My Most Recent Wall

 

 

Walls... Yep.

 

We all find ourselves facing them. In fact, there is not one of us who at one point in time has not stared at our shadow as it was bouncing back at us from a wall.

 

Our paths have them every day, and after we have climbed them we know that they were just a step, but as we face them they might as well be a mountain.

 

 

I wanted to share something with you about a wall that I came to just this past Monday evening. I never saw it coming, but I would not have traded it for anything because that wall carried a significant message for me that I am passing on to you.

 

First I need to share with you the passage of scripture that this wall brought to my mind.

 

"O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me." ~ Psalms 139:1 

 

God Knows me. I mean He really knows me! He knows everything that is in me, and He still wants me! This applies to you as well, but hey, I am really excited to apply this thought to me! He knows what I need to help me conform to the image of His Son and He is not afraid to use it!

 

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off."

 ~Psalms 139:2

 

He not only knows me and you, but He knows everything that we find on our path. He designed it custom fitted for us, and He knows what our initial reaction to that wall will be... And He still loves and wants us!

 

"Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my way  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

~Psalms 139:3-4 

 

He knows that we will falter in our faith when we come to these walls, and He knows that we will even doubt Him during these times in our path. He knows it and still...Yes you guessed it, He still loves us and wants us!

 

This next verse rocks my socks!

 

"Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." ~Psalms 139:5-6

 

Did you see that? He has "Beset my past and the things that lie ahead! The word beset means to "fortify, attack, and overwhelm". God is attacking everything I am going to go through so that it will be for my good in the end! (Romans 8:28) 

 

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." ~Psalms 139:7-12

 

Where are you possibly ever going to go to get away from God? You hear people say, "Pray for so and so, because they are away from the Lord right now". Ummm...FALSE!

 

God is very much with so and so, and there is nothing they can do if they are His child to ever change that. If they go to the worst place in the world, make room so and so, because you are taking a big God with you! 

 

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

~Psalms 139:13-16

 

Nothing takes God by surprise with me. God made every part of me. He carved and molded the person named Dan, and HE molded and shaped you as well. What part of you feels broken today? Take it to Him! He has the factory certification to work on you and restore!

 

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."

 ~Psalms 139:17-18 

 

I love this part. You could make it through anything of you really knew how much God loves you.

 

You read that too fast and I am afraid you missed it so I will say it again in bold caps...

 

YOU COULD MAKE IT THROUGH ANYTHING IF YOU REALLY KNEW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU!

 

 

I think that is why people who have seen heaven say that the only thing they could see or feel was complete and unconditional love that you could physically feel.

 

"Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

 ~Psalms 139:19-22

 

I see here a complete exercise of faith on the part of the psalmist. God is taking care of those who come at me with harm in mind. He is my fortress! Praise is faith in action. What wall do you see your shadow on today? Try thanking God now for His deliverance!

 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

 ~Psalms 139:23-24

 

What is the first thing you do when you trip or fall? Look around to see if anyone noticed right?

 

The psalmist invites God to thoroughly examine his life. Look in the front room God, but look in every closet as well. Search me like a doctor searches an x-ray for any room that is not surrendered to you.

 

I need to tell you about my wall.

 

It was Monday night and I was with my family watching my four year old daughter Brynn at her very first soccer practice.

 

I had B.D. (Blake Detail). Blake is my one year old son, and he has no interest in a career in soccer. He wanted to run all over the field, and that is dangerous when you are as tall as a soccer ball and wearing a black and white jacket.

 

He decided that he just wanted to walk away from the field and explore the buildings that surrounded the field. Blake walked, and I as his father followed. We went quite a ways away from the field, and as we neared one of the buildings we found a path to walk on. The path twisted around the building and as we rounded the corner we saw that the path ran smack dab into a wall.

 

This wall was different from any wall that I had seen.

 

 

 

There it was! The wall and the message of Psalms 139.

 

The walls are there just as sure as the path is there and God is in every wall that I come to.

 

The cross is the reason that I am an overcomer. It is through Christ which strengthens me. When I reach a wall that takes me to the end of my own ability I find that His grace is sufficient for me!

 

 



 

 

 I am not sure what walls that you have found your shadow on today but I do know who is in the midst of that wall. God is your Father and He is in every wall you come to. Look for Him in your wall, and if you can't find Him , ask Him to reveal Himself.

He is closer than we think!

