May I See Some Identification?

I. Why I chose this message?

A few months ago as we studied the book of Acts and we talked a lot about baptism. At that time the Lord put it on my heart how we are a people who are searching for our identity, some validation of who we are.

Just last week I was pulled over by a sheriff for a burned out tail light, the very first thing he asked me was, May I see some identification? So that became the title of our message today. We live in a time when your identity can be stolen, when teenage girls look to tv pop stars and magazine covers to tell them who they are, at the first sign of lines and wrinkles we pay money to erase the years, women leave their marriages and even their children because they have to go and “find themselves”. While we were once a nation founded on Christianity and our country’s identity was the land of the free. Now we are a nation in a debt crisis because of greed. A mortgage crisis, because a bigger house means we are successful, not just more to clean. We are a politically correct nation who accepts all sinful lifestyles and tolerates the worship of idols and false gods via numerous religions. At one time or another, we can all raise our hands and say yes, I can identify with that. Well it seems to me we are a people suffering from an identity crisis.

II. The lives we’ve been studying.

Within the last 25 chapters in Genesis we have touched base on what kind of legacy both men and women left on the pages of Scripture. We read about Cain who murdered his brother and his great, great, great grandson Lamech followed in his footsteps; Cain left a legacy of murder. Noah, who believed God and moved with godly fear building an ark even when it had never rained, left a legacy for his obedience, patience and faith. Ham dishonored his father Noah and so his son Canaan was cursed. We know that the legacy of the Canaanites were of idolatry and wickedness. Abraham’s legacy was that he is the father of faith, his faith made him righteous. Abraham’s legacy reaches to the very lives of our own in that by faith in Jesus Christ we too are made right with God. We remember Sarah for laughing at the thought of having a son in her old age; yet bore Isaac when she was 91. Lot’s wife who looked back at Sodom and became a pillar of salt.

III. What is a legacy?

So we ask ourselves the question, who and what will history remember us by? To borrow from one of your responses in Genesis 5, Enoch left a legacy not an epitaph. A legacy is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor; a gift handed down "Enoch lived to be 365 years old. He spent his life in fellowship with God, and then he disappeared, because God took him away. "All of the other descendants until Noah, they lived, they tried and they died. There were those who are remembered for their relationship with God and those who tried to become famous; building a tower to make a great name for them selves. We can either chose to leave a legacy that glorifies self or one that glorifies God.

For some, I may be telling you something that you already know, while others are hearing this truth for the first time and will be relieved to start living their lives fully aware that their identity is in Christ and the legacy you leave depends on how well you understand and embrace this truth.

IV. Why are we still searching?

Just on Facebook alone, there are many quizzes you can take to reveal what qualities you have, your Myers-Briggs personality type, what actress you most resemble, what bible character you are most like and even what bible verse best describes you.

The need to discover who we are and why we are here, where does it stem from? I believe it’s the enemies plan to use worldly values and wisdom to keep people in a state of confusion of wanting more, doubting who they are, pre-occupation with what about me, envy about the life they think they deserve and bitterness about the life they have. Remember, Eve in the garden, the serpent lied to her, confused God’s words, and appealed to her sin nature of wanting more. The difference between the world and God is so vast that if we move toward and listen to what the world says we are actually moving away from and alienating ourselves from God. So let us put an end to all the confusion, close the door of uncertainty, silence the mouths of liars and reveal the truth that trying to find yourself, searching for that validation is not the solution it’s the problem.

V. Who are we?

We have learned from Genesis 1 that we were created in the very image of God. When we put our faith in Christ our spirit was reborn. Paul often used the expression “in Christ”….Our identity is in Christ because when we put our faith in Him we became united with Him in His death and resurrection. 2Tim 2:11, For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. We died to sin, our old identity. Dying with Christ means dying to the things that used to run our lives. Rising with Christ means rising to a new way of living under Jesus’ authority and God’s will for your life. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Scripture says, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you (who dwells within you), whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1Cor 6:19 The temple, as the name means (from a Greek root "to dwell"), was the earthly dwelling-place of God, where alone He put His name. We need to come to the realization that we are not living in the flesh according to our old nature, but in the Spirit. The flesh says we need to find out who we are; self-discovery and leave our mark as someone who is accomplished by the world’s standards. But the Spirit says, you are no longer your own, but bought at great price so present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Under our new identity we are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Paul got it right when he said, “for it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.” Isn’t it true that our actions are motivated by who we are. So if we are created in His image, we have the Spirit of God dwelling inside us and we know we are united in Christ. If we are called vessels, a temple, His body, His hands and feet, then lets look at what action will follow.

