Transforming Identity: Embracing God's Truth for Change
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, New Life Church! Today, we delved into the second week of our series, "Power to Change," by exploring the profound question: "Why do I do what I do?" We often act based on secondary reasons like obligations, consequences, or the desire to be liked. However, the primary reason is rooted in our self-view—our identity. Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Our thoughts shape our identity, and our identity drives our behavior.
We examined the story of Gideon from Judges 6. Gideon, hiding from the Midianites, was called a "mighty hero" by an angel of the Lord. Despite his circumstances and negative self-talk, God saw him as a warrior. Gideon's transformation began when he embraced God's view of him, leading him to lead Israel to victory. This illustrates that our power to change is tied to our view of ourselves.
We discussed the importance of aligning our identity with God's truth rather than our performance or others' opinions. God's truth about us should shape our identity, not the lies of the enemy. The enemy seeks to distort our identity through negative self-talk, but we must reject these lies and embrace who God says we are.
To combat negative self-talk, we need to identify false beliefs, acknowledge destructive thoughts, and replace them with God's truth. Our beliefs inform our thoughts, which shape our identity and, ultimately, our behavior. For those who haven't surrendered to Christ, today is an opportunity to step into a new identity in Him. For believers, it's a call to stand firm in the identity God has given us and reject the enemy's lies.
### Key Takeaways
1. Your Identity Shapes Your Actions: Our actions are deeply influenced by our self-view. Proverbs 23:7 emphasizes that our thoughts shape our identity, which in turn drives our behavior. To change our actions, we must first change our view of ourselves, aligning it with God's truth. [12:27]
2. Gideon's Transformation: Gideon's story in Judges 6 shows that embracing God's view of us can lead to profound change. Despite his initial fear and negative self-talk, Gideon became a mighty hero by believing in God's identity for him. This transformation is available to us when we align our identity with God's purpose. [17:54]
3. Rejecting the Enemy's Lies: The enemy seeks to distort our identity through negative self-talk and lies. John 8:44 describes the devil as the father of lies. We must reject these lies and embrace God's truth about who we are, which empowers us to change our behavior. [27:43]
4. Replacing False Beliefs with God's Truth: To combat negative self-talk, we need to identify false beliefs, acknowledge destructive thoughts, and replace them with God's truth. For example, replacing the belief that we are unworthy with the truth that we are loved by God (1 John 4:10). This process transforms our identity and behavior. [41:46]
5. Living in Our New Identity: Surrendering to Christ gives us a new identity, characterized by life rather than death (2 Corinthians 5:17). Even after surrendering, the battle for our identity continues. We must stand firm in our God-given identity and reject the enemy's attempts to distort it. [32:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[12:27] - Why Do We Do What We Do?
[13:41] - The Power of Self-Talk
[15:05] - The Science Behind Our Thoughts
[16:32] - Gideon's Story
[17:54] - God's View vs. Self-View
[19:18] - God's Purpose for Our Lives
[20:46] - Gideon's Negative Self-Talk
[22:12] - The Power to Change
[23:33] - Embracing God's Intention
[24:57] - Our Beliefs Shape Our Identity
[26:16] - Performance vs. God's Truth
[27:43] - Rejecting the Enemy's Lies
[29:10] - The Enemy's Tactics
[30:37] - Surrendering to Christ
[32:05] - New Identity in Christ
[33:26] - The Battle for Identity
[34:58] - Personal Testimony
[36:36] - Overcoming Challenges
[37:48] - Remembering God's Call
[39:07] - Identifying False Beliefs
[40:21] - Acknowledging Destructive Thoughts
[41:46] - Replacing False Beliefs with Truth
[43:20] - Fixing Our Thoughts
[44:43] - Embracing God's Promise
[46:20] - Responding to God
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 23:7 - "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
2. Judges 6:11-12 - "Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, 'Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!'"
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 23:7 suggest about the relationship between our thoughts and our identity?
2. In Judges 6:11-12, what was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and what did the angel call him? [16:32]
3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to a person who belongs to Christ?
4. How did Gideon's view of himself change after his encounter with the angel of the Lord? [22:12]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Gideon illustrate the impact of aligning our identity with God's view of us? [17:54]
2. What are some ways the enemy tries to distort our identity through negative self-talk, according to the sermon? [27:43]
3. How can replacing false beliefs with God's truth transform our behavior, as discussed in the sermon? [41:46]
4. What does it mean to live in our new identity in Christ, and how does this affect our daily actions? [32:05]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when negative self-talk influenced your actions. How can you replace those thoughts with God's truth this week? [39:07]
2. Gideon initially saw himself as the weakest and least in his family. Are there areas in your life where you feel inadequate? How can you embrace God's view of you in those areas? [20:46]
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of surrendering to Christ to receive a new identity. Have you fully surrendered to Christ? If not, what steps can you take to do so today? [30:37]
4. Identify a false belief you have about yourself. What specific Bible verse can you use to counteract this belief and remind yourself of God's truth? [41:46]
5. How can you stand firm in your God-given identity when faced with the enemy's lies? Share a practical strategy you can use to reject these lies. [27:43]
6. Think about your daily self-talk. What are some practical ways you can ensure it aligns with God's truth about you? [13:41]
7. How can you support a friend or family member who struggles with negative self-talk and help them embrace their identity in Christ? [34:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Your Identity Shapes Your Actions
Our actions are deeply influenced by our self-view. Proverbs 23:7 emphasizes that our thoughts shape our identity, which in turn drives our behavior. To change our actions, we must first change our view of ourselves, aligning it with God's truth. When we see ourselves through the lens of God's truth, we begin to act in ways that reflect His purpose for our lives. This transformation starts with renewing our minds and rejecting the lies that the enemy tries to plant in our hearts. By embracing our God-given identity, we can live out the fullness of who we are meant to be. [12:27]
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7 (ESV)
Reflection: What negative thoughts about yourself do you need to replace with God's truth today?
