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I Peter 2:9 Identity Crisis - Who Are You?
We live in a world that is full of people who are lost… We see in our society where many believe that they simply do not fit in… We work in our communities where many people are searching for a sense of belonging to someone or something… We experience a time were many are suffering what can be characterized as an identity crisis. Who are you? Do you know who you are? And more importantly Whose you are?
We live in a time where many people, both in and out of the body of Christ are experiencing an identity crisis… In other words, we do no know who we are! I have extrapolated this conculsion, because I just believe, if we know who we are, then there are some places that we just would not go, there are some things that we just would not do, there are some words just would not depart our lips and there are some folk in our lives we would just say “adios amigo, see you later.”
We have lost our identity… Some of us do not know who or what we are… And so consequently, we struggle day by day with this concept of being carnal chameleons. You may recall studying about this little creature in biology or science class. The chameleon is a type of lizard that has the ability to change colors change color. Colors include pink, blue, red, orange, turquoise, yellow, and green. Uniquely adapted to their situation and or environment.
We have become carnal chameleons, yesterday day a super-spiritual saints. Today holier than thou and tomorrow somebody that we just do not recognize. … We’ve lost our identity…! And as a result some of us are walking around like spiritual zombies trying to find life in any and everything around us…! Looking for love in all the wrong places and people. Because of our identity crisis, we are faced with a very unfortunate dilemma that we must deal with such as a lost generation, a lack of self worth and self esteem, gang bangers, teenage pregnancy, sexual immorality, pornography, child molestation, human trafficking, addictions of every sort from candy to cocaine and all that is between. .
And believe it or not, but these issues arise from our lack of our ability to recognize who we are? In light of our identity crisis, we must deal with the pre-conceived opinion of WHO THE WORLD THINKS WE ARE. We have come through being African, negro, colored, black, African American, Africana. All sought of names, we are amercians of African descent.
It’s no secret of what the world really thinks about those who live for Christ (TV, newspaper, etc). Some folk think that we are nothing more than freaks, fanatics, and frauds… There are others who think that we are nothing more than extremists, trying to get some attention… They believe that we are bible-toting, tongue-speaking,renegades, who only want to put on a spectacle for others to see…They believe that the church is nothing more than a social club, were we gather from week to week to compare clothes, hairstyles, and trends… The church is nothing more than a place for those who are in everybody else’s business to gather to share notes and swap stories…! They feel that the only difference between them and us is that they’re meeting in the clubs, and bars, but we’re meeting in the church!
And as a result of their thoughts about us, our witness becomes ineffective…! We cannot tell them anything, because they see us doing the same thing they do and sometimes even worst…! We are unable to encourage others in the direction of Christ, because it seems we have taken a detour. And because this spiritual identity crisis has been going on so long, it does not matter what we do to try and show them different… The world is not buying it…!
Because so many have been hurt, rejected, and made fun of by church people, they refuse to hear anything that we have to say...
The world thinks that we’re just putting on a show, pretending to be something that we’re not… (2 Timothy 3:5) Many folks “have a form of godliness but they deny its power…” In other words, they’re faking and shaking and it causes a detrimental effect on the entire body of Christ.

II. WHO WE BELIEVE WE ARE
Many people have been led into believing that once you are saved, that’s it…! God grace is going to cover everything and it will, but in gratitude to Christ death burial and resurrection we need to work. Our biblical text tells us that faith without works is a dead faith. Many folks believe that once saved, we won’t have to worry about no more pain… No more heartache… No more rough times… In other words, we believe that we are immune to trials and tribulations…
But I came to bust your bubble… I’ve got to let you know that just because you’re saved doesn’t mean that you won’t go through… Just because you’re saved doesn’t mean you won’t experience hard times… Just because you’re saved doesn’t mean you won’t experience some midnight hours…! What is does mean that God is with you through it all. God will never leave us nor forsake us.
Many have been taken on the belief that they are a product of their own selves… I did it, I made me who I am, I pulled up my own boot straps. In other words, “You are who/what you because of your own power… You are who/what you because of your own ability… You are who/what you because of who your parents are… You are who/what you because of your education… You are who/what you because of your position in the community…” But the truth of the matter is you are who/what you are because of God…!
You see before you even had the sense to know who you were or what you wanted to be, God had already purposed your life. In fact Jeremiah 1:5 said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart… (Point) God knew you before you knew you…!

We must be cognizant it takes a village. No man is an island, none of us live alone, we live in community. Until we understand that God created us in his image, And until we change our thinking to God’s way of thinking… Until we change our mindset into a Godly mindset… Until we change our beliefs and believe in what God says… we will be stuck in the constant state of a spiritual identity crisis…!
(Tell somebody…) “If you want to overcome you Identity Crisis… Do not worry about who the world thinks you are But stand on and rest in…”
III. WHO CHRIST SAYS WE ARE
In spite of who the world thinks you are… Who you believe you are… You have got to know who Christ says you are…. Look at the text…
Chosen people: Selected, Elected, and Preferred, it is not by chance you are followers of Christ, the prevenient grace of God.+

Royal Priesthood: Regal, Majestic
Holy Nation: God’s holy nation
God’s Special Creation- God’s very own possession…
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body…”
(1Cor. 6:19-20)
“How do I honor Him…?” By showing others His goodness…! “How has He been good to me…?”