WEBVTT 00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:16.039 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:20.059 or to give online, go to connect .hcv .church 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:23.839 or give .hcv .church. If at any point during 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.019 this message you feel called to make a change 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:30.920 in your life, text CHANGEME to 9700. Thank you 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:33.240 and enjoy the message. Hey, good morning everyone. 00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:38.039 How's everybody doing today? Special shout out 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.420 to all of our Trekkies. May the 4th be with you, 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:47.149 right? Trekkies? Oh, it's Star Wars, sorry. That's 00:00:47.149 --> 00:00:50.509 right. I get those mixed up every once in a while. 00:00:50.929 --> 00:00:54.710 Not the biggest movie buff. I just want to start 00:00:54.710 --> 00:00:57.369 by saying a big thank you to everyone that served 00:00:57.369 --> 00:01:03.350 with our bed build yesterday. We built over 50 00:01:03.350 --> 00:01:06.510 beds in less than two hours, or like two, two 00:01:06.510 --> 00:01:10.890 and a half hours. You guys are amazing. And Friday 00:01:10.890 --> 00:01:13.209 night, we had a packed house for the story tour. 00:01:13.489 --> 00:01:17.689 So again, thank you to everyone that served and 00:01:17.689 --> 00:01:21.290 made a difference just being there for other 00:01:21.290 --> 00:01:23.390 people. If you're joining us from home, thank 00:01:23.390 --> 00:01:26.909 you for welcoming us into your space. And this 00:01:26.909 --> 00:01:29.650 morning, we kick off a series that is actually 00:01:29.650 --> 00:01:35.010 very controversial in the church. To tattoo or 00:01:35.010 --> 00:01:41.219 not to tattoo? Many people notice the tattoos 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:45.260 that cover my arms, chest, shoulders, and back. 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:48.659 Please understand, I did not make the decision 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:52.260 to get tattoos lightly, nor was the public reception, 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.620 which is typically shock once learning that I 00:01:56.620 --> 00:02:00.019 am a pastor. I actually felt called to get these 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:04.760 tattoos as many opportunities have come to share 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.490 my story. and testimonies about the artwork that 00:02:08.490 --> 00:02:12.009 is all over my arms. The most surprising reactions, 00:02:12.110 --> 00:02:15.610 of course, though, that comes with my decisions 00:02:15.610 --> 00:02:19.229 to get inked was from those reactions inside 00:02:19.229 --> 00:02:22.770 the church. You've already heard when I made 00:02:22.770 --> 00:02:24.370 the announcement that we were doing this series 00:02:24.370 --> 00:02:27.889 that Chris was going to hell. And the most common 00:02:27.889 --> 00:02:31.650 verse quoted to me is Leviticus 19 .28, which 00:02:31.650 --> 00:02:41.599 let me read for you. While the Bible does instruct 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.719 the Hebrew people to avoid marking their bodies, 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:47.740 please remember that this was written at a time 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:51.240 in which pagan cults used tattooing as a way 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:55.259 to appease their gods. In Leviticus, God was 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:58.060 speaking to a culture that was very different 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:01.400 from the one you and I live in. The verses prior. 00:03:02.250 --> 00:03:04.789 to that verse that I just read to you, also warned 00:03:04.789 --> 00:03:09.050 against eating meat, verse 26, trimming one's 00:03:09.050 --> 00:03:13.810 hair, verse 27, and the verse that follows, keep 00:03:13.810 --> 00:03:18.430 the Sabbath rest, verse 29. Now, most Jesus followers 00:03:18.430 --> 00:03:23.949 today regularly eat meat, get haircuts, and do 00:03:23.949 --> 00:03:28.250 not rest or take a Sabbath. But the verse about 00:03:28.250 --> 00:03:32.310 tattooing remains strongly contemplated. Quoted 00:03:32.310 --> 00:03:37.569 as sin and used for judgment. All of us must 00:03:37.569 --> 00:03:40.150 remember to look at the Old Testament laws and 00:03:40.150 --> 00:03:43.949 practices through the lens of Jesus. He gives 00:03:43.949 --> 00:03:46.530 us a new way to understand the law because he 00:03:46.530 --> 00:03:50.310 fulfilled the law. Paul writes it this way in 00:03:50.310 --> 00:03:53.590 Galatians 3, 24 to 26. Let me put it another 00:03:53.590 --> 00:03:57.330 way. The law was our guardian until Christ came. 00:03:57.469 --> 00:04:00.469 It protected us until we could be made right 00:04:00.469 --> 00:04:15.979 with God. See, Jesus completed the requirements 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:19.060 of the law because we could never live up to 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:23.019 it. And because of him, we now have an opportunity 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:26.720 to have a relationship with God. Is getting a 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.839 tattoo a sin? No. But at the same time, I believe 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.519 and caution people to ask yourself an important 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.860 question when considering whether to get a tattoo 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:43.899 or not. Will having a tattoo honor God? Will 00:04:43.899 --> 00:04:46.839 having a tattoo honor God? See, my tattoos allow 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:49.560 me to have great conversations with people. I 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:51.779 normally would not get an opportunity to share 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:54.920 Jesus with because they simply ask questions 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:58.639 about the artwork on my arms. People who would 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:02.139 never have asked me about my faith will ask me 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:06.279 about my tattoos, which opens the door for the 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:09.519 good news to be shared. See, we live in a culture 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:12.060 where people are getting tattoos in larger numbers 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:15.779 than ever before. They're putting beautiful artwork 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:19.139 on their bodies, which identifies who they are, 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:22.360 what they are about, and what they have been 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:28.689 through. This, as part of our weekly entertainment, 00:05:28.889 --> 00:05:34.089 shows like Bad Ink, Best Ink, Inked, Inked Master, 00:05:34.470 --> 00:05:38.470 LA Ink, Miami Ink, Tattoo Fixers, and Tattoo 00:05:38.470 --> 00:05:43.670 Nightmares. Why the newfound popularity in tattoos? 