July 13, 2026 • 21 mins
Where do you find your identity—in what you do or in who God says you are? Listen to this week's message to discover the unchanging identity God has already given you through Jesus. #StJohnsBuffalo #CovertoCoverBible #1Samuel #KingSaul #IdentityInChrist
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(00:02):
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:14,186.897959184 --> 00:00:19,426.897959184 Oh Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praises in the name of Jesus. 5 00:00:20,106.897959184 --> 00:00:20,736.897959184 Amen. 6 00:00:22,870.897959184 --> 00:00:23,620.897959184 "Morning, champ." 7 00:00:24,610.897959184 --> 00:00:35,250.896959184 Those were the words that our DCE Youth Director, Paul Nelson, said to me the morning after our fantasy baseball season ended, and well, it made sense to greet me that way. 8 00:00:35,250.897959184 --> 00:00:39,870.897959184 After all, I was now the two-time reigning champion of our fantasy baseball league. 9 00:00:40,130.896959184 --> 00:00:41,660.897959184 Please hold your applause. 10 00:00:44,96.897959184 --> 00:00:46,86.897959184 I was the champ and it was gonna stay that way. 11 00:00:46,86.897959184 --> 00:00:47,526.897959184 My strategy was flawless. 12 00:00:47,526.897959184 --> 00:00:57,466.897959184 I couldn't be beat, all right? Fast-forward just under a year later, and I am well on my way to being a three-time fantasy baseball champion. 13 00:00:58,16.897959184 --> 00:01:00,226.897959184 That crown was gonna stay on my head. 14 00:01:00,346.896959184 --> 00:01:01,516.898959184 I was the king. 15 00:01:02,26.896959184 --> 00:01:04,446.896959184 I was inevitable, and so was my championship. 16 00:01:04,446.896959184 --> 00:01:10,246.897959184 At least it seemed that way, until this guy got in the way. 17 00:01:11,746.897959184 --> 00:01:18,446.895959184 Let's just say my team might have struck out its thousands, but Pastor Clark's team, it struck out its tens of thousands. 18 00:01:20,546.897959184 --> 00:01:26,246.897959184 It hit pretty hard, those words that I heard the morning after our fantasy baseball season ended last year. 19 00:01:26,776.897959184 --> 00:01:31,346.896959184 Our DC Youth Director, Paul Nelson, walked into the office and he said, "Morning, champ." 20 00:01:32,176.897959184 --> 00:01:34,936.897959184 I looked up, but he wasn't talking to me. 21 00:01:36,706.897959184 --> 00:01:38,226.897959184 He was talking to Pastor Clark. 22 00:01:38,226.897959184 --> 00:01:39,626.897959184 I was no longer the champ. 23 00:01:39,646.897959184 --> 00:01:41,696.89795918 I was no longer the king. 24 00:01:42,386.89795918 --> 00:01:44,686.89695918 A truly sad story. 25 00:01:44,776.89795918 --> 00:01:45,586.89695918 Am I right, St. 26 00:01:45,586.89695918 --> 00:01:50,682.89795918 John's family? And sorry if I get a little emotional up here. 27 00:01:50,682.89795918 --> 00:01:52,242.89795918 That happens sometimes. 28 00:01:54,132.89795918 --> 00:02:20,122.89795918 And don't people tend to get emotional when they feel like pieces of who they are being taken away from them, the most important bits of their identity? Boy, do we see that this week in our two-year Bible read-through, right? With King Saul, he fears he's about to be replaced, and he feels as if who he is was being taken away and erased, and it becauses him to become rather emotional, doesn't it? And then some, actually. 29 00:02:21,532.89695918 --> 00:02:30,202.89695918 Saul has himself a little bit of an identity crisis, and the truth is, sometimes we have identity crises just like Saul. 30 00:02:30,852.89695918 --> 00:02:33,972.89695918 But furthermore, the truth is, those don't have to happen at all. 31 00:02:33,982.89795918 --> 00:02:38,382.89595918 They can be entirely avoided if you understand who you truly are. 32 00:02:38,862.89495918 --> 00:02:44,342.89695918 And who you truly are, that's not something that can be taken away from you or erased, St. 33 00:02:44,342.89695918 --> 00:02:45,102.89795918 John's family. 34 00:02:46,502.89895918 --> 00:02:52,12.89495918 And I hope you understand all the more who you are through this message today and through the story of King Saul. 35 00:02:52,352.89695918 --> 00:02:56,12.89695918 Now, that story, if you recall, it didn't begin in our two-year read-through this week. 36 00:02:56,12.89695918 --> 00:02:57,912.89695918 It began a couple of weeks ago. 37 00:02:58,862.89895918 --> 00:03:04,652.89395918 The story of Saul truly begins with the Israelites going to the prophet Samuel, and they demand a king. 38 00:03:04,662.89495918 --> 00:03:06,782.89895918 They say, "Give us a king." 39 00:03:08,82.89295918 --> 00:03:10,82.89595918 And Samuel says, "You already have a king. 40 00:03:10,92.89495918 --> 00:03:11,602.89295918 You have your Heavenly Father. 41 00:03:11,622.89395918 --> 00:03:14,462.89895918 The Lord God Almighty is ruling and reigning over you." 42 00:03:14,462.89895918 --> 00:03:15,802.89995918 And they say, "No, no, no. 43 00:03:16,412.89495918 --> 00:03:21,162.89595918 Give us one of those real kings, one of those earthly kings like everyone else around us has." 44 00:03:22,832.89295918 --> 00:03:24,12.89795918 And God says, "Fine, Samuel. 45 00:03:24,12.89795918 --> 00:03:25,352.89295918 Give them what they want." 46 00:03:25,672.89695918 --> 00:03:31,542.89695918 And Samuel goes, and he finds King Saul, and he anoints him to be the first human king of Israel. 47 00:03:32,642.89795918 --> 00:03:38,272.89195918 And when we're introduced to Saul, we find someone who's tall and handsome, and boy, is he humble. 48 00:03:38,662.89495918 --> 00:03:56,942.89295918 In fact, when Saul first hears from Samuel that he's gonna be the king, Saul responds by saying, "Who am I for something like that? Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?Samuel, you can do better than me." 49 00:03:58,922.89795918 --> 00:04:10,492.89795918 Well, as the story goes on, Saul might remain tall and handsome, but at a certain point he is no longer humble, is he? It'd be tough to be humble with being elevated on that pedestal like he was. 50 00:04:12,22.89695918 --> 00:04:24,662.89695918 And because he is no longer humble, he believes to think that he knows better than Samuel, that he knows better than God, and he actually disobeys a very direct order from Samuel and from God who created him. 51 00:04:25,52.89795918 --> 00:04:35,992.89795918 He offers this sacrifice that he knew he wasn't supposed to offer, and because of that sin, and that was a sin, Saul finds out that the kingship, it's gonna be taken away from him. 52 00:04:37,192.89595918 --> 00:04:39,2.89795918 Now, we know who the next king's gonna be. 53 00:04:39,2.89795918 --> 00:04:54,262.89695918 We already found that out, right? In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel, he goes to David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, the shepherd boy, and anoints him to be the next king of Israel, just like he anointed Saul. 54 00:04:55,572.89695918 --> 00:05:03,172.89595918 And we can see that young David is destined for great things, isn't he? Just one chapter later, he's slaying the 9'9" Goliath. 55 00:05:04,722.89395918 --> 00:05:07,622.89995918 And talent like that, it doesn't escape Saul's eyes. 56 00:05:07,802.89595918 --> 00:05:08,952.89895918 He takes note of David. 57 00:05:08,952.89895918 --> 00:05:17,242.89295918 He drafts him into the military, and it says whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. 58 00:05:17,932.89295918 --> 00:05:21,432.89595918 This pleased all the troops and Saul's officers as well. 59 00:05:21,922.89895918 --> 00:05:32,22.89495918 Everyone is happy with David, at least at first, right? His fellow troops, his fellow officers, even King Saul appreciates the good work that David is doing. 60 00:05:34,274.89795918 --> 00:05:39,984.89795918 But Saul's good opinion of David comes crashing down when they return from those battles against the Philistines. 61 00:05:40,374.89795918 --> 00:05:51,964.89895918 It says, "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 62 00:05:51,964.89895918 --> 00:05:57,934.89695918 As they danced, they sang, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.'" 63 00:05:59,324.89695918 --> 00:06:03,154.89795918 You can almost picture it, right? Saul would have loved the first part of that. 64 00:06:03,154.89795918 --> 00:06:04,834.89795918 Maybe those were familiar words. 65 00:06:04,874.89595918 --> 00:06:06,514.89695918 Saul has slain his thousands. 66 00:06:06,774.89795918 --> 00:06:07,584.89795918 Say it again. 67 00:06:07,594.89795918 --> 00:06:08,994.89695918 Saul has slain his thousands. 68 00:06:09,174.89595918 --> 00:06:17,528.89795918 Saul, Saul, Saul, Saul But you can almost hear the record scratch when it gets to the next portion there. 69 00:06:17,898.89795918 --> 00:06:28,148.89695918 "And David his tens of thousands?" Come again? Did I, did I hear that right? Did they just say David has slain his tens of thousands? Oh, they said it again. 70 00:06:28,688.89695918 --> 00:06:30,218.89795918 This can't be. 71 00:06:30,918.89695918 --> 00:06:37,238.89695918 Don't they know who I am? Don't they know that I'm the best? I'm the best warrior. 72 00:06:37,458.89795918 --> 00:06:38,418.89795918 I'm the king. 73 00:06:38,488.89695918 --> 00:06:50,888.89695918 Have they forgotten that? And when Saul feels the most important parts of his identity, at least according to him, being taken away, well, like I said, he becomes rather emotional. 74 00:06:50,888.89695918 --> 00:06:53,408.89695918 In fact, it says Saul was very angry. 75 00:06:53,808.89795918 --> 00:06:55,988.89795918 This refrain displeased him greatly. 76 00:06:56,418.89895918 --> 00:07:00,988.89595918 "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. 77 00:07:02,168.89495918 --> 00:07:07,648.89795918 What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on, Saul kept a close eye on David. 78 00:07:07,648.89795918 --> 00:07:18,858.89595918 And if you have been reading along in your two-year Bible read-through, you know what that means, right? Throughout our readings this week, Saul looks for opportunity after opportunity to murder David. 79 00:07:19,958.89995918 --> 00:07:22,308.89395918 And in fact, we see that several times over. 80 00:07:22,778.89995918 --> 00:07:27,658.89495918 In 1 Samuel 18:10-11, Saul hurls a spear at David not once, but twice. 81 00:07:28,468.89395918 --> 00:07:32,678.89595918 A chapter later, Saul's son Jonathan has to stop him from killing his friend David. 82 00:07:33,478.89595918 --> 00:07:37,648.89595918 In 1 Samuel 19:9-10, Saul hurls a spear at David once again. 83 00:07:38,418.89895918 --> 00:07:42,218.89595918 Couple verses later, Saul sends troops to David's house to kill him. 84 00:07:43,28.89995918 --> 00:07:58,44.89795918 1 Samuel 23, 1 Samuel 24, once again, Saul makes attempts on David's life He is bound and determined to take out this one who's gonna take away the most important parts of who he thinks he is. 85 00:07:58,264.89795918 --> 00:08:00,414.89695918 No one's gonna take away that crown from me. 86 00:08:00,674.89795918 --> 00:08:01,474.89795918 I'm the best. 87 00:08:01,504.89795918 --> 00:08:26,528.89695918 That's who I am And because Saul doesn't understand who he truly is, a little bit of a spoiler alert here, it's gonna be in your readings this week, his life comes to a rather sad end, doesn't it? His life ends with him surrounded by enemies, and then he falls on his own sword because he wouldn't let anyone take away who he thought he was. 88 00:08:26,698.89795918 --> 00:08:30,28.89695918 "No one's gonna take away the crown from me but me." 89 00:08:30,978.89695918 --> 00:08:41,468.89595918 And because he feels that part of his identity slipping away, he feels as though his life truly isn't worth that much, and the sad truth is it didn't have to be that way at all. 90 00:08:42,368.89595918 --> 00:08:56,690.89795918 In fact, I'd say he wouldn't have been upset at all if he would've understood who he truly was, if he would come up with the correct answer to that question, "Who are you?" So let's make it personal for the second half of this sermon here, St. 91 00:08:56,690.89795918 --> 00:08:57,340.89795918 John's family. 92 00:08:57,340.89795918 --> 00:09:09,260.89795918 How would you answer that question? Who are you? I did a little research this week, and statistically speaking, people tend to answer this question in one of three ways. 93 00:09:09,660.89795918 --> 00:09:19,700.89695918 The most common way that people answer this question by far is by anchoring themselves to another person, and then they use a very positive adjective to describe themselves in that role. 94 00:09:19,870.89795918 --> 00:09:21,570.89695918 "Who am I? I'm a good mom. 95 00:09:21,570.89795918 --> 00:09:22,340.89695918 I'm a good dad. 96 00:09:22,340.89695918 --> 00:09:23,180.89695918 That's who I am. 97 00:09:23,550.89795918 --> 00:09:26,390.89595918 Who am I? I'm a caring husband, a loyal friend. 98 00:09:26,390.89795918 --> 00:09:27,710.89595918 I'm a superb boss. 99 00:09:27,710.89795918 --> 00:09:28,870.89895918 I'm a faithful worker. 100 00:09:28,870.89895918 --> 00:09:32,240.89595918 I've been at that company for 40 years doing my thing." 101 00:09:33,890.89795918 --> 00:09:38,140.89795918 The second most common way that people answer that question is by attaching their name to a hobby. 102 00:09:38,140.89795918 --> 00:09:39,770.89695918 "Who am I?I'm a marathon runner. 103 00:09:39,770.89695918 --> 00:09:40,700.89595918 26.2 104 00:09:40,700.89595918 --> 00:09:42,740.89795918 miles? I'll do it in my sleep. 105 00:09:43,290.89595918 --> 00:09:44,30.89695918 I'm a singer. 106 00:09:44,220.89595918 --> 00:09:45,810.89695918 I'm a scratch golfer. 107 00:09:45,810.89695918 --> 00:09:46,850.89595918 That's who I am." 108 00:09:48,150.89595918 --> 00:09:53,220.89795918 And the third most common way that people answer that question is by describing their favorite personality attribute. 109 00:09:53,330.89695918 --> 00:09:55,40.89695918 "Who am I? I'm funny. 110 00:09:55,70.89795918 --> 00:09:55,870.89695918 That's who I am. 111 00:09:56,230.89795918 --> 00:09:56,940.89595918 I'm helpful. 112 00:09:57,20.89495918 --> 00:09:58,10.89795918 I'm compassionate. 113 00:09:58,310.89595918 --> 00:09:59,240.89595918 I'm caring.I'm 114 00:09:59,660.89495918 --> 00:10:00,110.89495918 loving. 115 00:10:00,110.89895918 --> 00:10:00,910.89295918 I'm kind. 116 00:10:01,510.89295918 --> 00:10:02,520.89395918 That's who I am." 117 00:10:05,282.89795918 --> 00:10:05,542.89795918 St. 118 00:10:05,542.89795918 --> 00:10:07,722.89795918 John's family, I cannot stress this enough. 119 00:10:08,762.89795918 --> 00:10:13,412.89795918 Do not make things like this the center, the core of your identity. 120 00:10:14,12.89795918 --> 00:10:20,612.89795918 Because all of those things, they can be taken away from you, lost or erased, just like that. 121 00:10:21,192.89795918 --> 00:10:23,442.89795918 Let's use that first one up there as an example. 122 00:10:24,252.89695918 --> 00:10:25,172.89795918 I'm a good mom. 123 00:10:25,292.89795918 --> 00:10:26,142.89795918 I'm a good dad. 124 00:10:26,152.89695918 --> 00:10:28,362.89795918 That's who I am. 125 00:10:29,842.89695918 --> 00:10:32,102.89795918 And maybe you do listen to all the podcasts. 126 00:10:32,212.89795918 --> 00:10:34,32.89695918 You've read all the parenting books. 