Identity and Reality / Saturday November 18th, 2023

Sometimes our identity is of our own making and not the spiritual reality that God has created us for. We do get to choose what we believe about ourselves. If we confuse our born again new creation with the old person who walked according to the flesh, we might end up becoming a mixture of both. Deciding who we are without true knowledge of ourselves, might cause us to hold onto negative traits of the past. The truth of your new status is that there is no old sin nature left in you. It was washed away when you accepted Christ as your savior by the blood of Jesus. Out with the old and in with the new. Sometimes the memories of the old self don't want to yield to the new you! Although Our sin nature is dead, our carnally programmed mind is not. It will remain unchanged until we reprogram it. That’s what the Bible calls the renewing of the mind. Our lives are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). But you have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. So let's give place to the Word this morning and see what might need a cranial adjustment or two. You ready?

Col 1:15 NKJV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, (there are invisible things on earth) whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

AMP> Classic Col 1:15 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.

16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.

17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).

Genesis 1:26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Made in His image and likeness, you probably learned that in Sunday school. But since the Creation of Adam and Eve (she was created also by the Word of God), Our Image has been under assault by the enemy of God, satan better described as "It". Our image isn't just what we see in the mirror, especially after a hard nights' sleep, but the image (exact likeness) of the invisible God that is indelibly marked upon our spirit being from conception.

Let me just divert a moment to my thoughts on conception. You were not conceived 9 months before you were born into the earth. God conceived you individually in the dated past after much process of consideration as to your individuality, your specific parental genes, personality, His intention in creating you, (purpose), God likeness in human form, talents, ability, etc.

Rms 8:29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

Because of Adams' fall we lost our connection to God, the Father of our creation. We became lost in our understanding of our life, our knowing who we are and whose we are. The nations which formed were pagan nations and without Yahweh and they made gods which were not gods at all but devils at best. A child put up for adoption at birth has no roots to point to and say this is my family from which I came. This is where humanity's issues come from - a lack of real identity both familial and spiritual through the ages.

To have that identity restored and to realize who we really are can sometimes take a while. Revelation must come not through the natural, physical realm but through the Spirit of God and Word of God as we listen and receive God's truth. Here are some helpful steps we can take to understand and walk in your new creation.

1st. Realize what the Bible says about us and our creation. Our true unbroken lineage is from the dated past when our spirits were created. Note that when Genesis 1:26 happened for us it was the same as when Jesus came into being. He was the firstborn of all creation and of all the brethren and Col 1:15 says, He is the exact likeness of the invisible God. If we are His brethren, we should be just like Him. The bible says we are exactly like Him. Gen 1:26- the word "image" is rendered "exact copy" of God. Have you ever had a stranger tell you they can see the family resemblance between you and your siblings or parents? Have you ever had someone tell you they see God in you? There is a reason. We have spiritual DNA! So realization is the 1st step.

2nd. Begin to identify with Jesus. Really we are asking what was Jesus like? We can see Him for whom He really is in scripture. Part of His nature is to love people and hate evil. Can you identify with that? He lives selflessly on Earth and Heaven. His ways are to live by faith in God. He demonstrates charity to us. He gave His earthly life to death so that we could be restored to our intended place as sons and daughters of God. Meditation on scripture brings revelation of who Jesus is and who you really are.

3rd. Compare your new and old nature. Can you honestly look back and say I wish I was still lost? I don't know anyone who has. I do look back sometimes briefly and see the way I ran my life before Jesus and notice how fruitless it was. I usually thought, "How much better life would have been without the selfishness, trying to figure it out on my own, trying to make it happen without God. I don't spend a lot of time doing this ( It's not healthy). But it is an inspiration to seek God more and think about life since God came into the picture. Note: the enemy has tried to get me sad over things present by showing me stuff out of my past but it is a road to nowhere and not to be pondered.

4th. Decide to implement scriptural principles and do the Word of God (obedience) God wants you to be fully convinced of Whom you belong to. Faith = being fully convinced. You want God's will to fully manifest in your life! What is the will of God? Generally, follow Him, serve others, be open to His voice, be healed, prosperous, loving every day that the Lord has made, filling your days in fellowship with your Father, experiencing His presence and love. Looking ahead to tomorrow!

If you are not happy with the moment you live in then possibly there is a past identity memory haunting you. Your real ID will bring life and joy because Jesus is in the picture of who you really are. Walk with Him, learn from Him, let Him teach you the higher life, and lead you in the way that He has for you!