Who Are You?

Who Are You?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D08cNLruFLw

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Today I’d like to begin with you this journey of change we started last week, this transformation that God has called us to make through the renewing of our minds, or as the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mindbe in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” And today we’ll do so by looking at who we are in Christ.

So, I’d like to begin by asking you a couple of questions, starting with, how are you really doing? Did you dread getting out of bed this morning? Are you irritated because things just aren’t going as planned? Are you facing unreasonable demands? Is there ongoing tension in your relationships? Did the news cheer you up this week, or scare the heebie-jeebies out of you? Are you simply tired of the same old routine?

If any of these hit home, or if I’ve missed what you are feeling and going through, let me give you this piece of information, which really isn’t designed to make you feel better, but here it goes, “You are not alone.”

In fact, the Bible states, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that but we ourselves who have the Spirit …  also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22-23)

All of creation groans, that is everything and everybody, or better yet, you and me, are groaning in our longing for redemption. And as I found out for myself, the older I get the more these groanings become.

And so, as we enter today’s teaching about who we are, I’d like to play a short clip to get us in the mood thinking about this question.

PLAY Alice in Wonderland clip.

At the caterpillar’s continued questioning of “Who R U,” Alice states what I believe most people say at these times, and that is, “Everything is so confusing.”

Who are We?

Our problem is that when people ask us who we are our first response usually is what we do. For me, I’m a pastor and author. But if that is stripped away, who am I?

We then tend to identify as to our relational status, like I’m a husband, father, grandfather (papi). But if that is stripped away, who am I?

That brings me to my ethnicity. I am an old balding white male, with a paunch. But if that is stripped away, (which I’ve been praying for as far as the paunch is concerned!!!), who am I?

At this point we will identify as to what we believe, and for me, I’m a Christian. But why would I list that last? If I truly believe in Jesus Christ, that should be my overriding identity. I am a believer in Jesus Christ who is also a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and yes, an old balding white male with a paunch.

Our identity, who we see ourselves as being when we answer the question, “Who am I,” is tied to whatever we give our heart too. Knowing this, and that we are Christians, and what that means, it will change us, which is at the heart of my vision for this year, which for me it’s going to be a year of change. And I am going to allow the Lord to not only define me, but to change me as well.

Unfortunately, however, there is another definition that we tend define ourselves and others by. And that is we tend to define ourselves and others by our problems.

Since we’ve just finished Christmas last month, the story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist comes to mind. Elizabeth was defined by her condition, “Her who was called barren.” (Luke 1:36 KJV)

Everywhere she went people would point and call her “barren.” And she may have even started to take on this identification. (“I’m Elizabeth, I’m who they call barren.”) But God saw her differently. God saw her as a mighty woman of faith and the mother of one of His most mighty prophets, John the Baptist.

Now, this is NOT an escapism from reality teaching, because we live in a world that is filled with bad stuff. We live in a sin filled world that has worked its damage in just about everyone’s life. Elizabeth was indeed barren, and it’s not like she was ever promised that she would give birth to a great prophet, but that she was barren. Just like there are many who today live with physical and emotional issues, sicknesses, and illnesses, that they have not been and may not be delivered from.

But what I want to focus upon is that while these things are a reality in our lives, there is another reality, and that is who we are in Christ, and what our relationship with God really entails. Yes, there are a lot of things wrong with me, and yes, I accept them as best I can, and I pray for release and healing. But the opposite is that there is a greater reality in my life, and a greater reality in your life, and that is our relationship with God and what He calls us.