Do you have labels you'd like to escape from? Think about this, Rahab was a prostitute. Her body used by men, unmarried, unloved and unappreciated. Then she met God. He redeemed her, she married a Godly man and became the great(5x) grandmother to...Jesus!

One more great week in the Who Are You? series at LifePoint Church.

God gives us two specific things to remind us of who we are in Christ.

1. A brand new name Abram and Sarai(sp) became Abraham and Sarah, parents.

Saul the murderer became Paul the giver of life saving news.

Simon the fisherman became Peter (the rock) and fisher of men.

2. He gives a new purpose. Seen in the story of Rahab and countless others in the bible. God is great at taking our biggest weakness and turning it into our biggest strength.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"

In Christ we are overcomers! Revelation 12:11 ESV

"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony"

Know who you are and who He created you to be...

Who Are You?

For the past two weeks, Pat Hood has been exploring the question "Who Are You?". It has been a fantastic message and I wanted to highlight some of it here. If you would like to hear the sermon in its entirety go to http://lifepointchurch.org/media .

Sunday January 7

Who Are You?

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come...","Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."

We are ambassadors for Christ. Our real home is the Kingdom of God, we are here as His ambassadors.

John 15:16-19 "I chose you and appointed you..."

Look at the examples of God's chosen:

Moses couldn't speak well, God used him to lead His people out of Egypt

David committed adultery and murder, he was king to God's people

Paul was Saul, the Christian slayer. God used him to spread His Word to the world!

Acts 9:15 "he is a chosen instrument of mine..."

God called me to represent Him. I am a chosen instrument of God!

John 6:38 "I have come not to do my will but the will of Him who sent me".

We represent God.

Sunday January 15

Identity

Ephesians 2:1-3 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of the world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

Ephesians 2:4-9 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him...","for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not a result of works, so that no one may boast"

God redeemed you, saved you, gave you life!

Ephesians 2:10"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them"

We do good works so that people will look to God and praise Him!

The greek word for workmanship is poeima it means beautiful workmanship.

Psalm 139:13-16 You formed my inmost parts, you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In your book are written the days formed for me

With His hands God created me. I have significance. I am here by the purpose and plan of God.

2 Peter 1:3"He has given us all we need to do everything He has called us to do"

-Thank you God, for creating, saving, redeeming and giving me purpose! - Cynthi

Word and Verse of the Year

After a lot of thought and consideration I have chosen a word and verse for this year. My word is HOPE. For what I think are obvious reasons I love this word. It is positive, encouraging and of course gives an outlook I want to have.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

The assurance of things hoped for. Why are we assured in our hope?

Let us hold tight to our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

We are assured because He who promised is faithful.

Has this process of "getting to Brussels" been hard. Of course, one of the most difficult things I've ever done. Have I wavered, wondered, doubted? Sadly in my reflection I must admit there have been times that I have questioned how it would happen, and why God chose us. I have however never doubted that God has called us and that He is making a way.

This year as I continue to watch God's will and perfect timing unfold I will rest in the HOPE that I have in Him. I will draw strength and even a little patience, knowing that He is faithful.

Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4