Reframed – Week 3 ©Arise Ministries, 2020 1

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Reframed: The Power of a Changed Perspective Featuring

Lina AbuJamra LivingWithPower.org

Session 1: The Struggle is Real

Session 2: The Problem with People

Session 3: The Truth of Who I Am

Session 4: Understanding the Scars in My Life

To view the accompanying videos for this series, go to https://ariseministries.net/reframed

This series is presented by Arise Ministries. More online Bible studies can be found at www.AriseMinistries.net

Reframed – Week 3 ©Arise Ministries, 2020 2

Who do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a woman with a sinful, or maybe painful past? Do you see a string of failures and flaws? Who told you those things were true of you? In Session 3, we’ll study the change in Jacob as he received a new name and a new identity after he struggled with God. What we believe about ourselves has everything to do with what we believe about God. Dive into His Word this week for insight to the truth of who you are, and learn to reframe your identity from God’s point of view.

1. Describe yourself. In your description, include anything that would give insight about your personality, beliefs, or values.

2. Some people were named for a specific reason; perhaps it was a family name, or it was given because it had a special meaning. Others of us weren’t given our name for a specific reason. Do you know how you got your name or what it means? You could ask a family member or look it up online. If you find the meaning, does it fit you at all?

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Before the birth of Jacob and Esau, the Lord told their mother that two nations were in her womb, and the older would serve the younger. When the first twin was born, he was hairy so he was named Esau, which means “hairy.” The second twin was born grasping the heel of Esau so he was named Jacob, which means “supplanter,” or one who takes the place of another, as through force, scheming, or strategy. Think back to Session 1. In Genesis 25 Jacob behaves as a schemer when he acquires his brother’s birthright. Again in Genesis 27, he receives the blessing intended for Esau through an act of deception. It appears Jacob had circumstances in his life that accurately cast him as a deceiver.

3. Read Genesis 32:24-27. Why do you think God asked him in verse 27, “What is your name?” Wouldn’t he have known his name?

Jacob answered him with his given name. He was tired from the struggle and burdened with anticipation of being reunited with his brother. He could just as well have answered, “My name is Deceiver,” since the stress of his past was likely weighing on him. God asked him the question to expose his need for a change. It was after Jacob’s identity confession that God blessed him. It’s as if He was saying, “I see you. I know how you see yourself. And I will now redeem your flawed identity.” God is all-knowing. He often asks us questions not for His benefit, but because He wants us to come face-to-face with our need for him.

Genesis 32:24-32 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

KEY THOUGHT #1: While I see myself as what I’ve done, God sees me as who He knows I am.

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4. How do you see yourself? Is it based on what you’ve done, what has happened to you, your successes, or failures? Explain.

5. Read the following scriptures. What does it say about God’s love for us? How does this

shape the way He sees us?

He loved us when we were sinners—before we even knew Him. For those who have accepted Him, God sees Christ in us. He doesn’t define us by our sin, our accomplishments, our successes, or our failures. He died to claim us for His own. It is His gift to us.

Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-8 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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6. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Circle all the blessings we’ve received as a follower of Christ.

7. Read a few more scriptures that speak to our identity in Christ. How do these encourage you to reframe your perception of yourself?

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has

blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose

us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless

before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus

Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which

he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the

forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished

upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according

to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all

things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an

inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all

things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in

Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of

truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised

Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to

the praise of his glory.

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Jacob wrestled with God and refused to let go. His faith enabled him to receive a new name that replaced his faulty identity. God erased his title of a deceiver and recreated him as Israel, meaning God will prevail. What a gift that must have been to Jacob! Having done nothing to deserve that gift, God gave it freely when Jacob humbled himself to Him. His name is now a testimony of the life-changing power of God in his life. God also has a new identity for you, crafted long before the beginning of time. He longs for you to see yourself through the lens of the identity He gives you.

8. Read the following scriptures. How does the identity we receive from God offer us freedom?

9. How can you begin to believe what God says about you?

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 118:5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

KEY THOUGHT #2: While I believe my identity is a product of my bad decisions, my identity is a gift of God’s grace to receive.

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The only way to lay hold of the identity God has for you is to choose to believe it. For many of us, we have head knowledge of our spiritual identity, but we’re slow to live as if God is trustworthy. Why? Because it is easier to stay in the lies we’ve grown accustomed to. Change brings uncertainty and apprehension. At first it doesn’t feel safe because we don’t know what is on the other side. But change always involves risk. What if we chose to immerse ourselves in His Word, and took a step of faith to believe we have been made new? What then? How would your life look like if you could trade all the lies about yourself in exchange for an identity rooted in Christ? Like Jacob, God desires to give you a new identity worthy of being called a daughter of God—not based on what you’ve done—but based on what He has done for you. Will you accept the truth of your identify?

10. Write a second description of yourself. This time, write one that describes who you are based on the truth presented in this session.

Join us for the next session of REFRAMED: The Power of a

Changed Perspective. Session 4 takes a look at the ugly

scars in our life. How does our past set us up to see the

faithfulness of God in our future? Find out in the next

session.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK 4

KEY THOUGHT #3: While I can get comfortable under the weight of who I think I am, God wants me to walk in the freedom of who He has called me to be.

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Notes for Small Group Discussion:

1. Briefly share your thoughts on the video.

2. Briefly talk about spiritual concepts you learned.

3. Share with your group a choice you need to make that will honor God.

4. Consider practical ways to find accountability with these truths.

To share your thoughts regarding this study, contact us at info@ariseministries.net.

This resource is made available by Arise Ministries. No part of this study may be copied, sold, or distributed in

conjunction with any another work or compilation. It may not be posted on any other website. Links to this

document should be made directly to www.ariseministries.net/bible-study. All scripture references are made using

the ESV translation.

LINA ABUJAMRA

Video Content Author

Lina is a Pediatric ER doctor and founder of Living with Power

Ministries. Her vision is to bring hope to the world by connecting

biblical answers to everyday life. A popular Bible teacher, blogger,

and conference speaker Lina is the host of Today’s Single

Christian on Moody Radio and of Morning Minutes, a daily audio

devotional available on her website.

KIM HEINECKE

Study Guide Content Author

Kim serves as the Director of Operations with Arise Ministries and

coordinates the online Bible study content. As a former single mom,

she uses her life experiences and personal spiritual growth through

studying God’s Word to encourage women. Kim writes for

www.AriseMinistries.net and for her personal website The Mom

Experiment.