Identity Crisis

The major issue effecting the walk of most Christian believers is that of an identity crisis. Many Christians do not know who they are in Christ or who they are to become through Him and in Him.

To fully understand who we are and who we are becoming we would be well served to know who we were originally created to be. In order to do that we must go back to the beginning.

(Gen 1:26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

(Gen 1:27) And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

(Gen 5:1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

(Gen 5:2) male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

First and foremost we must understand that man was created in the image and likeness of God. What exactly does that mean? This means that we are made like Him.

(1Jn 5:7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

(1Th 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We (man) were created in the image and likeness of God. We are 3 part beings just as is our Father in heaven.

Now before the transgression in the garden man was first created, then he was formed from the dust of the ground.

Why is this important to understand?

Because that which was first created (in the spiritual realm) then became manifest (made) in the physical realm.

It is important to note here that there is a definite linguistic distinction between the Hebrew words “created” and “made”.

Created – bârâ’ -to create, to cut down, to select or to choose.

Made – ‛âśâh – to accomplish, to bring forth.

It is as if God first chose to do something, did it in the spiritual, cut it down and brought it forth into the natural. We see in following verses that God “said” let there be light (which happened in the spiritual realm) and there was light (became manifest in the physical). God spoke and it was so. God said it and then He made it. This is the theme which runs throughout the first chapter of Genesis.

It is also a common theme which runs through the New Testament. Jesus told evil spirits to come out and they did. He rebuked the storm and it ceased. He told the fig tree to wither and die and it obeyed. He told the dead to rise and they came back to life.

Now Jesus stated:

(Joh 8:28) Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

(Joh 8:29) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

(Joh 12:49) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

(Joh 12:50) And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Jesus states throughout His ministry that He only spoke the words that the Father gave Him to speak. The Apostle John states, in the first verse of his gospel that Jesus is the Word and that the Word was with God from the beginning and that He is God.

John also states that Jesus gave those who received Him, even those who believe in His name, the power to become son’s of God (John 1:12). John doesn’t state that this is an immediate work. He said that He gave to them “the power to become” son’s of God.

Understanding this verse of John’s gospel is the key to unlocking our identity in Christ Jesus.

(Joh 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

The Greek word from which the English word was translated is the word lambanō which means to get hold of. It implies that one comes to an understanding which is not passive nor is it forced or subjective or violent (compare with dechomai and aihreomai).

Now the question here is; how does one come to receive Jesus? How do we “get hold of Him (that is to truly know Him)? How does one come to believe on His name with their entire being?

Many say that this is accomplished by reading scripture. This is true to a point. Holy scripture does indeed tell us about God and of Jesus. It tells us about their attributes and their works. However it does not bring us into true understanding or a personal relationship with them.

(Mat 11:27) All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

No Man Knows the Son but the Father! No Man Knows The Son! Only the Father knows the Son and only the Son knows the Father.

The only way we can know (get hold of) the Son is through revelation of the Father.

(Mat 16:15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

(Mat 16:16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

(Mat 16:17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

The revelation as to the true identity of Christ Jesus came to Peter by divine revelation from God Himself! This is the only way that believers can truly come to know (get hold of) who Jesus is. It is the only way that we can come to believe in Him.

(Joh 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

The Warning!

(2Ti 3:1) But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.

(2Ti 3:2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

(2Ti 3:3) without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,

(2Ti 3:4) traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

(2Ti 3:5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.

(2Ti 3:6) For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,

(2Ti 3:7) ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

You see brothers and sisters there are many within the body who believe they can “study” their way to knowledge of God. They are headstrong and puffed up with their own wisdom and understanding. They declare the power of the Holy Spirit with their mouths, even believe it in their minds, but revelation which comes from intellect can’t penetrate their heart or get into the soul because it is not divine revelation from God.

(Joh 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

When we are walking in the Spirit and speaking in the Spirit, as oracles of God;

(1Pe 4:11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

When the words coming to us are from God they have great power and authority for the express purpose of glorifying Our Lord. Not to glorify ourselves or our knowledge or our own understanding.

(1Co 2:9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(1Co 2:10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(1Co 2:11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

(1Co 2:12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(1Co 2:13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

(1Co 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(1Co 2:15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

(1Co 2:16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Scripture tells us in very clear terms that “the deep things of God” are reveled only by the Holy Spirit (v10). It is only through Him that we can see and hear. It is only through Him that these things can enter our hearts (souls). These deep things are spiritual things. They are far beyond our own ability to understand (rationalize or intellectualize). They can ONLY be spiritually discerned (v14).

This is what is meant by “holding a form of godliness and denying the power thereof”. It is only when we truly accept that we can do nothing, that we don’t seek God nor can we do anything that is pleasing in His site other than submit to the Holy Spirit to do all things through us can we conform to the perfect will of the Father.

(Rom 3:10) as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

(Rom 3:11) There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

When we have emptied ourselves as Jesus did and speak the words that the Father has spoken, given to us through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to do the will of God as Jesus did.

(1Co 2:9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?

If you have done so, with all of your heart, you have also received the indwelling Holy Spirit and have become the son’s and daughters of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You have become a brother and a friend of our Lord Jesus the Christ. You have become an heir to all of God’s kingdom.

(Jas 2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

The Kingdom

(Mat 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Favored are those who’s spirit is humble)

(Mat 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Mat 6:34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the kingdom of God is at hand. It is here and now!

(Mat 12:28) But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

But beware:

(Mat 13:19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

(Mat 11:12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

These people who have this form of Godliness try to steal the word of truth from you. They try to take the kingdom by preaching false doctrine.

(Mat 23:12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

(Mat 23:13) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

In Closing