127 00:10:34,32.89795918 --> 00:10:37,522.89595918 You've actually done the things the experts have told you to do. 128 00:10:37,542.89595918 --> 00:10:42,562.89595918 You signed your kids up for all of the right programming, and look at them. 129 00:10:43,252.89495918 --> 00:10:54,572.89895918 The scoreboard says things are going well so far, doesn't it? You secretly enjoy the whispers of other people as they look at your children and they say, "Wow, look at those kids. 130 00:10:55,712.89795918 --> 00:10:58,562.89795918 She must be a great mom to have kids like that. 131 00:10:58,562.89795918 --> 00:11:02,212.89695918 He must be a great dad to have kids like that." 132 00:11:04,962.89795918 --> 00:11:43,912.89795918 That's all well and good, but what happens on days when you're not a good mom or a good dad? What happens when you make a mistake or a series of mistakes? What happens when you think your kids are gonna be doing the right things and they don't? What happens when you don't give the kids your grace and mercy and love that God wants you to give to them? What happens when bad days of parenting turn into bad weeks? Or better yet, what happens when your kids start to make mistakes of their own? Maybe they make one or two, maybe they make a series of mistakes, maybe they make big mistakes. 133 00:11:44,892.89795918 --> 00:11:55,42.89595918 And all of a sudden, those whispers of appreciation and admiration, they've turned into whispers of degradation as people look at you and look at your children and say, "Wow, look at those kids. 134 00:11:55,982.89795918 --> 00:12:00,562.89795918 Wonder what went on in that house for them to turn out like that." 135 00:12:03,10.89795918 --> 00:12:06,660.89795918 And all of a sudden you're not as good of a parent as you thought you were. 136 00:12:07,150.89795918 --> 00:12:10,950.89795918 You feel that portion of your identity being taken away from you, erased. 137 00:12:10,980.89795918 --> 00:12:18,338.89795918 You're crushed, you're depressed, asking that question, "Who am I if not that?" And St. 138 00:12:18,338.89795918 --> 00:12:23,748.89795918 John's family, we could do that with each and everything on this list, couldn't we? "Who am I? I'm, a caring husband. 139 00:12:23,848.89795918 --> 00:12:25,208.89795918 That's who I am." 140 00:12:26,238.89795918 --> 00:12:39,198.89695918 Are you sure? Because it looked like you couldn't care less the other day when you walked by your lovely bride when you knew that she needed your tender love and affection, but you had your own things going on, didn't you? "I'm a loyal friend. 141 00:12:39,198.89795918 --> 00:12:40,48.89795918 That's who I am."Eh, 142 00:12:40,648.89795918 --> 00:12:48,278.89695918 maybe mostly, right? But didn't you gossip about your friend the other day and betray their confidence? "I'm a superb boss. 143 00:12:48,278.89795918 --> 00:12:49,438.89795918 I'm a faithful worker." 144 00:12:49,488.89695918 --> 00:12:55,828.89795918 Yeah, you were, at least at one point, until the day that you retired or the day that you got fired. 145 00:12:55,908.89695918 --> 00:13:00,608.89695918 Who are you now if you're not those things? "Well, I'm a marathon runner." 146 00:13:00,748.89795918 --> 00:13:04,648.89795918 Are you still gonna be a marathon runner in 10, 20, 30 years? 26.2 147 00:13:04,648.89795918 --> 00:13:06,318.89895918 miles, that's a long way. 148 00:13:07,218.89895918 --> 00:13:07,878.89795918 "I'm a singer. 149 00:13:07,878.89895918 --> 00:13:08,618.89695918 That's who I am." 150 00:13:09,248.89795918 --> 00:13:12,708.89695918 Your voice isn't as good as it once was, I'd be willing to bet. 151 00:13:13,398.89495918 --> 00:13:14,568.89795918 "I'm a scratch golfer." 152 00:13:14,738.89495918 --> 00:13:15,848.89495918 Come on now. 153 00:13:15,908.89695918 --> 00:13:29,618.89595918 Not even professional golfers are always scratch golfers, right? What happens when you have a bad round? What happens when you get an injury that makes it so you can no longer golf? Who are you then? "Well, I'm funny, all right. 154 00:13:29,628.89895918 --> 00:13:30,928.89395918 That's who I am." 155 00:13:31,868.89595918 --> 00:13:38,808.89895918 Are you so sure about that? Maybe you've experienced getting up in front of a crowd, and you tell a joke, and no one laughs. 156 00:13:39,538.89495918 --> 00:13:41,478.89495918 It hurts, I'll tell you that. 157 00:13:43,108.89395918 --> 00:13:43,698.89995918 Little laugh there. 158 00:13:46,762.89795918 --> 00:13:47,572.89795918 I'm helpful. 159 00:13:47,682.89795918 --> 00:13:48,442.89795918 That's who I am. 160 00:13:48,602.89795918 --> 00:13:49,642.89795918 I'm compassionate. 161 00:13:49,952.89795918 --> 00:13:50,952.89795918 That's who I am. 162 00:13:51,182.89795918 --> 00:14:03,352.89695918 You so sure about that? Didn't you drive right by someone the other day who you knew needed your help, who you knew needed your compassion, but you were just a little too busy? Maybe next time that's will be who you are. 163 00:14:05,12.89695918 --> 00:14:33,572.89795918 Like I said, all these things, they can be taken away, erased by our mistakes or by the opinions of other people And when you put stock in these things, when you make these things the core of who you are, that's my identity, well, when they go away, you're gonna be left with an identity crisis on your hand asking that big question, "Who am I?" This leads me to my very important point of the day. 164 00:14:33,752.89795918 --> 00:14:36,562.89795918 If you've been tuning me out, tune me back in for just a minute here. 165 00:14:36,712.89795918 --> 00:14:41,722.89695918 You should never, and I repeat never, look to creation for your true identity. 166 00:14:42,732.89695918 --> 00:14:45,102.89795918 You should only look to your creator. 167 00:14:45,612.89695918 --> 00:14:55,722.89695918 Saul should have absolutely looked to God, his creator, for his identity, and if he had, he would have heard that he was God's anointed one, specially chosen and loved by God. 168 00:14:56,872.89795918 --> 00:15:09,722.89795918 But instead, he looks to creation, he looks to himself, he looks to others' opinions of him, ever-changing, and it leaves him depressed and wondering who he truly is. 169 00:15:10,382.89795918 --> 00:15:15,602.89895918 And as I said at the start of this message, sometimes we make that same mistake that King Saul made. 170 00:15:16,242.89795918 --> 00:15:34,104.89795918 We look to ourselves, we look to others for our identity, and it's gonna leave us ultimately questioning who we truly are So let's not look to ourselves, let's not look to others, let's look to our creator, God, and see what does he say about who you are? And St. 171 00:15:34,104.89795918 --> 00:15:35,464.89695918 John's family, it's quite the list. 172 00:15:36,274.89795918 --> 00:15:43,804.89795918 But by far the most important thing on this list is gonna be this: God says, "You are my child." 173 00:15:44,494.89795918 --> 00:15:46,44.89795918 That is who you are. 174 00:15:46,164.89795918 --> 00:15:52,994.89695918 You have been adopted into God's family through the precious body and blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 175 00:15:53,434.89595918 --> 00:16:01,134.89695918 Nails through his hands, nails through his feet, his perfect life and death offered on the cross, that is your adoption papers signed, sealed, and delivered. 176 00:16:01,344.89595918 --> 00:16:03,144.89795918 You are a child of God. 177 00:16:03,164.89595918 --> 00:16:07,254.89595918 That is your identity, and that is your worth right there. 178 00:16:08,194.89895918 --> 00:16:18,124.8979568 You are certainly not worthy of Jesus' death on the cross, but you certainly must have great worth at the core of your identity if God was willing to die just for you. 179 00:16:19,494.89790196 --> 00:16:23,314.89595918 And that's what Galatians 4:4-7 talks about, our epistle lesson today. 