I encourage you to spend time in Scripture, studying who God says you are and how you can communicate that identity to others. Your purpose is tied to your identity in Christ, and through Him, you have the power to transform lives and draw others into His Kingdom.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,
[00:00:49] rightly dividing the word of truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast. And now, here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
[00:01:08] to another edition of Words of Inspiration, where we explore God's word and how it shapes our lives as believers.
[00:01:17] And today, we'll focus on how we can clearly communicate who we are in Christ
[00:01:24] and how that identity aligns with our calling to create disciples, as seen in John 12, verse 32, and Matthew 22, verse 39.
[00:01:36] Our title for today is, Who Are You?, inspired by Romans chapter 8, verse 37.
[00:01:45] And reading from the New International Version, it reads,
[00:01:50] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
[00:01:57] This verse speaks to our victory and purpose as believers.
[00:02:01] But understanding who we are in Christ is more than just knowing a verse or a phrase.
[00:02:07] It's living out our God-given identity and purpose every day.
[00:02:12] And to do that, we must study, reflect, and live in the truth of Scripture.
[00:02:20] We were created with a purpose, and that purpose is tied directly to who we are in Christ.
[00:02:27] Often we search for identity in our work, our relationships, or our achievements.
[00:02:33] But the truth is that our identity comes from God alone.
[00:02:38] Romans 8 and 37 reminds us that we are not just survivors of life's difficulties.
[00:02:45] We are more than conquerors.
[00:02:47] We were born with a divine purpose, not just to exist, but to thrive and to bring others to Christ.
[00:02:56] Jesus said in John 12 and 32,
[00:03:00] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[00:03:07] Our purpose is linked to this powerful truth.
[00:03:10] We were designed to live in such a way that we lift Jesus up through our words, actions, and love for others.
[00:03:18] And in doing so, we fulfill our purpose of drawing others to Him.
[00:03:23] Part of understanding who we are in Christ is understanding how we are to relate to others.
[00:03:30] Matthew 22 and 39 tells us,
[00:03:34] Love thy neighbor as yourself.
[00:03:36] This commandment is central to our identity as believers.
[00:03:40] Our love for others reflects God's love for us.
[00:03:44] We cannot truly know who we are in Christ without embracing this commandment.
[00:03:50] Loving others is not always easy, especially when we encounter differences, but it is essential to our mission as Christians.
[00:03:59] When we know who we are in Christ, we can love others from a place of security, strength, and grace.
[00:04:07] This love is the foundation of creating disciples as it shows the world the transformative power of the gospel.
[00:04:16] Understanding who we are is just the beginning.
[00:04:19] We must also be able to clearly communicate that identity to others.
[00:04:24] In a world that often offers many false ideas about identity, our ability to speak confidently about who we are in Christ is crucial.
[00:04:36] Romans 8 and 37 says, We are more than conquerors.
[00:04:40] But what does that mean practically?
[00:04:43] It means we are not defined by our failures, past, or challenges we face.
[00:04:49] Instead, we are defined by God's love and the victory we have in Christ.
[00:04:54] We are children of God, new creations, and heirs of his kingdom.
[00:05:01] But we can't communicate this unless we study God's word.
[00:05:05] 2 Timothy 2 and 15 says, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
[00:05:21] We must immerse ourselves in scripture to fully understand and articulate who we are and how we can share that with others.
[00:05:31] Once we know who we are in Christ and how to communicate that identity, the next step is to live out our purpose by making disciples.
[00:05:40] Matthew 28 and 19 commands us, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:05:54] Our identity in Christ is not just for us to enjoy.
[00:05:58] It's meant to be shared.
[00:06:00] We are called to help others discover who they are in Christ by leading them to the truth of the gospel.
[00:06:07] The confidence we have in our identity fuels our ability to create disciples who will also live for Christ and spread his message.
[00:06:16] Making disciples isn't just about teaching.
[00:06:20] It's about living out our faith in front of others.
[00:06:23] When we love others, serve others and uplift Christ in everything we do, we draw people to him.
[00:06:31] This is how we fulfill our purpose as believers.
[00:06:36] So who are you?
[00:06:38] In Christ, you are more than a conqueror.
[00:06:41] You are loved, chosen and called to a purpose far greater than anything the world could offer.
[00:06:47] You are here to uplift the name of Jesus and to love others as he loved you.
[00:06:53] And you are called to create disciples, sharing the truth of God's love with the world.
[00:07:00] I encourage you to spend time in scripture, studying who God says you are and how to communicate that identity to others.
[00:07:08] Your purpose is tied to your identity in Christ.
[00:07:11] And through him, you have the power to transform lives and draw others into his kingdom.
[00:07:18] If today's message has encouraged you, please share this podcast with others and take time this week to reflect on who you are in Christ.
[00:07:30] I thank you for joining me on today.
[00:07:33] And I look forward to our time together on tomorrow.
[00:07:36] Until then, God bless.
[00:07:44] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth.
[00:07:55] If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
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[00:08:16] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582 Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:08:26] Or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com
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