Man was created in the image of God. Because your identity is so closely linked to God’s identity, when you can’t see yourself clearly for who you are in Jesus Christ, you cannot see God clearly for Who He really is. Also, when you cannot see God clearly for Who He is, you cannot see yourself clearly for who you are in Jesus Christ.

Because satan opposes you and your growth as a Christian, his desire is to disarm you and separate you from Jesus Christ by enticing you into sin. He is definitely your adversary.

Adversary = a person or force that opposes or attacks; enemy; foe

Today we will examine identity lie #6 and what God provides for you to refute that lie

You cannot be forgiven

When you believe that lie about who you are, you are also believing this lie about Who God is

God’s redemption is not enough for you

Each of us has done things we regret and perhaps are ashamed of doing. Our sins are no surprise to Jesus. His love has no conditions so He doesn’t love us less when we sin. Jesus has provided the solution to our sin problem.

John 3:¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is the solution to our sin problem according 1 John 2:¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 4:¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Jesus provides for your refuting the lie that you cannot be forgiven in 1 John 1:⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Psalms 103:¹⁰ He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

There was a time when I worried about the words of Micah 7:¹⁸ Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

¹⁹ He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea

I worried because my sins were somewhere – in the depths of the sea. Granted, no human being would find them there but God could see them there, I thought. Our Jesus is so intimate and so concerned for our well-being. He showed me this verse in Revelation 21:

¹ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

I share this story not at all because of any worthiness or any special knowledge on my part but as an encouragement from one sinner to another. Jesus cares and has provided the complete solution for all our sins!

Jesus Saves – William J. Kirkpatrick, 1882

We have heard a joyful sound Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land-Climb the steeps and cross the waves
Onward! ‘tis our Lord’s command. Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle’s strife Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By his death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom. When the heart for mercy craves
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb Jesus saves!

Give the winds a mighty voice Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free -Highest hills and deepest caves
This our song of victory Jesus saves!

So put God’s Word in your arsenal of God’s truths to counter the identity lies your enemy throws at you, by writing them on an index card; keeping them at your fingertips; reciting them aloud; committing them to memory; meditating on them. Trust Jesus Christ. He never fails and certainly will not fail you! He is our Immanuel, God with us.

These seven identity lie examples have been given and refuted with the Word of Jesus Christ. They are just examples. Perhaps there is another lie about your identity that satan uses to discourage and attempt to defeat you. I find no Bible reference indicating the enemy can read your thoughts but certainly he has all of history to observe the human condition and test his various lies. He knows your history. Although the enemy is not present everywhere he has emissaries who spy for him.

Is there a lie about your identity that you are believing?

Why do you believe it?

Did someone in authority or important to you, tell you that lie?

Are you willing to use God’s Word to refute that lie?

Remember God’s promise in Isaiah 55:⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Use His Word to refute your enemy’s lie!

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through   you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti