Dealing with a Spiritual Identity Crisis

AND US IS THEY MEET IN CLUBS, BARS, AND WE MEET IN THE CHURCH.
UNLESS WE CAN SHOW THEM A DIFFERENCE, THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE SAY.
2 TIM. 3:5- “MANY HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT THEY DENY IT’S POWER”

THEY SEE US AS FAKING, AND PRETENDING TO BE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT.

THE WORLD DOESN’T CARE THAT YOU GO TO CHURCH, JUST DON’T BRING IT HOME, TO WORK, IN PUBLIC

THEY SEE US AS HYPOCRITES:
WEBSTER’S DEFINITION- A PERSON WHO PUTS ON A FALSE APPEARANCE OF VIRTUE OR RELIGION

READER DIGEST JOKINGLY SAYS -A HYPOCRITE AS SOMEONE WHO COMPLAINS THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH PROPHANITY, SEX, AND VIOLENCE ON THEIR VCR.

DID YOU GET THAT - SELF INFLICTED AND WITHIN THEIR CONTROL TO CHANGE
THEY SEE US BELIEVING IN PRAYER-BUT NEVER PRAYING
THEY SEE US SAYING WE BELIEVE TITHING MONEY TO THE CHURCH IS RIGHT, BUT NEVER GIVE WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM US.
THEY SEE US SAY THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD, BUT NEVER READ IT ON OUR OWN
THEY SEE US WITH A WHOLE LOT OF JUNK IN THE TRUNK OF OUR LIVES.
BACK TO THE KEY VERSE-
“THEREFORE RID YOURSELVES OF ALL MALICE, AND ALL DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, AND SLANDER OF EVERY KIND. LIKE NEWBORN BABIES CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK. SO THAT YOU MAY GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION., NOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD.”

II. (IDENTITY) WHO WE BELIEVE WE ARE
WE MUST PUT A HIGH VALUE ON GOD’S WORD AND STAND UP FOR OURSELVES.

EPH. 4:29-32
“DO NOT LET ANY UNWHOLESOME TALK COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS, BUT ONLY WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR BUILDING OTHERS UP ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, THAT IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN. AND DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WITH WHOM YOU WERE SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE, ANGER, BRAWLING AND SLANDER, ALONG WITH EVERY FORM OF MALICE. BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS IN CHRIST GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU.

COL 3:5-
“PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE; SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY. BECAUSE OF THESE, THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING. YOU USED TO WALK IN THESE WAYS, IN THE LIFE YOU ONCE LIVED. BUT NOW YOU MUST RID YOURSELVES OF ALL SUCH THINGS AS THESE: ANGER, RAGE, MALICE, SLANDER, AND FILTHY LANGUAGE FROM YOUR LIPS.

REMEMBER WE ARE NEW CREATIONS, CHANGED BY THE POWER OF GOD
REDEEMED BY CHRIST AND SET APART TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY
THERE ARE TWO TIMES WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO TRUST GOD.
1. WHEN THINGS ARE BAD- THE BOTTOM IS READY TO FALL OUT
2. WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD- WE FEEL SELF SUFFICIENT
PROVERBS 30:8-9
“GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES, BUT GIVE ME ONLY MY DAILY BREAD. OTHERWISE, I MAY HAVE TOO MUCH AND DISOWN YOU AND SAY “WHO IS THE LORD” OR I MAY BECOME POOR AND STEAL, AND SO DISHONOR THE NAME OF MY GOD.”
WE WILL IDENTIFY WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE
THERE CAN BE NO ONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE, YOU WILL BE MISERABLE UNTIL YOU MAKE A CHOICE.
WE WILL ASSOCIATE AND GIVE OUR BEST TO WHAT WE BELIEVE.
III. (IDENTITY) WHO CHRIST SAYS WE ARE
YOU WANT TO OVERCOME AN IDENTITY CRISIS....DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHO THE WORLD THINKS YOU ARE, DON’T WORRY WHO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE, BUT REALIZE WHO CHRIST SAYS YOU ARE
HE SAYS WE ARE