The Worst Identity Thief of All Time!!

AY Programme: The Worst Identity Thief

Preliminaries and Song Service:

Opening Remarks:

Moderator: Identity theft is a worldwide crisis. The total cost of identity theft in 2020 was $56 billion, the highest number in recorded history. Identity fraud scams cost victims $43 billion and traditional identity fraud cost victims $13 billion, according to a 2021 study by Javelin Strategy & Research.

 As we speak, thousands of people are being harassed and robbed because of this terrible crime. But what we are going to talk about today is identity theft that can cost you more than money and reputation. 

Role Play 1: A thief works night and day trying to rob Christians of their identity in Christ. The robbery takes place in the believer’s mind, and the damage affects other Christian people. 

When we are confused about who we are, our families suffer, our church suffers, unbelievers suffer because of what they don’t receive from us. Most of all, we suffer all kinds of turmoil, anxiety, and loss of joy. 

Has the devil tried to rob you of your identity in Christ? Has he tried to convince you that what God said about you is untrue? Well, by the end of today, we’ll see if any of you here are experiencing what I am going through.

Role Play 2: I live in a world that is full of people who are lost…. Where many believe that they simply don’t fit in. Many people are searching for a sense of belonging to someone or something… That’s me. 

I live in a time where many are experiencing an identity crisis, just like myself. And I know, many Christians face the same problem today. You don’t know who you are. We’ve lost our identity.

Special Music

Moderator: Could it be that like those 2 persons, the most significant problem facing Christians today revolve around an identity crisis like those two persons?

Let’s hear from you what are some of the results of having an identity crisis 

(4 persons in the congregation will be given papers to say the following: 

1. I have been conditioned to expect the ordinary.
2. I have been conditioned to believe I am less than God says I am.
3. I have been conditioned to think that I have nothing to offer.
4. I have been conditioned to see everything familiar and ordinary.

Moderator: Too many young people and older ones too, gain their identity from the latest fashions, trends, or popular expressions from their peers. Many Christians gain their identity more from their family background, work or human relationships than they do from who they are in Christ. No wonder Paul emphasized who we are in Christ throughout his epistles.

Now I want you to divide yourselves into 4 groups and you will each be given some discussion questions. Take time in your group to answer, use bible texts, practical experiences, or you can even do a short skit for us. You have 15 minutes in your group and 5 mins each to present. 

(5 mins)

Group Questions

1. What is the Christian role in helping others who are lost? 
2. What happens when Christians are facing the same kinds of identity crisis as those who are lost?
3. Discuss various ways in which the devil tries to steal our identity. 
4. What tools does God give us to withstand the devil’s attacks?

 Special Song 

Moderator: 

The devil challenges our identity in Christ. 

For some, he will point to your past; major blunders, failed relationships, dishonourable acts, regrettable decisions. And even though those sins are under the blood, he will try to use the memory of them to define who you are. 

He will try to use abuse, rejection, whatever he can find in the past as a basis for his definition. If we don’t know in our spirit that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, we can get easily ensnared by the devil’s accusations. 

I want to declare with all boldness that the blood of Jesus is just as effectual in cleansing sin for the believer as it is for the person receiving Christ for the first time (1 John 1: 7). Listen to your identity according to the word of God.  

Final Activity: 

Let us look at our last activity, which asks the question: Who am I according to the Bible. (Ten Bible verses will be given and persons will be asked to find out their true identity)

1.   Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his ____________________, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Workmanship

2.   2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a ____________________: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new. New creature

3.   Romans 8: 37 – Nay, in all these things we are ____________________ through him who loved us. More than conquerors

4.   1 John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the ____________________. Sons of God

5.   1 John 4:4 – Ye are ____________________ little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you, than that is in the world. Of God

6.   Romans 8:1 – There is therefore, now ____________________ to them which are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation (i.e. they’re not condemned)

7.   John 15:15 – Henceforth call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you ____________________, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you. Friends

8.   2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then we are ____________________, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. Ambassadors for Christ

9.   Romans 8:17 – And if children, then ____________________ — ____________________ of God and joint____________________ with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Heirs

10. 1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a ____________________ that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Chosen Generation, A Royal Priesthood, An Holy nation, A Peculiar People

Conclusion: 

Brethren, let us read these texts and know for ourselves what God has said about our identity. Be able to reply, “It is written” when the enemy challenges our identity. Spend time in prayer for God to affirm who we are.