“DEALING WITH A SPIRITUAL IDENTITY CRISIS”
1 PETER 2:1-11
INRO-
1 PETER 2:1-3 READ
PETER IS WRITING UNDER THE ANOINTING OF GOD , HE IS GIVING US DIRECTION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES
HE HAS IN CHAPTER ONE TOLD US AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO LIVE HOLY LIVES, TO BE SET APART, TO DESIRE THE THINGS OF GOD
TO BE HOLY BECAUSE THE GOD WE SERVE IS HOLY-
YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE TALKING TO UNBELIEVERS, BUT HE IS TALKING TO THE CHURCH.
1 PETER 1:1 PARAPHRASED-
TO GOD’S ELECT...THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT.
HE IS TALKING TO EACH ONE OF US THIS MORNING THAT PROFESS JESUS CHRIST AS LORD OF OUR LIVES
HE IS TELLING US THAT GOD EXPECTS THOSE WHO PROFESS THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THE LORD SHOULD BE STRIVING TO LIVE HOLY LIVES BECAUSE THE GOD WE PROFESS IS HOLY
I HAVE TITLED THIS MESSAGE “DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL IDENTITY CRISIS”
WE SOMETIMES DON’T KNOW WHO WE ARE- WHO WE BELONG TOO-AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US AS CHRISTIANS
IT WAS NO DIFFERENT THEN, THEN IT IS TODAY- CHRISTIANS STRUGGLE IN THEIR SPIRITUAL WALK.
SOME JUST GET TIRED OF BEING A CHAMELON. WHEN THEIR WITH NON CHRISTIANS THEY ACT ONE WAY AND WHEN THEY ARE WITH CHRISTIANS THEY ACT ANOTHER WAY.
PETER TELLS US IN CHAPTER 2 V 1- THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. MALICE, DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, SLANDER.
INSTEAD OF FEEDING ON THESE THINGS- HE TELLS US WE NEED TO CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK-
THAT ONCE WE BECOME CHRISTIANS THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE MORE THINGS OF GOD .
THERE SHOULD BE A HUNGER TO GROW DEEPER AND MORE INTIMATE WITH THE LORD.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT ONCE YOUR SAVED, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT WAIT FOR JESUS TO RETURN
THE BIBLE SAYS THEY ARE BABES IN CHRIST...(NEWBEE’S) . THEY DESIRE THE MILK OF THE WORD ...EASY TO DIGEST THINGS OF GOD. THE BASIC THINGS.
BUT AS THE CHILD GETS OLDER, THEY SHOULD BE HUNGERING AND THIRSTING FOR THE MEAT OF THE WORD.
THE MEAT OF THE WORD BEING THE HARDER MORE MATURE THINGS OF GOD’S WORD.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITH THE MILK OF THE WORD.
I DON’T WANT TO POP YOUR BUBBLE- BUT MOST NEVER GET PAST THE MILK OF THE WORD.
THEY ARE HAND FEED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT DESIRE TO FEED THEMSELVES, AND ANYTHING HARD IS TURNED OVER TO A SELECTED FEW THEY CONSIDER “SPIRITUAL”
THE LORD DESIRES THAT EACH AND EVERYONE OF US FEED OURSELVES WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND TAKES A ACTIVE PART OF MAKING SURE OUR WALK WITH GOD IS CONSTANTLY GETTING BETTER EVERYDAY.
IF YOU ONLY LIVE ON WHAT I DIG OUT OF GOD’S WORD FOR YOU- YOU ARE STARVING BECAUSE YOU EAT ONCE A WEEK ON A MEAL YOU DIDN’T EVEN GET TO PICK.
TO HELP OURSELVES WITH THE IDENTITY CRISIS, I THINK THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT
I. (IDENTITY) WHO THE WORLD THINKS WE ARE
IT IS NO SECRET THAT T.V. NEWSPAPERS, AND A LIBERAL SOCIETY THINKS WE ARE FREAKS, FANATICS, AND FRAUDS
THEY THINK WE ARE EXTREMISTS, PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ATTENTION
BIBLE CARRYING RENEGADES.
THEY LOOK AT US AS STOPPING THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
AS HATERS OF CERTAIN GROUPS
THEY BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS A SOCIAL CLUB THAT GATHERS TO SHOW OFF THEIR NEW CLOTHES, HAIRSTYLES, AND MEDDLE INTO PEOPLE’S BUSINESS.
THEY BELIEVE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM 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 CHOSEN PEOPLE
HE SAYS WE ARE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
WE ARE PECULIAR PEOPLE
SOME OF YOU ARE PECULIAR BUT THE HEBREW MEANS WE ARE SET APART, WE ARE HIS, HE IS OURS, WE ARE GOD’S POSSESSION
1 COR: 6:19-20-
“ YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST, WHO IS IN YOU, YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN, YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. THEREFORE HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY.
CLOSING:
SO HOW DO YOU GROW IN FAITH?
HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH?
HOW DO WE LEARN TO TRUST GOD?
FIRST DEVELOP A HABIT OF TURNING TO GOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
DO NOT ONLY CALL ON GOD IN A CRISIS
IT IS HARD TO TRUST GOD IF YOU DON’T TALK TO HIM DAILY.
EXAMPLE-
PULLING UP TO THAT TACO BELL DRIVE-THRU
“THANK YOU FOR THIS TACO, I’M AM REALLY HUNGRY.”
BEFORE YOU GO TO A MEETING
“HELP ME TO SAY AND DO THE RIGHT THING”
IN TIME OF PLENTY
“THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS”
IN TIMES OF NEED
‘LORD I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF”
WHAT AM I SAYING THIS MORNING,
SOME OF US NEED TO MOVE PAST THE MILK OF THE WORD AND GET TO THE MEAT OF THE WORD.
SOME OF US THIS MORNING NEED TO REALIZE WE CANNOT HAVE BOTH THE WORLDLY THINGS AND GOD.. AND UNTIL WE MAKE A CHOICE WE WILL HAVE A IDENTITY CRISIS.
LISTEN TO PETERS WORDS TO THE CHURCH.
“THEY STUMBLE BECAUSE THEY DISOBEY THE MESSAGE-WHICH IS ALSO WHAT THEY ARE DESTINED FOR. 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, ONCE YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED MERCY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED MERCY.
UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MIND THING-
UNTIL YOU CHANGE YOUR THINKING TO GOD’S WAY OF THINKING
UNTIL YOU CHANGE YOUR MINDSET TO GODLY MINDSET
UNTIL YOU CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS AND BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS
YOU WILL BE STUCK IN A CONSTANT STATE OF IDENTITY CRISIS
ALTAR CALL:
