Did you ever have that teacher who the only reason you paid attention in class was because they might call on you to answer a question, and you didn’t want to look a fool? Just sayin’
When I first began preparing this message, I recalled a scene from the movie “Overcomer”.
I have shared this with many of you in the past, so if you have already heard it, please indulge me for the moment.
In this scene one man asks another “who are you?” His reply was “well I’m a coach, a husband, a father, and almost as an afterthought, he said “and a Christian”.
1 Peter 2:9 describes who we are. I’ll preface this with, I will use “who am I, who are we, who are you?” interchangeably.
Peter writes, “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 the darkness into His marvelous light”. There’s a whole lot of good news in that scripture, but let’s zoom in on a couple of these.
First-A royal priesthood- to me, Peter is saying Christ is the King Priest, and we are in His Royal Kingdom.
Go back with me to that movie scene for just a minute. When thinking about who you are, or if being asked by someone to describe who you are, did you mention being a Christian last on your list, or even mention it at all?
I know I’m guilty just as this man was. Isn’t it amazing that we would list our Royal Priesthood last, or not mention it at all?
The second description is “a holy nation”. As Christians, we must regard ourselves as a holy nation. The word holy means “set apart”. Christians are a nation “set apart” from the world, and that is becoming more evident, by the day.
So, who am I? A royal priesthood, and a member of a holy nation set apart by God.
This past week I attended the funeral of a friend. On the drive to the funeral, I listened to a Christian podcast, and the speaker said “as Christians, people must see us and say “whatever that is that you got, I want some of it””. We must be the salt of the earth.
In Matthew 5:13 Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth.
During the funeral service, the pastor said Jeff was the salt of the earth. After hearing “salt of the earth”, twice; in about as many hours, I became convinced that I was to include this verse in todays message.
One of the qualities of salt when we consume it, is that it creates thirst. When people see Jesus in us, they thirst for what we have. Our “saltyness” creates thirst and wanting more of Jesus.
Think about this…
Do you recall the story when Paul and Silas were in prison and praying and singing hymns to God, and the prison doors opened? The guard woke from his sleep, and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped, and Paul called out “do yourself no harm, for we are all here”.
Picture this… you are in prison but innocent of a crime, and the prison doors open, but you decide to stay put!
Paul was the salt of the earth, and that guard thirsted for what Paul had and he asked Paul “what must I do to be saved?” As I was writing this it caused me to ponder, “did God open the prison doors because Paul and Silas were singing praises to Him, or so the guard could be saved?
Pause- Probably both!
So, who are we? We are the salt of the earth.
Over the last three days, things have come at me in a very rapid succession. Several verses came to me quickly, while others, God revealed one at a time.
Early Friday morning a verse popped up on my phone from a daily devotional that I receive. It was 1 John 3:1. “Behold, what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
I had originally chosen John 1:12 which also declares us children of God, but 1 John 3:1 seems more appropriate, because it ties in with 1 Peter 2:9.
Let’s re-look at part of the verse “therefore the world does not know us (because we are a holy nation, set apart) because it did not know Him. Since we are children of God, we are set apart. Isn’t that beautiful?
Who are we? We are children of God.
Now, consider this;
If you had painted the Mona Lisa, how would you treat it?
The NIV translation of Ephesians 2:10 reads “For we are Gods’ handiwork (handiwork here can be translated to “masterpiece”). “For we are Gods masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do Gods’ works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So, who are you? You are Gods masterpiece!
Do you know that as born-again believers we are a new creation?
Paul puts it like this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”.
Does this mean our sin-nature is no longer with us? I don’t believe it does. I believe it means if we are abiding in Christ, then we are running to Him, not to the world, everyday; thereby squelching our sin-nature. As a new creation, it is even that much more important that we suit up with Gods’ armor daily.
So, who are you? A new creation!
Several months ago Pastor Jeff gave a sermon contrasting Romans chapters 7 and 8.
In Chapter 7 Paul begins writing about the law and sin, and how sin can be overwhelming. Although Paul has a specific audience he is addressing, it is as though he is talking to himself, even to the point of asking questions a couple of times and answering in exclamation “certainly not!” You can feel Pauls’ struggle. Then verse 15 sort of brings his exasperation to a head. “I really don’t understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate”. Anyone here ever been there? Paul knows he is a new creation, but he still struggles.
Watch what happens in chapter 8. He begins writing about freedom from sin and death, then challenges us to walk in the spirit. It is though he was in the depths of darkness in chapter 7, but begins pushing to the surface in chapter 8. In chapter 8 verse 17 Paul proclaims “If children, then heirs-Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also but glorified together.”
Who are we? We are heirs of God. Do you realize as an heir you inherit everything? We are glorified together with God. Can someone say amen?
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus said “you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden”.
There is a condition known as Absolute Darkness- A total absence of light. But apparently even in the darkest environment that exists, or can be created there are still crystals of light. It is trying to be scientifically proven that darkness can overcome light. However, even if science can prove absolute darkness, I choose to believe Gods word as written in John 1:5 “and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it”.
Here are some other words for comprehend:
Understand/apprehend/take in or consume
Gods’ word says the darkness cannot consume the light. Think about it, you are the light, and no amount of darkness can overcome you. Even in the darkest time of your life, darkness is powerless in the light.
Who are you? You are the light of the world, y’all!
Let’s quickly examine Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly await for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Here’s a definition of citizen: a legally recognized subject or national, of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.
So, as Christians, we have dual citizenship. We are native to earth, but naturalized citizens of heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Who are we? We are citizens of heaven.
Years ago, I began listening to an audio book written by Bill Johnson titled “Dreaming with God”. I had the book on CD and listening to it while I was driving. Early in the book John 15:15 was quoted. This was one of those verses that I had heard before, but had never HEARD before. Anyway, I had to pull over into a parking lot and take it in. If you want a deep dive someday, read John chapter 15.
In John 15:15 Jesus says, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. (which things? ALL things!)
Long before this passage had such an impact on me that day, I would ask this question when I was a sales trainer:
Think about a close friend. Does your friend know you the best, or do you know your friend the best?
To put it another way: Does your friend know more about you, or do you know more about your friend?
A mentor taught me “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. So you could listen twice as much as you talk”.
My point when asking this question was to illustrate that in most friendships, the relationship is unequal.
But in this verse, Jesus said “all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you”. That makes our friendship with Jesus like this. (hands facing each other equally)
At my father in laws funeral, one of his best friends got up and spoke. He said “the first time I met Bob, I really didn’t like him. But I soon realized that if Bob decided he was going to be your friend, you didn’t have a choice in the matter”.
Look what Jesus said in John 15:16 “you did not choose me, but I chose you…” Kind of like with Bob, we don’t have a choice in the matter!
When I first began preparing for this message, God put a word on my heart “lost signal”. (yes I know that’s two words). It took me about a day to figure it out, because I immediately began to think about a lost signal as in a radio signal. So, I was confused, because after all, I already knew everything God wanted me to say, right?
But I truly believe this part of the message is meant for someone here or watching today, and that verse is John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in me, and I in him bears much fruit; because without me, you can do nothing”.
Don’t lose your signal. Keep receiving Gods word.
Who am I? I am His friend!
A quick recap.
Who am I? Royal Priesthood 1 Peter 2:9
Salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
A child of God 1 John 3:1
His masterpiece Ephesians 2:10
A new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17
An Heir of God Romans 8:17
Light of the world Matthew 5:14
A citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20
His friend John 15:15
And to wrap this up, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:27. We’ll start in verse 20. This will be a bit of reading but I believe this is the crux of todays message.
Re-read verse 27 then say I believe verse 27 carries a lot of weight, and by weight I don’t mean burden, but rather, authority.
I love how Paul implores us to seek or pursue these spiritual gifts in our church.
Call Ashley up.
There’s a lot of division in our country right now, and I believe it is time for the body of Christ to be bold and bring unity by exemplifying who we are in Christ.
Call Lisa up.
Here’s a challenge to leave you with:
What will you do today, to manifest the body of Christ when you ask yourself “who am I”?
If you need prayer today, I’m going to ask you to be bold and join us at the altar.
If you need someone to remind you who you are, or you are in a dark place, or there’s a lost signal, join us at the altar.
Whatever your need may be, Jesus is enough. Come to the altar and leave your burdens at His feet.
Close in prayer