Climbing with you,

~Dan

 

The Perfect Cup!



If you were to come to my house in the morning, I would offer you a cup of coffee because I am always looking for a drinking buddy when it comes to coffee. I would fix you a place at the table, and set out creamer and sugar for those of you who are so inclined. I would then begin to choose a mug for you to drink with. I have several personal favorites shown in the picture above.

When it comes to coffee mugs, I am very particular. They have to "speak" to me if you know what I mean. (If you have no idea what I mean, just smile and shake your head like you do) The one directly on the Kuerig is a very solid cup. It "speaks" to me of being a solid person. The Reformers Unanimous cup to the left "speaks" of second chances. The cup directly to the right of that is a cup that I designed. It was for our chapter of Reformers Unanimous when I had the privilege of directing it. There is a motto that I placed on it that says, "The perfect place for those who are not". This one "speaks" of all the people that God let me meet and learn from during that chapter in my life. The Dick Tracy one? Well that just "speaks" to me of being fun and just about being myself.

There is one mug that I will never offer you should you come to have a cup of coffee with me. It is the one that is front and center. yep, the green one with the funky handle.

This baby is made for me! I don't like my fingers to feel "Squashed" when I drink my coffee and this one lets me have lots of room.

Please understand, I have been satisfied when I have drank coffee from other cups, but I LOVE drinking coffee from this cup. The perfect cup!

You may be saying, "Ok Dan, nice cup but what does this have to do with me besides now being armed with the knowledge that you are weird and selfish?"

Great Question! Let me show you something that God showed me about having the perfect cup!

"Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths." ~Psalms 25:4

I love this verse! The psalmist is asking God to custom fit his mind and heart to God's ways and to then help him apply what he learns to walk the path that God has given him to walk!

May I just say here that I have been refreshed by someone else's walk with the Lord and challenged from their relationship with the Lord, but I need my own cup.

I need my Father to show me His word for me. It was the dark ages that brought about the mindset that God only spoke to the priests and from them to the people. I have heard this phrase used in church before, "The Pastor's job is to lead and feed, and the people's job is to follow and swallow".

Nope, God wants me to know Him, and by the way, He wants you to know Him as well. He gave you His Spirit to guide you into all truth!

Don't misunderstand me, I am not against drinking coffee from another persons mug, but you need a mug that is custom fit for your mind and heart!

Take a look at some more custom mug verses that I have found

"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. " ~Psalms 25:5

How awesome is this? When you open the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth if you ask Him! When was the last time you asked the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. It is asking God to give you a custom fitted mug for what He pours out for you!
 
"Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." ~Psalms 86:11

"Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes." ~ Psalms 119:12 

"The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes." ~ Psalms 119:64 

"Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments."
~ Psalms 119:66 

"Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." ~ Psalms 119:68 


"Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes." ~ Psalms 119:124 

"Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes." ~Psalms 119:35 

"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." ~Psalms 143:10 

Each of these passages speak of God providing me with a custom mug from which to enjoy Him.

If you were to come over to my house in the morning, more than likely I would ask you if you would like to have a cup of coffee with me. I am always looking for a drinking buddy when it comes time for coffee. I would fix you a place to sit down, and set out the creamer and sugar, and then begin to select a mug for you to drink from. I have several mugs and all of them "Speak" to me. There is one mug that I will not be offering you because that mug was made for me.

If you find refreshment from other peoples mugs that it perfectly fine, but can you say that you only find satisfaction from the mug that He has made for you?

I want to challenge you today to take a few minutes before the day starts or ends, and ask the God of the universe, the creator, and your Father to custom fit your mind and heart to receive His truth!

Climbing with you,

~Dan

Born Identity (Part 3)

This is the third part of our study on this thing called "Born Identity". Who am I in Christ? What does the "New Birth" or being "Born again" provide?

Just as our natural birth provided us with our natural identity, our Spiritual birth provided us with our Spiritual identity. The problem that seems to be very evident with "Christianity" of today is that so few Christians seem to understand who they are after their Spiritual birth.

 Let's get right back where we left off last Saturday.
 

The flesh sounds like it is always referring to bad things. We associate the "The flesh" with all kinds of lustful desires and sins. The flesh is not the desire in itself, but it is the reason or motive behind the desire. Living my life out of my own sufficiency. Living my life from and for myself. When we look at flesh through this lens, the flesh can be applied to good things as well.

The flesh walk has certain characteristics.

