Discover Your True Self - You are Beautiful, Part 1

Few things in life will make you feel more dirty, ugly, anxious and unworthy of love that unresolved guilt. Left unchecked, guilt will literally kill yourself.

So what's the answer today. You don't want to miss this welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edge features the Bible to Chip Ingram on this international discipleship program.

This program Chip continues his series discover your true self is about a personal journey. Chip and his wife Teresa overcome the lies of our self-worth that we all experience the course of the series chips revealing the freedom our God wants all of us to enjoy and how to activate those things in your life, starting today.

After the teaching Chip will be with us in studio with a specific application you don't want to miss. If you do have to step away. Remember, you can catch up any time with Chip Ingram will chips in Ephesians chapter 2. So if you have a Bible turn. Let's get going. It is hard for us to believe, but I would just remind you if you're a genuine follower of Christ you've received him as your Savior. He's your Lord, that when God sees you at this moment you are wanted your chosen your valuable your secure your competent and end it feels a little weird for at least some of us men your beautiful doesn't mean you're pretty guys you're beautiful in God's eyes that there's something attractive when he sees you your inner character, your life, what is transforming in every aspect of you, but if there is one thing that can mar that lens and make us men and women feel dirty and ugly and unworthy and unlovable. It's guilt to pull out your teaching outward to talk about guilt.

I have seen guilt torture people's lives. Someone has rightly said guilt is perhaps the most destructive of all emotions.

I lived with a dad who had overwhelming guilt. At 17, 18. He was on Iwo Jima and Guam by his recollection, he killed thousands and thousands of people after being wounded. He was pulled out and all of his company died but him. He had the guilt of things he did and he had guilt for surviving alcohol was the least of his problems, outbursts of anger were the least of his problems. Guilt was the core, but he had no idea how to deal with it as we walked through this message together. I would ask you to whisper a prayer and ask God to give you the courage to be honest with yourself and honest with him because he wants to help you.

So much of what you deal with. We deal with so many of the relational issues the struggles and the challenges their root cause is guilt but guilt is tricky. There's true guilt, false guilt, there's guilt feelings.

There's theological guilt what's true of all of us. So in the front of your notes. Let's define guilt before we get to the solution.

The literal meaning is it's a state circle the word state of having committed an offense number guilt in and of itself is you actually did something wrong. You violated a standard in more common usage today. The psychological definition of guilt is an emotional response to the perception that we broken a prohibition or fallen short of the standard circle the word emotional underline the word perception. Dr. Becca Johnson writes.

Thus, guilt can be both a fact and a feeling, and the two aren't necessarily related. You can not feel guilty at all and be very guilty sociopaths kill people and feel zero remorse. Some of us violate the law of the land and the law of Scripture and we internally set feel no remorse because we don't agree with it.

By contrast, the opposite is true. Some people have guilty feelings, and they're not really guilty. Those of you in this room or those watching that have been abused feel guilty. It's a bizarre thing that the victims feel guilty you're not guilty, and yet you deal with that guilt, you need to learn to discern between true guilt and false guilt and were going to address that and you learn at the end of this why and how theologically guilt is the moral and legal condition of all people prior to salvation.

It's our personal accountability and the just condemnation for sin and transgressions against God's law.

God is holy and perfect and to have relationship with a holy God. You must be holy and perfect and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are all guilty before God. Prior to receiving Christ and him taking on our sin and us receiving his forgiveness all mankind is guilty after we receive Christ, God took our guilt, placed it on Christ and he obliterated guilt. If you're a genuine follower of Christ. You have no guilt before God. Some of your thinking, then why do I feel so guilty were going to talk about what that is how you deal with. So the last question is how do you cope with guilt. What are the things that make you feel guilty, true or false.

Again in this little book. She's a friend.

Good guilt, bad guilt by Dr. Becca Johnson.

If this is an area or an issue. I encourage you to read the book, she says, should we feel guilty about some things but we feel guilty because of others. Listen and just let me ask you leaned back looking at those notes I can appeal a movement that's good major tracking don't you leaned back for a minute. Which one of these do you identify things that you feel guilty about what you should eat or not eat wasting time on not being a good parent being lazy or undisciplined forgetting to call your mom or email your boss or get back with people who have given your message you feel guilty about habits like smoking or biting your nails or not exercising her too much time in front of the TV or the net or maybe you feel guilty about not praying often enough for long enough for Bible study and then she says we now feel guilty about certain things, but we feel guilty because of certain things like not liking one of your children are having an abortion or being an affair or struggling with luster, pornography or masturbation or fantasies were not saying anything.

