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!)