A)Reputation. How do I look to other people

B)Accomplishments. What can I do. Performance based.

C)A good self image. How do I look to myself?

 

We can also see very quickly in the book of Genesis the consequences of man's actions.

Genesis chapter 4 opens and we find life starting for Adam and Eve outside the garden. The first two sons mentioned that are born to Adam and Eve. 
They are named Cain and Abel.
 Cain "Gave God his best and hoped God would do the rest", but our best is not what God is after. He wants from us exactly what he asks for and Cain's offering of his "Best" was rejected by the Lord. He kills Abel and runs for his life, and another son is born to Adam and Eve who they name Seth.

"And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.  And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.  And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron:" ~Genesis 4:16-22

Did Cain live dependent or independent of God?

What was mentioned about Cain and his descendants?  The answer to this is that they are referred to by what they did.

"And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." ~Genesis 4:25-26

"And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:" ~Genesis 5:6-13

Did Seth live dependant or Independent of God? Dependent?

What was not mentioned about Seth and his descendants? What they did.

Why? It did not matter.

It’s amazing how your identity and value in this world is based on what you do. What is the very first point of conversation that comes up when you are introduced to another person?  What do you do for a living? 

We should call ourselves human doings instead of human beings.

 

We need to allow God to determine our value not man or even ourselves.

We can even fall into the trap of mistaking what makes us valuable. In the world's system, our value is determined by our contribution. Notice the word WORLD has been underscored. This was NEVER the attitude and position that God intended for His church or His people to take.

Does God value us because of what we can contribute? 

Does God really need us?

Here is a great test for us to try. Take a blank sheet of paper and write down what you think you have that God needs and bring it to Him.

Notice what Paul said on Mars Hill.

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" ~Acts 17:24-25

"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." ~Psalms 50:12

The ego damaging fact is this:God does not need us, but He wants us.

This coming July my wife and I will be celebrating 12 years of marriage. That is too wild for me to even comprehend. Can you imagine how well she would take it if I presented her with a list of all the things I need of her and explained to her that I love her and married her because I needed her to "Do" for me? The fact is, it would wound her spirit if she were to be told that my relationship and love for her was dependent on my needs. The fact is, I can wash my own cloths and cook my own meals (Please don't tell her this)
I did not marry her because I need her, I married her because I want her! I love my wife because I want her!

The idea of God needing me is my flesh walk, but God wanting and loving me as His bride is the very key to the Grace walk. Entering His rest and enjoying the abundant life that Christ described in John 10:10.

How did Christ describe living life abiding?

Can you imagine Jesus waking up each morning and asking the question, "What can I do today to make the Father happy with me? I know, I will preach a sermon! That will make Him pleased with me. And then I will heal a lame man, and cast out a few demons. This will indeed make my Father happy with me today!"

Jesus relationship to the Father. Jesus did not do things for the Father but the with the Father.
John 5:30, 7:16, 8:28, 8:42, 12:49, 14:24,

What was the source of Jesus life? God

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:" ~Acts 2:22

The word "BY" here means:  the channel of an act; through

How are we to relate to Jesus?

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."  ~ John 20:21

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." ~ John 15:5



How many miracles could Christ have done if he acted independently from God? None

Christ was all God and all man, but while he was on earth he did not choose to live out of his deity, but his humanity.

He always referred to himself as the son of man, never the son of God.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phillipians 2:5-8

Christ lived His life as a man completely dependent on God while he was here on this earth. Christ said it Himself.

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." John 5:19

This is exactly the way we should live in comparison to the life of Christ. This is abiding.

How you function in your Christian life, will determine which tree you are eating from.

This was my testimony! I spent a majority of my life eating from the law tree. This was what I was introduced to, and this is what I saw as an example around me. I would "do" in place of "be" because at least if I was faithful to do what others expected of me, I would find acceptance. Acceptance is cheap compared to fulfillment. Was this the abundant life that Jesus referred to in John 10?

I was in a vicious cycle of Motivation, condemnation, and then after a sermon on giving my all, self dedication. I am being completely transparent here. The cycle would continue over and over again.

I was determined to "Live the Christian life", when in fact God never intended for us to live the Christian life.
There was only one person who could ever do that, and He was Jesus Christ (Hence the term Christian life). I could however live my life In Him and Through Him. Living dependent upon Him every single day! Before I found my identity in what I did for God. Now, my identity is planted in my relationship with Him.