00:05:45.350 --> 00:05:49.149 Because tattoos point to our identity. And identity 00:05:49.149 --> 00:05:52.850 is the most important thing about who we are. 00:05:53.310 --> 00:05:56.680 Which leads us to our... that I want to focus 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:03.560 on this morning. Who am I? Who am I? See, if 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:05.879 I was to invite any of you to this stage this 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:09.000 morning right now to simply share who you are, 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:13.160 I know it would create anxiety and anxiousness 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:18.339 for many. Why? Because there's many factors that 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:21.779 go into what makes us who we are. It starts with 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:24.620 our sense of self and how we perceive others. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:30.060 Then we have how we perceive us, including individual 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:33.740 characteristics like family and ethnicity. Let's 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:36.199 not forget our social groups and life experiences, 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:38.680 like our jobs, hobbies, income, and choices. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.779 Then, if we're in a relationship with Jesus, 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:45.860 we must consider who God says we are, because 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:48.560 that is the most important part of being in a 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.480 relationship with Him. With all these factors 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:55.300 bombarding our minds and our hearts, About who 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:58.360 we are, who our identity is, many people get 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:02.759 confused. They get lost and they wonder. But 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:05.920 the most important thing about our identity leads 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.360 us to our first thought this morning. See, a 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:12.560 healthy identity produces a positive life. A 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.199 healthy identity produces a positive life. And 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.740 I want to look at this first by going to the 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:23.120 opposite. See, a distorted identity sabotages. 00:07:23.629 --> 00:07:29.009 Our success. In fact, a distorted identity sabotages 00:07:29.009 --> 00:07:32.149 our success as being a human being. I know this 00:07:32.149 --> 00:07:34.769 because there's an enemy that tries to connect 00:07:34.769 --> 00:07:38.790 our failures to our identity. You failed, so 00:07:38.790 --> 00:07:42.230 you're a failure. You did bad, therefore you 00:07:42.230 --> 00:07:45.470 are bad. That's what happened to Paul when he 00:07:45.470 --> 00:07:47.709 wrote these words in the book of Romans. I try 00:07:47.709 --> 00:07:50.550 to do what's right, and I don't do what's right. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.920 Oh, what a miserable person I am. See, we can 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:57.319 look at some of the most effective people in 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:00.540 the Bible. And if you do look at them, you're 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:02.420 going to see people who battled with identity 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:06.079 issues. In the Old Testament, somewhere along 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:09.399 the way, Moses didn't live up to his own expectations 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.519 of himself. And so when God called him, he said, 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:15.220 I'm not a good public speaker. I'm not a good 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:18.699 leader. See, he identified his failures with 00:08:18.699 --> 00:08:22.389 who he was. And that sabotaged his potential. 00:08:22.910 --> 00:08:26.230 The same was true of Gideon. Gideon was nervous. 00:08:27.029 --> 00:08:30.709 Everyone gets nervous. But he took that failure, 00:08:30.730 --> 00:08:32.889 that shortcoming, identified with it, and he 00:08:32.889 --> 00:08:35.549 said, I'm the weakest and I'm the least in the 00:08:35.549 --> 00:08:39.870 entire community. Paul, who wrote over half the 00:08:39.870 --> 00:08:42.350 New Testament that we read every single day, 00:08:42.690 --> 00:08:46.429 said these words. I'm unqualified. I'm not good 00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:48.970 enough. I'm not educated enough. I'm the least. 00:08:49.370 --> 00:08:53.429 and I feel incredibly unworthy. Similarly, this 00:08:53.429 --> 00:08:57.149 is how it might play out in our own lives. Well, 00:08:57.169 --> 00:08:59.990 this is just the way I am. I've always known 00:08:59.990 --> 00:09:04.230 it. I have this addictive personality, so I might 00:09:04.230 --> 00:09:07.330 as well take another drink. I'm not good with 00:09:07.330 --> 00:09:10.710 money. I've never been good with money, so I 00:09:10.710 --> 00:09:14.029 might as well go out and just shop so I don't 00:09:14.029 --> 00:09:17.320 have to deal with it. I'm not a disciplined person. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:20.940 I'm not an organized person. I've never had good 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:24.799 relationships. I don't get anything done. See, 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:28.360 it's identity. It's identity. And here's what 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:32.379 happens. An unhealthy identity creates unwise 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:36.000 habits. Then the unwise habits reinforce what? 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:39.879 The unhealthy identity. It's this vicious cycle. 00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:43.240 Right? Say you're in a relationship with Jesus. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:46.019 We don't see ourselves as godly. Therefore, we 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:49.039 don't live in a way that is godly. Therefore, 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:52.840 the way we live reinforces the identity that 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:55.919 we're not really living for God. And this cycle, 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:58.899 it just continues to create what? Negativity. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.559 But notice, in all those circumstances, people 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:08.059 focus on the do. But as a church, we have to 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:10.259 change that. We shouldn't focus on what we do. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:15.409 We have to focus on who, on who we are. It's 00:10:15.409 --> 00:10:18.450 not about what we do. It's not about what we 00:10:18.450 --> 00:10:21.870 have to do. We first have to start with the identity 00:10:21.870 --> 00:10:24.610 and we have to ask ourselves, what do you want 00:10:24.610 --> 00:10:27.870 to become? Right? What do you want to become? 00:10:28.629 --> 00:10:32.629 Who is it that when people describe you, who 00:10:32.629 --> 00:10:36.490 do you want them to describe? Some of you may 00:10:36.490 --> 00:10:38.870 say, I want to be a man of God. That's a great 00:10:38.870 --> 00:10:41.950 goal. You might say, I want to be clean. I want 00:10:41.950 --> 00:10:45.889 to be sober. Fantastic goals. I want to be a 00:10:45.889 --> 00:10:49.289 godly woman. I want to be a godly spouse. Great 00:10:49.289 --> 00:10:52.690 goals. I want to be a godly mom or a godly dad. 00:10:53.009 --> 00:10:56.789 I want to be financially free. Right? All those 00:10:56.789 --> 00:10:59.409 statements are good, positive statements about 00:10:59.409 --> 00:11:03.629 identity. I want my life to be a witness to the 00:11:03.629 --> 00:11:06.929 other students in my school. I want to be a healthy 00:11:06.929 --> 00:11:10.769 person. I want to recognize that my body is a 00:11:10.769 --> 00:11:14.379 gift from God. It's a temple. It's a place for 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:17.539 the Holy Spirit to reside. I want to make it 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:22.200 healthy, right? Who do you want to become? And 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:25.940 here's what happens. Identity shapes our actions. 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:29.240 A healthy identity produces a positive life. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:32.000 For example, let's say you're trying to quit 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.519 smoking or you're trying to quit vaping and someone 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.320 comes to you and offers you a cigarette. If you 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.500 say, no, I'm trying to quit. what you're doing 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:44.220 is you're identifying as a smoker. I'm a smoker 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:47.100 trying to quit. If on the other hand, you say, 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:50.539 no, I don't smoke anymore, you're identifying 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:54.399 as saying, that's a part of my past. It's not 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.220 a part of my present. Identity shapes our actions. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:02.440 You may say, but this is who I am, Chris. I can't 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:05.840 change. To which I say, let's read Romans 6, 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:09.720 6 through 9. We know that our old sinful selves, 00:12:10.409 --> 00:12:13.090 We're crucified with Christ so that sin might 00:12:13.090 --> 00:12:15.950 lose its power in our lives. We are no longer 00:12:15.950 --> 00:12:19.470 slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, 00:12:19.509 --> 00:12:22.570 we were set free from the power of sin. And since 00:12:22.570 --> 00:12:25.669 we died with Christ, we know we will also live 00:12:25.669 --> 00:12:28.289 with him. We are sure of this because Christ 00:12:28.289 --> 00:12:31.250 was raised from the dead and he will never die 00:12:31.250 --> 00:12:36.000 again. Death no longer has power over him. Now, 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.659 verse 18, you are free from your slavery to sin 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:41.799 and you have become slaves to righteous living. 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:47.279 Identity shapes our actions. See, when you know 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.299 who you are, you'll know what to do. You'll know 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:55.100 how to respond. We focus on this negative spiral. 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:59.399 But let me show you a positive one. Healthy identity, 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:01.879 what does it do? It creates positive habits. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.340 Right? If you're in a relationship with Jesus, 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:06.740 you pray, you read the Bible, you meditate, you 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:10.440 fast, you tithe, you eat disciplined, you work 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:15.059 out. It creates healthy habits. Positive habits 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:18.600 reinforce our healthy identity. I'm a child of 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.019 God. I'm a contributor. I'm an ambassador. I'm 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:24.000 a difference maker. I want to be a person that 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.789 sees others meet Jesus. But see, all of this 00:13:28.789 --> 00:13:32.370 comes from our identity and what God speaks over 00:13:32.370 --> 00:13:35.490 us and pours into our lives, which leads to our 00:13:35.490 --> 00:13:39.750 truth. Our identity shapes us. So if our identity 00:13:39.750 --> 00:13:42.850 shapes us, we have to first identify with this 00:13:42.850 --> 00:13:48.690 truth. We are masterpieces. Ephesians 2, verse 00:13:48.690 --> 00:13:53.429 10. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created 00:13:53.429 --> 00:13:56.250 us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do good things 00:13:56.250 --> 00:13:59.379 he planned. For us to do long ago. Everybody 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:01.659 look at your neighbor and declare you're a masterpiece. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:11.379 Now I chose that verse. So an important verse. 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:16.159 Because when we read that word masterpiece. It 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:21.360 literally means to be marked by God. We are marked. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:24.740 We are masterpieces of God. Similar to a tattoo. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:28.679 When it's translated from the Hebrew, it means 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:32.340 a poem. That God is writing a poem through us. 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:35.860 We are inscribed by God as creation, designed 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:40.460 by him to do what? To do good. Now think about 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:43.639 this for a second. The God who created everything, 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:47.220 the sun, the moon, the stars, the universe, the 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:51.000 same God who understands calculus, created physics, 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:54.059 that is eternal, all -knowing, all -present, 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:59.059 maker of everything, Designed you and me. Designed 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:02.240 you and me. We have been made in God's image. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.779 Genesis 1, 26 and 27. Then God said, let us make 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:10.419 human beings in our image to be like us. So God 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:12.759 created human beings in his own image, in the 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:15.120 image of God. He created them male and female. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:18.700 He created them. I want us all to take a look 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:23.179 at our first tattoo that I chose for our monthly 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:28.519 series. Evan writes, last November I got baptized, 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:31.899 and this artwork, Michelangelo's creation of 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:36.480 man, reminds me of who I am, that I am a new 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:42.860 creation created by God. See, God thought about 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:49.539 you when he created you. There was only one of 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:55.679 you. Thank God, right? And you can't be anyone 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.259 else because they're already taken. So they're 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:01.440 at any point and try to be someone else. They're 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:06.080 already taken. They're already unique. We need 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:10.059 to be who God made us to be. And I love reading 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:12.759 through the Psalms. As we read through the Psalms, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:15.980 you can read and connect with David, who was 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:19.480 a man after God's own heart, while at the same 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:23.080 time being a man that failed miserably. A sinful 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:26.549 man. that made many mistakes along the way, and 00:16:26.549 --> 00:16:32.009 yet has this heart for God. See, David had an 00:16:32.009 --> 00:16:35.269 understanding of who God is, but more importantly, 00:16:35.389 --> 00:16:39.269 who he is in his relationship with God. David 00:16:39.269 --> 00:16:42.409 is real with God and understands where his strength 00:16:42.409 --> 00:16:45.210 and his identity comes from. Look at Psalm 139, 00:16:45.289 --> 00:16:49.309 verses 13 to 14. You made all the delicate inner 00:16:49.309 --> 00:16:52.470 parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's 00:16:52.470 --> 00:16:58.600 room. Have you ever paused to think that there 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.919 are delicate organs inside of us doing things 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:06.119 that we don't even understand? They are critically 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:10.619 important to our life. And God put them all together. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:16.500 He made us. He created us. He designed us. God's 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:19.839 presence, his design, where does it start? It 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:25.849 starts in the womb. We have God's unique design. 00:17:27.430 --> 00:17:29.890 David then continues, thank you for making me 00:17:29.890 --> 00:17:33.230 so wonderfully complex. I love this part. Your 00:17:33.230 --> 00:17:36.390 workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it. 00:17:37.589 --> 00:17:39.789 Marvelous are your works. Who is he talking about? 00:17:41.190 --> 00:17:43.650 When he says marvelous are your works, who is 00:17:43.650 --> 00:17:46.450 he talking about? No, he's talking about himself. 00:17:47.569 --> 00:17:53.420 He's literally declaring I'm marvelous. Well, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:56.480 that's arrogant. No, it's not. That's him being 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:59.519 confident in who he is in God. He's not being 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:03.640 arrogant. He's saying, no, this is who I am. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.140 And then he goes on to say, how well I know it. 