Day 2: Gideon's Transformation
Gideon's story in Judges 6 shows that embracing God's view of us can lead to profound change. Despite his initial fear and negative self-talk, Gideon became a mighty hero by believing in God's identity for him. This transformation is available to us when we align our identity with God's purpose. Gideon’s journey from hiding in fear to leading Israel to victory illustrates the power of seeing ourselves as God sees us. When we accept God's perspective, we can overcome our insecurities and step into the roles He has prepared for us. [17:54]
"And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.'" - Judges 6:12 (ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace God's view of you instead of your own negative self-talk?
Day 3: Rejecting the Enemy's Lies
The enemy seeks to distort our identity through negative self-talk and lies. John 8:44 describes the devil as the father of lies. We must reject these lies and embrace God's truth about who we are, which empowers us to change our behavior. The enemy's tactics are designed to make us doubt our worth and purpose, but God's truth is a powerful weapon against these deceptions. By standing firm in the truth of who God says we are, we can resist the enemy's attempts to undermine our identity and live confidently in our God-given purpose. [27:43]
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:44 (ESV)
Reflection: What lies from the enemy have you been believing about yourself, and how can you replace them with God's truth today?
Day 4: Replacing False Beliefs with God's Truth
To combat negative self-talk, we need to identify false beliefs, acknowledge destructive thoughts, and replace them with God's truth. For example, replacing the belief that we are unworthy with the truth that we are loved by God (1 John 4:10). This process transforms our identity and behavior. By actively choosing to focus on God's promises and truths, we can reshape our self-view and align our actions with His will. This daily practice of renewing our minds is essential for living out our true identity in Christ. [41:46]
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10 (ESV)
Reflection: What false belief about yourself do you need to replace with God's truth today, and what specific scripture can you meditate on to reinforce this truth?
Day 5: Living in Our New Identity
Surrendering to Christ gives us a new identity, characterized by life rather than death (2 Corinthians 5:17). Even after surrendering, the battle for our identity continues. We must stand firm in our God-given identity and reject the enemy's attempts to distort it. Living in our new identity means continually reminding ourselves of who we are in Christ and rejecting any thoughts or influences that contradict this truth. By doing so, we can walk confidently in the purpose and calling that God has for our lives. [32:05]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you stand firm in your new identity in Christ today, especially when faced with challenges or doubts?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You do what you do because of your view of you. Your view of you. Your identity. It makes you do what you do. You know, it's amazing that centuries before psychology came on the scene, God was telling us that our thoughts construct our identity, and our identity drives our behavior." [13:41] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He has a purpose and a plan beyond what you can imagine. And in fact, most negative self-talk is because we're trying to figure out our situation. We're trying to figure out what our plan should be rather than figuring out what God's purpose is in my life." [19:18] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are the apple of God's eye before you were ever created. And so this is all about embracing God's intention and his purpose for my life. And so the question, what do you think of you? What today is your view of you?" [24:57] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you want to change what you do, you need to get in alignment with God's view of you. Amen. Can I hear you at the Kearney campus today? Are you with me today? Amen." [26:16] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You have an enemy. The Bible says the devil, he, he, uh, what does it say? He is, he's going around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. What does a lion do? Does it just come up and, you know, maybe in a zoo? Well, what have you seen those, the videos of what lions do? I mean, lions, they, they wait, they ambush, they blend in. They're kind of hidden dangers. And what do they do? They pounce." [27:43] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Our identity is directly connected to God's purpose, the reason that he created us. And God said to him, this is your identity. You're not acting like it right now. You may not believe it right now, but this is your identity. You are a mighty hero, but he's not behaving that way. He's hiding." [19:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you surrender to Christ, amazing thing happens. You get a new identity. You get a new identity. 2 Corinthians 5.17 that I'm going to reference twice today. It says, this means that anyone who belongs to Christ, which by the way means that if there's some that can belong to Christ, there are some that do not belong to Christ. So anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old is gone. A new life has begun." [30:37] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So what do we do? What do we do with the negative self-talk? You know, psychologists, they call it ruminating, ruminating. When we just ruminate, did you know there are ruminating animals? You know, cows are ruminating animal. What does that mean? It means they chew the grass and they swallow it. And then they, to get gross, they spit it up and they chew it again and they swallow it. And what do they do? They spit it up and they chew it again. How many know when you spit it, it's not as good the second time, right?" [39:07] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Identify false beliefs. Because remember, beliefs will shape our thoughts. Our thoughts will, will give us the construct of our identity and that produces behavior. So I'm going to identify the false beliefs. That is not true. It's not true about me. God has said this about me. It's not true. The Bible says, be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life." [39:07] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you're not in Christ, you need to get a new identity today. Surrender your life to Christ. If you're in Christ, you need to stand firm on the identity that God has given you, a son or daughter. And step into the unique identity that God has for your life." [43:20] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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