Discovering Your True Discovering Your True IdentityIdentity

What is this series all What is this series all aboutabout

In this series I hope to present a Biblical worldview In this series I hope to present a Biblical worldview in support of human dignity and true personhood.in support of human dignity and true personhood.

I hope to encourage you to live your life to the I hope to encourage you to live your life to the fullest by discovering, understanding, and using fullest by discovering, understanding, and using your gifts and natural abilities in everyday life. your gifts and natural abilities in everyday life.

I hope to challenge you to share with others their I hope to challenge you to share with others their intrinsic value to both God and mankind. intrinsic value to both God and mankind.

To make you smile, and encourage your soul.To make you smile, and encourage your soul.

• The First step The First step to to understanding understanding who you are, is who you are, is to Discover to Discover Who God is. Who God is. “The imago “The imago Dei.” Dei.”

STEP ONE!STEP ONE!

So what is God really So what is God really like?like?

• LanguagLanguagee

• CreativiCreativityty

• LoveLove

• HolinessHoliness

ImmortalityImmortality

FreedomFreedom

IntelligencIntelligencee

HumorHumor

God’s attributesGod’s attributes

DiscoverinDiscovering Your g Your

Passions Passions and using and using

themthem

Gabriel Gabriel GilmorGilmor

ee

http://www.facebook.com/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=46400865profile.php?id=46400865

Why living in submission to Why living in submission to your God Given Passions your God Given Passions

works!works!

The first captured The first captured American CrocodileAmerican Crocodile

• (Psalm 139:13-16) KING DAVID(Psalm 139:13-16) KING DAVID• 13 For you created my 13 For you created my inmostinmost being; being;

       you knit me together in my mother's womb.        you knit me together in my mother's womb.

•   14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; made;        your works are wonderful,        your works are wonderful,        I know that full well.        I know that full well.

•   15 My frame was not hidden from you 15 My frame was not hidden from you        when I was made in the secret place.        when I was made in the secret place.        When I was woven together in the depths of the        When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, earth,

•   16 your eyes saw my unformed body. 16 your eyes saw my unformed body.              All the days ordained All the days ordained for me for me        were written in your book        were written in your book        before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)       before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

You are who you are You are who you are because God made because God made you you uniquelyuniquely. You . You were made to be were made to be differentdifferent. (v13-14). (v13-14)

The real you has an The real you has an assignmentassignment. (orders . (orders to fulfill). v16to fulfill). v16

Psalm 139:13-16Psalm 139:13-16

• (Jeremiah 1:4-8) (Jeremiah 1:4-8) PROPHET JEREMIAHPROPHET JEREMIAH

• 4 The Lord gave me this message:  5 “I knew you 4 The Lord gave me this message:  5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born you were born I set you apartI set you apart and appointed you as and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” my prophet to the nations.”

•   6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”you! I’m too young!”

•   7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. tell you.

• 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:4-8)(Jeremiah 1:4-8)

The real you was made to The real you was made to obey God. The real you obey God. The real you doesn’t need to miss its doesn’t need to miss its heavenly heavenly appointmentappointment (or) (or) assignmentassignment. (v. 5). (v. 5)

The real you will always The real you will always wrestle with whether to go wrestle with whether to go ““God’s wayGod’s way” or “” or “his wayhis way.” .” Excuses are normal, and Excuses are normal, and are a sign that you are on are a sign that you are on the right path to both the right path to both ““beingbeing” and “” and “doingdoing” your ” your heavenly assignment. (v. 6)heavenly assignment. (v. 6)

Jeremiah 1:4-8 Jeremiah 1:4-8 PROPHET PROPHET JEREMIAHJEREMIAH

• Passions are either Passions are either used for the used for the Glory Glory of Godof God (or)(or)

Passions are Passions are misguided and used misguided and used for the for the kingdom of kingdom of darkness darkness

Realize that your Realize that your passions are part of passions are part of the IMAGO DEIthe IMAGO DEI (The (The image of God). image of God). (Genesis 1:26-27)(Genesis 1:26-27)

Realize that the Realize that the reason why you have reason why you have the passions that you the passions that you do, is because do, is because God God put them thereput them there! ! (Psalm 139:13)(Psalm 139:13)

3 steps to 3 steps to understanding your understanding your passions:passions:

Realize that your Realize that your passions are to be passions are to be used to used to GLORIFY GLORIFY GODGOD, not to , not to glorify glorify youyou! (Jeremiah 1:6-! (Jeremiah 1:6-7)7)

3 steps to 3 steps to understanding your understanding your passions:passions:

So how do I discover my So how do I discover my God given passions?God given passions? (handout)(handout)What are you interested in?What are you interested in?

What do you like to do, without anyone telling you to?What do you like to do, without anyone telling you to?

When have you found yourself doing something without any real When have you found yourself doing something without any real effort? You know that other people have a hard time in this area, effort? You know that other people have a hard time in this area, but you seem to just get it.but you seem to just get it.

What do you read about, study, practice, think about, devote What do you read about, study, practice, think about, devote time to?time to?

Consider what makes you absolutely come alive!, what makes Consider what makes you absolutely come alive!, what makes you have an uncanny amount of energy and joy. you have an uncanny amount of energy and joy.

Maybe you are OK at a lot of things, but in this one area you just Maybe you are OK at a lot of things, but in this one area you just excel, or pick it up really easily. List the things that you are good excel, or pick it up really easily. List the things that you are good at, and prioritize them in order of God given passion. at, and prioritize them in order of God given passion.

Ask your Christian friends what passions they see in you. Ask your Christian friends what passions they see in you.

All of our passions plug into a All of our passions plug into a single passion for single passion for ChristChrist and and His ChurchHis Church. .

““Passion for your Passion for your house has consumed house has consumed me” – King David me” – King David (Psalm 69:9)(Psalm 69:9)

My love for Mount My love for Mount Zion is passionate Zion is passionate and strong; I am and strong; I am consumed with consumed with passion for passion for Jerusalem! – God Jerusalem! – God (Zechariah 8:2)(Zechariah 8:2)