Today I'm Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Any chance you feel kind of down today, kind of low, kind of depressed, look in the mirror and you say, I don't like what I see? In fact, you may believe that you're not worth much, that life really doesn't matter. I'm here to tell you, it's not true. In fact, the God of the universe cared so much that he sent you a letter to tell you how important you are.
Would you like to know what that letter says? Or if so, stick around. Ever feel like everyone else has it together except you? Like you're the only one struggling with self-doubt?
Well, today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram tackles one of life's most crippling barriers, inferiority and low self-image. Here's the truth most people won't tell you. Even the most confident-looking people battle feelings of inadequacy. Today, Chip reveals three essential keys to developing a healthy identity. It starts with seeing yourself the way God sees you.
Here's Chip Ingram with his message: how to overcome inferiority and low self-image. There's three keys to getting what I call a healthy biblical identity or a healthy self-concept. The first one has to do with knowledge. You must get God's view of you. You've got to see yourself from God's perspective.
The second key is you must believe God's view is true. And then third. You must discover The you that's true. You've got to experience, you've got to get involved in some risky, out-of-your-comfort zone relationships where you actually experience through people being deeply loved and deeply affirmed. Do you believe that you're loved, that you're secure, that you're valuable, that you're unique?
Let me give you one more. According to God, when He looks at you, not the person next to you, we're talking about you. You are indispensable. Indispensable. Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul is talking about the church and how God put it together.
And the church isn't a building, it's just a place where anytime believers are gathered, that's the church. I encourage you to take those passages and do a little Bible study and let it sink. Down through your mind into your heart. First, you need to understand faith is built on God's Word. Hebrews 10:17, faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God.
I do not understand this. I don't understand it, but I'm telling you that when you expose yourself to the Scripture, when you hear the Word of God, when you read the Word of God, when you put Christian music on that has content and lyrics and truth, Faith grows. Secondly, though, it's not enough just to be exposed to the scriptures, it grows when you renew your mind. Romans 12, 2 tells us that don't be conformed any longer. To distorted mirrors.
Don't be conformed any longer to this world, but be transformed how? Metamorphosized from within, changed by the renewing of your mind. That your life or your lifestyle could demonstrate what the will of God is: that it's good, that it's acceptable, that it's perfect. The key is the renewal of your mind. See, one of the things, you know, I've got some real problems with the whole positive thinking movement.
I mean, they promise pie in the sky, you think it, think and grow rich, think and do this, think and do that. A lot of that is thinking buy their books and they get rich is how it works. But there's a tremendous kernel of truth in the positive thinking movement. You know what it is? You are what you think.
You are what you eat. And you are what you think. Whatever you think, eventually, Because that's scriptural. Proverbs 23:7: As a man or a woman thinks in her heart, his heart, so he or she becomes.
Now ask yourself. You watch 20 to 25 hours of T V. You read three or four cheap novels. Make sure you get in the sports page, the business section, every day, or four out of five days, and you put all that information combined with all the commercials, all the billboards, and all the people you meet. And their agenda is to say: your value depends on your appearance, your value depends on your status, your value depends on your performance.
What do you think you're gonna believe? Lies. But if instead you took some of that time And you begin to Take seriously mastering the English Bible. In fact, memorizing key passages and studying it and getting God's view of you, you know what will happen? You'd be transformed.
You'll be transformed you because you're going to be what you think You only have 168 hours every week. And if you think that forty five minutes or an hour or so here together Is going to offset the content of what's going into your head, the other 167? You're dreaming. For some of you Memorizing some scripture in the next four to six months, if you got real serious about it, could change and transform how you think about life into how you feel, and that would change. all your relationships.
But it's hard work. In fact, more than renewing your mind, I think you have to come up with a plan. Notice three: develop a plan to remove the distorted mirrors of the world with the mirror of God's Word. I stole this material. From my wife.
I watched my wife for over five years. Read this every morning. And read it every night. These are affirmation statements from scripture about appearance, belonging, worthiness, security, and competence. I mean, she didn't try, it wasn't legalistic.
She said, Oh, I got to read this this morning. She wanted to see herself how God sees her. And so she would read in the morning: appearance. My physical appearance and my unchangeable aspects is beautiful or handsome in God's sight. He is my designer and maker.
And then she kept reading it over and she memorized the passage underneath. Belongingness, I am wanted, appreciated, and loved by God, the most important person in my life. She affirmed that. She'd pray and just let it wash over her worthiness. I am now a righteous person in God's sight since I've trusted Christ.
