My Identity is in Christ.

 We had the privilege of having Jeremy Simpkins with us on Sunday at Jubilee Church . For those of you who do not know Jeremy and his wife Ann, they are currently based in Manchester and do a great job serving the NewFrontier churches in the North of England, Canada, North Wales and Northern Ireland.
Jeremy preached a great and timely message and it is available now for you to listen or download at www.jubilee.org.uk/media
I wanted just to highlight a few things that stuck out to me. Jeremy based his preach on the well known passage in Isaiah 61: 1-4 - The year of Jubilee (Favour of God). We are anointed – the spirit of the sovereign LORD is on me and it is on you! We are called to be a people who restore the city and the places that are dark. To restore something is to reunite or to resonate people together - to bring harmony where there is chaos.
But how do we do this?
The only way to do it is to be rooted in Christ! To be in Christ – and if you are a Christian guess what? You are in Christ! To be rooted in something means that we are a part, we are the same. So if I am rooted into Christ, my identity is in Christ! Once you are rooted in Christ you cannot take yourself out!
Here are some questions to ask about Jesus. 

• Do you think that Jesus is loved by the Father?
• Is Jesus at peace today?
• Is Jesus secure?
• Is Jesus righteous?

By the way, the answers to these questions are YES!
Now make it personal.

• Are YOU loved by the Father?
• Are YOU at peace today? 
• Are YOU secure? 
• Are YOU righteous?

If YOU are in Christ, then YOU are ALL these things!! You need to believe this, because it is true!
We need to be people who know who we are - we are not just people who go to church each week, who chose to live differently because the Bible tells us too. We have a greater mandate! If our identity is in Christ - when people look at us - they need to be seeing Christ. You are loved so much by God - your Father. This love is unconditional and never ending. So you have messed up, you have made some wrong decisions - God is not going to stop loving you! He is jealous for you; He longs to tell you how much He loves you! It is time to turn to him - say sorry - and receive His Love!
Have you got fears in your life? Fears of rejection? Fears of failing? If your identity is in Christ - you are a winner! You have no need to fear - God knows what is best for you. You need to learn to trust Him - to give Him your fears! His plan is to prosper and NOT to harm you! Do you believe it? He can and will give you a peace beyond all understanding!
Do you struggle with self worth? Do you look at yourself and ask why would someone love me? Why would someone take time to plan my life? Why would someone be interested in me? You need to start realising that Jesus thought you were worth it when He died on the cross - He thought of you and you are NOW made righteous! 
Believe that your identity is in Christ!