But not feeling or treating your rate because you don't feel any love for them or stealing from work or lying or being a private compulsive gambler. The list could go on right most of us with our guilt and unhealthy ways. We do exactly what our first parents do number one we hide it. Number two, we deny an excuse and then number three. We usually blame other people. I like this because of my parents.

While I wouldn't steal except for they don't pay me a good salary anyway and pretty soon as you know I wouldn't be on the Internet.

If my wife was more affectionate. We all have a drug of choice to cover our guilt when we don't follow God's way. My drug of choice is work I I was challenge of being a workaholic year after year after year after year, denial, denial, excuse excuse, blame, blame on and on and on until I walked into a bookstore and I just saw title.

I didn't read the book, the title said I feel guilty when I relax and I thought, that's me, and I realize that my workaholism and my desperate attempts to cover what I was feeling inside wasn't anything but guilt and I went on a journey and it was painful. It was a journey how I was trying to cover up and appear okay and to please people.

All because I had some unresolved guilt some that was true in some was false. So just before we go on what's years.

What's your drug of choice shopping for food. Is it addiction to work like me. What's your drug of choice when you have that restlessness over little things or big things we just carry them. If you bury big things, like in your past. They just brew. I've been on the front seat of that watching it brew in a man's life, until it nearly destroyed him and his family and everyone around. Now let's get to the solution side.

God does not want you living with guilt God is taking care of our guilt and he has an antidote to guilt you want you to know that guilt is a formidable and complex flow. You want to know the difference between true guilt and false guilt you want you to understand the danger that sometimes you feel guilty when you shouldn't and the even greater danger sometimes you don't feel guilty and you really should.

And so here is examining the universal problem. Ephesians 2 verses one through three.

As for you, Paul writes to the Gentiles. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you walked in the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us the reference Jew, Gentile all people all mankind lived among them a long time, gratifying the cravings. The word is lost. Our passions and our sinful nature, following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest we were by nature, objects of wrath that you'll notice I put some things in bold. I like you to circle the word dad circled the word disobedient and circle the word objects of wrath were dead here literally means separated.

Scripture says in that day when you sin you will surely die. Adam died. He was separated from God, but he still was physically alive and had activity sin separates us from God. There's nothing we can do to get reconnected to him and then he says why your transgressions. That means you drift off the path right you come to a crossroads. This is right. This is wrong and you choose wrong and we all do, and we all have sins is a word that means missed the market was used for someone throwing a spear or shooting an arrow and it falls short.

It doesn't hit the target but it hits another thing said because we've all done that you are alienated from God and this is your in this lifestyle. There's a world there's a there's a there's a culture in this culture, there's a ruler of the air Satan and there's a way that people treat one another have been treating people in disobedience to God, and they manipulate in the kill and they destroy and they hurt and they abuse and we seen it.

It's easy to see on the macro right but Bosnia's the Sudan's the ISIS with Hitler's, the Mussolini's the Stallings the 60 or 70 million unborn babies that are killed in America through abortion.

The murders that happened both with words and with guns and with knives. The accusations, the racism in other words, he just saying mankind has lived in disobedience to God. And there's fallout and there's consequences. He says this passion this craving. This nature that we have inherited from Adam. Makes you the object of God's wrath literally God hates evil and because he's both holy and just he has to punish evil and so the summary is we are guilty and we are members of the condemned dysfunctional family. GK Chesterton was the a British writer or journalist actually been a great theologian sort of informally had huge impact on CS Lewis and someone asking what's wrong with the world.

Now he lived through World War I and World War II. His answer was great.

What's wrong with the world. I am what I am not the government is not this group or that group, it's me, it's inmate there sin in me and every other human being. The theologians call this total depravity.

See, there's a fundamental issue in most of us academically. At least if we been in the secular public arena. We have been told and told and told that man is basically good. Were all basically good and with enough education or the right environment. There's a utopia out there somewhere, somehow, or through technology or through organic get more food. When people come into power, even if they have a just cause you just go through history, what you will find is the same same pattern corruption, greed and morality and the haves and have-nots.

We have a a life history of wars over stuff overpower at times over sex. The sources Romans chapter 5 verse 12 therefore, just as through one man, Adam sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sin onwards when when kids are born there born sinners. David would say from my birth. You have to teach one and two-year-old to be selfish.

They just get it down all the way on their own and then we get more sophisticated how to look, not selfish and be selfish. Jeremiah 17 nine says the heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked who can understand it. Here's my question. Do you believe that.

