Identity: Goliath

What defines you?

^{1 Samuel 17:4-7} A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. ⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

If you were never sure why people refer to Goliath as a giant this is the passage that confirms it. In this imagery we also know that he is strong, a warrior.

If you were given four sentences to describe you to someone what would it say? Would you be a warrior, wearing the armor of God?

^{Ephesians 6:13-18}Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Would you be a branch, connected to the vine?

^{John 15:1-4} "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Would you be fruitful?

^{Galatians 5:22-26} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I encourage you to take a moment and write your four sentences. Maybe even share them with us. Or have someone else help you to see in yourself who you are. Take away all the imperfections and try to see you as God sees you.

^{2 Corinthians 5:17-21} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Please pray for Ginny R this week.

You

Who are YOU?

wife, mother, daughter, husband, father, son, manager, teacher, minister, pastor, engineer, friend, lover, musician, counselor, runner, banker, accountant......

loving, caring, compassionate, strong, beautiful, friendly, giving, busy, affectionate, funny, honest, sad, angry, happy, temperamental, right, faithful.....

Christian? Saint? Sinner?

Free?

Galatians 2:19-21
"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

Day 2

We all have ways to identify ourselves. Job descriptions, personality traits, gender roles, beliefs, talents and gifts all define who we are as people. Who are you?

I have spent the last 9 years defined as "stay at home mom". I love being home with my girls but it has become the definition of who I am and what I do. This fall my youngest will start preschool and be gone a few hours a week learning to socialize with other children. All of a sudden I have a dilemma, I will have a few hours a week that I will not be "mom" or "wife". The prospect scares me a little. I have gotten so caught up in my roles that I haven't defined myself outside of them. If I am being completely honest, I have no idea who I am without my kids or husband. I think it is very easy to define ourselves by the roles we play in life. I have many passions in my life and forget that they deserve my attention too. Even though my priorities are my children and husband I have an opportunity to explore the other pieces of my identity.

Life is in continuous cycle of change. God himself guides us, loves us and encourages every step of the way. I also know that He will nudge me out of a defining role in my life when it becomes self serving and not God serving. Have you ever found yourself in a job or position that you no longer find joy in? Do you continue the same routines out of habit and pride rather then out of serving God? Have you ever allowed people around you define you with a label or role definition?

It is important to remember that however you define yourself that it aligns with what God desires for you. With every part of who you are you are giving a part of yourself, either in your job or your relationships, you are serving someone or something. Ask yourself if you are serving God or yourself or even attempting to please society's standards over God's desire for your life.

2 Corinthians 9:7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Day 3

Romans 12: 1-8
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Who are you?
Do you consider your talents important?
Do you know that your role in God's family is just as important as everyone else's?
Can you embrace the gifts and talents God has given you and still be humble and know that you still need God?

Day 4

It really isn't about you at all. When we grasp the greatness of the gift of grace in our lives it becomes about God. Can you define yourself by your response to God's love for you? It is important to understand that all of your qualities, your gifts, your imperfections and your experiences are exactly what the Body of Christ needs to change lives. By being an active participant in your faith, defining yourself as a believer, understanding that you are an important player in God's plans, together we can transform lives.


Lyrics to "If we are the body" by Casting Crowns
It's crowded in worship today As she slips in Trying to fade into the faces The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know Farther than they know CHORUS But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way There is a way A traveler is far away from home He sheds his coat And quietly sinks into the back row The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances Are better out on the road CHORUS But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way Jesus paid much too high a price For us to pick and choose who should come And we are the Body of Christ Chorus (2x) If we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way Jesus is the way

Day 5

Who are YOU? I hope you have taken some time this week to look in the mirror. I hope that some of what you saw was beautiful and brought you joy. I know that when God looks at you, he sees one of His children, made clean by the Blood of Jesus. I hope that when he sees each of us, he sees people willing to be molded by His mercy and grace. Willing to be shaped into a Body of believers capable of stepping out and changing the world with His message of hope and truth.

Heavenly Father, Praise your name for your gift of grace. Again Lord I come to you with a desire to be defined by my life's response to your love and mercy. Forgive me for lacking the confidence to step out in faith and know you can use all of my gifts, my experiences and my imperfections to help and serve your people. Remind me daily Lord that it isn't about just me and my battles but it is about the Body of believers and all of our needs; all of our struggles; all of our gifts; and all of our faith together that will make things happen in your precious Name. Bless my friends, Lord, show them all that you see in them. ~In Jesus' Name.