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:10.740 How well I know it. But there's too many in the 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:15.579 church, they don't know it. You don't know that 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:18.660 you're special, that you're a masterpiece, that 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:21.059 you're love, that you were created in God's image. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.220 And listen, this week I want to challenge you. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.759 Wake up every morning and the first thing you 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:31.799 do is walk to the mirror. And I want you to look 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:34.180 in that mirror and I want you to say, you are 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:37.420 a masterpiece. I want you to look in that mirror 00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:41.039 and say, you are marvelous. You are called. You 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:44.140 are a new creation. Because it will change the 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:47.380 entire directory of your day. Your trajectory 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:50.119 will be upward. It will be pointing towards God. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.500 We have been designed by God, created in His 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.619 image. It's not arrogance. It's truth. And when 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.000 we live with this identity, with this confidence, 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:04.359 then the enemy cannot steal who we are. He can't 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:09.039 lie to us about our mistakes. Tattoos, they are 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:12.779 this incredible opportunity to get to know people. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.960 Right? You want to look for an open door into 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:19.559 someone's life? Ask the question about their 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:23.440 artwork. And then just listen. Listen for opportunities 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:27.500 to speak life into the lives of others. Listen 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:30.019 for the opportunities to hear someone's story 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:33.559 and someone's testimony. Listen for opportunities 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.960 to speak life into death. Jeremiah 1, 7 through 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.220 9, the Lord replied, don't say I'm too young. 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:42.140 For you must go wherever I send you and say whatever 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:44.539 I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:47.980 for I'll be with you and protect you. I, the 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:50.789 Lord, have spoken. And the Lord reached out and 00:19:50.789 --> 00:19:52.910 touched my mouth and said, look, I've put my 00:19:52.910 --> 00:19:57.369 words in your mouth. Confidence. God puts the 00:19:57.369 --> 00:20:00.009 words into our mouths to live as masterpieces. 00:20:01.069 --> 00:20:04.250 God gives us the opportunities to share the good 00:20:04.250 --> 00:20:07.369 news, which leads us to our next truth. Not only 00:20:07.369 --> 00:20:13.569 are we masterpieces, but we are empowered. The 00:20:13.569 --> 00:20:19.609 Spirit of God now resides in us. Galatians 2 00:20:19.609 --> 00:20:21.970 .20, my old self has been crucified with Christ. 00:20:22.089 --> 00:20:25.589 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives 00:20:25.589 --> 00:20:28.829 in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting 00:20:28.829 --> 00:20:31.670 in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself 00:20:31.670 --> 00:20:35.670 for me. For every person who's in a relationship 00:20:35.670 --> 00:20:38.910 with Jesus, I mean, just think about what this 00:20:38.910 --> 00:20:42.049 verse is saying about us. We've been crucified 00:20:42.049 --> 00:20:46.250 with Christ. And this language is very intentional 00:20:46.250 --> 00:20:50.269 because when you think about Jesus' words to 00:20:50.269 --> 00:20:52.789 his disciples throughout the four gospels, we 00:20:52.789 --> 00:20:55.130 hear if anyone will come after him, he must deny 00:20:55.130 --> 00:20:57.750 himself, take up his cross, and follow me. So 00:20:57.750 --> 00:21:01.450 this cross, right, that we reference as a place 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:04.950 of death for Jesus is also a place of death for 00:21:04.950 --> 00:21:08.650 us. As followers of Jesus, we have died to ourselves. 00:21:09.470 --> 00:21:13.079 We have crucified ourselves. We have been crucified 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:16.339 with Christ to the point where it's not me that's 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:20.440 living. It's Jesus living in me. That is the 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:23.400 confidence. That is the outlook. That is the, 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:28.539 as some people would call, arrogance. The great 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:32.880 exchange. My life has been exchanged for the 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.740 life of Christ. Jesus himself now lives in me. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.839 It's not me anymore. It's Jesus living in me. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:42.640 It's not you anymore. It's Jesus who lives in 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:46.740 you. Yes, we live and battle in the flesh every 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:50.700 day, but it doesn't have to control us. When 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:54.380 we live by faith in the Son of God, what an incredible 00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:58.640 picture of him being alive inside of us. Let's 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:03.180 check out our next tattoo. Tani writes this. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:06.059 I was doodling on a pizza box, and once I was 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:10.440 done, God just spoke to me and said, Do you realize 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:13.660 what you just drew? As I did, I realized that 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:16.339 the eye represents myself. The tears on the bottom 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:19.579 left represents my soft side, my softened heart. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:22.519 The spider webs on the bottom right represent 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:25.339 my tough side, my strength and my courage. The 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:27.500 spikes above the eye represent my boundaries. 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:31.039 The crown represents me knowing my worth and 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.779 identity through God. And the cross at the very 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:36.079 top is a reminder that God comes first and is 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:39.829 above everything in my life. Jesus. Comes first. 00:22:40.329 --> 00:22:44.069 And not only does he come first, but he now lives 00:22:44.069 --> 00:22:48.150 where? Inside of us. And he makes us new every 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:53.170 single day. 2 Corinthians 5, 17. This means anyone 00:22:53.170 --> 00:22:56.369 who belongs to Christ has become a new person. 00:22:56.450 --> 00:22:58.450 The old life is gone. The new life has what? 00:22:58.690 --> 00:23:03.890 Begun. Stop living in the past. Stop allowing 00:23:03.890 --> 00:23:07.900 yourself to gravitate. towards the negative identity 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:11.180 that the enemy wants to whisper in your ear, 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:13.480 which leads us to our next tattoo. Check it out. 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:18.039 Courtney writes this. My tattoo symbolizes that 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:21.480 Jesus is greater than the ups in life and downs. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:26.000 The small butterfly symbolizes new life in Christ. 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:30.160 I wanted that reminder that in the highs of life, 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:32.519 God is greater. When things are really good, 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:34.839 I think we can forget to stop depending on God 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:37.630 the way we should. This tattoo was based on my 00:23:37.630 --> 00:23:41.009 own drawing. This has opened so many doors for 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:45.670 me to share Jesus with others. We are an empowered 00:23:45.670 --> 00:23:50.569 people. We don't have to do. We don't have to 00:23:50.569 --> 00:23:54.029 become. We have to give ourselves to the Spirit 00:23:54.029 --> 00:23:56.869 and allow Him to lead us. 1 Corinthians 3 .16, 00:23:57.009 --> 00:24:00.430 don't you realize that all of you together are 00:24:00.430 --> 00:24:03.549 the temple of God and that the Spirit of God 00:24:03.549 --> 00:24:07.839 lives in you? Each and every one of you that 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.980 are in a relationship with Jesus, the Spirit 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:13.759 of God is living inside of you. He's empowering 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.500 you to make a difference not only in this world 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:19.299 for your family and for your friends, but in 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:21.940 the next as you invite and include people into 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:25.359 a relationship with Him. Which leads us to our 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:29.079 fourth tattoo of the morning. Terry writes this, 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:32.099 I was completely chained to my addiction and 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:36.140 in a state of depression. I was desperate, with 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:38.039 no end in sight, basically homeless and ready 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:40.680 to give up to the point of contemplating suicide. 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:44.480 On March 5th, 2023, I asked my wife, who had 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.339 little to do with me at that time, for help. 00:24:46.730 --> 00:24:49.569 Without hesitation, she kicked things into high 00:24:49.569 --> 00:24:51.990 gear, and within a couple of hours, I was in 00:24:51.990 --> 00:24:55.390 the hospital for detox. After a few days, I entered 00:24:55.390 --> 00:24:58.730 a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Three 00:24:58.730 --> 00:25:02.250 months sober, I was attending HCV regularly and 00:25:02.250 --> 00:25:04.710 was talking to Rudy about getting baptized and 00:25:04.710 --> 00:25:07.109 beginning my life and journey through Jesus. 00:25:07.509 --> 00:25:10.150 He made sure that happened quickly as baptism 00:25:10.150 --> 00:25:13.369 day was already scheduled within a few days of 00:25:13.369 --> 00:25:16.380 our conversation. My life has been upwards and 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:19.319 full of blessings from that day forward. I needed 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:21.799 help, and when I couldn't help myself, God pulled 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:25.380 me from the fire and saved my life. God has done 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:28.339 for me what I could not do for myself. By the 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:31.480 grace of God, I have two consecutive years of 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:39.700 sobriety on March 6, 2025. I feel God saved me 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:42.539 with the purpose of spreading a message and to 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:45.500 help as many alcoholics and addicts as possible. 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:51.119 God is so, so very good. Romans 8, 12 to 14. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:54.339 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:57.420 no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges 00:25:57.420 --> 00:26:01.500 you to do. See, it's all about how we think. 