Focus: Our Lens of Life: Our Internal Value

                                                                                                                      

Focus: Our Lens of Life – Sermon Notes                                                                         Pastor Mike Snodgrass

Our Internal Value                                                                                                                         November 10, 2024

 

The life we live, with all its decisions and responses, reflects our understanding of who we truly are.

 

The way we perceive, feel, and believe about ourselves is what we can call our identity.

●      Each one of us has a unique identity when it comes to:

○      family history

○      name

○      ethnicity

○      sex

○      personality

○      vocation

●      Each of us is responsible for the upkeep of our identity.

○      The health and clarity of our inner lens.

 

Our perception vs. God’s perception is typically not in agreement.

“Identity is the foundation on which our individual uniqueness rests. Identity secures that which satisfies the deepest longings of our lives”.

                        Terry Wardle – Identity Matters (2017)

●      Core Longings:

○      Acceptance

○      Belonging

○      Love

●      To satisfy these core longings we will pursue unhealthy ways.

○      Negative “I statement” kick-in…

●      We make “I statement” to ourselves:

○      “I am not worthy”

○      “I am unforgivable”

○      “I am unlovable”

○      “I do not add up”

 (MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)

A Case Study in Identity:

 

Gideon:

Judges 6:11-16 (NIV)

●      Gideon is identified as a Mighty Warrior

●      Gideon identifies himself as the least in his clan.

●      vs. 14 – “Am I not sending you”?

●      What did Gideon believe of himself?

Moses:

Exodus 3:1-5

●      God Introduces Himself to Moses

●      Vs. 10, God commands Moses to go…

○      “…So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

○      Moses shows his reluctance to go.

●      vs. 11, But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

●       vs. 12, And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

 

God DID NOT answer Gideon or Moses by stating who they are, but rather by WHO GOD IS and therefore how both of their identities are defined! “I WILL BE WITH YOU”

 

●      Moses makes 5 different statements of either reluctance or ineptitude.

●      In verses 11, 13; 4:1, 10, 13 are Moses identity statements rebuttaling God

 

The unhealthy lens of our internal values can sabotage our eternal calling.

●      Moses and Gideon are examples of this.

●      Guilt and shame can occur.

(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)  

Man In The Mirror

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

 

When we come to Christ, we are blessed with our TRUE identity!

●      There are things that I now have the opportunity to deal with with the help of the Holy Spirit!

○      Hurts, Habits, Hang-ups

○      The process of Sanctification

 

Romans 8:1 NLT

 

Guilt says, “I’ve done something wrong and I feel bad for it”…

●      Guilt is not a bad thing.

●      Conviction of the Holy Spirit.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

 

Guilt can be healthy but shame is always unhealthy.

 

Genesis 3:9-10 vs. Genesis 2:25

 

Shame says, “I’ve done something wrong and I’m a bad person for it”…

●      This is a personal or identity statement.

●      Shame is a lie of the enemy.

●      Shame says, “I’m not worthy”…

●      “I statements”

 

Is your identity resting on what is constant and unchangeable, or is it easily comprised by the actions of others? Your past?

                        Terry Wardle – Identity Matters (2017)

(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)  

Image Of God

 

Your identity is found in the Truth of creation!

 

Genesis 1:26-27 NIV

 

You and I are created in the image of God and this provides the basis of human value, establishing why all humans should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of gender, age, station, and any other attribute.

            Rev. Derek Boivin – The Image of God (2016)

 

What is your attitude towards yourself? Do you see yourself as a person of dignity and worthy of respect?

 

Psalm 139:14 ESV

 

Psalm 139:14 MSG

 

We must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal that which needs to be healed and give permission to ourselves to accept God’s identity for ourselves!

(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)  

 

Prayer: Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit please help me to remember I am YOUR workmanship and I am complete in YOU. Help me to understand that I am a child of God and that I am loved and forgiven. When trials come my way help me to remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Reveal the areas in my mind and in my heart that you Holy Spirit want to work on. Help me to receive your joy and rest that you delight in my well being. I pray this in your name, the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Affirmations

I am a child of God – John 1:12

I am loved – Galatians 2:20

I am blessed – Ephesians 1:3

I am forgiven – I John 1:9

I am gifted – I Peter 4:10, 11

I am not ashamed – II Timothy 2:15

I am wise through the Scriptures – II Timothy 3:15

I am healed – Matthew 8:16, 17, Isaiah 53:5

I am guarded by God’s peace – Philippians 4:6, 7

I am content – Philippians 4:12

I can do all things through Christ – Philippians 4:13

I am thankful – I Thessalonians 5:18

I am joy-filled – Acts 13:52

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me – Luke 4:18

God has chosen me – John 15:16

I am the apple of God’s eye – Zechariah 2:8

God delights in my well-being – Psalm 35:27

God really likes me – Zephaniah 3:17

I am complete in Christ – Colossians 2:10

I am God’s workmanship – Ephesians 2:10