I realize that this mindset is not very well accepted, and I take comfort in knowing that it was not looked on well by the "Religious" crowd in Jesus day either. Being a Child of God is absolutely AMAZING!

We have a Father who longs for us to know Him!

 

Your choice of trees speaks volumes of what your identity is. Tree of law or tree of grace? Both are on the menu, and both can be chosen.

Climbing with you,
~Dan

Born Identity (Part 2)

Last week in the post, "Born Identity (Part 1 )" , we laid the groundwork for the question that sits heavy in the back of the mind of every believer.

Who am I in Christ?

What does it really mean to be "In Christ"?

Let me define two things that you will hear throughout the study. 

Grace :(Its more than unmerited favor) Grace is the divine enablement by the life of Jesus Christ in us to be all we have been called to be and do all we have been called to do.

God living in and through me.

Flesh:(Its more than our body) Flesh is the Self sufficiency, independence or living out of our own resources. living life on my terms and techniques. This is manifested by us finding our identity in A)What we do B)What we have C)What others think of us.

It is Me living for God.

What comes to your mind when you think about walking in your flesh?

Walking in the flesh does not always look bad, but it can look pretty good. Notice what Paul said about his flesh:

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." ~Phillipians 3:3-7

In the last post I compared our search as being one where we had all the fragments of information, but they were scattered around everywhere. Let's take a look at the first piece of paper that we have.

The first time we as people were ever mentioned in history.

We need to go back to the very beginning. Why? Because the beginning is the best place to start!

We need to keep in mind the importance of the new testament when interpreting the old testament. For example in the garden of Eden we find the Serpent which we know to be Satan from another account.

 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." ~Revelation 12:9

With that in mind let's go back to the first week ever to be.

" And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.          So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.   And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.   And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.    And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so." ~Genesis 1:26-30

That is the big picture, now let's look closer.

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.   And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." ~Genesis 2:7-8

Here we see the account of creation! What a sight that must have been. God spoke the animals and stars into existence, but He personally formed Man. The crown Jewel of the collection so to speak.

Handmade by The artist Himself.

It is Paul's letter of Ephesians where he says, "For we are His workmanship...". Personal creation at it's loving best.

God places man in the garden of Eden where he enjoys personal fellowship with God.

 "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." ~Genesis 2:9

 God places Man in the Garden and it is a beautiful thing. It was perfect fellowship between God and us. Our identity was "Us". God and man together in perfect fellowship.

In the garden we find two trees. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

By understanding what these trees represent can shed light on the very foundation of what it means to walk after the flesh or abide in Christ and where our identity was lost.

A.The Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil.

What teaches us right and wrong? Law

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster..." ~Galatians 3:24

So we could with all rights refer to The tree of knowledge of good and evil is the law tree.

B.The Tree of Life. 

As you study scripture what do you find to be synonymous with life? Jesus!!!

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." ~John 14:6

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." ~ John 15:5

The tree of life is the relationship tree. Please Notice Christ says He is the tree.

We also know from scripture that Christ is God’s amazing grace given to us.

 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

~ John 1:17

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21

 

Law and Grace are Two Different Systems

Law is trying and Grace is trusting

Law would be rules and Grace would be relationship

Law is performance and Grace is person

Law is doing and Grace is being

Law  stresses what we do while Grace stresses what Christ does

Law stresses living for Christ while Grace  stresses living in Christ.

 

 

To Abide in Christ means we simply depend on Him. It is a choice we make and as we study scripture we can also see what went wrong in the garden.

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." ~Genesis 3:1-5

Did you catch it? No? You will recognize this as something that you hear all the time. There was a lie. The big lie here is there being something you can do to be like god or godlike. They were already godlike.

Until we  truly understand our identity in Christ we will continue to believe this lie. What can I do to be Christ like. God has accomplished this through Christ.

Man fell for the lie and our identity was given up at that point. What where the consequences of mans eating of the law tree?

1.First consequence from eating of the law tree was man established his own identity.

Up until that point it was not God and man, but we were together. Ever since that day, man has been trying to establish his own identity apart from God.

2.Second consequence is man became self conscious.

They saw that they were naked.

Their eyes were on God until that point. Why look at yourself?

3.Third consequence is man began to live by a value system.

Before sin in the garden man lived by the life of God.
Before man ate of the law tree man did not live a moral life but a miraculous life.
Man's life was not right or wrong but righteous.

