Five Lies We Believe about our Identity

ECCLESIASTES 12
Introduction

Identity
• the fact of being who or what a
person or thing is.
• the distinguishing character or
personality of an individual : 
INDIVIDUALITY
Introduction
The definition of identity is who
you are, the way you think about
yourself, the way you are viewed
by the world and the characteristics
that define you. An example of
identity is a person's name
Introduction
One area where we often don’t
reflect as we could is our identity.
We don’t think about how
we define ourselves until some
outside (often unexpected) event
brings new awareness or
perspective.
Seeing Yourself as God Sees You

Identity Is About
How God Sees Us
 INDIVIDUAL
CAME FROM THE LATIN WORD
“INDIVIDUALIS” WHICH MEANS
“INDIVISIBLE”. BUT ANGLO-AMERICAN
CULTURAL DOINANCE , WITH ITS
FONDNESS TO ATOMISM AND
COMPARTMENTALISM, HAS SINCE DIVIDED
THE INDIVIDUAL INTO SEVERAL “IDENTITIES”
 INDIVIDUAL
AND SO TODAY, WE ARE NOT
“INDIVIDUALS” ANYMORE; WE HAVE
BECOME”DIVIDUALS, CLASSIFIED
ACCORDING TO OUR RACE, SKIN
COLOR , RELIGION, HOSOROSCOPE,
FASHION TASTE.
I AM WHAT I HAVE

When we buy into this lie, we accept the

message of extreme consumerism. We think
accumulation and pursuing the cutting-edge will
leave us feeling more secure. But as we realize
that whatever we get either breaks down or
becomes obsolete quickly, we feel more
insecure than we did before we got that thing.
 I AM WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY
OR THINK OF ME.
Due to social media and modern technology, it’s never
been easier to know what others think of you. We buy
into the lie that popularity, approval from others, and
their acceptance define us. The sad reality is that when
we buy into this lie, we live for the approval of others
and die from their rejection.
 I AM WHAT I DO

Whether it’s a job, a title, or a role, we’re really

good at defining ourselves by what we do. In a
world where we either retire, age out of the ability
to do our job or lose that role in an unexpected
way, this is tremendously dangerous. We may
introduce ourselves by what we do, but our true
identity cannot be summed up in what we do.
 I AM NOTHING MORE THAN
MY WORST MOMENT.
We’ve all had moments we wish we could take back. Some of us
have moments we feel like ruined our relationships, our futures,
even our lives. In light of those moments, it’s easy to be deceived
into thinking the whole of who we are is nothing more than our
worst moment. But who we are is bigger than any one moment.
As long as we’re breathing, there are more moments to experience
this reality.
 I am nothing more than
my worst moment.

When we feel overwhelmed with guilt, shame,

regret, and despair, it’s easy to believe that our
worst moments are the totality of who we are.
 I AM NOTHING LESS THAN MY BEST
MOMENT
We often build our identity on our successes and
greatest moments. As equally dangerous as
being nothing more than our worst moment,
an identity based on success is fragile and
fleeting. A moment or achievement of success
does not fully define us, as it likely won’t endure
and it can be eclipsed by the accomplishments
of others.