I am covered by the robe of his purity and goodness. Also, since I have a new nature, I am a good person in my general practice of life. As I continue to grow in Christ. And she would read this over and read it over. And you know what happened?
I watched my wife like a flower bloom. Years it took. to where she began to look in the mirror and say, I'm unique. I don't have it all together. I've got...
Lot of room to grow. But I'm not a bad person. And what other people think of me is their own personal business. I will not give it the power to determine whether I'm an okay person or not. I put that in there because some of you Some of you, what we're talking about, if we were one-on-one and we knew each other better, tears would be coming down your cheek right now.
Because you don't like you. Mm-hmm. You don't like you at all. And you're hurting down deep inside. And you know what's amazing?
Some of you that feel the most this way are some of the prettiest, most talented, gifted people in the room. There is no correlation. No correlation whatsoever between how you really look, act, feel, competence. and what goes on inside. I've learned that over the years.
But God can change you. How's it start? You get God's view of you, number one. Number two, believe God's view is true.
Now, three, here's the kicker. And my wife told me to warn you all, especially those of you, this is hard, all right?
So I'm going to warn you. She said shit. Make sure when you get to number three. That you let people know they may not be able to do this one alone. They might need a coach, they might need a cheerleader.
Chip, we're different in personality, and you've got to make sure to tell people. For some people, this is really a scary thing. And what I want you to know is that I'm going to ask you to do some things that will be real hard for some, but if you'll do them, God'll show up. Because see, you can know it, you can start to believe it, but some things can never ever become a part of your psyche and your life until you experience them.
So, you have to discover the you that's true. Jesus taught this way. Remember when Peter was in the boat and Jesus was walking on the water? He believed. Is that you, Lord?
He said, Yeah. Peter said, Well, if it's really you, I believe, then have me walk out to you. What did he learn when he was walking on the water? It's true. It's true.
And then he did what we do. Then he looked around and said, uh-oh. But that's how faith grows. It's true, it's true. Uh-oh.
It's true, it's true. Uh-oh. That's life. The spiritual life isn't this. The spiritual life is this.
But notice the direction. Lots of ups and downs. Remember when they were fishing? Jesus let him experience it. They've been fishing all night.
They heard a sermon. He wanted them to have some faith in who he really was. You have to discover it. You have to experience it.
So Jesus says, Hey, why don't you take your nets and throw them out on the boat on the left side? They're professional fishermen. Their basic answers. Look, we've done this a little bit ourselves. We've been out all night.
They don't bite at this time of day. You can almost hear them say in There's no fish here. And you can almost hear, you know, as you paint the text in your mind. Jesus sort of looking at him like, humor me, guys. You know, just humor me.
Just throw the net out. And they do, and you remember what happens. I mean, it's so filled with fish that the nets start to break. How did he teach him? It wasn't just lecture.
It just wasn't intellectual cognitive faith and belief. You have to discover it. Here's the axiom. Here's how a lot of things transpire in your life. The principle is Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given unto you.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. For by whatever measure the idea is, you know, a scoop, or by whatever measure, You give? In that same measure, it'll be given back to you.
Now, that passage is often quoted with reference to money, it's true. But that passage is not a money reference in Scripture. You go read Luke and you'll just find. It is in a section of scripture that talks about how life works. When you give away friendship, what happens?
People want to be your friend. When you give away a listening, attentive ear, what happens? People want to listen to you. When you give away compassion, what happens? People are compassionate to you.
When you give away short, quick, Abrupt, rude actions toward others. What do you get back? It's axiomatic.
Some things can only be learned by experience. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We'll return to our message in just a moment. But first, did you know that you can access this entire series anytime you want? Head on over to livingontheedge.org where you'll discover Chip's full teaching library, along with study guides and small group materials.
Whether you want to replay today's message or explore other topics, everything you need to grow spiritually is available online at livingonthege.org. Let's get back to Chip's message. I'm going to give you five things. And by the way, this is a mouthful.
Someone asked me how long does it take to prepare messages? This one took about 20, 25 years. I'm dead serious. These are things I've been learning for 25 years. And I'm just skipping over the mountain peaks.
and encouraging you to go back and study. But here, because all I want you to get is the big main points. See yourself the way God does. Believe what God says about you is true. And then discover the you that is true by experiencing it.
Let me give you five key ways to begin to experience what's true of you. Number one, Unwrap your spiritual gift. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Verse 1 says no about spiritual gifts, brothers. I don't want you to be ignorant.
