Fakers, Posers, and Wannabes

identity - how we see ourselves through the lens of culture, body image, trauma, and relationships
 

You were created by God for God.

"You will never truly be yourself until you see yourself through the eyes of God."

You are born into the family of God on a mission to bring light into darkness and hope to the hopeless.

3 Aspects of the Covenant:

- child of God

- covenant marriage

- faithfulness to be the Church

1. faker - knows how to work the system and get what he/she wants; Jacob

2. poser - life is a show; finds his/her identity in profile & style; Rachel

3. wannabe - average; wants more for him/herself; willing to keep the rules and earn worth; Leah

If you don't admit where you are, you will never be who God has called you to be.

Genesis 29:9-14 NIV

9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. 13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,

Genesis 29:16-28 NIV

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

Just because you have begun a relationship with God doesn't mean you're not vulnerable to your shadow side.

Genesis 29:11 NIV

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.

II. The Poser

Genesis 29:18 NIV

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

III. The Wannabe

God sees you; He feels what you feel.

Christianity isn't about going to church and keeping the rules and sinning less; it's about a covenant relationship with your Maker.

Isaiah 53:3NIV

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.Like one from whom people hide their face she was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

How it Ended:

1. Leah found the love of her life in God.
2. Jacob let go of his cataclysmic desires and took hold of the only One who could truly save him.Rachel couldn't let go of beauty and bucks.

We don't climb the ladder to salvation and wholeness; Jesus is the ladder.

How it Ended:

1. Leah found the love of her life in God.

2. Jacob let go of his cataclysmic desires and took hold of the only One who could truly save him.

3. Rachel couldn't let go of beauty and bucks.

Genesis 35:18NIV

18 As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.