Who we are as people is dictated by that to which or those to whom we pledge our absolute allegiance. To whom do we belong. That ultimately is the question we must answer in our pursuit of identity. Our sermon starter for this week examines that very question with the resounding answer that it is to God that we ultimately belong and we seek to give four reasons as to why.
Title: He, Whose I Am
Text: Acts 27:21-24
Main Point: Examining the events leading up to Paul’s shipwreck in route to Rome reveals much about the reasoning capabilities of man. That crew of seaman stubbornly believed that they could outman the forces of nature but it was not until Paul finally spoke up and gave them hope that their safe end was in sight. But while that safety was promised it was not realized without difficulties. The only way Paul had any assurance was because he knew Whose he was. We can have a similar safety by belonging to God as well, but in what sense are we and must we be His?
Discussion Points:
- We are His by Death – When you purchase something you consider yourself the owner. Your time and energy are sacrificed to earn the money used to purchase the item and anyone else who claims ownership is considered to be infringing on personal property. 1 Corinthians 6:20 – the church is pictured as a body purchased with a price. The sacrifice was Jesus’ death and the purchase price was His blood. We then belong to Him because Jesus paid the purchase price with His own death.
- We are His by Deliverance – Have you ever gotten lost? It is an impending feeling especially in a dire situation. How relived were you when you finally found your way? Colossians 1:13 – at some point in our lives we have all been lost in spiritual darkness, but Christ has been our deliverer and our way. We are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into His kingdom being set on a course of light (1 Peter 2:9) thus making us His by deliverance.
- We are His by Dependence – As children one overriding reality existed in our lives – we were dependents. Sure we tried to rationalize our “independence” and become rebellious because of our “oppressive” parents. However, we would have only had to go without a few provided meals, slept without provided shelter, and lived without their provided love and security to figure out just how dependent we were. 1 Corinthians 15:10 – we owe all we have and all we are to God and His grace displayed and distributed to us; by His grace we are not who we used to be. Ephesians 2:11-13 – the Gentiles were noticeably different and it was all attributed to Calvary. We belong to God because we are dependent on Him for all we need.
- We are His by Direction – Children cannot be expected to direct their own affairs. They must rely on their parents’ wisdom gained by experience. Children who do not receive or accept direction wander aimlessly in life and are usually ruined of whatever potential they had. Romans 8:14 – as children of God we do not direct our own affairs. In fact we are unable to (Jeremiah 10:23). The children of Israel at times did and look at where it got them (Judges 21:25; 2:10). We belong to God because only He provides the direction we need.
To whom do we belong? We need to pledge our devotion to God because we have every reason (listed above) to. Let’s help people know He whose they are!