March 18, 2007
Verses: 1 John 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 5:17; Romans 6:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Phil 3:7-9; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:17; Colossians 3:4; Gal 2:20; Romans 6:23; Romans 12:2; Phil 4:8; Col 3:2-3; 2 Cor 10:5; Eph 4:22-24; Psalm 13; John 11:32 - 43; Luke 22:39 - 46
This week, we learned about embracing the TRUTH of who we are in Christ, and about the dangers of falling back into bondage (and how to avoid it!)
Part 1: Embracing the TRUTH of who you are in CHRIST
There are many things that try to determine our identity. The world's expectations attempting to drown you will never stop trying to bring you to death. But, understanding who you are in Christ can determine if you live your life in victory or defeat!
What determines your identity?
Birth:
In your spiritual birth, you received life from Christ. You can't change that life by what you do! It is who you are!
A Gift:
You receive HIS life as your life and HIS identity as your identity.
His righteousness, His perfection, His holiness.
Receive the gift and walk in the reality of the truth!
The bottom line is - your righteousness is not in what you do - it's who you are!
*1 John 1:3
(remember the Lion King clip? With Simba, and Mufasa appearing in the heavens? Who you are is based on WHOSE you are... and YOU are a child of The King!)
How do we find our value?
We ask our appraiser- GOD!
Ask him "How much am I worth?"
He will reply- "I love you, I cherish you, I value you. To me, you are worth the life of my precious perfect son- Jesus Christ. That is your value. That is what you means to me!"
What is the reality of your new identity in Christ?
You have been declared righteous - that is who you are!
You can now rest in the fact of who you are and stop trying to be somebody that you already are!
You can risk railure and rejection, because they no longer determine who you are.
What others see as a jumbled mess of flaws and inadequacies, God sees as an opportunity to show His strength and perfection!
You never have to doubt whether or not you stand acceptable before God.
Because the Almighty God has accepted you, you now can start to accept yourself and those around you.
You have been declared a righteous child of God!
Now BE to DO - (not do to be!)
---
Part 2 - Dangers of falling back into bondage
How do we live in victory, when we don't always feel it? There's a quote that says "Truth is what God says regardless of how you feel." Feelings will come and go, but the truth is what stands. We must walk in the truth regardless of our feelings!
Facts about feelings:
- Feelings are neither true nor false, right or wrong. They are just feelings.
- Feelings cannot determine fact or fiction.
- Feelings follow belief systems or what you believe to be true.
- You can't change your feelings, just your thoughts.
How do I deal with my feelings?
- Accept your feelings. Don't be ashamed of them. Even Jesus had feelings! Even He got emotional! (see some of those last few verses for proof!)
- Face your feelings. Talk about them.
- Set your mind on truth.
Key Point: TRUTH is what God says, regardless of how I feel.
---
In closing -
Remember that God has designed you with characteristics and personality to touch His heart in a way that no other human being has ever been able to do. He isn't tolerating you, He isn't "putting up with you", He is pursuing a relationship with you! Forever you will make Him ECSTATIC!
bottom line-
God is ultimate.
He wants what is ultimately best for you.
The very best he can offer is Himself. His life.
Therefore - as God's chosen and holy people with an inheritance that will never spoil, perish, or fade live as who He created you to be.
Proclaim His Greatness!
(if you missed Week 5&6 and would like the workbook, contact me [Ericka] and I’ll get you a copy!)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Knowing the Depths of Me :: Week 4
March 14, 2007
Verses: 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 4:12; 1 Cor 3:16-17; Isaiah 59:2; Eph 2:1-3; Gen 2:16; Romans 5:19; Romans 6:6; 1 Cor 15:22; Col 1:13-14; Romans 5:10; Eph 2:4-5; Col 3:1-10; Romans 3:23; Eph 2:1; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 John 5:11-12; John 1:12; 1 Tim 1:15; Romas 5:8; Gal 2:20; Col 3:3-4; Phil 1:21; Eph 2:8-9; 1 John 1:1-2; John 5:11-12, 20; Eph 1:4; Romans 6:4-5; Col 1:13-14; 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:3-4; Romans 6:3,6; Gal 2:20; Eph 1:7-8a; Rom 5:10; Eph 2:4-5; Romans 8:10; Rom 5:17; John 5:24; Gal 5:16; Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14; 1 Pet 2:24; Romans 12:2; Romans 13:14; Psalm 23:3; 2 Cor 3:5-6; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Col 3:1-10; Rom 7:22-23; 2 Cor 3:5-6; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Col 3:1-10; 2 Cor 10:5; Gal 2:20
*verses repeated for emphasis in the study
Whoa! That's a LOT of scripture! I'm so proud of you guys for getting through it all in one night! [for that much scripture to be included, it must've been a pretty important lesson, huh? YUP!] The truths we discussed this week were mind-boggling (so don't feel bad if you don't understand it all- feel free to talk to me [Ericka] if you have questions!)
This week we learned about who were were in Adam (in Sin) and who were are in Christ.