God wants every person in this room to know that you have a supernatural ability. If you've trusted Christ, if you're a part of his family, he's saying every believer has a supernatural ability at least once. When you put that on the playing floor of the body of Christ, boom, stuff happens. People get loved. And you know what happens when you exercise your spiritual gift and you see people moved and changed through you?
Guess what happens to you? God used me? Maybe this is more real than I think. Second, Unleash your spiritual passion. Psalm 37:4.
Delight yourself in the Lord. He'll give you the desires of your heart.
Some of you have these desires. But you've never shared them with anyone. You've got a desire to see disabled people reach for Christ. You get a desire to see what could happen in third graders. You get a desire for an Hispanic ministry to grow.
You have a desire for people to meet in homes all over the county and study the Bible and become close friends. You have all these passions and desires. Nobody knows what they are. And you've not put them out on the playing field. Do you know why?
Because no one would ever want to listen to someone like you. And if you tried it, of course it wouldn't work, would it? Of course not. An inferior? Person like you, like me?
Hey, unleash him. Unleash him! Get them out there in the playing field of the body of Christ and see what God will do. This is the part where those of you are thinking, this guy's nuts. Teresa was right.
This is scary. You're right. Give and it'll be given unto you. Use your God-given talents. Speaking of the building of the temple, the Lord says in Exodus 31:3, And I have filled him with the Spirit of God with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.
Some of you can work with wood.
Some of you can crochet.
Some can work with computers. You have all kind of talents. You know where a lot of the talents are in this room? Buried under the floor. We don't even know what you can do.
Because you think, oh, well, honey, that's. You know what? When you're really talented, here's my. almost 99% experience with talented people. Everyone here has talents.
But the one that you're good at, because you're good at it, oh shucks, I mean, that's nothing. Yeah, for you. For the rest of us, it's like, whoa, where'd you learn how to do that? Oh well, I mean my dad played the guitar and I just started picking a little bit and did it, you know. And you know, you're saying, oh, well, I don't know much about computer, I just taught myself.
You know? Oh, I I don't build anything. I just I just tinker out in the garage and Yeah, it's 4,500 square feet. I did it in a week, you know? Hey, get your talents out there.
Let us know what they are. Put them into play. Serve people. Take your gifts and say, I want to serve people. Get your passions out on the playing floor.
Take your talents and say, Hey, God, I'll help somebody with these. I don't think it's much, but I'll put them into play. Fourth. Embrace your God-given personality. 1 Corinthians 2.11, the living Bible says it well.
It says no one really knows what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself. And no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. You know what? There's different personalities. There's not a right one.
Have you got that down yet? You don't have to be upfront, outgoing, visible, motivating people. And you don't have to be sly. And cool. and reserved and stoic.
You can be You. If you're funny, be funny. If you're laid back, be laid back. If you're driven, get driven in the right direction. Just you know who the most attractive personality in the whole world is?
You! There's only one of them. Why copy some something else? Put in the fly. Pull off the mask.
Just be you. A sanctified you, Lord willing. A spirit-controlled you, Lord willing. But just be you. The person that people will most be attracted to is not you.
trying to fulfill what you think they want. It's you being who you really are. Fifth Leverage your past experience. Romans 8:28, great promise. It says, And we know that in all things God works for good.
Of those who are loved by Him who have been called according to His purposes.
Some of you have educational experience.
Some have vocational experience.
Some of you have marriage experience.
Some of you have parenting experience.
Some of you have suffering experience. And you've been through the agony of just cancer. or of a divorce. Or you've been through a childhood that it was just unmentionable. God doesn't waste pain.
2 Corinthians chapter 1 says that the comfort and the grace God gave to you through your pain, He wants to take that so you can comfort others in the same way. God doesn't use people's strengths normally. He usually uses your weaknesses. You know, when someone has it all together and says, hey, do you want some help from me? I'm really good at this.
Most of us say, no, not really. But when someone walks up to you and says, Boy, I struggled with that too. And you know what? My dad left when I was five, too. And I've surely had some struggles.
And kind of, here's what the Lord showed me: I've grown up without a dad. Leverage your experiences. Do you hear what I'm saying? Let's get out of the cubicle. Let's move out of the little TV room with the entertainment center.
Let's get out of the fences that go all the way around to keep our lives safe. Let's get out of making sure our 401ks and all those things that we think are going to keep us secure that won't. And let's serve other people. Let's get our focus out on others because here's the axiom. Ministry is how God makes what's true of us.
true in us. Think of that. Ministry giving it away. is how God makes true in us what's already true of us.
