Who Am I And What Can God Have Me Do For Him?

Sermon: "Who Am I and What Can God Have Me Do?"

Opening Declaration

Let's begin by holding up our Bibles and declaring together:

"This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the Word of God.

The indestructible, never-ending, living Word of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus' Name.

Amen."

Before you sit down, turn to your neighbor and say, "Good morning, brother/sister!"

Introduction

Good morning, church! Today, we are embarking on a journey to explore two fundamental questions that shape our lives as Christians: "Who am I?" and "What can God have me do?"

Understanding our identity in Christ and recognizing the unique purposes God has for us are crucial to living a fulfilling and purposeful life.

Who Am I?

To understand who we are, we must start with our identity in Christ. The Bible provides clear and powerful truths about our identity as believers.

Children of God:

John 1:12 tells us, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

We are not defined by our past, our failures, or our achievements. We are defined by our relationship with God. As His children, we are loved, accepted, and valued.

New Creation:

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

When we accept Christ, we are transformed. Our old identity, marked by sin and brokenness, is replaced with a new identity in Christ. We are made new, whole, and free.

Chosen and Holy:

1 Peter 2:9 declares, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

We are chosen by God, set apart for His purposes. We are His treasured possession, called to live lives that reflect His holiness and grace.

More Than Conquerors:

Romans 8:37 affirms, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." In Christ, we are not just survivors; we are overcomers.

We have victory over sin, fear, and every challenge we face because of His love and power at work within us.

Encouraging Story

To illustrate these truths, I want to share an inspiring story of a man named Nick Vujicic.

Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. Growing up, he faced immense challenges and bullying, leading him to struggle with depression and feelings of worthlessness. But at the age of 15, he read John 9:3, where Jesus says, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." This verse transformed Nick's perspective. He realized that his life had a purpose, and that God could use him despite his physical limitations.

Nick embraced his identity in Christ. He recognized that he was a beloved child of God, created with a purpose. Today, Nick Vujicic is a world-renowned motivational speaker and evangelist. He has traveled to over 70 countries, sharing the message of hope and the love of Christ with millions of people. Through his life and ministry, Nick has shown that God can use anyone to make a significant impact, regardless of their circumstances.

Nick's story is a powerful reminder that our identity in Christ and our willingness to be used by God can transform our lives and the lives of those around us. Just like Nick, we can trust that God has a unique and meaningful purpose for each of us.

What Can God Have Me Do?

Understanding our identity in Christ naturally leads to the question of our purpose.

What does God want us to do with our lives? Here are several key aspects of our calling as Christians:

Love God and Love Others:

Jesus summarized the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-39: "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Our primary purpose is to love God passionately and to extend that love to others. This love should be the foundation of everything we do.

Make Disciples:

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 commands us, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."