“Identity—False Perception”
Two significant words…
1. WHO we are — identity
2. WHAT we are called to do — assignments & purpose
If we are ever going to fulfill the WHAT, then we need to settle the WHO.
Isaiah 14:12-15 [NLT], “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth… 13 For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. 14 I will climb the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ 15 Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”
Ezekiel 28:14 [NKJV], “You were the anointed cherub who covers.”
Genesis 3:1-6 [NLT], The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced.
Once they lost sight of their identity [who], they could no longer complete what they were called to do.
Matthew 4:1-3 [NLT], Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
The temptation came when Jesus was going through an identity shift in His own life. Therefore, Satan strategically attacked Him in an attempt to stop His mind from shifting into His FUTURE.
“Satan’s strategy is to steal our identity in order to stop our assignments, because our assignments will crush him and set people free who are presently being held by his darkness. It is true, the enemy attacks our identity with thoughts of inferiority [insecurities] at strategic transitions to cause us to disqualify ourselves from what God has already chosen us to do.”
Q—Have you ever considered what will be the OUTCOME if you don’t solidify your God-given identity?
WHO we are and WHAT we do are so intricately woven together (inseparable),we will either rise or fall to the level of our perceived identity and worth.