Sometimes it's only in the act of loving others that we can fathom. that we ourselves are loved.
Sometimes you can only fathom how deeply loved you are. Giving love to another. God lets you see. how very real it is. I struggle with grasping that God loves me unconditionally.
For even the Son of Man came what? Not to be ministered unto, but to minister, to serve. Are you hearing it? Believe what's true, but discover it. By giving away what he's given you.
Risky, yes. Need a cheerleader? Probably. Need a coach? Yes.
Need help? Absolutely. But according to a Gallup poll, only 10% of all laymen are involved in ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ. 50% of them said they have no interest. I feel sorry for them.
I feel really bad for them because they're ignorant. I don't mean bad ignorant. People that have no desire to be involved in ministry, they're going to miss out on the richest blessings of life. But 40% of them said, no one's ever asked me, or I just don't know how. I'll tell you what, if you're involved in ministry here, I'd start asking people to join you.
People just need to get hooked up. Put their gifts into play. Get their talents on the playing field. You must get God's view of you. You must believe God's view is true, and you must discover the you that is true.
Let's go for it. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And what an encouraging reminder that God's view of you is dramatically different from how you see yourself. Before Chip returns with a final word, let me point you to our website if you'd like to hear this message again or pass it along to a friend. Just visit livingonthege.org.
Now, as you process what it means to embrace your true identity in Christ, I want to recommend a powerful tool for deepening your relationship with God. It's a free 10-day journey through the Psalms that Chip created called Psalms of Hope. Here's how it works. Each day, Chip provides 10 minutes of insight into Psalm 1, Psalm 15, or Psalm 23. After that, you spend ten minutes in personal reflection and prayer.
Access Psalms of Hope at no cost by visiting livingontheedge.org. Search for Psalms of Hope. Resources like this exist because listeners choose to financially support this ministry. When you partner with Living on the Edge, you're helping others encounter the same transformative biblical teaching that's impacting your life. Would you consider joining us today?
You can contribute online at livingonthege.org or mail your support to Living on the Edge PO Box 3007 Atlanta, Georgia, 30024. You can also call us and give over the phone. Just dial 888-333-6003. Looking for Chip's complete sermons? The Chip Ingram Sermon Podcast is now available as a feature on the Living on the Edge podcast.
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Well, now here's Chip with some final thoughts. You know, it's rather ironic, isn't it? The paradoxes of life. The way that you really get is to give. The way that you really live is to die.
The way that you discover who you really are is not getting, getting, getting, taking, taking, taking, having and experiencing. It's serving. And yet we resist that. I mean, we all do. The Gallup poll that we cited in the message, only 10% of all the believers in America.
are active in ministry.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking. There's no guilt trip coming about. You know, if you haven't served in the nursery in a while, you better get with the program. No, no, no, no, no.
What I'm talking about is God's wonderful gift of giving you a shape. I mean a miraculous, unique thumbprint, an imprint that only you have. And you might say, well, what's all this shape stuff? It's an acronym we use around here for how God made us. The S stands for your spiritual gift.
We believe Every believer needs to know your spiritual gift, the supernatural ability. I talked in the message: unwrap your spiritual gifts. You need to know what they are and get them into play. And boy, exciting things happen. And the H is for heart or passion.
You need to unleash your spiritual passion. The A stands for ability. You have certain abilities. They're not necessarily spiritual, but it's the way you think, it's the way you can talk. You're an artist, you can use music, you're an engineer.
You have abilities. God wants to use this. Think about how do you put those into practice for the kingdom. The P is personality. God gave you a personality that combined with your passion and your gifts and your abilities.
I'm telling you, there's only one of you. And when you get involved in your local church, I don't mean just attend, I mean get involved in ministry aligned with this shape. Exciting things happen. You say, well, I don't know exactly where I would do that.
Well, the E is for experience. God has been preparing you for a ministry. And so your spiritual gifts, your passions, your abilities, your personality, and those past experiences all blend together where a hand drops into a glove of ministry. The hand is you, the glove is the ministry, and I mean you begin to do that. and you will discover your unique design joy like you've never known and the kingdom will grow.
I challenge you before God today. Get engaged in a specific ministry. Take a risk. Say to your pastor, I want in. Where do you need me?
Ever feel like you're chasing success but finding emptiness? I'm Dave Druy, inviting you to discover the difference between success and significance. Tomorrow, I'm Living on the Edge. Uh Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge. Uh