180 00:16:23,604.89795918 --> 00:16:33,334.89595918 It says, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." 181 00:16:33,784.89495918 --> 00:16:46,184.8959592 Because you are His sons, you are His children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but God's child. 182 00:16:46,364.8969592 --> 00:16:50,454.8939592 And since you are His child, God has made you also an heir. 183 00:16:51,804.8989592 --> 00:16:57,314.8989592 In other words, I'll say it once again, through Jesus, you have been adopted into God's family as His child. 184 00:16:57,474.8969592 --> 00:17:03,444.8969592 That is who you are, and you now get all the privileges of a child of God because that is your identity. 185 00:17:04,654.8979592 --> 00:17:05,884.8919592 You get the Holy Spirit. 186 00:17:06,164.8919592 --> 00:17:09,994.8959592 You get an eternal relationship with God, one that starts now and lasts forever. 187 00:17:10,224.8969592 --> 00:17:19,934.8949592 And that's not going to change, because your identity, I promise you this, it does not depend on what you do, but on what God has already done. 188 00:17:20,984.8919592 --> 00:17:24,864.8979592 Your identity does not change with your performance this week. 189 00:17:25,84.8979592 --> 00:17:30,224.8949592 Your identity does not change depending on how good of a mom or a dad you were this week. 190 00:17:30,684.8959592 --> 00:17:33,964.9019592 It doesn't change on the mistakes that you made at work. 191 00:17:34,64.8939592 --> 00:17:38,294.8879592 It doesn't change on how well you did at your extracurricular activities this week. 192 00:17:38,894.8959592 --> 00:17:52,436.8979592 Your identity does not depend on how many home runs Aaron Judge hit in your playoff matchup in fantasy baseball Your identity does not depend on what you do, but on what God has already done. 193 00:17:53,96.8979592 --> 00:17:58,416.8979592 And in fact, your identity remains constant despite the mistakes that you and I both make. 194 00:17:59,86.8979592 --> 00:18:06,486.8969592 Romans 5:8, a great verse here, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 195 00:18:07,596.8969592 --> 00:18:14,6.8969592 In other words, you're not just a child of God, you are forgiven, you are beloved, you are not your mistakes. 196 00:18:14,6.8969592 --> 00:18:15,496.8979592 Make no mistake about that. 197 00:18:15,496.8979592 --> 00:18:19,776.8989592 In fact, I'll go on to say that God says you are not a mistake. 198 00:18:19,776.8989592 --> 00:18:22,806.8959592 Ephesians 1:4 here, a great verse. 199 00:18:22,806.8979592 --> 00:18:30,486.8949592 It says, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." 200 00:18:31,896.8989592 --> 00:18:34,496.8969592 God designed you very purposefully. 201 00:18:34,506.8949592 --> 00:18:37,236.8979592 He has a plan and a purpose for your life. 202 00:18:37,286.8979592 --> 00:18:39,546.8949592 You are his child, forgiven and beloved. 203 00:18:39,556.8979592 --> 00:18:44,546.8969592 You are not a mistake, and boy, could that list get long about the things that God says you are. 204 00:18:46,572.8979592 --> 00:18:49,612.8979592 Things that He will never take away from you. 205 00:18:49,692.8979592 --> 00:18:56,972.8979592 You can give these things away if you truly want to, but they cannot be taken away from you because God does not change. 206 00:18:58,352.8979592 --> 00:18:59,372.8979592 You are His child. 207 00:18:59,382.8979592 --> 00:19:00,632.8969592 You are forgiven and beloved. 208 00:19:00,642.8979592 --> 00:19:01,562.8979592 You are not a mistake. 209 00:19:01,572.8969592 --> 00:19:03,822.8979592 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 210 00:19:03,942.8969592 --> 00:19:07,222.8979592 You're His masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good works. 211 00:19:07,602.8969592 --> 00:19:09,22.8979592 You're more than a conqueror. 212 00:19:09,222.8979592 --> 00:19:17,392.8969592 God gives you His Holy Spirit, and within you the power to overcome the things of this world as He has already won the ultimate victory for you. 213 00:19:17,882.8979592 --> 00:19:19,82.8969592 You're a light in the world. 214 00:19:19,82.8979592 --> 00:19:24,982.8979592 That's who God says you are, shining His light, the love of Jesus, into the darkest corners. 215 00:19:26,12.8989592 --> 00:19:31,432.8959592 And ultimately, you're a citizen of heaven who's one day gonna be face to face with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 216 00:19:31,622.8959592 --> 00:19:33,812.8959592 That's part of being God's heir. 217 00:19:34,582.8979592 --> 00:19:36,462.8989592 You're gonna be with Him forever one day. 218 00:19:37,982.8959592 --> 00:19:43,312.8979592 And understanding who God says you truly are, it's gonna change the way that you go through life. 219 00:19:43,512.8949592 --> 00:19:51,82.8939592 It's really hard to embrace this each and every day, but if you understand that that is the core of your identity, it's gonna change a lot for you. 220 00:19:51,802.8959592 --> 00:19:54,212.8949592 It's gonna provide stable worth in your life. 221 00:19:54,212.8999592 --> 00:19:56,962.8969592 You're not gonna be your ups or your downs. 222 00:19:56,962.8999592 --> 00:20:01,622.8989592 You're not gonna be, "What have you done for me lately?" It's gonna be stable worth. 223 00:20:01,632.8979592 --> 00:20:02,782.8979592 You are God's child. 224 00:20:03,352.8989592 --> 00:20:05,442.8979592 It's gonna offer you freedom from your past. 225 00:20:05,442.8979592 --> 00:20:06,862.8989592 You're not your mistakes. 226 00:20:06,862.8989592 --> 00:20:08,622.8949592 That's not who God says you are. 227 00:20:08,982.8959592 --> 00:20:10,472.8989592 You are beloved and forgiven. 228 00:20:10,472.8989592 --> 00:20:11,512.8989592 You are His child. 229 00:20:12,752.8929592 --> 00:20:17,872.8959592 It's gonna help you have lasting security as you look forward to the next life. 230 00:20:19,222.8939592 --> 00:20:23,652.8989592 And of course, it's gonna give you purpose and confidence as you go through this life. 231 00:20:23,652.8989592 --> 00:20:24,312.8949592 And so, St. 232 00:20:24,312.8979592 --> 00:20:29,462.8969592 John's family, I think it's gonna be rather obvious what my prayer for you this week is. 233 00:20:30,532.8989592 --> 00:20:35,42.8969592 May you not doubt for a second what your true identity is. 234 00:20:35,482.8959592 --> 00:20:41,442.8979592 May you not look to creation for their approval, yourself for your approval, for your identity. 235 00:20:41,572.8929592 --> 00:20:44,652.8969592 May you only look to your creator, God, who says, "You are my child. 236 00:20:44,902.8939592 --> 00:20:45,962.8919592 You're forgiven and beloved. 237 00:20:45,962.8919592 --> 00:20:46,792.8939592 You're not a mistake. 238 00:20:46,802.8959592 --> 00:20:50,62.8929592 You're a masterpiece who I have fearfully and wonderfully made. 239 00:20:50,242.8979592 --> 00:20:51,432.8959592 You're more than a conqueror. 240 00:20:51,652.8939592 --> 00:20:52,732.8959592 You're a light of the world. 241 00:20:52,762.8949592 --> 00:20:54,622.8979592 You are a citizen of heaven." 242 00:20:54,752.8999592 --> 00:20:56,532.8909592 You are all of these things, St. 243 00:20:56,532.8989592 --> 00:20:58,182.8909592 John's family, because of Jesus. 244 00:20:58,182.8929592 --> 00:21:00,722.8949592 In Jesus' name, Amen. 245 00:21:03,925.8979592 --> 00:21:05,575.8979592 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 246 00:21:05,575.8979592 --> 00:21:07,655.8979592 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 247 00:21:07,975.8979592 --> 00:21:09,775.8979592 If you would like more information about St. 248 00:21:09,775.8979592 --> 00:21:15,435.8979592 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 249 00:21:15,525.8979592 --> 00:21:15,765.8979592 stjohnsbuffalo. 250 00:21:17,5.8969592 --> 00:21:17,335.8969592 org. 251 00:21:17,715.8969592 --> 00:21:19,5.8979592 Thank you and God bless you.
