who wanted desperately to knee board. Because of the strength required for a deep water start, his potential was hindered. He had no way to succeed.
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him
APPL: Are you living abundantly free? Or are you still haunted by the past, fearing penalties and punishments? Do you believe that your future is no longer limited, hindered by your past.
People who know who they are in Christ are coming to an ever greater and great reality of that in their lives.
Who am I -- I am destined for Glorious Living.
11-12 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Know he had his eye on us.
God has taken an interest us.
There is a moment in the movie Blindside when Sandra Bullocks character Leigh Anne Tuohy sees "Big Mike" walking outside on a cold rainy night. It is the first moment that she takes an interest in his fate. But once she has her one on him everything changes.
Know he had designs for us.
God has a purpose he is working out and he is including me in that purpose.
In the same movie there is a scene where major college coaches have shown up to watch "Big Mike" practice. They are there because each coach has a vision on how to use Mike gifts and talents in their football programs.
Who am I--I am a person with a great destiny. God has taken notice of me, not for ill, but to use me to my greatest potential in his program.
Appl: Imagine a coach recruiting a great prospect, a Michael Oher or a Labron James and sitting them on the bench. Ridiculous. Yet some people think that God's plan for them goes little beyond sitting in a pew, attending a meeting, going to a study. Are you believing? Are you discovering your great destined ordained in his purpose for you.
Who am I -- I am sealed by the Holy Spirit
13-14 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free--signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
The signet - a small seal required to seal every warrant or privy seal or great seal. Ever since the Middle Ages signets were used by those entitled as a seal authorizing orders or 'sealing' letters to authenticate the bearer.
Appl:
Anyone hear ever been convicted of sin?
Anyone learned a new truth?
Anyone ever taken a step outside of their comfort zone on a risk of faith?
Anyone here ever had a moment of uplifting joy, praise, peace?
Good News those little acts of the Holy Spirit living in and at work in our lives are the absolute guarantee
Every time I am convicted of sin, every time I learn a new truth, every time I respond in obedience to his urging I am reminded that it's all happening. It's occurring. I'm going to get it all. If I let God be God, follow his purpose and direction. I get it all.
a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
So What's the So What
15-19That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
Thanks
The most basic response. To be thankful. The most basic response to favor is one of thanksgiving.
Prayer
To pray for it's reality in others
To pray others come not to just acknowledge it, but to
to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
CONCLUSION
20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Aside from Christ we will never fully know who are intended to be.
Living In Christ -- Reflecting and Responding
Who am I -- I am Favored
Which Focus of His love is most meaningful to you?
Look for an opportunity to share that will someone else this week
1. Pastor or Elder
2. Small Group leader
3. Family Member
4. Close Believing friend
5. Friend or co-worker you unsure of their convictions.
Do it as a step of faith.
Praying for. . .
1.
2.
3.
