INTRODUCTION:
The movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddle, an Olympic champion and missionary to China. Eric would run with a reckless abandon; his sister commented that the movie failed to capture the wildness of Eric’s running; when he would run it was as though he would suddenly reach another gear throwing his head back and arms pawing the air. He may not have run with the fluid artistic style of many of today’s runners, but as he ran Eric said, “When I run, I feel his pleasure.”
>>Clip from movie—Eric preaching after a race in the rain.
Where does the strength come from? Where can you and I find the strength for our lives today? It does not come from our ability; strength is not found in hours of training or preparation. Strength is not a result of keeping a positive attitude or inner confidence. Real strength for daily living comes from deep within our hearts—not from ourselves—but from the power of God within us.
•Ephesians. 3:16-19 (NIV)
[16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
•Ephesians 3:16-19 (MsgB)
[16] I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— [17] that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, [18] you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! [19] Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Is there anyone who needs this glorious inner strength? Am I the only one who needs the renewal of divine power for daily living? We all need God’s power at work in our inner being! Is there anyone who might want to share a difficulty or problem you are facing in which you need God’s strength to make it from day to day—anyone open and honest enough to tell us how you have to depend upon God to help you?
How many people do you know who are tired and weary? People who are always on the go, but never seem to accomplish anything.
Churches today are filled with people who struggle to live a victorious Christ-like life; instead of living holy lives many are living haggard lives. Many Christian and non-Christian alike are exhausted, tired and just plain worn-out!
As Christians it should not be that way! The Bible says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV). As believers we should be the most energetic full of life people on the planet. Unfortunately, too many of us are hard pressed to just make a living and don’t have the time or energy to make a difference.
o We are the salt of the earth, but we’re too tired to get out of the salt-shaker and bring change to our world.
o We are the light of the world but we just want to turn the light off and go to sleep!
WHY? Why are we so tired? Why are we victims instead of victorious? Why are we just getting by instead of having joy unspeakable and full of glory? What are we missing in our daily lives that would set us apart from our fiends and neighbors? What are we lacking that keeps people from saying, “I want what you’ve got?”
IN A WORD WE ARE MISSING RENWAL! We need to be daily energized by the Holy Spirit! We need God’s overcoming, more-than-sufficient power working in our lives.
When we fail to partake of God’s sustaining grace we faint and grow tired. If we don’t daily receive power and life from the Holy Spirit within us then we just run out of gas! WE LIVE POWERLESS LIVES WHILE OUR CULTURE IS STARVING FOR RELAVANCE AND LIFE. People around us want to know “does your God work?”
It doesn’t have to be that way! The Apostle Paul joins his voice with the prophet Isaiah calling to let God daily renew our strength and give us an overcoming victorious life.
•Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
•Ephesians 3:16 (NIV)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
•2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT)
That is why we never give up . . . our spirits are being renewed every day.
What about you, are you being renewed everyday? Is God’s Spirit bringing His life and power to your inner being?
Is it possible you’re even doing the right things—you pray and read your Bible, you’re here in church today, but you remain tired and weary; your strength is not renewed?
What are the keys to spiritual renewal? How can Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians be answered in our lives so that we are strengthened by His Spirit in our inner being?
More than just keys or principles to live by, we’re going to begin to look at five one word answers to five basic questions. These are five questions that when answered properly will rejuvenate our spirits through the power of God within us.
Like a round of Jeopardy here are the five answers; IDENTITY, INTEGRITY, CAPACITY, TENACITY and DESTINY. Over the next few weeks we’ll fill in the answers with the right questions that God will use to strengthen our inner being.
Let’s get started with the first answer we need to remember . . .
IDENTITY—and the question is “WHO AM I?”
We need to start each day knowing who we really are. This is a foundational question “who am I?” DO YOU KNOW YOUR IDENTITY?
Other people will often be quick to label us as they see us. If we are not careful we will just accept the identity placed upon us by other people. However, the way people see you is not who you really are.
When we accept an identity placed upon us by other we lose our real identity and forget who we really are.
We have all been identified by someone:
o Culture says I’m insignificant—one person among 6 billion.
o Biologists say I’m a bag of chemicals worth about $2; I’m just the product of evolutionary chance, a monkey’s great uncle.
o The boss tells me I’m replaceable.
o The bank calls me the bread winner one day and a debtor the next.
o The government says I’m a number: 299-75-3021—just another taxpayer.
o Insurance companies say I’m a medical liability or an at risk driver.
o Retailers say I’m a consumer.
o The church calls you a prospect, a visitor, an adherent or a member.
o If I like you I call you friend, if not I call you enemy.
o My wife calls me Honey, my kids call me dad, and my parents call me son, and you all call me Pastor.
