IMPACT Recap

Taking Off My Masks Part 2

June 4, 2021 · 0:46:58

IdentityPurposeWisdom

Recap

Pastor Todd Baffo continued Impact Church's series on identity by exploring the call to spiritual maturity from 1 Corinthians 13:11. He explained that many believers struggle with 'masks'—patterns of insecurity, negative self-talk, and false beliefs—that prevent them from living authentically as God created them. The message centered on three fundamental areas that need to mature: our speech, our understanding, and our thought life. Pastor Todd emphasized that our words have creative power, for good or ill, and we must learn to speak life and faith rather than fear and poison. He taught that our understanding of situations must be based on God's truth, not our own fearful or childish reasoning. Finally, he challenged the congregation to build a rock-solid, healthy thought life by resisting negative patterns and drawing near to God. The sermon concluded with a powerful reminder that what God says about us matters more than our own thoughts or the opinions of others, and that through Christ, we have the authority to put away childish things and step into our God-given purpose.

Main Points

  • Our speech has the power to create; we must use our words to sow seeds of faith and life, not fear and poison.
  • Our understanding must be based on God's truth, not on our own fearful, childish, or fictional reasoning.
  • We must build a rock-solid, healthy thought life by resisting negative patterns and drawing near to God.

Verses Mentioned

  • 1 Corinthians 13:11 - "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." (NIV)
  • Matthew 15:11 - "What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." (NIV)
  • Proverbs 12:14 - "From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward." (NIV)
  • Joel 3:10 - "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’" (NIV)
  • Mark 11:23 - "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." (NIV)
  • Proverbs 19:8 - "The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper." (NIV)
  • John 15:16 - "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (NIV)
  • Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (NIV)
  • 1 Timothy 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (NIV)
  • James 4:7-8 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (NIV)

Daily Action Plan

Monday

Scripture Reflection: 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) - 'When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.'

Focus Point: Identify one 'childish' pattern in your speech, like negative self-talk or complaining.

Action Plan: Catch yourself in one moment of negative speech today and consciously replace it with a statement of faith or gratitude.

Deep Prayer: Lord, help me become aware of my words. Give me the courage to put away childish speech and speak life today.

Tuesday

Scripture Reflection: Proverbs 19:8 (NIV) - 'The one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.'

Focus Point: Examine your understanding of a current challenge.

Action Plan: Write down your initial understanding of a difficult situation. Then, prayerfully ask God for His perspective based on His truth.

Deep Prayer: God, I submit my understanding to You. Help me see this situation through Your eyes of truth, not my own fear or assumptions.

Wednesday

Scripture Reflection: 1 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) - 'For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.'

Focus Point: Resist a fearful or anxious thought.

Action Plan: When a worrying thought arises, verbally reject it by saying, 'I resist that thought in Jesus' name,' and replace it with a scripture about God's power.

Deep Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for power, love, and self-discipline. I draw on Your strength to resist fearful thoughts and stand firm in Your truth.

Thursday

Scripture Reflection: Psalm 139:14 (NIV) - 'I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.'

Focus Point: Renew your mind with God's truth about your identity.

Action Plan: Look in the mirror and declare this verse out loud three times. Let the truth of being God's wonderful creation sink in.

Deep Prayer: Father, I praise You for how You made me. Help me to 'know full well' in my heart that I am Your wonderful workmanship.

Friday

Scripture Reflection: James 4:7-8 (NIV) - 'Submit yourselves... to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.'

Focus Point: Practice the two-step process: submit and draw near.

Action Plan: Spend 5 extra minutes in quiet prayer today, simply submitting your day to God and asking Him to draw near to you.

Deep Prayer: Lord, I submit my will, my plans, and my struggles to You today. As I draw near, thank You for Your promise to draw near to me.

Saturday

Scripture Reflection: Mark 11:23 (NIV) - 'If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt... it will be done for them.'

Focus Point: Speak to your 'mountain' with faith.

Action Plan: Identify one persistent obstacle in your life (a habit, a fear, a relational strain). Speak directly to it in prayer, commanding it to move in Jesus' name, based on God's power, not your own.

Deep Prayer: Jesus, I believe in Your authority. I speak to [name the obstacle] and command it to move. My trust is in Your power, not my own. Thank you for the victory.

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