VI. Our legacy

The legacy we leave is really the fruit that was produced in and through our lives by the working of the Holy Spirit in us. As Matthew 7:20 says, therefore by their fruits you will know them, either bad or good. The key to that legacy or fruit is abiding in Jesus, which means to remain in, dwell, to stay, to settle in, to sink deeper.

In John 15:5-8 Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Those that don’t abide in Christ are cast out, Cain was cast out, Canaan was cursed, Lot’s wife became salt and Sodom burned. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Mark 9:36. For the person who says I need to find myself. Jesus says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 11:39

VII. Closing

So I ask , what will your legacy be? To quote from some of your responses. As moms, we too can be "mothers of nations". God commands us to faithfully teach our children the life-giving truths of Scripture. With Christ in our hearts, we can begin our own line of godly seed. As we pass on the gospel to our children, they can, in turn, pass it on to the next generation. Our godly influence can continue through time and through generations as "innumerable as the stars". One sister said, I want to leave a legacy of faith and I want to bring hope to those around me that no matter what we face...in Jesus there is victory. And just the other day I was told by a dear sister in Christ, the greatest legacy that we could ever leave is to teach our children to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, if we do that, when we leave this earth, we will have done our job. Sounds like a great legacy to me!!!

Beginning today- we can stop searching, stop pursuing those things that we did with our old identity and start living out our legacy, doing the will of God. I pray that we have faith to believe, to trust, embrace the truth, to know and understand that our identity is in Christ. It's never too late to begin if we make ourselves available to God for His purposes. Let us be determined to abide in Christ, bearing much fruit and giving all the glory to Him.

Crisis Mode

Everywhere you turn lately people are talking about the crisis in our country. Every news station has experts, politicians and the like weighing in on who is to blame for the country's economic crisis. We have an oil crisis, a mortgage crisis, an employment crisis, a financial crisis, an energy crisis and by the looks of food prices a food crisis as well. All of the finger pointing and blame games do nothing to identify the source or the solution for all these problems. Our leaders can spend all the money on earth to boost the economy and bail out institutions but unless we call it what it is, their solution may only amount to a band aid on a broken leg.

In May of this year, I was sitting out on the deck of my sister-n-laws house during a girls weekend getaway. It was a beautiful crisp morning, with the sun shining through the many tree tops in her backyard. As I looked out in wonder at God's creation and beauty the Lord led me to read Psalm 105. I wrote; Remember God's mighty works, all he has done for his people-the nation of Israel. We recount step by step as God protected them, provided for them, led them, blessed them, sheltered them, fed them and even disciplined them. Our Father in heaven has done the same for our Nation, the United States.

Many are unaware that in 1863, our president, Abraham Lincoln made April 30th a National Day of Prayer and Humiliation. He decreed that we, as a nation were to come back to God and humble ourselves, repenting of our sins and asking for God's forgiveness.

So my prayer this Thanksgiving is to thank God for blessing our Nation for so long, providing for our needs, feeding us, and yes even disciplining us. Do not let us forget all that You have done O' Lord to provide and protect your children. Thank you Lord for allowing me to live in a prosperous, abundant and peaceful land. Let our country and our people recognize you Lord are the provider, sustainer and giver of all life. Be still people and know God!

President Lincoln wrote, "It is the duty of our Nation as well as men to depend on God, confess their sins and transgressions, humble yourselves in sorrow because with assurance and hope of our genuine repentance will lead to mercy and forgiveness and recognize the truth in Scripture proven by all history that the Nations only are blessed who's God is the Lord."

So rather than worry and be anxious about the state of our economy, rather than point fingers and blame each other for the problems of our nation, let us follow the direction and duty of a man who once guided our country through one of the most devastating experiences in it's history.

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2Chron. 7:14

The Christmas Robe

Every Christmas when making my list of wants for my husband and son to go shopping with, I take a mental inventory as to the condition of my robe. I reflect back on the Christmas gifts I've given over the years to my own mom and the one gift worth repeating was a new robe. What is it that mom's love so much about stepping into and wrapping up in a new robe?

I wondered a bit, was it the comfort of being clothed in the warmth and softness of something new or was it the person who gave the robe that makes it so special? Has God knitted such a desire into the very fabric of my soul to long for a new white robe at Christmas?

Looking deeper into my fondness for a new white robe I found in Revelation 3:4-5, "a few names, those who have not defiled their garments, they shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but confess his name before my Father in Heaven and His angels."

Wow- did this excite me!

Garments in the Greek was literally a large outer garment or a loose upper garment so large that sometimes a man would sleep in it. I'm thinking a big comfy robe!

