Crossroads at Identity Island - Six Crossroads for the Journey Ahead

Stolen identity can really mess things up. Not just financially. It’s even worse spiritually. What sounds like a simple question may be one of life’s hardest to get right . . . “Who am I?” Who is that person in the mirror?

Our culture . . . people we love . . . people who don’t love us . . . our insecurities . . . our interests . . . our activities - all trying to tell us who we are.

Life experience has shaped our ideas and feelings about that person in the mirror.

Names we’ve been called

“Victim.”

Outsider.

Sinner.

All your life the thief from hell has been trying to steal or keep you from your true identity. That attack goes way back . . .

Matthew 3:16, 17 Matthew 4:1-4

No sooner had the Father said, “You are…”, and the enemy said, “If you are!”

When you met Jesus, you were on the road to knowing and being who you were created to be.

But your enemy has been trying ever since to make you question your worth in Christ.

God brings us to a decisive crossroad so we can settle once and for all our true identity. So we can run and finish well. Which brings us to . . ,

Crossroads # 6 EXTRINSIC WORTH OR INTRINSIC WORTH?

From something outside or inside?

Why does it matter?

Because much of how we live . . . how we relate to God . . . how we treat others . . . what we will attempt for God – traces back to who we really believe we are. The truth is . . . I Peter 2:9, 10

The “Lie-dentities” That Limit Our Life and Our Faith

LIE-DENTITIES that wound us

Names we’ve been called Genesis 32:28 (NASB)

Ways we’ve been treated Psalm 10:14

Criticism Proverbs 18:21a

Failure

LIE-DENTITIES that fail us

“I AM WHAT I do “ Until we can’t.

“I AM MY strengths” Until they’re not enough. Jeremiah 9:23, 24

“I AM THE ROLES I PLAY Until we’re not anymore. Luke 5:27, 28 Matthew 9:9

Every extrinsic source of worth will ultimately prove to

be losable . . . fragile . . . or inadequate.

A sad story of extrinsic worth - Genesis 29:31-35

The Identity That Empowers You

Genesis 1:27 - Infinite worth

Ephesians 2:10 - Singular value

Isaiah 43:1-4, 7 - Untouchable worth

No fire, no flood can touch your created worth.

YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE!

You have been since before you were born. You will be forever!

II Corinthians 6:16-18

“I am a child of the Most High God!” (I John 5:19

“I am a temple of God!” (I Corinthians 6:19, 20)

“I am an image-bearer” of God!” (Genesis 1:27)

“I am the blood purchase of the Son of God!” (Revelation 5:9b)

Will you own your true identity for the rest of your journey? Will you choose to never settle for less again?

Pursuing God’s “new thing” ahead requires the confidence

and boldness of someone who knows and lives the masterpiece God says they are.

Living the rest of your journey in the liberating security of knowing . . .

You have nothing to prove.

So you can take your stand.

You can live to elevate others because you know who they are!

You can live with holy confidence because no one on earth gave

you your worth and no one on earth can take it away!