In Sin-
My purpose is to get all my needs met.
My identity is a Sinner and Slave to Sin.
I operate according to the World.
I operate from the outside in.
I look to the World to meet my needs.
I'm self-centered and live in my flesh.
My future is death and eternity in hell.
In relation to God I am separated and alienated.
I develop ways to make my life work and to meet my needs.
I say:
"I have to find my purpose."
"I have to find love, worth, and acceptance."
"I have to figure out how to operate."
"I have to find my identity."
We are saved from a life of sin because of the two aspects of the cross. We are saved from our sins, and from our self! There are two problems the cross fixes:
Problem 1 = I have sinned.
Solution = Christ died for me.
Response = Receive forgiveness and accept the free gift of eternal life.
Problem 2 = I am a sinner.
Solution = I died with Christ
Response = Trust Christ to be my life.
We are saved from our actions (sinning) and our old identity (a sinner)! Though we may sin, those sins (actions) are forgiven, and no matter what we do, our identity is changed forever. You are no longer a sinner, you are now a SAINT!
*Who died on the cross? I DIED! ME! The child of wrath, ME the slave to Satan, ME, the Sinner. *Gal 2:20
Because of the cross, I am now...
In Christ-
My purpose is to glorify God, by allowing Jesus Christ to express His life in and through mine (*ABIDE!)
My identity is a Saint, a Child of God, chosen, holy, and blameless!
I operate according to the Spirit.
I operate from the inside out.
I look to God to meet my needs.
I am Christ-Centered.
My future is Victory in Life and Eternity in Heaven!
In relation to God, I am one with Him, reconciled, His friend, and expression of the Life of Christ, near to Him, enjoying fellowing with Him, and have bold and confident access to Him!
My life is hidden with Christ!
Christ's life is expressed though my life!
I say:
"I have been given purpose!"
"I live and operate depending totally on my life source- Jesus Christ.:
"My identity is found 'In Christ'- the one who has declared me righteous and has given me His life."
"I am loved. I am accepted. I am valued by the Almighty God!"
Wait - if I am a Saint and a Child of Righteousness, then why do I still sin?
Good question - see, the power of sin is in your body, but it is not you. (It's in me but it's not me.) Kinda hard to understand, I know. Think of it this way- if a surgeon left some scissors inside you after an operation, that would be really bad, right? If that happens, something is wrong- but you are not wrong! Something inside you in wrong! It is in you (the scissors) but it is not you!
(if you remember, we also used the tupperware for this example-- if you are tupperware, and Jesus is in you and you are in Christ, all sealed up by duct tape [salvation] then everything is good... but what if some stinky cheese gets put inside the tupperware?! it's just like sin- it's in you but it's not you! but man does it stink...)
See, your flesh still operates, because your flesh is in your brain- in your memory bank (brain/body). The old you died that had to operate in the flesh... but your old habit patterns are still in your memory bank.
So, how do we fix it?! By focusing on TRUTH!
No matter what, we have to focus on the TRUTH of who we are IN CHRIST! We have to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ! (2 Cor 10:5)
*Remember our little trick here- we have to TEST everything people say, and every thought we have. How? by putting "In the name of Jesus", or "In Christ" at the end of it.
For example:
I'm not good enough... in Christ.
I'm not pretty enough... in Christ.
No one loves me... in Christ.
I am worthless... in Christ.
Do those work? NO!!!!
Okay, so let's try these:
I am good enough... in Christ.
I am beautiful... in Christ.
I am loved... in Christ.
I have great worth... in Christ.
Do those work? YES! Why? Because they are TRUTH (and we have scripture to back them up!)
Why do we test every word and thought? Because Satan tries to feed you lies- from other people and even from the thoughts inside your head! (he's tricky!) The horrible thoughts you think are NOT your thoughts, they are the voice of Satan feeding you lies to make you think they are your thoughts. He will get you in your most vulnerable times. He will harass you. But here's the good news- GOD IS GREATER! GOD IS BIGGER! GOD IS STRONGER!
It is vital to know what is true about you and who you are in Christ!
TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE IN CHRIST!
(if you missed Week 4 and would like the workbook, contact me [Ericka] and I’ll get you a copy!)
Verses: 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 4:12; 1 Cor 3:16-17; Isaiah 59:2; Eph 2:1-3; Gen 2:16; Romans 5:19; Romans 6:6; 1 Cor 15:22; Col 1:13-14; Romans 5:10; Eph 2:4-5; Col 3:1-10; Romans 3:23; Eph 2:1; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 John 5:11-12; John 1:12; 1 Tim 1:15; Romas 5:8; Gal 2:20; Col 3:3-4; Phil 1:21; Eph 2:8-9; 1 John 1:1-2; John 5:11-12, 20; Eph 1:4; Romans 6:4-5; Col 1:13-14; 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:3-4; Romans 6:3,6; Gal 2:20; Eph 1:7-8a; Rom 5:10; Eph 2:4-5; Romans 8:10; Rom 5:17; John 5:24; Gal 5:16; Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14; 1 Pet 2:24; Romans 12:2; Romans 13:14; Psalm 23:3; 2 Cor 3:5-6; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Col 3:1-10; Rom 7:22-23; 2 Cor 3:5-6; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Col 3:1-10; 2 Cor 10:5; Gal 2:20
*verses repeated for emphasis in the study
Whoa! That's a LOT of scripture! I'm so proud of you guys for getting through it all in one night! [for that much scripture to be included, it must've been a pretty important lesson, huh? YUP!] The truths we discussed this week were mind-boggling (so don't feel bad if you don't understand it all- feel free to talk to me [Ericka] if you have questions!)