So I think we live in a day where I just need little help I just need little repair. I will tell you my father's guilt eight at his life and that guilt only way he could drown.

It was through alcohol.

First, a little then more and more and more and more and more, but your guilt and sin is never isolated noise impacts other people. There's no such thing as a private sin in an alcoholic family, there's usually a scapegoat. My older sister, who was not loved and not treated well rebelled.

My next sister.

There's usually a compliant one I want to keep the peace. And they feel invisible, so she cooks meals and helps out with everything and has an eating disorder about the time she was a senior just skin and bones in an alcoholic family, there's usually a rescuer. That's where I show up and so is my father would sit and drink all day on Saturday when he got up, I would take port down the drain. Thinking I was helping him. My mom was the enabler the most amazing person in the world, emotionally intelligent, no boundaries, no convictions until it went from a couple beers after work to missing supper to not getting home till 11 and then my mom did something that every person in that situation needs to do the turned our family around here is what I want you to know the result is death until you face the problems until we see we are separated from God. That's our past in the present.

We live disobedient lives apart from Christ and the end is destruction.

There's judgment because God is fair in his mercy and his love notice know what he does. Understanding God's solution. The next word. Look at your text verse 4.and the Greek language you there's not a single word he could use.

It's like glaring red flashing lights and, but, yes, all that negative is true, but God because of his great love for us in parentheses. He's rich in mercy, he intervened. He made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions, and then Paul gets excited. He wants to jump to the next lot into its it's called a pair fasting phrase and put in brackets for by grace we are saved.

He discussed this is so exciting. But then he goes on with this thought and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Why, in order that in the coming ages.

This is word for eons and eons and eons that he might show the incomparable riches of his grace that he expressed in his kindness to us how, through Jesus Christ with your pan.

Second line. Would you underline with Christ. Skip a line go down next underline with Christ. The underline in Christ Jesus, last line right in Christ Jesus. Does anyone make an observation. Is there anything about what you just underlined it tells you the solution. Yes, we were dead apart from Christ.

Yes, disobedient, and yes, we deserve the righteous condemnation of God.in Christ in Christ in Christ in Christ. Notice he flipped every one of them instead of dead he made us alive word is quickened. The moment that you receive Christ in you were joined with him you were dead spirits and boom you were made alive and reconnected to God the father. Second he raised you up. You were co-resurrected shutdown. Romans 6:4.

Instead of walking disobedience. He says that we died with him.

And since we died with him.

We also were raised with him in order that we might walk in newness of life, new power sin doesn't have power over you anymore.

As a follower death no longer stings Satan defeated you walk in newness of life and then finally instead of destruction you were seated with him in the heavenly places literally at a better word, is your enthroned the disobedience of this world there is a ruler and there is a power the enemy and is orchestrating it through people's flesh and desires and passions and selfishness and anger and violence and egos. No no no.

You're out from under that dominion. And now you've been enthroned with Christ. You are a brand person. That's why God sees you differently is wanted and secure, invaluable and competent. And guys, even beautiful Jesus intervention rescued us from condemnation and into his family rescued notice from and into the answers. Christ is the only answer for personal peace. He's the only answer for peace in the world. My mom did something pretty brave when she realized after many many many many many years that she was the enabler when she saw what was happening to her family. She was a counselor and finally she set up a boundary and here's the intervention and some of you have been there and you got some good friends and some good psychological help in some counselors and write you all get together and the key to an intervention is it's a safe environment and we all sit around we tell this person that we love you were for you, but your behavior is is going to destroy you and your string others number for you and you need help. I remember that moment remember my mom holding up a bottle of beer you talk about reality therapy. You can have this bottle in continuing that or me and the kids. You just can't have both. You got 48 hours. My dad was a math teacher. He did the math and he was a Marine equipment is quit. In fact, he thought, you know I drink beer all day and I smoked three packs of cigarettes. Michael quit about, so he quits about about three months later.

I want to say dad please drink a beer. He didn't deal with any issues he didn't understand his guilt, but I mean he just made us nuts. But then when he realized was in what he realized I can't solve this. See, for many of you, the symptom isn't shopping.

It's not money it's not pornography is not alcohol, it's not your relationships is not what your kids is not whether they got into a school issue with guilt, some real and some perceived and you finally realize that was the problem back. Look at this text. The motive verse four jot down costs. Love God and rescue you because you're special or wonderful nice. He rescued you because he loves you.

