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You Are Not Who You Were

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder ” – 2 Peter 1:13

You’ll either find your identity vertically or horizontally. There is no middle ground. You’ll either look to God to define your identity, or you will try to find your own identity through things that you were never meant to find it in.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:9

1) You Are Not Your Trials

“According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” - 1 Peter 1:3

“ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” - 1 Peter 1:6-7

The irony of suffering is that we can so quickly think that God has abandoned us, when in reality, that is when He is oftentimes most near, and most at work.

2) You Are Not Your Sin

“And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” – Genesis 2:25

If your sin is driving you away from God, then there is a problem.

“It is the grace of shame to cause us to know our sin, to know our nakedness, to drive us to the cross of Jesus”

“for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

“When Jesus came to wash the feet of Peter, Peter was apparently embarrassed, ashamed to have the Lord wash his feet, but Jesus said to him: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me”. And Peter immediately got the point and asked for the full bath. The same is true for our shame. Unless Jesus covers you, you have no part with Him. Jesus has white robes for everyone who comes to Him, but you must come. This invitation is for all sinners

and all sin, but it is particularly for the sins and filth that you think cannot be covered: the shame of sexual sin, the shame of abortion, the shame of divorce, the shame of wayward children, the shame of being fired from your job. He even covers the shame of things that are not necessarily our fault — not being married, not having children, not accomplishing the great things you said/thought you would. Take it to Jesus, He’s waiting.” – Toby Sumpter

“let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” – Romans 7:24

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:25

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1

3) You Are Not Your Own

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [NLT]

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout

the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” – 1 Peter 1:14-19

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:9

“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you” – 1 Peter 2:9 [MSG]

“What now? How do I walk in the identity that God has given me?”

1) Repent

“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'', He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” – Martin Luther

2) Renew Your Mind

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”…“as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16,18

3) Rest in who God says you are