4.Fourth consequence is man began to make himself presentable to God

They made aprons of fig leaves
Man still struggles with these consequences today. This is the foundation on which man made religion is built.
The question of “ is this right or wrong,” gets asked all the time, but that is the wrong question. The true question to ask is this: Am I abiding in the life of Christ?

For years I spent countless hour analyzing everything I did, hoping to have sewn a proverbial "good fig leaf apron". The truth was and is...

 

AS A REDEEMED CHILD OF GOD THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE YOU ANY MORE THAN HE ALREADY DOES! 

Identity is a scary thing for insecure people to teach other people, because when people discover who they are in Christ they no longer need the control of any person other than God.

This is a pretty in-depth post, but I believe if you can follow where we are going with this you are going to find yourself as I did. Actually piecing together the scraps of paper to form a picture of who we always were in Christ. I am looking forward to Monday's post as we connect the dots on our life as it was always meant to be.

Climbing with you,

~Dan

 

Born Identity (Part One)

Have you ever wondered who you were? I mean you know your name and at least three branches on your family tree, but have you ever just looked in the mirror and asked yourself, "Who am I"?

We talk about being "Born again" and the "New Birth" as Christians but outside of a few surface answers, what does that mean?

There was a movie some time back called, "Bourne Identity". It was about a man named Jason Bourne. This was a man who spent the entire film trying to find out who he was and how he was able to do all of the things he was able to do. He was frustrated because all he had to work with were fragments of information that were in his mind.

I have been in church my entire life and the most common thread I have seen within the walls of the church are Christians who have very much the same struggle as the fictional character Jason Bourne.

They have no clue of their identity in Christ. They are straining internally and externally to succeed at the "Christian life" and all they have to show for it at the end of the day are more questions.

They dot all of the i's and cross all of the t's. They sing the great traditional hymns of the Faith in church on Sunday and all of the contemporary classics in their car the rest of the week just to be considered balanced. They read every edition of Our Daily Toast, Swords of the Father, Ehud's Dagger and every kind of Christian periodical they can find.
Standards and convictions? You betcha Stan! They got every base covered. If it's out there then they have taken a stand against it entirely or justified portions that they allow.

They sign every "Worker's Agreement" form that their church can print out, and show up a minimum of three times a week to hear every word they can about their need for "giving God their all".
Tithing? At least 30% and you would never catch them putting an "empty envelope" in the plate just for appearance sake. No collection counter can ever accuse them of giving the "Parson's empty Packet". No Sir!

The problem is evident. They do all that they know to do and forgive my light tone on effort here, but the answer they are looking for will never be found here.

They have all of the fragments of information available, but the direct answer is rarely taught.

I know this from experience, because this was my experience.

I looked at the Spiritual Mirror (James 1 refers to the Bible as a mirror) and asked myself, "Who am I"?

The answer was not found in yet another sermon series of the "Sandal tracks of Jesus".

I was doing everything I could do, and going off to conferences to learn how to do even more things.  I enrolled in webinars to teach me how to organize my schedule to make room for even more things.

I thought that my identity was wrapped up in what I did. If you asked me who I was I would have told you, "I am Dan, I am a ______________!". My voicemail would proudly greet your call with, "Hello you have reached Dan, I am a ____________ at such and such church!" 
My identity was found in what I was able to "DO" at least on the surface.

Without the title who was I? If you could take away the "do", who was I?

What I saw was that people who "Do" to the extreme in many cases "Do" to make up for what they are not. "Doing" is easier than "Being".


Honestly though, how can someone really "Be" if you have no idea who you are in Christ in the first place?


One day I was asked to work with an addiction program called Reformers Unanimous. The program did something for me that a lifetime of church had not. It taught me how to really look in the book for real, and defined answers. It taught me how to piece together all of the scraps of information that I had and find out the main answer I had been searching for.

The answer was in something I had never discovered before.

The answer was in my BORN IDENTITY.

What I would like to do over the next several posts is to look at this thing called BORN IDENTITY.

I want to look at the questions I have been discovering the answers to:


 Who am I in Christ?


What does it mean to be a Christian?


 What does that adoption in God's family entail?


What does this BORN IDENTITY enable me to now do?









I am looking forward to Saturday's post and I know you will too as we begin taking all of the pieces and scraps of information and connect the dots. You do not want to miss our study of BORN IDENTITY!


Climbing with you,
~Dan