In His House: Flourishing In Your Identity | Lee Cummings
In His House
Flourishing in Your Identity
Ephesians 2:1-13 NKJV
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Brought Near by His Blood
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
What You don’t Know can not only hurt you, but destroy you.
Hosea 4:6 “My people perish for lack of knowledge”
Weneedaradicalrenewalandreshapingofwhoweareandwhyweare.
John 8:31-35 NKJV
If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” They answered him, “wea re Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, “you will be made free?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.”
Identity is the Battlefield to Gain our Inheritance
Matthew 3:17 “And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 4:3-4 “Now when the tempter came to him, he said, “If you are the son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Identity crisis in the Church
Confusion about identity in the culture
The Greatest Definer of Identity is Family
Ephesians 2:19-20 = household of God
Church is the family of God – essential to discovering our true identity in Christ.
God speaks identity and affirmation through others. ( fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters)
In the Church we find our place in the family story. (like a photo album)
In Christ We Receive a New Passport
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.
New heart
New nature
New creation
Identity in Adam
Dead in sins
Influenced by satan
Carried away by the current of this world
Driven by lusts and appetites
Under God’s wrath
Separated from Christ
Outsider from God
Alienated from covenants
Hopeless
Godless
Identity in Christ
Alive with Christ forever
Seated in heavenly places
Objects of Gods mercy and grace
God crafted masterpiece
Called for good works and purpose
Loved by God
Peace with God
Citizens of the Kingdom of heaven
Members of Gods family (royalty)
The Church: Where Identity is Discovered and Developed
“strength comes by doing the right things in the right place with the right people”
*** think of the Gym to get in shape
By ourselves - we have too much confidence in our own ability and individualism (D.I.Y) Romans 12:3-5
We do not have stand alone destinies.
The opposite danger exists – we undervalue our own significance or potential.
Ephesians 2:10 “You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20
But now God has set the members each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”