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:05.700 For if you live by it, By its dictates, you will 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.720 die, but if through the power of the Spirit you 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.559 put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:13.180 you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:17.759 of God are children of God. Church, we are empowered. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.240 The Spirit of the living God lives inside each 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.240 and every one of us. And when we embrace that 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:29.359 identity, that miracle from God, it transforms 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:32.680 how we see ourselves, which leads us to our final 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:38.220 truth. We are missionaries. See, the amazing 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:41.819 thing is that Jesus, he actually tells us who 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:47.119 we are. So if you're a follower of Jesus, he's 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:49.319 looking at you this morning. He says, this is 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:52.319 who you are. Notice Matthew 5, 13 through 16. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:58.720 You are, you are the salt of the earth. But what 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:02.079 good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:04.630 make it salty again? It will be thrown out and 00:27:04.630 --> 00:27:07.950 trampled underfoot as worthless. Now, when I 00:27:07.950 --> 00:27:10.250 was going through this you are statement, when 00:27:10.250 --> 00:27:12.609 I first heard Jesus' words, I began to think, 00:27:12.650 --> 00:27:16.809 Jesus isn't that a little harsh? You know, that's 00:27:16.809 --> 00:27:18.670 a little harsh. It's going to be trampled underfoot. 00:27:18.710 --> 00:27:21.150 But we have to understand, he's not being rude. 00:27:21.529 --> 00:27:25.190 He's being honest. He's just being truthful. 00:27:26.029 --> 00:27:28.509 And he's speaking that over us. He says, you 00:27:28.509 --> 00:27:30.750 don't just say you're the salt of the earth. 00:27:30.829 --> 00:27:33.990 You don't wear a t -shirt with a salt shaker. 00:27:35.549 --> 00:27:41.150 You live it. You live as salt of the earth. And 00:27:41.150 --> 00:27:43.690 my question to you this morning is, how are you 00:27:43.690 --> 00:27:48.910 living? Are you living as salt to the earth? 00:27:49.490 --> 00:27:51.950 And then notice Jesus continues, not only you 00:27:51.950 --> 00:27:54.809 are the salt of the earth, but you are the light. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:58.420 of the world. Like a city on a hilltop that cannot 00:27:58.420 --> 00:28:01.740 be hidden. But then he goes at it again. No one 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.519 lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:06.539 Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:08.059 gives light to everyone in the house. In the 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:11.220 same way, let your good deeds shine out for all 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:13.099 to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:17.740 Father. See, these are two specific times that 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:21.779 Jesus tells us this is who you are. You are salt. 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:26.240 You are light. Then he follows it up with a challenge 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:30.700 to live it. Don't just talk about it. Don't just 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:33.119 gather on a Sunday morning and check a box. Live 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:40.480 it. Do your words speak life to others? Do you 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:44.119 love your neighbor? Does God see, or excuse me, 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:48.400 does people see God in you? Are you an example 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:52.940 of what it means to be good in this world? See, 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:55.599 these verses are not about, who we are in Jesus. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:02.140 We are children of God. We are empowered. We 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:05.940 are masterpieces. But see, these verses are challenges 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:09.579 about, no, now go live it. If you're in a relationship 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:14.779 with Jesus, go live it. And why? Why should we 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:17.279 live this way? Well, take a look at our final 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:21.559 tattoo of the morning. Rhett writes this, early 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:25.259 in 2024, God gave me... this word to challenge 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:28.440 our Hub City worship team. Every person on this 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.440 earth has a timer that is counting down above 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:33.480 their head. There are two reasons why our timers 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:38.880 will eventually reach zero. Death or by accepting 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:41.880 Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because when we do 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:45.759 that, our mortal timers matter no longer. I challenged 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:48.039 a team that would be nice to know when the timers 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:51.579 above those around us will expire by death. But 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:55.750 we will never know. Some have years, others have 00:29:55.750 --> 00:30:00.089 seconds. Our goal is to exist, to stop as many 00:30:00.089 --> 00:30:03.130 clocks as possible by leading others to Jesus. 