Do You Have An Identity Crisis?

WHO AM I 

Ex 3:1-12
 Tell the story of Moses and the burning bush 

and we come to the point where God commissions Moses to deliver his people from the grips of Pharaoh 

and Moses’ response is found in vrs 11 

Ex 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 

In the context Moses is saying this like Why me I’m nobody 

and in the vrs following Moses tries to give excuses as to why he is not fit for the job 

But in light of today and the culture and society we live in, Identity is a huge topic. 

I’d like to look at Moses’ question a bit differently
 Who Am I? As far as Identity Personally
 Identity Politics is now a common topic of discussion that being 

Identity politics, sometimes referred to as identitarianism, is a political approach and analysis based on people prioritizing the concerns most relevant to their particular racial, religious, ethnic, sexual, social, cultural or other identity, and forming exclusive political alliances with others of this group Their truth as opposed to the truth or reality 

People are struggling today with their identity who are they where do they fit in 

People are in an identity Crisis and that is defined as 

a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society. 

Their lack of acceptance Or the desire to be unique 

Or life or in our case The Lord puts us in positions were we have to come to grips with who we are 

This is certainly not a perfect example, but I believe it will get my point across 

In the Musical rendition of Victor Hugo’s book “Les Miserables” 

The main character Jean Valjean struggles several times throughout his life with an Identity Crisis 

One of the songs that reoccurs in various forms is Who Am I 

We find him in prison for stealing a loaf of bread 5yrs for the crime 

14 more for trying to run or escape 

His name has been taken away and is only known by a number 24601 

Now being paroled angry an bitter that his identity has been stolen for 19 years 

Unable to work because of his record reverts to crime and steals again 

but a Bishop forgives him and claims his soul for God to become an honest man 

Because of this kindness he is in great conflict Burden an a sense of responsibility 

Knowing he can’t accomplish this with his true identity takes on a new one 

He becomes a successful merchant
 Throughout the musical he is faced with his identity 

He is always haunted by his past Being pursued for breaking his parole 

One more occasion He is well off now well hidden in his new identity 

The one pursuing him take him back to prison 

Believes he has found 24601 and is going to 

Now he is thrust into his identity crisis again he could be completely free by letting another pay for his crime 

Pastor why have you said all this?
 I believe, in the age of Laodicea many Christians are in an Identity Crisis They don’t know who they are 

I just want to take a few moment to remind Christians of their true identity in Christ. 

There was a day when we were the enemies of God, we were lost without hope in this world 

But one wonderful day we made the best decision of our lives when we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour 

We were gloriously save by the blood of Jesus Christ And we passed from death unto life 

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

We received a brand new identity a fresh start 

1 We are Sons of God 

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

The day you trusted Christ, you became a privileged individual in God’s kingdom 

You took on the privileged position stripped from the angels 

Originally the Sons of God were with him and shouted for joy when God created the Heaven and the Earth Job 38 

They showed their sinful condition after their rebellion in Gen 6 

But God recreated the earth and gave man that coveted position as a son of God when he made Adam 

In an obscure place you see what God did 

Lu 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. 

But when Adam sinned the title of Son of God was not given to his descendants 

Not until the Second Adam came The Son of God who made a way for man to be called the sons 

of God 

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

By being Born again 

2 We are the Bride of Christ 

Eph 5:23-32 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

Here in our culture the Bride takes center stage 

In Glory when this wedding takes place the Bridegroom is the center of attention 

But he would not be the Bridegroom if there was no bride and the Lord will show off his purchased possession 

3 We are Kings and Priests 

Re 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

He as given his own positions of authority to rule and reign with him 

4 We are Soldiers 

2Ti 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

We are to fight the good fight of faith
 We are to resist the Devil
 We are to take on the whole armor of God 

5 We are Pilgrims and Strangers Sojourners 

1Pe 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

We sing a hymn that goes like this This world is not my home I’m just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world any more 

And example was given us in the OT of this 

Heb 11:8-16 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

6 We are Christians 

Ac 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

Being a Christian is not about keeping rules and regulations, performing rituals, or even going to church. It's about a friendship - a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not being ashamed of who he is and what he expects of those who are called by his name 

There are whole lot of secret disciples out there today They want hide in plain sight 

7 We are Children of God Heirs of God Joint-heirs of Jesus Christ 

Ro 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 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. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 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. 

2 inheritances
 1st one is an eternal inheritance as heirs of God 

1Pe 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

2nd is a conditional inheritance or an earned inheritance as joint-heirs with Christ 

2Ti 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Now there are a lot of Christians today who are suffering from an Identity Crisis They have forgotten who they are 

They are more concerned with the things of this life and with their past and in a sense have abdicated their Identity 

They are ashamed of Jesus Christ Who he is and what he stands for and what he expects from us 

Just like Esau despised his birthright and sold if for a mess of pottage 

Christians have lost their way Yes they are saved but have lost their identity 

There is an expectation of us because we have been made an new creature in Christ 

Let us walk worthy of our true Identity