Identity: I AM...A Feeder

Well, the ending of the identity series was pretty straight forward. It is my pray that we would be able to carry out the killing of false identities that have present in us, and would live in and through the identity God has made us into, namely Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we dove into scripture we looked again at the book of Colossians. Man what a letter! Just as a reminded chapter 1 verse 27 brings to light part of our identity.

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Earlier in this chapter we find out how Christ being put in us actually happens. (verses 12-13)

"giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

So GOD rescues us from darkness and places, or transfers us to the Kingdom of Light, Jesus! When faith comes, Christ comes into us. and we have the hope of glory. But it is better! If we stop there we are still seen, right. (Wish I knew how to add picture to this!) Imagine a clear plastic tub that has the word "you" on it, that is you. Put another plastic tub inside you that has the word "Christ" written on it. What is seen more? You or Christ? When we confess Jesus as our Lord, and believe in our hearts that Jesus was raised from the grave, our life is no longer about us! That is why God does more with our identity. Chapter 3:3 we find out the rest of our true identity as a believer in Christ.

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

WOW! Do you see it? Carry on the Clear plastic tub thought. We have Christ in us. Now we find out that we are placed in Christ. There is another tub with "Christ" written on it that is covering "you" up. Now you are still in there. Just life is not about you! But it is better! We are place in Christ and Christ is Hidden in God. There is another tub, the big daddy tub, with "GOD" written on it. So form the center we have...Christ, You, Christ, God. Your life as a believer is not about you, it is ultimately about GOD! That is our true spiritual identity as a true born again believer.

Y.B.H. do we kill our false identities? (Good question, and I am glad that you listened one night during WNL!)

Colossians 3:5-17 you will find your answer! Go read it for yourself and sped some time praying about these verse to be true in your life. Basically it says to "Put to death...the life you once lived" and to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience..."

Each week of this series we have visually seen how we do not live in our true identity byway of clothing ourselves in other things, allowing those things to determine who we are and what we do and how we do it. This last night we all were challenged to kill a false identity and start to cloth ourselves in the things mentioned in this passage. This saying is what I challenged all of us to consider ever day...

"Feed the Spirit...Feed the Flesh...Which ever you feed...WINS!"

Story has it that a man would come down out of the mountains about once a month with 2 dogs. When he got into the town, he would take bets on which dog would win in a fight. Then he would proceed to fight the 2 dogs. One townsman noticed that the man always won the bet. He always picked the winning dog, without fail. So he proceeded to ask the man how he would always be right. The man replied, "It's easy. Which ever dog I feed throughout the week before I come to town, wins."

"Feed the Spirit...Feed the Flesh...Which ever you feed...WINS!"

Questions for families...

1) In our family, which do we feed more? Spirit or Flesh?

To answer this think of the way your family spends its time, money, and energy. Think about what the Advent (Christmas) Season looks like for you. Consider and talk about ways you as a family, form the oldest to the youngest can "Feed the Spirit more and Starve the Flesh."

2) Am I willing, whether I am a parent or a student, to lead my family by way of "Feeding my Spirit and Starving my Flesh" so God will receive the glory through me living in the identity He created me to live?

May we all live our lives understanding it is not about us, but it is about God, and His great love to be made famous in all the world.