The Battle for the Mind: Our Identity in Christ
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Sermon Notes
Proverbs 23:7 reminds us:
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
The battle for the mind begins with understanding who we are – our identity.
The Search for Our Identity
Socially – identify with race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, beliefs, economic status, religion
Personally – skills, accomplishments, position, intellect, influence
How we see ourselves has tremendous impact on our self-image
Perspectives on Our Identity
What we do is not who we are
A Rudderless Ship or a Real Purpose
How we see ourselves controls us
Losing the center that grounds us:
serves “to magnify our general sense of uncertainty and, by association, fear and anxiety”
Not recognizing the source or giving it up leads to attachment to the world leads to “defining ourselves by the virtue of things impermanent.”
Impacts on Our Identity
Our background, our experiences, our temperament, and our training
Key Question: Who are we deep inside – our true identity?
What God says about Our Identity
“…count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” (Romans 6:11-12)
Not sinners saved by grace, but saints!
The Battle is First in Our Minds
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
The emotions (our heart) eventually follow our decisions (our head) to trust God to see ourselves as He sees us.
Renewing Our Minds
Science has discovered that we actually can renew our minds.
We can the word of God to change how we think, process information and view ourselves
Who We Are in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Totally new people, not merely a makeover
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23-24)
Our Identity Crisis and God’s Answer
Read and meditate on the word of God daily. Psalm 119:105“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Pray for wisdom and understanding. James 1:5-6 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
Know God’s power in you. 2 Peter 1:3-4 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Fellowship with other Christians. Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
God Says We Are
1 John 3:1
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
In a position of high privilege – His children
God Says We Are
Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (John 8:36) “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Free from sin’s death grip
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
His sanctuary, His dwelling place
Colossians 1:13-14
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Moved out of darkness and into His kingdom
Philippians 3:20
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Citizens of His Kingdom, not this world
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Can’t be separated from Christ
2 Corinthians 5:18,20
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,… We are therefore Christ's ambassadors,”
Reconciled with Him and His ministers of reconciliation
God Says Collectively We Are
1 Peter 2:9-10
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;”
His people called for His purpose and we are stronger together.