00:30:04.009 --> 00:30:06.849 Before we take the stage each and every Sunday, 00:30:06.910 --> 00:30:09.250 we circle around each other, count down from 00:30:09.250 --> 00:30:12.410 three and say stop clocks together before we 00:30:12.410 --> 00:30:15.150 go and lead worship. It has become a way of life 00:30:15.150 --> 00:30:18.430 for us and it's challenged us deeply. I asked 00:30:18.430 --> 00:30:20.890 Tattoo Sam to work up my lower sleeve and had 00:30:20.890 --> 00:30:23.230 this incorporated to serve as a reminder to myself 00:30:23.230 --> 00:30:26.390 that every person I encounter is an opportunity 00:30:26.390 --> 00:30:33.349 to stop another clock. Are you living as a missionary 00:30:33.349 --> 00:30:38.289 each and every day? It's a challenge that all 00:30:38.289 --> 00:30:41.309 of us have to respond to, and it's a challenge 00:30:41.309 --> 00:30:44.210 that Jesus lays out for us when he says, you 00:30:44.210 --> 00:30:50.869 are salt. You are light. And see, when we embrace 00:30:50.869 --> 00:30:53.970 that identity, when we live it, right, when we 00:30:53.970 --> 00:30:57.369 live as masterpieces being written by God, when 00:30:57.369 --> 00:31:00.430 we live as empowered individuals getting out 00:31:00.430 --> 00:31:02.710 of the way and letting the Holy Spirit fill us, 00:31:02.769 --> 00:31:07.430 then we will go and do. We will live as missionaries 00:31:07.430 --> 00:31:10.150 desiring to see others changed and empowered 00:31:10.150 --> 00:31:20.500 and transformed. Will you stand with me? We're 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:23.579 going to close with communion this morning. First 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:25.819 Sunday of every month is a community of faith. 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:28.180 We gather together and corporately share in communion. 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:32.099 If you need an element, put a hand up real high. 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:37.319 If you need gluten -free, put two hands up. Every 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:41.859 first Sunday of the month, let's look for our 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:44.880 communion elements. And before we go, I felt 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:48.279 like God inspired me to kick off with identity. 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:52.339 Because this is communion Sunday. There is no 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:55.740 better way to connect with Jesus and what he's 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:58.539 done for us than through the simple act of communion. 00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:02.000 Remember, the bread represents the broken body 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:06.559 that Jesus hung on the cross. The juice represents 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.480 the shed blood, that his blood covers our sins, 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:12.440 that it's in the past, that we no longer have 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:15.559 to look back, that we can keep moving forward. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:20.480 This is our identity. Our identity is now in 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:24.660 Jesus and what he has done for us. Now listen, 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:27.619 if you're here this morning and you're not in 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:31.720 a relationship with Jesus and you're not ready 00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:34.200 to take that step, just put this element down 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:38.339 because you're not at that place. But we're going 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:40.220 to pray a simple prayer just like we do every 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:42.480 communion Sunday because we believe there's people 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.779 in our midst that are distant, that are far from 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:47.329 God, that have not made that choice. And when 00:32:47.329 --> 00:32:48.950 we pray that prayer, we're then going to move 00:32:48.950 --> 00:32:51.829 into our time of communion. And if you're in 00:32:51.829 --> 00:32:53.809 a relationship with Jesus, get your heart right. 00:32:54.950 --> 00:32:56.990 If there's anything between you and him, get 00:32:56.990 --> 00:32:59.930 it right. This is your opportunity to lay it 00:32:59.930 --> 00:33:04.130 down and to reconnect and allow your identity 00:33:04.130 --> 00:33:07.069 to be restored that you are a masterpiece. You 00:33:07.069 --> 00:33:12.309 are empowered. You are a missionary. Let's pray. 00:33:13.089 --> 00:33:18.200 Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of doubt, shame, 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:24.319 regret, sin. Change me. I believe you're God's 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:29.140 son. I believe you died for me. Make me new. 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:35.240 Set me free. Fill me with your spirit. Help me, 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:42.519 God, to serve others. In Jesus' name, amen. On 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:45.250 the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, 00:33:45.349 --> 00:33:48.009 he broke it. He gave it to his disciples and 00:33:48.009 --> 00:33:51.369 said, take, eat. This is my body which is broken 00:33:51.369 --> 00:33:55.230 for you and do it in remembrance of me. Let's 00:33:55.230 --> 00:34:03.630 eat. Likewise, after supper, he took the cup 00:34:03.630 --> 00:34:07.309 of wine. He said, this is my blood which is shed 00:34:07.309 --> 00:34:09.230 for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:34:09.309 --> 00:34:12.730 Drink it often and when you do, do it in remembrance. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:22.199 Let's drink. Holy Spirit come. I'm just thankful 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:25.739 for each and every person that's gathered in 00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:28.980 these seats that's watching online. Overwhelm 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:32.440 us with the truth of your identity so that our 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:36.079 life is built around an identity that's positive. 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:41.059 An identity that can't be changed or molded into 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:47.880 something that's not. that we are masterpieces, 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:53.340 that we are empowered, and that we are missionaries. 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:57.619 Overwhelm us, God, with your love. In Jesus' 00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:14.030 name, amen. Pour it out