Sermon Notes

Identity Theft: Pickpocketed by the Past

September 28, 2008
Associate Pastor Mike Brown

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Philippians 3:7-16

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Notes:

Identity Theft—Pickpocketed by the Past

My past and the World don't define me

God's Truth

Inner Transformation

Prayer of Confession and Healing

Father, I confess I have believed lies from my parents, friends, the World, myself, and Satan. I confess that knowingly and unknowingly I have told lies to others I know and love.

I repent, Lord, and turn away from the lies I have believed. I repent of the lies I have spread. Forgive me, Father, for believing the lies and for speaking lies. Please forgive those who have lied to me and wounded me as they are also broken, wounded people who didn't know what they did or how much they hurt me. Forgive me for spreading lies and for wounding others. Soften the hearts of those I have hurt so that they might forgive me. And, help me to truly accept your forgiveness of me so that I might forgive myself.

Lord, search my heart, try me, you know my thoughts. See if there is any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. Please continue to show me the lies I believe that I might also confess them to you and seek your forgiveness.

Heal my woundedness, Oh Lord. You know the pain that is deep within me. Let me feel your unconditional love for me. Let me rest in your love. Thank you for having transformed me and continuing to transform me into the likeness of your Son. Help me to use the scars of my own wounding to see and minister to the woundedness in others as your Son ministers to me.

Thank you, Father, for loving me as I am, as you have made me to be. Amen