Faith to Be Who I Am
Ex 3:9-14
And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them,
'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?'
what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am."
And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'"
Moses asked 2 questions that reveal why it’s hard to do the things God asks of us:
Who am I?
Who are you?
I Am That I Am
I am what I am
1 Cor 15:10
By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.
On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them,
though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
God gives me a “grace” to do what He called me to do
If you don’t understand who you are, you can’t do what you’re called to do
What you do outside of that will be labor – hard
Matt 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
That’s why Satan’s temptations are designed to draw you away from your identity
· Adam & Eve in the Garden – “you shall be as gods”
· Jesus in the wilderness – “if you are the Son”
When you are uncertain about your identity it is easy to be deceived
Try to become “like” others – do things out of your nature
When you are not living from your nature you are easily depressed
Masterpiece, Awesome, Distinctly Different, Extraordinary, Marvelous, Valuable, Pleasing…
We feel unqualified because we’ve been misidentified
Self-talk becomes Negative
People advise you from their nature – “If I were you…”
I Am What I Am
1. Personal nature – personality
2. Work identity – difference between a job & a career (calling)
3. Ministry Identity – the journey that you are on
How do I discover who I am?
Ps 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
My “frame” is not disconnected (cut off) from my ‘purpose’
God’s will is not going to go against your personality & nature
Everything is supposed to be built on ‘Your Purpose Frame’
How did God “Frame” me? Strength, effectiveness (support for everything that follows)
Instead of looking up, look inward (strengths)
1. What can I do well that also engages me? (skill & practical applications)
2. Where do I have focus, ideas, creativity & solutions?
3. In what areas do I pursue my curiosity?
4. What’s easy for me to retain & explain?
5. Where do I have endurance, even longsuffering?
6. What inspires me or fires my passion?
7. What do I dream about?
8. Where are my circles of appreciation?
Look Inward… Build According to Your Frame
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,
'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.
There should be a "flow of life” from your nature
When God calls you into the Faith Life – it may scare you at first
The call will align with your frame (nature) & the grace He has given you
As you walk in faith in what God calls you to do, it will answer your “Whys?”
Administrators of God’s Activity in the Earth