5. • Seems like a philosophical question…but a coreSeems like a philosophical question…but a core
issueissue
• I live my life according to what I believe myselfI live my life according to what I believe myself
to beto be
• Closely related to our understanding of GodClosely related to our understanding of God
9. Lie 1
I am what I do/have
• I am … a student, nurse, engineer, doctor,
rich, famous…
• Have to achieve/have
• Leads to disillusionment/despair/pride
10. I have plenty; that
defines my life
Luke 12:19
Self-confidence
11. …Your perception of time changes
as you get older, because you see
how brief everything is. You see
how meaningless…life has no
meaning.
Life is full of misery, loneliness, and
suffering – and it’s all over much
too soon.
Woody Allen
Actor, Director, TV personality
Disillusionment
12.
13. A man’s life does not
consist in the abundance
of his possessions. Luke
12:15
14. Lie 2
I am what they say I am
• Have to impress/be part of
a group
• Leads to hypocrisy and
impression management
• Opinion unreliable
15. What they say
• Enemies praise –
Herod - Acts 12:22
• Friends criticize –
David – 1 Sam 30:6
• People change their
opinion – ‘Hosanna’ to
‘Crucify’
16. • Do not do anything for
others’ sake Matt
6:1,5,16
• Do not find your identity in
what others think about
you
17. Lie 3
I am what I feel I am
• Have to prove to myself and others
• I have to feel good always
• Leads to inferiority or superiority
complexes
18. What I feel
Every time I accomplish something I
feel like a special human being, but
after a little while I feel mediocre
and uninteresting again… My drive
in life is from the terrible fear of
being mediocre. I have to prove
I’m somebody.
Madonna
19. What I feel
• Two extreme examples
• Moses – I cannot…Who am I? –– Exodus 3:11
• Lucipher - I will … I am great – Isa 14:13-15
20. Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only
out of having more of it than the next man... It is
the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure
of being above the rest. Once the element of
competition is gone, pride is gone.
C. S. Lewis
22. The World Says: I am…
Lie What I have/do What others say What I feel
Related
Struggles
Have to have Have to impress Have to prove
Resultant
Problems
Self-confidence
Disillusionment
Hypocrisy
People-pleasing
Diffidence
Pride
Biblical
Answer
Life is not what you
have
Luke 12:15
Do not do
anything for
impressing
others
Matt 6:1,5,16
Have right
judgment of
yourself
Romans 12:3
23. True and the false self
• False self – what I am by
the fall – Christ came to
destroy
• True self – what I am by
creation and by calling –
Christ came to redeem
24. False Self/Identity
• Alienation from God (broken relationship)
causes alienation from the nature, from
others and from myself
• The cause of our false identity is this
alienation from God
28. Truth 1
I am created and redeemed
• God’s masterpiece; workmanship;
poema Ephe 2:10
• I am not my own – God’s rag doll
• I do not have to save myself or others; I
have a saviour
29. The Voice and
Wisdom of this
World
Almost every religion talks about a savior
coming. When you look in the mirror in the
morning, you’re looking at the savior. Nobody
else is going to save you but yourself.
Ted Turner, CNN
33. I am loved
and accepted
• I am His child John 1:12
• No need to buy acceptance or love
• Free to live from this identity and not for it
34. I am loved and acceptedI am loved and accepted
• He could resist temptation Matt 3:17He could resist temptation Matt 3:17
Accepted even before His ministry MattAccepted even before His ministry Matt
4:44:4
• He could be humble John 13:3He could be humble John 13:3
35. I am loved and accepted
• The disciple
whom Jesus
loved John
13:23
• Relational
identity – who
am I to whose
am I
36. Truth 3
I am called and equipped
• I do not have to run my life by myself and
for myself
37. I am called and equipped
He does not call the qualified; but He
qualifies the called Col 1:29
38. I am called and equipped
• My part is letting go because I know
the catcher 2 Tim 1:12
• It is His duty to catch me
39. The Word says: I am…
Truth Created and
Redeemed
Loved and
Accepted
Called and
Equipped
My Identity God’s poem God’s child God’s elect
My Name Masterpiece
Ephe 2:10
Beloved
John 1:12
Called
Phil 3:14
My Freedom I do not have to
save myself
Matt 16:25
I do not have to
buy
love/acceptance
Matt 3:17
I do not have to
strive with my
strength
Col 1:29