We know that Jesus is speaking of the believers who are faithful in their service and obedience to Him, it is the reward for the one who overcomes, it's a promise and a gift from God. "And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:8)

What does faithful service look like?

1. We are to fully carry out the ministry God has given us, using our abilities. (2Tim. 4:5) (Eph.4:11-12)

2. Pour out our lives as an offering to God. Our lives are not our own.(2Tim. 4:6)

3. Remain faithful to the things we've been taught; reading the scriptures, encouraging believers and teaching them. (2Tim. 3:14) (1Tim. 4:13)

4. Be a good worker as unto the Lord, doing what the Spirit leads us to do. (Eph. 6:8,5:9)

5. Serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

J.Vernon McGee puts it this way, "A saint my friend, is one who has trusted Christ and is set aside for the sole use of God. There are only two kinds of people today: the saints and the ain'ts. If you are a saint, then you are not an ain't. If you ain't an ain't, then you are a saint."

How does one keep from soiling their garments?

1. Don't break God's laws.(Matt. 7:23)

2. Don't practice immorality,impurity, greed, idolatry and the like. (Eph. 5:5)

3. Take no part in the deeds of evil and darkness.(John 3:19)

4. Don't give in to what your sinful nature craves. (Gal.5:19)

Sadly, many Christians sometimes deceive themselves into thinking that God does not require them to live righteously. Do not be deceived, those who practice such iniquity and lawlessness will not inherit the kingdom of God. Instead choose to be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Using an illustration from Luke 5:36- here we have an old robe and a new robe. Now it would seem foolish to take pieces of my new robe and use it to patch up my old robe. I'd have a useless new robe and an old robe that is pieced together. Instead, I choose to put on my new robe and throw away the old one.

I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy a white robe because it reminds me of being washed clean by the blood of my Redeemer, it's softness reminds me of a lambs wool brushing against her Shepherds cheek, my robe is warmth to my soul on a cold morning, and comfort to my bones after a troubled day.

One day I'll be given a white robe made of fine linen that will never wear out, become soiled or fade. My robe is precious to me because of the person who gave it to me. I look forward to the day when Christ will personally wrap me in my white Christmas robe and say welcome home good and faithful servant.

Change Your Destination

I had the privledge this weekend of serving at the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim as a follow up decision counselor for those who were publicly coming forward to make a decision, a choice, a commitment and a covenant to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of the 15 people I met on the field, prayed with, encouraged and handed bibles to, 13 of them were returning to the Lord. One woman was 80 years old and she was asking Jesus into her life for the very first time. My heart rejoiced as I witnessed the thousands upon thousands making a decision to change their eternal destination.

Pastor Greg spoke to over 100,000 people about God's love for them, God's provision of redemption, salvation and reconciliation through his Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanities sins. Greg spoke of life, blessings and Heaven as well as the curses, death and Hell. As I look around the stadium filled with believers, unbelievers, seekers, and prodigals the Lord is reminding me that this is the same Harvest Crusade that Moses had for His people in the desert on the plains of Moab. A decision has to be made in the hearts of those listening.

In Deuteronomy 29-30 we discover Moses calling all of Israel (millions of people) to gather around in a great assembly to listen to what God told Moses to tell His people. You'll find the message is the same today.



Moses first reminds them of all the miraculous and merciful acts God did for them before their very eyes. God had set them free from their bondage of slavery in Egypt, He defeated Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea, God provided safe passage as he led them throught the wilderness, He showered them with food and water sustaining them as they walked through the valleys, God guided and supported His people as He led them toward the Promised land conquering enemies along the way.

Now it was their turn to respond to all that God had done for them, providing a way of escape, they could now be reconciled back to God. The purpose of Moses' message was for each individual to enter into a covenant with the Lord their God that very day. Moses emphasized the importance of today in his message 6 times in 8 sentences. This covenant was to bind God and His people together setting them apart for His purposes. Each person had to make a decision for themselves, God would not force himself upon them. However, they were warned that there would be blessings for them to claim or curses that would follow their disobedience either way the choice was theirs.

The Bible tells us it is no mystery or difficulty of understanding that the choice to follow and obey God would bring life and prosperity while turning away and worshipping other gods (anything that takes the place of God) would bring death. But if you return to the Lord our God and obey His voice today with all your heart and with all your soul, the Lord our God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again. Sin holds us captive along with bad choices but there is great hope and peace for when we return to God he is faithful to fogive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The command issued before us today is the same in the day of Moses. Set before us today is a choice of life and good, death and evil therefore, choose life that you may live. Love God, obey his commands, cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days.