Embracing True Identity Through God's Presence
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded of the importance of recognizing and rejecting the negative identities that have been spoken over me or that I've said to myself. I was encouraged to see myself through God's lens, as His workmanship, created for a purpose. The speaker emphasized the need to pray and ask God to remind us of our true identities in Him, and to help us overcome the negative identities that have been plaguing us. He also highlighted the importance of God's presence in our lives, enabling us to bear the fruits of the Spirit and to live out our God-given purpose.
In the second part of the sermon, I was urged to write down every negative thing I think about myself, so that God can deal with it. The speaker emphasized the importance of God's presence in our lives, acknowledging that we can't overcome our negative identities and the emotional pain that goes with them without God's presence. He also pointed out that our negative identities can prevent us from living out our God-given purpose, and encouraged us to trust in God's presence to guide us and help us overcome these negative identities.
Key takeaways:
- God's presence in our lives is crucial in overcoming negative identities and living out our God-given purpose ([49:51]).
- We need to actively reject the negative identities that have been spoken over us or that we've said to ourselves, and embrace our true identities in Christ ([53:32]).
- Writing down every negative thing we think about ourselves can be a helpful step in allowing God to deal with these negative identities ([59:56]).
- The fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) are evidence of God's presence in our lives and can help us overcome negative identities ([56:33]).
- Living out our God-given purpose is the ultimate goal, and without it, life can feel empty and meaningless ([52:07]).
Study Guide
Bible Passages:
1. Galatians 5:22-23
2. Ephesians 2:10
3. Genesis 1:31
Key Points from the sermon:
1. We often struggle with negative identities, which can hinder us from living out our God-given purpose.
2. God's presence and truth can help us overcome these negative identities.
3. The Holy Spirit is actively producing fruit in us, transforming us into kind, gentle, self-controlled individuals.
Observation Questions:
1. What are the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23?
2. According to Ephesians 2:10, how does God view us?
3. What does Genesis 1:31 say about everything God makes?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the list of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 relate to our transformation in Christ?
2. What does it mean to be God's workmanship, as stated in Ephesians 2:10?
3. How does Genesis 1:31 challenge the world's view of beauty?
Application Questions:
1. How can we allow God's truth to shape our identity and overcome negative self-perceptions?
2. In what ways can we cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work of producing fruit in us?
3. How can we live out our God-given purpose, knowing that we are God's workmanship created for good works?
Devotional
Day 1: Writing Down Negative Thoughts to Allow God to Deal With Them
Negative thoughts can be overwhelming and can often lead us to believe lies about ourselves. However, when we write these thoughts down, we are able to confront them and invite God into the process of healing and transformation. This practice allows us to surrender our fears, insecurities, and doubts to God, trusting that He will replace them with His truth.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Reflection: Have you ever tried writing down your negative thoughts about yourself? If not, would you consider starting this practice as a way to confront these thoughts and invite God into the process of healing and transformation?
Day 5: The Importance of God's Presence in Overcoming Negative Identities
Negative identities can be deeply ingrained in us, often as a result of past experiences or lies we've believed about ourselves. However, God's presence in our lives can help us overcome these negative identities. When we invite God into our struggles, His love and truth can transform our perspective and give us hope for change.
Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you felt God's presence helping you overcome a negative identity? If not, how might inviting God's presence into your struggles change your perspective and give you hope for transformation?
Quotes
1. "Are you seeing how we can pray for God's presence to help us overcome all these negative identities in our life? Are you seeing how we can just use God's truth to help us do that?" - 58:04
2. "I'm no longer a harsh person, God's making me, the spirit's helping me become a kind and gentle person. For some of us maybe we're already there on being self-controlled but we're still working on that kind and gentleness." - 58:41
3. "I need you to remind me that I am not a waste of life. I need you to remind me that I'm not a worthless mistake. I am as you tell me in Ephesians 2 10, I am your workmanship, handcrafted, hand shaped by you, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." - 54:21
4. "We're no longer a harsh person but we're becoming a kind and gentle person. We're no longer an angry hot-tempered person, no we are becoming a peaceful and patient person. We're no longer a drunkard, an addict of any kind, no longer an overspender, we're no longer a lustful person, no we are becoming a self-controlled person." - 56:33
5. "Let Your Presence God be with me always in a personal way and be active in my life. Because I can't overcome my negative identity and all the emotional pain that goes with it without God's presence in my life." - 49:51
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