This week we learned about who were were in Adam (in Sin) and who were are in Christ.
In Sin-
My purpose is to get all my needs met.
My identity is a Sinner and Slave to Sin.
I operate according to the World.
I operate from the outside in.
I look to the World to meet my needs.
I'm self-centered and live in my flesh.
My future is death and eternity in hell.
In relation to God I am separated and alienated.
I develop ways to make my life work and to meet my needs.
I say:
"I have to find my purpose."
"I have to find love, worth, and acceptance."
"I have to figure out how to operate."
"I have to find my identity."
We are saved from a life of sin because of the two aspects of the cross. We are saved from our sins, and from our self! There are two problems the cross fixes:
Problem 1 = I have sinned.
Solution = Christ died for me.
Response = Receive forgiveness and accept the free gift of eternal life.
Problem 2 = I am a sinner.
Solution = I died with Christ
Response = Trust Christ to be my life.
We are saved from our actions (sinning) and our old identity (a sinner)! Though we may sin, those sins (actions) are forgiven, and no matter what we do, our identity is changed forever. You are no longer a sinner, you are now a SAINT!
*Who died on the cross? I DIED! ME! The child of wrath, ME the slave to Satan, ME, the Sinner. *Gal 2:20
Because of the cross, I am now...
In Christ-
My purpose is to glorify God, by allowing Jesus Christ to express His life in and through mine (*ABIDE!)
My identity is a Saint, a Child of God, chosen, holy, and blameless!
I operate according to the Spirit.
I operate from the inside out.
I look to God to meet my needs.
I am Christ-Centered.
My future is Victory in Life and Eternity in Heaven!
In relation to God, I am one with Him, reconciled, His friend, and expression of the Life of Christ, near to Him, enjoying fellowing with Him, and have bold and confident access to Him!
My life is hidden with Christ!
Christ's life is expressed though my life!
I say:
"I have been given purpose!"
"I live and operate depending totally on my life source- Jesus Christ.:
"My identity is found 'In Christ'- the one who has declared me righteous and has given me His life."
"I am loved. I am accepted. I am valued by the Almighty God!"
Wait - if I am a Saint and a Child of Righteousness, then why do I still sin?
Good question - see, the power of sin is in your body, but it is not you. (It's in me but it's not me.) Kinda hard to understand, I know. Think of it this way- if a surgeon left some scissors inside you after an operation, that would be really bad, right? If that happens, something is wrong- but you are not wrong! Something inside you in wrong! It is in you (the scissors) but it is not you!
(if you remember, we also used the tupperware for this example-- if you are tupperware, and Jesus is in you and you are in Christ, all sealed up by duct tape [salvation] then everything is good... but what if some stinky cheese gets put inside the tupperware?! it's just like sin- it's in you but it's not you! but man does it stink...)
See, your flesh still operates, because your flesh is in your brain- in your memory bank (brain/body). The old you died that had to operate in the flesh... but your old habit patterns are still in your memory bank.
So, how do we fix it?! By focusing on TRUTH!
No matter what, we have to focus on the TRUTH of who we are IN CHRIST! We have to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ! (2 Cor 10:5)
*Remember our little trick here- we have to TEST everything people say, and every thought we have. How? by putting "In the name of Jesus", or "In Christ" at the end of it.
For example:
I'm not good enough... in Christ.
I'm not pretty enough... in Christ.
No one loves me... in Christ.
I am worthless... in Christ.
Do those work? NO!!!!
Okay, so let's try these:
I am good enough... in Christ.
I am beautiful... in Christ.
I am loved... in Christ.
I have great worth... in Christ.
Do those work? YES! Why? Because they are TRUTH (and we have scripture to back them up!)
Why do we test every word and thought? Because Satan tries to feed you lies- from other people and even from the thoughts inside your head! (he's tricky!) The horrible thoughts you think are NOT your thoughts, they are the voice of Satan feeding you lies to make you think they are your thoughts. He will get you in your most vulnerable times. He will harass you. But here's the good news- GOD IS GREATER! GOD IS BIGGER! GOD IS STRONGER!
It is vital to know what is true about you and who you are in Christ!
TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE IN CHRIST!
(if you missed Week 4 and would like the workbook, contact me [Ericka] and I’ll get you a copy!)
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