Is it any wonder we are having an identity crisis? Who am I really?
Our identity is not based in who others say we are—if you look to other people when you ask the question “who am I” you will get the wrong answer. Likewise your identity is not found within yourself!
o Some days my bones tell me I’m older; other days my heart wants to play.
o Sometimes I feel confident while at others I’m insecure.
o One moment I’m happy the next I’m depressed.
o In the morning I’m tired and at the end of the day I’m exhausted. Somewhere along the way I had some energy—I think.
o My conscience tells my I’m guilty; my faith tells my I’m forgiven, but I’m not sure.
o I’m a failure and success all rolled up in one; which one comes out each day may depend upon the weather.
o Sometimes I’m the sophisticated prince charming, but the mirror reminds me I’m not the fairest in the land.
We can’t look to others and we can’t turn to ourselves to know who we are. We need to daily look toward heaven and let God tell us who we really are. LET GOD ESTABLISH YOUR IDENTITY.
Who does God say you are?
You are a blood bought child of the living God—the Almighty, the Creator and lover of the human soul. You are His and He is yours. You are the center of God’s affection, created in His image. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the ultimate craftsman; God made you to fulfill His divine purpose. You are an heir of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Your citizenship is from heaven and you are seated in heavenly places! You are an eternal being who will never really die. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit filled and empowered to be Christ’s witness. You bear the seal of the Holy Spirit so that nothing can ever take you out of His hand.
The answer to the question “Who am I” is found in knowing WHOSE I AM! Your identity is established in heaven by God—you are a child of God!
We need to daily remember who we are in Christ. We will be empowered and energized to live a victorious overcoming life when we know our real identity.
To help you be renewed in your inner being each day here are 31 statements of who you are in Christ. If you will take the time to focus on one of these each day then the fire of God’s love will be rekindled in your heart to empower you for that day.
1. I am a child of God.
•John 1:12 (NIV)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
•1 John 3:1 (NIV)
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!
2. I am not my own; I’ve been purchase by the blood of Christ.
•1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
[19] . . . You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price.
•1 Peter 1:18-19 (MsgB)
[18] It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. [19] He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb.
3. I am the center of God’s love and affection.
•Zechariah 2:8 (NLT)
For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession [the apple of my eye.]”
4. I am alive in Christ.
•Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
5. I am made in the image of God.
•Genesis 1:26 (MsgB)
God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature.”
6. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
•Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
[13] For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. [14] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
7. I am the purposed creation of the ultimate craftsman.
•Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
8. I am an heir with Christ Jesus.
•Romans 8:17 (NIV)
Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
•Galatians 4:7 (NLT)
Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.
9. I am a citizen of heaven.
•Philippians 3:20 (MsgB)
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven!
10. I am an eternal soul and will live forever.
•John 3:36 (NIV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
•Romans 6:23 (MsgB)
Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
11. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit—the dwelling place of God.
•1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
•Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
12. I am sealed by the Holy Spirit.
•Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
13. I am empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ’s witness.
•Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
14. I am the salt of the earth.
•Matthew 5:13 (MsgB)
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
15. I am the light of the world.
•Matthew 5:14 (MsgB)
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
16. I am Christ’s ambassador.
•2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
17. I am worth more than many sparrows.
•Matthew 10:31 (NLT)
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
18. I am a sheep of His pasture.
•John 10:14-16 (NLT)
[14] I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, [15] just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
19. I am a friend of Jesus.
•John 15:14 (NIV)
You are my friends if you do what I command.
20. I am not a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness.
•Romans 6:18 (NIV)
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
21. I am free from condemnation.
•Romans 8:1 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
22. I am a member of the body of Christ.
•1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
23. I am chosen by God.
•2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
24. I am a member of His royal priesthood.
•1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
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.
25. I am holy—set apart by God.
•Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
26. I am equipped for every good work.
•2 Timothy 3:17 (NLT)
It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
27. I am a new creation.
•2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
28. I am free!
•John 8:36 (NIV)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
29. I am joined to Christ and His life flows within me.
•John 15:5 (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
30. I am an over comer—more than a conqueror.
•Romans 8:37 (NLT)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
31. I am a the bride of Christ!
•Revelation 19:7 (NIV)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
