AUTHENTICITY: IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU
Building Deep Relationships
“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it…” Romans 12:9a (MSG)
WHAT CAUSES US TO WEAR MASKS?
FEAR!
“… I was afraid… so I hid.” Genesis 3:10 (NIV)
1. THE FEAR OF EXPOSURE KEEPS US FROM BEING AUTHENTIC.
“No one really knows what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself…” 1 Corinthians 2:11a (TLB)
“Insincere talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze on a cheap clay pot.” Proverbs 26:23 (GNT)
1st KEY TO AUTHENTICITY:
LIVE IN THE LIGHT
“… If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other…” 1 John 1:7 (NCV)
“You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord’s people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Ephesians 5:8-10 (GNT)
“… When… things are brought out [into] the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed.” Ephesians 5:13 (GNT)
“We refuse to wear masks and play games… Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see…” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (MSG)
2. THE FEAR OF REJECTION KEEPS US FROM BEING AUTHENTIC.
“The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that.” Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)
2nd KEY TO AUTHENTICITY:
TRUST IN GODS LOVE
“Don’t be afraid… for you [are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and] be strong!” Daniel 10:19 (NLT)
“I trust in God [so] I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?” Psalm 56:11 (NCV)
3. THE FEAR OF BEING HURT KEEPS US FROM BEING AUTHENTIC.
“My heart grew embittered, [and] my affections dried up.” Psalm 73:21 (NJB)
“All they get are days full of sadness and sorrow, and they end up sick, defeated, and angry.” Ecclesiastes 5:17 (NCV)
3rd KEY TO AUTHENTICITY:
GET A NEW HEART
God: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove… your heart of stone…” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)
“Once… our lives were full of resentment… We hated others and they hated us. But when the time came for the kindness and love of God our Savior to appear, then he saved us – not because we were good enough to be saved but because of His kindness and pity–by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy…” Titus 3:3-5 (TLB)