Know Who You Are
Notes
Transcript
At camp this week we challenged our students to live in the light taken from our text tonight. All week our speaker talked about Satan's devices, things he uses to get us off track of what we are to do. He uses illusions to lure us out of the light. When we fall for one of his tricks or our flesh take ourselves out of the light, we often forget who we are.
Remember Peter was writing this letter to the scattered Christians being persecuted for their faith and they needed to be reminded who they were. As our young people return from Camp they are going to need your help. They are going to be attached by the devil, by their flesh, and by the world. When that happens the church needs to be ready to remind them of who they are.
1 Peter 2:9
A person who get hit on the head will sometimes suffer a temporary memory loss commonly known as amnesia. As he tries to clear the fog from his mind, he wonders “Where am I?” Who am I?” These questions remain unanswered until he can overcome his amnesia.
On occasion, the Christian can also suffer from spiritual amnesia. Because of a blow from sin or one of the devil’s attacks, confusion fills his mind. When we suffer from spiritual amnesia, we forget where we are heading on our journey— heaven. We also forget who we are— the people of God. Spiritual amnesia can effect our memory of whose we are— God’s own precious possession. What is God’s charge to those who suffer from spiritual amnesia?
Know who you are. You are not a people who stumble over Christ, a people who question His claims and deity and refuse to believe Him. You are a people who believe Christ, a people who are building your lives upon the Foundation Stone of God’s Son. You have taken your lives and laid them upon Him; you have entrusted your whole being into the keeping of Christ. Therefore, know who you are: you are the people of God, the people He is building to live with Him forever.
Know what Kind of People You are
Know what Kind of People You are
Once a person has believed in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that person becomes special to God. You become special because you trust His Son. God places you into His family and makes you joint royalty with Christ.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
To make it clear tonight. If you are here and you are a believer, one who has placed complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. No matter what satan tries to throw at you, no matter how weak your flesh might be, no matter what the world might say. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD! and don’t you forget it.
Often, when we stumble satan tries to tell us that God will never take us back. There are many today who are no longer here, because have believed the lies. But Jesus says in:
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
God takes the believer and does four things for them.
You are a Chosen generation
You are a Chosen generation
Believers become a chosen generation a chosen or elect people. Peter takes the term from the Old Testament where God stated the same thing about Israel.
The beast of the field shall honour me, The dragons and the owls: Because I give waters in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert, To give drink to my people, my chosen.
This people have I formed for myself; They shall shew forth my praise.
When a person receives Jesus Christ into their they become a chosen people. God begins to change you, no, not outwardly by your appearance but inwardly into. He is changing you to look more like Jesus within. Do you know if you didn’t chose to show through your action, and words that you are a Christian none would ever know? We don’t grow a mark to define us. But when a person believes in Christ, God’s divine nature is immediately implanted into his heart and life.
The person is born again.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The person receives a renewed mind.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The person becomes a new creature.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The person becomes a new man.
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The person receives a new spirit.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
You are a Royal Priesthood
You are a Royal Priesthood
Believers become a royal priesthood. To a person who has never given his life to Christ, God seems far away, off in outer space somewhere, not that concerned with human life. There is no personal relationship and little, if any, fellowship and communion with God. A day by day relationship that praises and honors God and brings one’s needs to God, knowing that He will answer those needs, is missing to the person who has never committed his life to Christ. God seems untouchable, unreachable, out of range of man’s affairs. Without Christ, a person just has no access and no closeness to God. This is the reason men have always felt the need to have a priests, a body of people who would dedicate their lives to God and who would carry the needs of men before Him.
This is the great thing about the gospel: When we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour God makes a royal priest out of everyone of us. He gives us open access into His presence forever. We can actually approach God anytime. In fact God expects us to live in His presence- to fellowship, walk and live in open communion with Him.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
But sadly, how many of us walk and live in the presence of God like this? How many know what it is to have an unbroken communion with God? How many know what it is to pray without ceasing? May God convict out hearts and stir us up to commit to a life of prayer and communion with God. to seek fellowship with Him every moment of every hour of every day.
You are a Holy Nation
You are a Holy Nation
Believer becomes a holy nation. This is a very meaningful title for believers. Just think about it: God is building a new nation of people. He is drawing people from all nations of the world, and creating a new nation. What is that nation? it is a the holy nation of God. Remember the word holy means to be separate from the sin and evil of this world and set his life apart unto God, God will take that person and make him a citizen of His holy nation. This is what holy mean: to be different from the world, from its sin, evil, and death. it means to be separated from evil life of the world and set apart to the hold life of God. The person who turns to God and becomes a citizen of God’s holy nation:
~ He serves the Sovereign Head of God’s nation, God Himself.
~ He obey the laws of God’s nation
~ He is dedicated to follow the customs and life-style of God’s nation.
~He speaks up for and defends the nation of God.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
You are a Peculiar People
You are a Peculiar People
Believers become a peculiar people, that is God’s very own people. This is a most precious thought: that God makes us His very own people, s special possession of His. Possession has the idea and value, of worth and preciousness.
Have you ever seen a kid with their favorite toy? then another kid comes and tries to take it. what do they say? “Hey that’s mine!” Do you know you are valuable to God? you have more than precious gems and treasures of this world. Possession also has the idea of protection and security. We are God’s possession, His special people; therefore, He will provide and protect us and make us secure in every sense of the Word.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Know what Your Purpose is
Know what Your Purpose is
Why do God do so much for believers? There is one supreme reason:
1 Peter 2:9 b(KJV 1900)
that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
The statement “that ye might show forth” means to speak forth; to tell out; to publish abroad; to set forth. The word praises mean virtues, excellencies, and the supreme and eminent qualities of God. The very task of the believer is to witness for God, to share the glorious message of God. what is that message? note is the verse: “the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The message that we are to share is the glorious message of Salvation. God will deliver man out of darkness into the light through Jesus Christ Himself. He has saved us out of darkness of sin and death and delivered us into the light of eternity. We shall live forever. So, we are to praise God,(To worship Him) and proclaim the message of His marvelous light of Salvation.
Close:
Christian, God has already done and made us to be so much. What can we do, but to praise Him for it?
Christ has commanded that because he has done so much for us, the lest we can do is proclaim Him to the world. Hebrews tells us it is our reasonable service. Every one of us knows someone who does not know Christ as their Saviour. If you don’t tell them about Christ, who will?
Maybe, your here tonight and you haven’t been living in the light. you have indulging your flesh or living in your sins. I saw a meme this weekend I liked that said, “no matter how far you get from God, it is only one step to get back to Him.”
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Maybe, you listening tonight and you can’t say you are those things could it be that you have ever accepted the gift of salvation by asking Jesus into your heart? won’t you come tonight? The Bible tells us that God loves you and want you to be apart of His family. Don’t wait, don’t tell God no tonight. Come.