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:14,186.897959184 --> 00:00:19,426.897959184 Oh Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praises in the name of Jesus. 5 00:00:20,106.897959184 --> 00:00:20,736.897959184 Amen. 6 00:00:22,870.897959184 --> 00:00:23,620.897959184 "Morning, champ." 7 00:00:24,610.897959184 --> 00:00:35,250.896959184 Those were the words that our DCE Youth Director, Paul Nelson, said to me the morning after our fantasy baseball season ended, and well, it made sense to greet me that way. 8 00:00:35,250.897959184 --> 00:00:39,870.897959184 After all, I was now the two-time reigning champion of our fantasy baseball league. 9 00:00:40,130.896959184 --> 00:00:41,660.897959184 Please hold your applause. 10 00:00:44,96.897959184 --> 00:00:46,86.897959184 I was the champ and it was gonna stay that way. 11 00:00:46,86.897959184 --> 00:00:47,526.897959184 My strategy was flawless. 12 00:00:47,526.897959184 --> 00:00:57,466.897959184 I couldn't be beat, all right? Fast-forward just under a year later, and I am well on my way to being a three-time fantasy baseball champion. 13 00:00:58,16.897959184 --> 00:01:00,226.897959184 That crown was gonna stay on my head. 14 00:01:00,346.896959184 --> 00:01:01,516.898959184 I was the king. 15 00:01:02,26.896959184 --> 00:01:04,446.896959184 I was inevitable, and so was my championship. 16 00:01:04,446.896959184 --> 00:01:10,246.897959184 At least it seemed that way, until this guy got in the way. 17 00:01:11,746.897959184 --> 00:01:18,446.895959184 Let's just say my team might have struck out its thousands, but Pastor Clark's team, it struck out its tens of thousands. 18 00:01:20,546.897959184 --> 00:01:26,246.897959184 It hit pretty hard, those words that I heard the morning after our fantasy baseball season ended last year. 19 00:01:26,776.897959184 --> 00:01:31,346.896959184 Our DC Youth Director, Paul Nelson, walked into the office and he said, "Morning, champ." 20 00:01:32,176.897959184 --> 00:01:34,936.897959184 I looked up, but he wasn't talking to me. 21 00:01:36,706.897959184 --> 00:01:38,226.897959184 He was talking to Pastor Clark. 22 00:01:38,226.897959184 --> 00:01:39,626.897959184 I was no longer the champ. 23 00:01:39,646.897959184 --> 00:01:41,696.89795918 I was no longer the king. 24 00:01:42,386.89795918 --> 00:01:44,686.89695918 A truly sad story. 25 00:01:44,776.89795918 --> 00:01:45,586.89695918 Am I right, St. 26 00:01:45,586.89695918 --> 00:01:50,682.89795918 John's family? And sorry if I get a little emotional up here. 27 00:01:50,682.89795918 --> 00:01:52,242.89795918 That happens sometimes. 28 00:01:54,132.89795918 --> 00:02:20,122.89795918 And don't people tend to get emotional when they feel like pieces of who they are being taken away from them, the most important bits of their identity? Boy, do we see that this week in our two-year Bible read-through, right? With King Saul, he fears he's about to be replaced, and he feels as if who he is was being taken away and erased, and it becauses him to become rather emotional, doesn't it? And then some, actually. 29 00:02:21,532.89695918 --> 00:02:30,202.89695918 Saul has himself a little bit of an identity crisis, and the truth is, sometimes we have identity crises just like Saul. 30 00:02:30,852.89695918 --> 00:02:33,972.89695918 But furthermore, the truth is, those don't have to happen at all. 31 00:02:33,982.89795918 --> 00:02:38,382.89595918 They can be entirely avoided if you understand who you truly are. 32 00:02:38,862.89495918 --> 00:02:44,342.89695918 And who you truly are, that's not something that can be taken away from you or erased, St. 33 00:02:44,342.89695918 --> 00:02:45,102.89795918 John's family. 34 00:02:46,502.89895918 --> 00:02:52,12.89495918 And I hope you understand all the more who you are through this message today and through the story of King Saul. 35 00:02:52,352.89695918 --> 00:02:56,12.89695918 Now, that story, if you recall, it didn't begin in our two-year read-through this week. 36 00:02:56,12.89695918 --> 00:02:57,912.89695918 It began a couple of weeks ago. 37 00:02:58,862.89895918 --> 00:03:04,652.89395918 The story of Saul truly begins with the Israelites going to the prophet Samuel, and they demand a king. 38 00:03:04,662.89495918 --> 00:03:06,782.89895918 They say, "Give us a king." 39 00:03:08,82.89295918 --> 00:03:10,82.89595918 And Samuel says, "You already have a king. 40 00:03:10,92.89495918 --> 00:03:11,602.89295918 You have your Heavenly Father. 41 00:03:11,622.89395918 --> 00:03:14,462.89895918 The Lord God Almighty is ruling and reigning over you." 42 00:03:14,462.89895918 --> 00:03:15,802.89995918 And they say, "No, no, no. 43 00:03:16,412.89495918 --> 00:03:21,162.89595918 Give us one of those real kings, one of those earthly kings like everyone else around us has." 44 00:03:22,832.89295918 --> 00:03:24,12.89795918 And God says, "Fine, Samuel. 45 00:03:24,12.89795918 --> 00:03:25,352.89295918 Give them what they want." 46 00:03:25,672.89695918 --> 00:03:31,542.89695918 And Samuel goes, and he finds King Saul, and he anoints him to be the first human king of Israel. 47 00:03:32,642.89795918 --> 00:03:38,272.89195918 And when we're introduced to Saul, we find someone who's tall and handsome, and boy, is he humble. 48 00:03:38,662.89495918 --> 00:03:56,942.89295918 In fact, when Saul first hears from Samuel that he's gonna be the king, Saul responds by saying, "Who am I for something like that? Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?Samuel, you can do better than me." 49 00:03:58,922.89795918 --> 00:04:10,492.89795918 Well, as the story goes on, Saul might remain tall and handsome, but at a certain point he is no longer humble, is he? It'd be tough to be humble with being elevated on that pedestal like he was. 50 00:04:12,22.89695918 --> 00:04:24,662.89695918 And because he is no longer humble, he believes to think that he knows better than Samuel, that he knows better than God, and he actually disobeys a very direct order from Samuel and from God who created him. 51 00:04:25,52.89795918 --> 00:04:35,992.89795918 He offers this sacrifice that he knew he wasn't supposed to offer, and because of that sin, and that was a sin, Saul finds out that the kingship, it's gonna be taken away from him. 52 00:04:37,192.89595918 --> 00:04:39,2.89795918 Now, we know who the next king's gonna be. 53 00:04:39,2.89795918 --> 00:04:54,262.89695918 We already found that out, right? In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel, he goes to David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, the shepherd boy, and anoints him to be the next king of Israel, just like he anointed Saul. 54 00:04:55,572.89695918 --> 00:05:03,172.89595918 And we can see that young David is destined for great things, isn't he? Just one chapter later, he's slaying the 9'9" Goliath. 55 00:05:04,722.89395918 --> 00:05:07,622.89995918 And talent like that, it doesn't escape Saul's eyes. 56 00:05:07,802.89595918 --> 00:05:08,952.89895918 He takes note of David. 57 00:05:08,952.89895918 --> 00:05:17,242.89295918 He drafts him into the military, and it says whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. 58 00:05:17,932.89295918 --> 00:05:21,432.89595918 This pleased all the troops and Saul's officers as well. 59 00:05:21,922.89895918 --> 00:05:32,22.89495918 Everyone is happy with David, at least at first, right? His fellow troops, his fellow officers, even King Saul appreciates the good work that David is doing. 60 00:05:34,274.89795918 --> 00:05:39,984.89795918 But Saul's good opinion of David comes crashing down when they return from those battles against the Philistines. 