1. SOBER MEN AND THEIR IDENTITY www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com THE SOBER MAN: By: Gideon Gichamba

2. INTRODUCTION: www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com  An online Dictionary defines Identity as the condition of being oneself or itself  Identity is so powerful, that if it is not clearly defined, it leads to a crisis called identity Crisis  Identity is answering the basic questions who I am?  The basic concept of who we are was first introduced to us by our fathers, if not by our fathers then by our significant others in our formative years

3. INTRODUCTION: www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com  Answering our identity questions gives us confidence and largely eliminates identity crisis.  The tale of the chicken and the eagle

4. FOCUS ON MOSES OF THE BIBLE Moses: Ex 2 He suffered Identity Crisis like most of us do ( Exod 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?) it took faith and God’s intervention for Him to come into terms with who He was. Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter He actually didn’t have a Name, His name means ‘drawn out’ (kuokotwa) it was a circumstantial Name, NOT his actual self He didn’t have an Influence even over his own people-(At age 40) It took him 40 years to before he figured out who he was… www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

5. CRITICAL LESSONS: MOSES  We are not defined by where we grew up from…Moses grew up in the state house of the world’s super power then  We are not defined by money-Being in ‘state house’ Moses had access to most of the best things money could buy then  We are not defined by our academical achievements-Moses got the best education of the time  Moses had a weakness, a stammer-its God who qualifies us  We have a responsibilities as men/fathers, to introduce our children to themselves-God gave Adam the power to Name. www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

6. WHAT NEXT? WAS IT IN VAIN? What was the reason for all this????? The first 40 years of Moses Life-Identity Crisis The Next 40 years-In the wilderness The Final 40 years-Spent with the stubborn Israelites Could this be the mirror in our lives??? www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

7. LOOKING DEEPER: www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

8. ANALYZING MY SHAPE www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com PURPOSE Spiritual Gifts HeartAbilitiesPersonalityExperiences Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family? Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school? Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in and enjoyed most? Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God? Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past? Painful experiences: What problems, hurts, thorns, and trials have you learned from?

9. THE WAY FORWARD TOWARDS SOBERNESS 1.) Spiritual Gifts 1Cor 12:1 Now concerning what comes from the Spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. By the guidance of the Holy spirit, I will put the spiritual gifts into practice 2.) Heart 2Sam 7:3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your heart, for the LORD is with you.” I will be conscious of the still small voice speaking to me 3.) Abilities Phil 2:13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. I will be obedient to the prompting of the Holy spirit in my life www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

10. THE WAY FORWARD TOWARDS SOBERNESS 4.) Personality: Ps 139:13 ​​​​​​​ Certainly you made my mind and heart; ​​​​​​ you wove me together in my mother’s womb. I will accepted, the personality profile you have given me; I will appreciate the personalities of the people around me 5.) Experiences: Ps 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. I will pick lessons from my past mistakes, I will always celebrate the Lord for my past victories and I will always entrust my path ahead before God www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com

11. Thank you www.thesobermanafrica.wordpress.com