When We Know Who We Are, We Know What To Do

James Greer: 00:00 Good Morning Journey Church. Welcome to Alexander campus. Man, I’ll tell you what, I hope they ate as many bugs over there as we did here. Amen? I mean, we got after it. I’ll tell you when he said, he kept saying, Simba remember who you are. I am going to tell you if I could teach you one thing after salvation, it’s to remember who you are. In fact, I think the most important thing you can learn after salvation is who you are. Why do we need to learn who we are so important? Because just like the Lion King, Simba was going from not knowing who he was when he was eating bugs and eating worms and he wasn’t living the victorious life that he could have. Once he began to learn who he was, he started having victory and reclaiming the life that he was created to be.

James Greer: 00:50 And the same is true with you. When you learn who you were created to be. When you learn who you are, you have again to have more victories and you’ll begin reclaiming the life God created you to be. When you know who you are, you’ll enjoy it more and then you won’t be as upset. You won’t stay upset as much when people say something about you. I’ve never seen a time, I’ve been preaching this for 10 years, about learning who you are in Christ. I’ve been teaching it to our staff, but I understand it hasn’t got from here to here. And the reason that I understand that because so many people keep worrying about what other people say. They worry about what they think. They worry about how they dress. Then they bring it to a level that it almost just stresses them out.

James Greer: 01:41 But see, when you really know who you are, when you know that you’re in the master’s hand and you’re a masterpiece being developed by God, you don’t have to compare your intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual being to somebody else because you know that you’re loved and you’re accepted. I really want you to learn who you are. In fact, I want you to learn who you are so bad. The next Sunday, I’m working on something to have everybody a handout on who you are in Christ. I mean we got like 70 something youth that got back from camp and they’re so on fire. We’ve got six seven, eight, nine of them that are going to be baptized later on today. And I told Andrew, I said, man, what I’m so excited I would love for them to go in school and be a missionary for Christ from Journey Church. Amen? But, they can’t go to school if they’re worried about who they are.

James Greer: 02:31 Just like, we can’t go from the Journey Church into work and be missionaries, if you continue worried about who you are. You’ve got to know who you are because when you know who you are, you know what to do. So man, next to the salvation, the most important thing you can learn is who you are. I’m going to tell you when you, when you really know who you are, you finally know what to do. In the video when we watch Mufasa told Simba, who he was. Then he knew what he had to do. I’m going to tell you who you are and I’m going to tell you how to get there and I’m going to tell you what he wants to do. But I’m going to give you the outline first then I will preach on it. First of all is who you are, who you are ultimately is God’s masterpiece. But, what I want to tell you about being God’s masterpiece, you’re in the master’s hand.

James Greer: 03:41 And I woke up this morning about two o’clock in the morning. I rolled over and I’m writing notes and my wife said, you’ve got to quit this. I said, I thought you were asleep. She said, how can I be asleep when you turn the lights on? She said, what are you doing? And I said, I’ve got to write a note. I’m scared I’m going to forget it. And really what I was saying is I already wrote who I am. I said, I’m a masterpiece, but what I didn’t get, I’m a masterpiece, but I’m still in the master’s hand. And the master’s not through with my masterpiece, and everything that I go through in life, the master’s working for the end of my life or then I’m the masterpiece. Amen? So, I’m a masterpiece and you’re masterpiece. How am I going to get there is follow the masters plan.

James Greer: 04:16 Where does he want me to end up? He wants me to live out the good life that he’s already prearranged for my life. He kind of tells me in Ephesians in the amplified version, he tells me his life plan for my life in your life. He tells me in Ephesians 2:10 in the amplified version, he puts it this way. He says, for we are God’s own handiwork, his workmanship. He says, in another translation, he says, we’re his masterpiece. When he says we’re workmanship, he says, we are being created. Now in God’s mind, he already sees what he wants it to be. See, a master can see the end piece before it’s finished. God says, you’re my masterpiece and my workmanship. And I’m creating you and I’m doing it in Christ Jesus and you’re born anew. He wants you to be reborn, that we may do those good works, which God predestined.

James Greer: 05:13 He said, he’s already planned them. He planned them beforehand. He planned them for me, he planned them for you. Taking the path which God’s already prepared ahead of time. Did you know that God has already, he’s your workmanship. He’s got a plan for you. He’s already got it laid out for you, that we should walk in them. If we walk in that plan, it’s living the good life. God says, listen, I got plans for you. You’re my masterpiece. I want you to walk in it. I want you to live in the good life which I prearranged and I already had made ready for you. God says, I’m ready for you to walk in the good life that I planned on you, so who are you? You are God’s masterpiece. Now, it’s so important that you understand that. You understand that you’re in the master’s hand and he’s shaping me and you into the masterpiece that he’s already planned.

James Greer: 06:04 In other words, no matter what comes into my life, no matter what comes into your life, the master is going to use it for my good. He’s going to take it and he’s began to shape it, because he says it doesn’t matter. If something comes into your life that hurts you, I’m going to turn it around and begin to heal you. And use it for my good at the end, because your my masterpiece. If somebody comes into your life and they say ugly things and hurtful things, that’s okay, because I am the master and I’m going to tell you the truth about things. And I can use it because you are my masterpiece. Do you understand that everything somebody says to you, you got to say, I’m going to way it by what God says about me. If you want to be the masterpiece that God’s created you to be. So, you’re in the hands of the master. When somebody says something bad, God says, I got truth for you.

James Greer: 06:59 See, he wants you to know who you are and whose you are. You know what to do. You say, well, I don’t know what to do. Yeah, you do. If you know who you are, and if you know whose you are. You just got to say, what would Jesus have me do, have me say. Would he have me to say it, and when would he have me to do it. He’s got a plan. Until you know who you are and whose you are, you’ll always try to be somebody you’re not. Now I know that, I have lived that. I have tried that. You’re never happy when you’re always trying to be somebody else. When you’re trying to look like them, when you’re trying to dress like them, when you’re trying to talk like them, when you’re trying to act like them, you’re just never happy.

James Greer: 07:39 There are four things that everybody wants. You want to be accepted, but the problem is you’re trying to find acceptance in the wrong place. Trying to find it in your mate, in your job and your kids and every one of them will hurt you at one time or another. So everybody’s looking for acceptance. Oh, identity. Identity. You want to find identity, you want to fit in. I mean, I wore this shirt, they wore this shirt, we all wore this shirt. I said I want to really fit in. So I got me some red shoes. Amen? I mean, so I’m trying to find my identification. Uh, you should have seen it. I mean, but my own true identity has to come in Christ, or you know what, I’ll be changing the way I look, the way I dress, the way I act all the time, because I’m trying to find out who I am. I’ve heard people, they’ve come to me, marriages starting to get split up and I’ll say, why are you splitting up? And one will say, I’m just trying to find out who I am. Good luck.

James Greer: 08:45 Security. Man, there’s so many insecure people today, especially in marriages. I mean, to some extent women get part of their security from their husband and that’s okay. But, where do the husbands get their security? From their job, from their boss, from their wealth, from their hobbies, from their strength. And with those are going to all fall away and fade away. Your ultimate security has to come from God. From their purpose, from your significance. Most people don’t even know what their purpose is. They think it’s something that it’s not. And so they chase this purpose and they chase that purpose. They think it’s that something they achieve on our own. It’s not that the purpose to further God’s kingdom and God has a purpose for me and you and the purpose to live out a good life. And the reason we act the way we do, the reason we react the way that we do, because we’re trying to find one of these four things, that acceptance, identity, security, your purpose, the way that we look, the way we dress, you’ll say, man, I got me a new hairdo this week and if I have time I’ll show it to you.

James Greer: 09:56 Because I was trying to find new identity. I got some blonde hair and I darkened my beard, and I was trying to really kind of dress up, you know, get me a new hairdo. And the ways that you do that because you’re trying to find one of these things you’re trying to find acceptance. You’re trying to find identity, trying to find security, trying to find purpose. Why are you doing what you’re doing?

James Greer: 10:30 Really the truth, last week when you got so upset about blank, why did you get so upset? When you got so upset with your mate? When you’re on the job and you really, really got upset, why did you get so upset? Because somebody said blank. Because somebody did blank. Do you realize what you’re really saying? I was trying to get my identity, my acceptance, my worth from blank. It’ll never happen. People quit their jobs because of blank. The problem with doing that is you go to the other job and blank it’s still there. Blank just doesn’t leave, blank follows you because blank is with you. You’re the blankity blank, but anyway. My words are getting better. You just put whatever you think that meant then anyway.

James Greer: 10:57 Anyway, you say so who are you trying to get it from? See? Yeah, so who are you? I mean, some of you don’t even see yourself as Saint. Saint Connie. Janet is that hard? Yeah, I know. I’m mean, but it’s true. When you get saved, you are a Saint. I know when you all look up here and you say, we now leave. When you all meet me at the door, just say, hey, Saint James. I’m trying teach my wife that. it’s not that funny. I’m a child of the king. That’s not funny, Amen? You’re a child of the king. Amen? Then why are you worried about your needs being met? I mean, you got a daddy in heaven and he says, Hey, you’re my child. I’m a child of the king, I think if I’m a child of the king, he can take care of me. He can except me. He can provide for me and he can protect me. Amen? Then why are you acting like that? Why are you worried about blank? Who’s the blankity blank in your life?

James Greer: 12:05 I’m a child of the king. That’s not funny, Amen? You’re a child of the king. Amen? Then why are you worried about your needs being met? I mean, you got a daddy in heaven and he says, Hey, you’re my child. I’m a child of the king, I think if I’m a child of the king, he can take care of me. He can except me. He can provide for me and he can protect me. Amen? Then why are you acting like that? Why are you worried about blank? Who’s the blankity blank in your life?

James Greer: 12:33 I am complete. I mean, you see, I don’t have to worry about it, I’m forgiven and I’m loved. In spite I did blankity blank. I’m still forgiven and I’m loved. Quit trying to be somebody you’re not. Quit trying to worry about somebody you don’t need to be worried about. The Psalmist said this, Psalms 139:14 it says, Huh, I want to praise you God. You know why, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. That you’re fearfully and what? Wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works. Oh Man, man, my soul knows it very well. I mean, one translation said, man, I am breathtaking. You calling God a liar?

James Greer: 13:29 You see what I’m saying? Man, God wants you to accept yourself? God wants you to even like yourself. Now, he didn’t want you to be an ego maniac, but he wants you to say God made you who you are for certain reasons, certain purpose. You’re his masterpiece. You’re in the hands of the master. Anything and everything that comes in our lives, the master is going to use it for our good. Who am I? I’m a masterpiece in the hands of the master. Well, how’d I get to where he wants me to be? I just got to simply follow God’s plans. He told me in Ephesians, he said he had a plan beforehand. He said, he just wants me to walk in the plans where I can have a good life.

James Greer: 14:24 Now this is what you got to understand about the plans that God has and the plans God has for you. Part of God’s plans, is limitations. I’ve got an understand that I have limitations. You have limitations. We all have limitations. Now, some of us have greater limitations than other people and I understand that. I understand that. Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things in Christ. Well, I can do all things that God called me to do in Christ. That doesn’t mean I don’t have limitations. In other words, man, didn’t the praise team rock the house? Amen? But you know, I’m never going to be able to sing like Micah, but Micah is never going to be as good looking as me. He just can’t help it. Nothing he can do about it. It’s just one of those things, you know, I can say I can do all things through Christ. I can’t go outside and pick up a car, just can’t do it. You got to learn that you got limitations and those limitations are for our good. Uh, our bodies have limitations. I can work out and I should do more. I can diet and I try. I do new hairdos. Did you all ever see the new hairdo I did? Did it ever show up? Nothing showed up, anyways but I did one. I’m looking good. Amen? I got my blonde hair and a black beard. But guess what? I can do all these things, but guess what? I’m still going to have the same old body. It’s just going to happen.

James Greer: 15:41 I just got to say it’s limited, but the Psalmist said in 119:73, you know what it said, you made me God, you formed me with your hands. Give me understanding. Give me what? Give me understanding. Give me an understanding so I can learn your commandment. Give me an understanding where I can just understand who I am. Give me understanding that I look just the way that you wanted me to look. Give me understanding. God, If I look the way you wanted me to look, if it’s okay with God, it needs to be okay with me. Okay? Give me an understanding, God, that I look the way I look on purpose, for a purpose. I mean you do you understand that when I look at Debbie and Debbie looks at me, we just say thank you Jesus. But God, I understand when you look at me, you might say, oh my God. It’s okay. I have just got to understand that God had a purpose and he did me on purpose. And when you understand your own purpose, was his purpose, then it’s okay. It’s okay. Amen? And I don’t have to worry about what the blank you think. You know, that might’ve been a good blank, you don’t know that. Get your mind out of there.

James Greer: 17:03 Psalms 139:13 says hey, you made my whole being, you formed me in my mother’s womb. God, you created me intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Okay, you ready? Very important. If you’re not happy with your body, I mean you should do the best you can with what you got. Amen? It’s a spiritual problem. It’s not a physical one. If you’re continually not happy with yourself, I’m talking about your physical appearance. I want you to know, listen to me, it is a spiritual problem, not a physical problem. Because, God formed you and created you and he said, you’re marvelous.

James Greer: 17:38 Psalms 139:16 said, listen this. He said, you know, you saw my body God, as it was formed, all the days planned for me were within your books before I was one day old. God said, I knew it. I’ve just been shaping you and forming you and so when you’re not there, it is a spiritual problem.

James Greer: 18:14 Now when I was young, before I was saved before I was certain, I thought God was joking. I said, cool God, God have a sense of humor. You can do better than this. It’s so great. It is so freeing when you can learn that God had limitations and it was for your good.

James Greer: 18:31 So, you’ve got physical body limitations. You’ve got intellectual limitations that I know about. I understand intellectual limitations probably better than anybody in this room. I understand how hard it is to read, how hard it is to spell. I understand how God could take you to one level and bring you to another level. I understand how God can use you on both levels. I understand in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 I understand it as well as anybody in here. What it means when he said, you know, for I see that your calling brother. There’s not many wise according to the flesh, there’s not many mighty, not many noble that are called. No, but God has chosen the foolish things in the world. That’s why I know God can use me, I know God can use you, because he chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise.

James Greer: 19:15 God has chosen the weak things of the world to put the shame that those which are mighty and the base things of the world, the things which are despised, God has chosen those things which are not to bring to all the things that are. You know why does that? So he can get the honor and the glory in his presence. It’s okay. God says, man, I’ll take the things nobody else thinks it’s any good and I turn it around. I just confound the world. I mean, I love God. I wish I have understood this when I was younger. I wish I understood that it’s okay. I wish it was okay. I wish I understood that God’s puts limitations on people for their good. I understand that. You know, and I know that I didn’t read well and I still don’t spell well.

James Greer: 19:56 You know that I really, really, really struggled in the ministry. I struggled when I was young in school. I struggled when God called me in my thirties. But what God was wanting, he was wanting my obedience and my availability, not my ability. And Man, when you understand that. God said, man, I just can’t do that. I can’t do that. God said, no, no. I just want your obedience. I want your availability. And then let me worry about the rest of it. Man, I love it. I love it because you have to accept that everybody has intellectual limitations. I know I could never be a doctor. I know I could never be a lawyer and that’s okay. But, if God’s called you to be a doctor or God’s called you to be a lawyer, do it to the glory of God. Amen? God didn’t call me to do that.

James Greer: 20:41 God said, I’ll take your limited intellectual ability and I’ll let you be an entrepreneur. Let you be in business. I’ll use your limited abilities to bring honor and glory to God. I have people all the time that say man, I don’t understand that God has blessed you. I understand what they’re saying, you don’t. I Understand, I just can’t believe how God uses somebody like you. I know. They do that about our church. Listen, they say I just don’t understand how somebody can use somebody like you. I don’t understand how Journey Church is blessed. I say, I do. God just used the foolish things in the world to confound the wise. Amen? Then we got a lot of foolish people at our church and God just used them. Amen? He can use our physicals unlimited. He can use our intellectual to build. We’ve got to accept, we’ve got spiritual limitations.

