MAY 24

 

5 G  

GODS, GREAT, GRACEFUL, GIFTED, GATHERERS  

Today we are talking about identity – so its 5G ID

OUR IDENTITY IS IN: Our name

  • Is precious to us, and something no one can ever take away

  • Jesus gave some of the Disciples new names:  

    • Peter:  Matt 16:14- And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

                    Sons of thunder: 

  • 2 of the Disciples: James and John: Mark 3:17: And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder

  • John:  Mark 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.  Became known as John the Baptist.  

OUR IDENTITY IS IN: Our culture /background/language

  • Our family identifies with New Zealand because we were born there.  Take any subject you like and we can bring it back to how we do things back in NZ.

  • Now that we have been here 8 years we were planning on going through our naturalization process – that is on hold at the moment due to COVID-19.  Why are we planning on doing this?  We expect to remain here and the US has become our home, we are identifying with the government here in the US, and only citizens have a right to vote.  We too, can have a voice by voting ONLY if we become citizens.   Being a citizen brings other rights too.  You can only run for political office if you are a citizen.

  • We have been very blessed in that we have had access to education, health care, welfare support where needed.  We have the freedom, the legal framework, available resources where we can take on great challenges, become world champion athletes. We take these things for granted they put us in the top small % in the world

  • According to google in nearly 35 countries of the world they have a 50% or less literacy rate!

  • NZ was a monolingual nation but during my lifetime with our nation including the native Maori language officially making it bilingual!  Being a South Islander I was pretty much red-necked about this, but the kids have been brought up in a very multicultural area.  The Polynesians are very musical and our kids had the privilege of learning Maori and Samoan dances and songs as part of their elementary learning.   This all adds to their identity as multicultural kids where they can feel at home in more than one culture. 

OUR IDENTITY IS IN: Christ, Jesus 

  • We get a new name

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

  • We are adopted into a new family 

Rom 8:15 - 17  ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

  • We are Chosen by God

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

  • We are given a new nature  from sinful to winful 

  • We receive a calling from God  - John 15: 16

  • We get to overcome the world !  

    • 1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

For more information please refer - foundations – ready reckoners on identity 

To those who overcomes  - which is us ^^

  • We get to eat of the tree of Life:  Rev 2: 7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

  • We will not be hurt in the second death  Rev 2:11 He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

  • We will eat of the hidden manna   - Rev 2:17  To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

  • We receive a white stone  Rev 2:17

  • We receive a new name on that stone which is secret Rev 2:17  

  • We are given power over the nations  Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

  • We receive white garments Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  – Romans 10  - Righteousness of faith 

  • We become Pillars in the temple of God  Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

  • We get to sit with Jesus on His throne! Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

  • We will inherit ALL THINGS!  Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

OUR MEGAMORPHIC IDENTITY

We are a group of believers 

  • With a big, global vision

  • We have the foundations as part of our DNA

  • We have the song of the Lord for a generation / Eversmith – artistic and other ambassadors for the vision and the church

  • The Multi Millenial Mandate  - God in His word is the first document that is known to Human Race that sets out a platform for the equality of all people

  • With a key focus on advancing Bible Translation for those people groups yet to get this

  • Meganauts  - as aerodynamics are to gravity, so Spirodynamics are to our depravity.   Becoming an astronaut is in many ways the height of human achievement for a very select few.  In Christ  all of us can become eternal stars and go beyond space even outside of time 

  • Partners with answers

  • Gathering together ( Heb 10:25)

  • All of us are called to be GODS GREAT GRACEFUL, GIFTED GATHERERS

Biblically informed Decision

  • Anyone struggling with your identity and you would like prayer – altar is open

Megamorphic Church