61 00:05:40,374.89795918 --> 00:05:51,964.89895918 It says, "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 62 00:05:51,964.89895918 --> 00:05:57,934.89695918 As they danced, they sang, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.'" 63 00:05:59,324.89695918 --> 00:06:03,154.89795918 You can almost picture it, right? Saul would have loved the first part of that. 64 00:06:03,154.89795918 --> 00:06:04,834.89795918 Maybe those were familiar words. 65 00:06:04,874.89595918 --> 00:06:06,514.89695918 Saul has slain his thousands. 66 00:06:06,774.89795918 --> 00:06:07,584.89795918 Say it again. 67 00:06:07,594.89795918 --> 00:06:08,994.89695918 Saul has slain his thousands. 68 00:06:09,174.89595918 --> 00:06:17,528.89795918 Saul, Saul, Saul, Saul But you can almost hear the record scratch when it gets to the next portion there. 69 00:06:17,898.89795918 --> 00:06:28,148.89695918 "And David his tens of thousands?" Come again? Did I, did I hear that right? Did they just say David has slain his tens of thousands? Oh, they said it again. 70 00:06:28,688.89695918 --> 00:06:30,218.89795918 This can't be. 71 00:06:30,918.89695918 --> 00:06:37,238.89695918 Don't they know who I am? Don't they know that I'm the best? I'm the best warrior. 72 00:06:37,458.89795918 --> 00:06:38,418.89795918 I'm the king. 73 00:06:38,488.89695918 --> 00:06:50,888.89695918 Have they forgotten that? And when Saul feels the most important parts of his identity, at least according to him, being taken away, well, like I said, he becomes rather emotional. 74 00:06:50,888.89695918 --> 00:06:53,408.89695918 In fact, it says Saul was very angry. 75 00:06:53,808.89795918 --> 00:06:55,988.89795918 This refrain displeased him greatly. 76 00:06:56,418.89895918 --> 00:07:00,988.89595918 "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. 77 00:07:02,168.89495918 --> 00:07:07,648.89795918 What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on, Saul kept a close eye on David. 78 00:07:07,648.89795918 --> 00:07:18,858.89595918 And if you have been reading along in your two-year Bible read-through, you know what that means, right? Throughout our readings this week, Saul looks for opportunity after opportunity to murder David. 79 00:07:19,958.89995918 --> 00:07:22,308.89395918 And in fact, we see that several times over. 80 00:07:22,778.89995918 --> 00:07:27,658.89495918 In 1 Samuel 18:10-11, Saul hurls a spear at David not once, but twice. 81 00:07:28,468.89395918 --> 00:07:32,678.89595918 A chapter later, Saul's son Jonathan has to stop him from killing his friend David. 82 00:07:33,478.89595918 --> 00:07:37,648.89595918 In 1 Samuel 19:9-10, Saul hurls a spear at David once again. 83 00:07:38,418.89895918 --> 00:07:42,218.89595918 Couple verses later, Saul sends troops to David's house to kill him. 84 00:07:43,28.89995918 --> 00:07:58,44.89795918 1 Samuel 23, 1 Samuel 24, once again, Saul makes attempts on David's life He is bound and determined to take out this one who's gonna take away the most important parts of who he thinks he is. 85 00:07:58,264.89795918 --> 00:08:00,414.89695918 No one's gonna take away that crown from me. 86 00:08:00,674.89795918 --> 00:08:01,474.89795918 I'm the best. 87 00:08:01,504.89795918 --> 00:08:26,528.89695918 That's who I am And because Saul doesn't understand who he truly is, a little bit of a spoiler alert here, it's gonna be in your readings this week, his life comes to a rather sad end, doesn't it? His life ends with him surrounded by enemies, and then he falls on his own sword because he wouldn't let anyone take away who he thought he was. 88 00:08:26,698.89795918 --> 00:08:30,28.89695918 "No one's gonna take away the crown from me but me." 89 00:08:30,978.89695918 --> 00:08:41,468.89595918 And because he feels that part of his identity slipping away, he feels as though his life truly isn't worth that much, and the sad truth is it didn't have to be that way at all. 90 00:08:42,368.89595918 --> 00:08:56,690.89795918 In fact, I'd say he wouldn't have been upset at all if he would've understood who he truly was, if he would come up with the correct answer to that question, "Who are you?" So let's make it personal for the second half of this sermon here, St. 91 00:08:56,690.89795918 --> 00:08:57,340.89795918 John's family. 92 00:08:57,340.89795918 --> 00:09:09,260.89795918 How would you answer that question? Who are you? I did a little research this week, and statistically speaking, people tend to answer this question in one of three ways. 93 00:09:09,660.89795918 --> 00:09:19,700.89695918 The most common way that people answer this question by far is by anchoring themselves to another person, and then they use a very positive adjective to describe themselves in that role. 94 00:09:19,870.89795918 --> 00:09:21,570.89695918 "Who am I? I'm a good mom. 95 00:09:21,570.89795918 --> 00:09:22,340.89695918 I'm a good dad. 96 00:09:22,340.89695918 --> 00:09:23,180.89695918 That's who I am. 97 00:09:23,550.89795918 --> 00:09:26,390.89595918 Who am I? I'm a caring husband, a loyal friend. 98 00:09:26,390.89795918 --> 00:09:27,710.89595918 I'm a superb boss. 99 00:09:27,710.89795918 --> 00:09:28,870.89895918 I'm a faithful worker. 100 00:09:28,870.89895918 --> 00:09:32,240.89595918 I've been at that company for 40 years doing my thing." 101 00:09:33,890.89795918 --> 00:09:38,140.89795918 The second most common way that people answer that question is by attaching their name to a hobby. 102 00:09:38,140.89795918 --> 00:09:39,770.89695918 "Who am I?I'm a marathon runner. 103 00:09:39,770.89695918 --> 00:09:40,700.89595918 26.2 104 00:09:40,700.89595918 --> 00:09:42,740.89795918 miles? I'll do it in my sleep. 105 00:09:43,290.89595918 --> 00:09:44,30.89695918 I'm a singer. 106 00:09:44,220.89595918 --> 00:09:45,810.89695918 I'm a scratch golfer. 107 00:09:45,810.89695918 --> 00:09:46,850.89595918 That's who I am." 108 00:09:48,150.89595918 --> 00:09:53,220.89795918 And the third most common way that people answer that question is by describing their favorite personality attribute. 109 00:09:53,330.89695918 --> 00:09:55,40.89695918 "Who am I? I'm funny. 110 00:09:55,70.89795918 --> 00:09:55,870.89695918 That's who I am. 111 00:09:56,230.89795918 --> 00:09:56,940.89595918 I'm helpful. 112 00:09:57,20.89495918 --> 00:09:58,10.89795918 I'm compassionate. 113 00:09:58,310.89595918 --> 00:09:59,240.89595918 I'm caring.I'm 114 00:09:59,660.89495918 --> 00:10:00,110.89495918 loving. 115 00:10:00,110.89895918 --> 00:10:00,910.89295918 I'm kind. 116 00:10:01,510.89295918 --> 00:10:02,520.89395918 That's who I am." 117 00:10:05,282.89795918 --> 00:10:05,542.89795918 St. 118 00:10:05,542.89795918 --> 00:10:07,722.89795918 John's family, I cannot stress this enough. 119 00:10:08,762.89795918 --> 00:10:13,412.89795918 Do not make things like this the center, the core of your identity. 120 00:10:14,12.89795918 --> 00:10:20,612.89795918 Because all of those things, they can be taken away from you, lost or erased, just like that. 121 00:10:21,192.89795918 --> 00:10:23,442.89795918 Let's use that first one up there as an example. 122 00:10:24,252.89695918 --> 00:10:25,172.89795918 I'm a good mom. 123 00:10:25,292.89795918 --> 00:10:26,142.89795918 I'm a good dad. 124 00:10:26,152.89695918 --> 00:10:28,362.89795918 That's who I am. 125 00:10:29,842.89695918 --> 00:10:32,102.89795918 And maybe you do listen to all the podcasts. 126 00:10:32,212.89795918 --> 00:10:34,32.89695918 You've read all the parenting books. 127 00:10:34,32.89795918 --> 00:10:37,522.89595918 You've actually done the things the experts have told you to do. 128 00:10:37,542.89595918 --> 00:10:42,562.89595918 You signed your kids up for all of the right programming, and look at them. 129 00:10:43,252.89495918 --> 00:10:54,572.89895918 The scoreboard says things are going well so far, doesn't it? You secretly enjoy the whispers of other people as they look at your children and they say, "Wow, look at those kids. 130 00:10:55,712.89795918 --> 00:10:58,562.89795918 She must be a great mom to have kids like that. 131 00:10:58,562.89795918 --> 00:11:02,212.89695918 He must be a great dad to have kids like that." 132 00:11:04,962.89795918 --> 00:11:43,912.89795918 That's all well and good, but what happens on days when you're not a good mom or a good dad? What happens when you make a mistake or a series of mistakes? What happens when you think your kids are gonna be doing the right things and they don't? What happens when you don't give the kids your grace and mercy and love that God wants you to give to them? What happens when bad days of parenting turn into bad weeks? Or better yet, what happens when your kids start to make mistakes of their own? Maybe they make one or two, maybe they make a series of mistakes, maybe they make big mistakes. 133 00:11:44,892.89795918 --> 00:11:55,42.89595918 And all of a sudden, those whispers of appreciation and admiration, they've turned into whispers of degradation as people look at you and look at your children and say, "Wow, look at those kids. 134 00:11:55,982.89795918 --> 00:12:00,562.89795918 Wonder what went on in that house for them to turn out like that." 135 00:12:03,10.89795918 --> 00:12:06,660.89795918 And all of a sudden you're not as good of a parent as you thought you were. 136 00:12:07,150.89795918 --> 00:12:10,950.89795918 You feel that portion of your identity being taken away from you, erased. 137 00:12:10,980.89795918 --> 00:12:18,338.89795918 You're crushed, you're depressed, asking that question, "Who am I if not that?" And St. 138 00:12:18,338.89795918 --> 00:12:23,748.89795918 John's family, we could do that with each and everything on this list, couldn't we? "Who am I? I'm, a caring husband. 139 00:12:23,848.89795918 --> 00:12:25,208.89795918 That's who I am." 140 00:12:26,238.89795918 --> 00:12:39,198.89695918 Are you sure? Because it looked like you couldn't care less the other day when you walked by your lovely bride when you knew that she needed your tender love and affection, but you had your own things going on, didn't you? "I'm a loyal friend. 141 00:12:39,198.89795918 --> 00:12:40,48.89795918 That's who I am."Eh, 142 00:12:40,648.89795918 --> 00:12:48,278.89695918 maybe mostly, right? But didn't you gossip about your friend the other day and betray their confidence? "I'm a superb boss. 143 00:12:48,278.89795918 --> 00:12:49,438.89795918 I'm a faithful worker." 144 00:12:49,488.89695918 --> 00:12:55,828.89795918 Yeah, you were, at least at one point, until the day that you retired or the day that you got fired. 145 00:12:55,908.89695918 --> 00:13:00,608.89695918 Who are you now if you're not those things? "Well, I'm a marathon runner." 146 00:13:00,748.89795918 --> 00:13:04,648.89795918 Are you still gonna be a marathon runner in 10, 20, 30 years? 26.2 147 00:13:04,648.89795918 --> 00:13:06,318.89895918 miles, that's a long way. 148 00:13:07,218.89895918 --> 00:13:07,878.89795918 "I'm a singer. 149 00:13:07,878.89895918 --> 00:13:08,618.89695918 That's who I am." 150 00:13:09,248.89795918 --> 00:13:12,708.89695918 Your voice isn't as good as it once was, I'd be willing to bet. 151 00:13:13,398.89495918 --> 00:13:14,568.89795918 "I'm a scratch golfer." 152 00:13:14,738.89495918 --> 00:13:15,848.89495918 Come on now. 153 00:13:15,908.89695918 --> 00:13:29,618.89595918 Not even professional golfers are always scratch golfers, right? What happens when you have a bad round? What happens when you get an injury that makes it so you can no longer golf? Who are you then? "Well, I'm funny, all right. 154 00:13:29,628.89895918 --> 00:13:30,928.89395918 That's who I am." 155 00:13:31,868.89595918 --> 00:13:38,808.89895918 Are you so sure about that? Maybe you've experienced getting up in front of a crowd, and you tell a joke, and no one laughs. 156 00:13:39,538.89495918 --> 00:13:41,478.89495918 It hurts, I'll tell you that. 157 00:13:43,108.89395918 --> 00:13:43,698.89995918 Little laugh there. 158 00:13:46,762.89795918 --> 00:13:47,572.89795918 I'm helpful. 159 00:13:47,682.89795918 --> 00:13:48,442.89795918 That's who I am. 160 00:13:48,602.89795918 --> 00:13:49,642.89795918 I'm compassionate. 161 00:13:49,952.89795918 --> 00:13:50,952.89795918 That's who I am. 162 00:13:51,182.89795918 --> 00:14:03,352.89695918 You so sure about that? Didn't you drive right by someone the other day who you knew needed your help, who you knew needed your compassion, but you were just a little too busy? Maybe next time that's will be who you are. 163 00:14:05,12.89695918 --> 00:14:33,572.89795918 Like I said, all these things, they can be taken away, erased by our mistakes or by the opinions of other people And when you put stock in these things, when you make these things the core of who you are, that's my identity, well, when they go away, you're gonna be left with an identity crisis on your hand asking that big question, "Who am I?" This leads me to my very important point of the day. 164 00:14:33,752.89795918 --> 00:14:36,562.89795918 If you've been tuning me out, tune me back in for just a minute here. 165 00:14:36,712.89795918 --> 00:14:41,722.89695918 You should never, and I repeat never, look to creation for your true identity. 166 00:14:42,732.89695918 --> 00:14:45,102.89795918 You should only look to your creator. 167 00:14:45,612.89695918 --> 00:14:55,722.89695918 Saul should have absolutely looked to God, his creator, for his identity, and if he had, he would have heard that he was God's anointed one, specially chosen and loved by God. 168 00:14:56,872.89795918 --> 00:15:09,722.89795918 But instead, he looks to creation, he looks to himself, he looks to others' opinions of him, ever-changing, and it leaves him depressed and wondering who he truly is. 169 00:15:10,382.89795918 --> 00:15:15,602.89895918 And as I said at the start of this message, sometimes we make that same mistake that King Saul made. 170 00:15:16,242.89795918 --> 00:15:34,104.89795918 We look to ourselves, we look to others for our identity, and it's gonna leave us ultimately questioning who we truly are So let's not look to ourselves, let's not look to others, let's look to our creator, God, and see what does he say about who you are? And St. 171 00:15:34,104.89795918 --> 00:15:35,464.89695918 John's family, it's quite the list. 172 00:15:36,274.89795918 --> 00:15:43,804.89795918 But by far the most important thing on this list is gonna be this: God says, "You are my child." 173 00:15:44,494.89795918 --> 00:15:46,44.89795918 That is who you are. 174 00:15:46,164.89795918 --> 00:15:52,994.89695918 You have been adopted into God's family through the precious body and blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 175 00:15:53,434.89595918 --> 00:16:01,134.89695918 Nails through his hands, nails through his feet, his perfect life and death offered on the cross, that is your adoption papers signed, sealed, and delivered. 176 00:16:01,344.89595918 --> 00:16:03,144.89795918 You are a child of God. 177 00:16:03,164.89595918 --> 00:16:07,254.89595918 That is your identity, and that is your worth right there. 178 00:16:08,194.89895918 --> 00:16:18,124.8979568 You are certainly not worthy of Jesus' death on the cross, but you certainly must have great worth at the core of your identity if God was willing to die just for you. 179 00:16:19,494.89790196 --> 00:16:23,314.89595918 And that's what Galatians 4:4-7 talks about, our epistle lesson today. 180 00:16:23,604.89795918 --> 00:16:33,334.89595918 It says, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." 181 00:16:33,784.89495918 --> 00:16:46,184.8959592 Because you are His sons, you are His children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but God's child. 182 00:16:46,364.8969592 --> 00:16:50,454.8939592 And since you are His child, God has made you also an heir. 183 00:16:51,804.8989592 --> 00:16:57,314.8989592 In other words, I'll say it once again, through Jesus, you have been adopted into God's family as His child. 184 00:16:57,474.8969592 --> 00:17:03,444.8969592 That is who you are, and you now get all the privileges of a child of God because that is your identity. 185 00:17:04,654.8979592 --> 00:17:05,884.8919592 You get the Holy Spirit. 186 00:17:06,164.8919592 --> 00:17:09,994.8959592 You get an eternal relationship with God, one that starts now and lasts forever. 187 00:17:10,224.8969592 --> 00:17:19,934.8949592 And that's not going to change, because your identity, I promise you this, it does not depend on what you do, but on what God has already done. 188 00:17:20,984.8919592 --> 00:17:24,864.8979592 Your identity does not change with your performance this week. 189 00:17:25,84.8979592 --> 00:17:30,224.8949592 Your identity does not change depending on how good of a mom or a dad you were this week. 190 00:17:30,684.8959592 --> 00:17:33,964.9019592 It doesn't change on the mistakes that you made at work. 191 00:17:34,64.8939592 --> 00:17:38,294.8879592 It doesn't change on how well you did at your extracurricular activities this week. 192 00:17:38,894.8959592 --> 00:17:52,436.8979592 Your identity does not depend on how many home runs Aaron Judge hit in your playoff matchup in fantasy baseball Your identity does not depend on what you do, but on what God has already done. 193 00:17:53,96.8979592 --> 00:17:58,416.8979592 And in fact, your identity remains constant despite the mistakes that you and I both make. 194 00:17:59,86.8979592 --> 00:18:06,486.8969592 Romans 5:8, a great verse here, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 195 00:18:07,596.8969592 --> 00:18:14,6.8969592 In other words, you're not just a child of God, you are forgiven, you are beloved, you are not your mistakes. 196 00:18:14,6.8969592 --> 00:18:15,496.8979592 Make no mistake about that. 197 00:18:15,496.8979592 --> 00:18:19,776.8989592 In fact, I'll go on to say that God says you are not a mistake. 198 00:18:19,776.8989592 --> 00:18:22,806.8959592 Ephesians 1:4 here, a great verse. 199 00:18:22,806.8979592 --> 00:18:30,486.8949592 It says, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." 200 00:18:31,896.8989592 --> 00:18:34,496.8969592 God designed you very purposefully. 201 00:18:34,506.8949592 --> 00:18:37,236.8979592 He has a plan and a purpose for your life. 202 00:18:37,286.8979592 --> 00:18:39,546.8949592 You are his child, forgiven and beloved. 203 00:18:39,556.8979592 --> 00:18:44,546.8969592 You are not a mistake, and boy, could that list get long about the things that God says you are. 204 00:18:46,572.8979592 --> 00:18:49,612.8979592 Things that He will never take away from you. 205 00:18:49,692.8979592 --> 00:18:56,972.8979592 You can give these things away if you truly want to, but they cannot be taken away from you because God does not change. 206 00:18:58,352.8979592 --> 00:18:59,372.8979592 You are His child. 207 00:18:59,382.8979592 --> 00:19:00,632.8969592 You are forgiven and beloved. 208 00:19:00,642.8979592 --> 00:19:01,562.8979592 You are not a mistake. 209 00:19:01,572.8969592 --> 00:19:03,822.8979592 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 210 00:19:03,942.8969592 --> 00:19:07,222.8979592 You're His masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good works. 211 00:19:07,602.8969592 --> 00:19:09,22.8979592 You're more than a conqueror. 212 00:19:09,222.8979592 --> 00:19:17,392.8969592 God gives you His Holy Spirit, and within you the power to overcome the things of this world as He has already won the ultimate victory for you. 213 00:19:17,882.8979592 --> 00:19:19,82.8969592 You're a light in the world. 214 00:19:19,82.8979592 --> 00:19:24,982.8979592 That's who God says you are, shining His light, the love of Jesus, into the darkest corners. 215 00:19:26,12.8989592 --> 00:19:31,432.8959592 And ultimately, you're a citizen of heaven who's one day gonna be face to face with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 216 00:19:31,622.8959592 --> 00:19:33,812.8959592 That's part of being God's heir. 217 00:19:34,582.8979592 --> 00:19:36,462.8989592 You're gonna be with Him forever one day. 218 00:19:37,982.8959592 --> 00:19:43,312.8979592 And understanding who God says you truly are, it's gonna change the way that you go through life. 219 00:19:43,512.8949592 --> 00:19:51,82.8939592 It's really hard to embrace this each and every day, but if you understand that that is the core of your identity, it's gonna change a lot for you. 220 00:19:51,802.8959592 --> 00:19:54,212.8949592 It's gonna provide stable worth in your life. 221 00:19:54,212.8999592 --> 00:19:56,962.8969592 You're not gonna be your ups or your downs. 222 00:19:56,962.8999592 --> 00:20:01,622.8989592 You're not gonna be, "What have you done for me lately?" It's gonna be stable worth. 223 00:20:01,632.8979592 --> 00:20:02,782.8979592 You are God's child. 224 00:20:03,352.8989592 --> 00:20:05,442.8979592 It's gonna offer you freedom from your past. 225 00:20:05,442.8979592 --> 00:20:06,862.8989592 You're not your mistakes. 226 00:20:06,862.8989592 --> 00:20:08,622.8949592 That's not who God says you are. 227 00:20:08,982.8959592 --> 00:20:10,472.8989592 You are beloved and forgiven. 228 00:20:10,472.8989592 --> 00:20:11,512.8989592 You are His child. 229 00:20:12,752.8929592 --> 00:20:17,872.8959592 It's gonna help you have lasting security as you look forward to the next life. 230 00:20:19,222.8939592 --> 00:20:23,652.8989592 And of course, it's gonna give you purpose and confidence as you go through this life. 231 00:20:23,652.8989592 --> 00:20:24,312.8949592 And so, St. 232 00:20:24,312.8979592 --> 00:20:29,462.8969592 John's family, I think it's gonna be rather obvious what my prayer for you this week is. 233 00:20:30,532.8989592 --> 00:20:35,42.8969592 May you not doubt for a second what your true identity is. 234 00:20:35,482.8959592 --> 00:20:41,442.8979592 May you not look to creation for their approval, yourself for your approval, for your identity. 235 00:20:41,572.8929592 --> 00:20:44,652.8969592 May you only look to your creator, God, who says, "You are my child. 236 00:20:44,902.8939592 --> 00:20:45,962.8919592 You're forgiven and beloved. 237 00:20:45,962.8919592 --> 00:20:46,792.8939592 You're not a mistake. 238 00:20:46,802.8959592 --> 00:20:50,62.8929592 You're a masterpiece who I have fearfully and wonderfully made. 239 00:20:50,242.8979592 --> 00:20:51,432.8959592 You're more than a conqueror. 240 00:20:51,652.8939592 --> 00:20:52,732.8959592 You're a light of the world. 241 00:20:52,762.8949592 --> 00:20:54,622.8979592 You are a citizen of heaven." 242 00:20:54,752.8999592 --> 00:20:56,532.8909592 You are all of these things, St. 243 00:20:56,532.8989592 --> 00:20:58,182.8909592 John's family, because of Jesus. 244 00:20:58,182.8929592 --> 00:21:00,722.8949592 In Jesus' name, Amen. 245 00:21:03,925.8979592 --> 00:21:05,575.8979592 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 246 00:21:05,575.8979592 --> 00:21:07,655.8979592 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 247 00:21:07,975.8979592 --> 00:21:09,775.8979592 If you would like more information about St. 248 00:21:09,775.8979592 --> 00:21:15,435.8979592 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 249 00:21:15,525.8979592 --> 00:21:15,765.8979592 stjohnsbuffalo. 250 00:21:17,5.8969592 --> 00:21:17,335.8969592 org. 251 00:21:17,715.8969592 --> 00:21:19,5.8979592 Thank you and God bless you.
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