James Greer: 22:06 The Bible says in Romans 12:4 it says, listen to this. He says, we have many members in one body. Not all members have the same function. We’d be many in one body in Christ. In other words, everybody doesn’t have the same gift. Some of you have serving gifts, so don’t try to preach. Some of you have the gift of giving. So, make money and give. Never ever underestimate the ministry of your presence. So many of you have the greatest ministry. It’s called the Ministry of your presence. And you just come and just your presence encourages and makes you want to preach. It makes you preach better, and it just makes you feel better. Don’t try to be somebody else you’re not. Just do whatever it is that God’s called you to do. When you’re doing what God calls you to do. In 1 Corinthians 12:1 it says, now about your spiritual gift, which is a special endowment of supernatural energy, brother. I don’t want you to be misinformed. What I did when I was trying to find, I tried to work in many different areas that I could. I even took spiritual gift tests. I did all that, but I believed in the Galatians 6:9,10 don’t grow weary while doing good, in due season you shall reap if you don’t give up, especially in the household of faith. In other words, I’d go in one area, and another area, and another. I’ll just keep working and working and working and working. I didn’t give up good times and bad times and then I’d say, God, where would I have fruit? That’s just kind of how I basically found out where God wanted me, but I want you to know something. That God’s limits are for our good.

James Greer: 23:05 God created me. He created you, he created us. He said, it is good. It’s our limitations that calls us to depend upon God, but it’s unlimited. It is in God that we find our acceptance, our identity, our security, and our purpose. Therefore, we become unlimited through Christ.

James Greer: 23:18 That will bring us to the end that we can begin to live out the good life that God created us to be. You know that my ultimate goal is Journey Church, you begin to learn who you are in Christ and you begin to live it out. Just who you are, not somebody else, because I know something. When you become independent of God or codependent on anything or somebody other than God, you’ll struggle with your self-acceptance. You’ll struggle with who you are. You’ll struggle with security and you’ll blame others for your problem. On the other hand, when you really find out who you are in Christ, you want to live it out like never before. You want to be used by God. You’ll depend upon God like never before and you don’t worry so much about yourself or others or your boss. You’ll want to forgive other people and love people because you’ve been forgiven and loved.

James Greer: 24:44 And in closing you’ll do this. You Ready? This is the call I want for you today. I want you to come and say, listen, I want to find my acceptance in Christ. I want to find my identity in Christ. I want to find my security in Christ. I want to find my significance and purpose in Christ. I want to go out freer than I’ve ever been in my entire life. So you know, you know, you know, you know as you stand, I’m going to pray for you in a minute. You know what you struggle with today. You know what you struggle with when you came in this morning, and I’m telling you right now, you don’t have to go home the same way. God didn’t have you here by accident. You’re here by divine appointment, but God won’t force it on you. You can come and you can say, Hey God, I want to began to find my acceptance, my identity, and my security in you. You have to be reborn because it’s only found in Christ. So if your identity is not in Christ. The first step this morning is to come and invite Christ into your heart. If you’ve never followed in baptism, you, you can come today and say, Hey, I want to follow through in baptism and we’re going to have baptism and every surface you can be baptized today if you want to. If you want to join the church, you can do that. If you want somebody to be praying with you and for you, you can do that.

James Greer: 25:40 God, I just thank you for today. Today is a special day. God, I just want to honor you, God. I just want to honor you with the acceptance and security, identity that we can all have in you, God. God, man, I pray. I pray. I pray. God, I don’t. I don’t want our people to continue to worry about what other people think, what they say. I don’t want them to feel insecure. I don’t want them to feel unworthy, I want them to feel love, accepted God. I want them to get their worth from you. God, today I pray our hearts would be soft. I pray that they would be tender. I pray that they would come to you like never before, and I pray this in Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

Recorded in Pineville, Louisiana.