God is good to you, not because you're good is because he's good beyond his mode of his action. What instead of death, he made you alive instead of disobedience. He raised you to walk in newness and power instead of future destruction.

There's future hope and his purpose is to demonstrate and reveal. Did you realize this year. This trophy year this fall and hurting person who's done things wrong like I have some have received abuse and difficulty and pain we all have this stuff, but God wants to transform you and it is a journey into processing is often painful and that's why ask you to pray that you be honest, could you just quit pushing and pushing and pushing and and and and settling for substitutes and sedating your pain and ask yourself why do I do for years and years I tried hard. I'll change my schedule. I promised Teresa I won't work so many hours. It wasn't until I dealt with the why behind the guilt. The change occurred to be back with application just a reminder this message, you are beautiful is from his series discover your true self, you know, at some point in our lives. Most of us go through all the clutter to ask of the middle question, who am I all in the series chip opens the book of Ephesians to explain that the answer to that question changes when you become a son or daughter of the most high God issues of worth and belonging take on a completely different meaning when we give our lives to his son Jesus. But if we don't know that you tend to get bogged down in the doubts and struggles of our past a few long to break free and truly live in the power of Christ.

This series will help you do that you check out your resource options for discover your true self. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or tap special offers, discounts are available for a limited time. For more information just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. I'll be right back to talk about today's message but before I do I want to give you a picture that I got to witness as a young pastor there was a man there who is a master craftsman. I mean he was a cabinetmaker are Exelon's and a member watching him literally painstakingly with a piece of wood. Use a lathe and little by little by little by little. He did all these things. I couldn't figure out what was happening and then you know all those little moments led to this absolutely beautiful piece of cabinetry or furniture in unison because we think little things don't matter even calling them little things and one of the quote little things. It is the backbone of Living on the Edge are those people who support the ministry monthly. You and I don't know if you are a current supporter or you been praying about being a supporter. But let me tell you this, when you give monthly. It provides the bedrock in the consistency in the stability of all that we do here Living on the Edge so I want to thank you monthly partners for all that you do and I like you. If you're not a supporter which you prayerfully today. Ask God do you want me support Living on the Edge you want me to help Christians are like Christians and if so would you like me to do it on a regular monthly basis and by the way thanks in advance whatever God leads you to do. Thanks to send a gift or set up a recurring donation, visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or tap the donate button on the app if you prefer to give over the phone.

Our number is 1-888-333-6003 and that's 1-888-333-6003 and thanks in advance for your partnership with us together were making a difference as we wrap up today's program.

We did some have the thinking and lifting you I gave you the literal meaning of the word guilt. I did the psychological meaning of guilt we talk about false guilt true guilt guilt feelings and I give you the theological meaning out of guilt, real moral guilt. Another words, when were actually guilty. We knew what was right and we didn't do it or we knew what we shouldn't of done, but we did it anyway and were living in a day where even the idea of guilt you are you guilty me man or oh you said that you made me feel guilty or don't say that one of our kids might have the feelings the fact of the matter is, is that there are times when you do something wrong when you think something wrong when you say something that you know is wrong that violates God's standard. You should not only feel guilty, you are guilty and syllabi and there is a remedy for that it's called forgiveness.

It's Christ's work on the cross.

However, it gets mixed up because we have family of origin issues, and we have false guilt and we feel guilty for things that God doesn't say is wrong or bad, but we been conditioned and trained so what I want you to know.

It gets very, very confusing and complex and so the first step is to get clear on the true moral guilt, own it, face it and receive God's forgiveness and then in our next program written to begin to talk about how do you sort of splice. The true guilt from the false guilt and how do you live with freedom.

The actual title of this message is you are beautiful and I can hear some guys in the back in there. My God. Hey buddy, I don't know what you're talking about but I'm not real comfortable handsome would work but not beautiful. You are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto a good work in that word workmanship is his masterpiece. His poem's tapestry. What I want you to know is that God has forgiven you by his grace for a beautiful mind boggling. Absolutely wonderful purpose and agenda that he's made you especially for but guilt makes you feel and makes you live as though you're not only unworthy, but you bring no value to life in our next program were going to unpack why God sees you as beautiful and the purpose he has for your life. You don't want to miss it.

Living on the Edge were happy to let you know about an easy way to listen to our extended teaching podcast here chip anytime on Amazon's Alexa echo and echo.just say Alexa open Living on the Edge you'll hear that they is extended teaching program anytime well for Chip and everyone here, this is Dave really saying thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge