Notice, in order to tempt Jesus to disobey God, Satan had to attack His identity (“If you are the Son of God…”). Identity is how you see yourself.
Last week, we showed how Satan comes, as he did to Adam and Eve, to distort God’s image – how we see God. This week, we see how he comes to distort our image – how we see ourselves.

CS Lewis, the great Christian philosopher and author said,
The instrument through which you see God is your whole self, and if a man’s self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred.

It seems to be much easier to fix a distorted image of God than to fix a distorted image of ourselves. A correct image of our self very simply is what's true about us.

So, how do you know if you have a distorted image of yourself?
You have to listen to outside objective opinion.

There are two extremes to this:

(1) Those who are never willing to confront or challenge you – flattery (false praise).

· A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. – Prov. 29:5

(2) Those who seldom if ever encourage or affirm you – critics & accusers.

· “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” – Rev. 12:10

Ephesians 4:15 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Our esteem (view of ourselves) must align with what's actually true about us.

What is your value?
Depends on who you ask.

1. Chemist - $4.50. (Mayo Clinic library)

2. The culture/marketplace – actor, athlete, CEO: millions vs. ‘normal person’

3. God
· The Cross

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

· Fellowship with Him
o David and Absalom
o When God told me He wanted to hang out with me, I quit being ‘needy’ of the esteem, of others and instead became ‘needed’!
o Rev. 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

- This was addressed to lukewarm people!

· Ownership

1 Cor. 6:20 - For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

- Our identity is now not so much who we are as it is Whose we are.

Rom. 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a]who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

– Like Noah in the ark

Rom. 6:11 - So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God

2 Corinthians. 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Col 2:9,10 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

1 Thessalonians. 4:16 - For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead

So, the key question is… are you IN CHRIST?

Remember, it is Satan’s job to distort not only God’s image, but yours!

When you’re an unbeliever, he is constantly telling you things are better than they really are (so you won’t call on God).

o You’ll get your marriage fixed.
o You’ll find someone else.
o Things will work out.

When you become a believer, he will constantly attempt to tell you things are worse than they really are!

o How do you know God will come through?
o You can’t really live according to the Bible.

Response
(1)Get ‘in the boat’ (ark)
(2)Rejoice! You belong to the right One!