Suffering From a Identity Crisis
(Ephesians 2: 4 – 10)
Eph 2:4-10
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
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Introduction:
Many believers today are suffering from an identity crisis. Many believers don’t know who they are. It seems like many have a split personality. We here people say, “ I need to find myself.” For the believer we can find who we are by looking into the Word of God.
Ephesians 2:4-10 lets us know that we have been placed in Christ because of the love of our heavenly father. Verse 5 tells us that once we were dead and now we have been made alive. Verse 6 tells us that we have been raised up so we can sit together with Christ.
It’s easy to see whom we are when we look into the Word of God. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. We as believers can know who we are. And it is all-possible because of God’s grace.
It’s time the church realizes who we are. Let’s look and see part of who we are as believers.
1.We Are His Children: 1 John 3:1
3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
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A)We have royal blood. 1 Peter 1: 18-19
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
B)We have rights and privileges. Galatians 4:7
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
C)We have exhaled position. Ephesians 2:6
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
D)So you see we are His children. Remember it! Understand it! Live it! Take it seriously!
2.We Are His Ambassadors: 2 Corinthians 5 : 20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
A)An ambassador is some one who lives in one country but represents another. That would be you and I!
B)We represent Christ:
C)A good ambassador doesn’t talk about himself.
D)A good ambassador has an effect on those who he is dealing with.
E)Acts 1:8 are the last words spoken by Christ on this earth.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
F)Look at the opportunity we all have. We get to represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
3.) We Are His Priest: 1 Peter 2: 5; Revelation 1: 6
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
A) The Process: Exodus 29
1)God chooses us.
2)God washes us. Rev. 1:5-6
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
3)God clothes us. Rev 19:8
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
B) The Privilege: Numbers 3
1)Caring for God’s dwelling place.
I Cor. 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2)Keeping the fires burning. Lev. 6:12-13
12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
3)Offering spiritual sacrifices. What are these?
a.Prayer Psalm 141: 1-3
LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
b.Praise Hebrews 13:15
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
c.Good works Hebrews 13:16
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
d.Money Philippians 4:14-18
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
e.Our bodies Romans 12:1-2
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
f.Our hearts Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
C.) The Perils: Malachi 1:6-2:9
1)What are you bringing to God? Mal. 1:7-8
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
2)Your blessings could turn into cursing. Mal. 2:2-3
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
3)Are you a priest or an imposter?
4.) We Are His Soldiers: Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
A)We have been equipped. Eph. 6:10-11
B)We have been encouraged. 1 Cor. 15:57
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
C)We can be entangled. 2Tim. 2:4
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Conclusion:
I hope you have been challenged today. You don’t have to suffer from identity crises anymore. Know who you are and be confidant in who you are. And above all, let’s show the world who we are.
