You might have been familiar with the message on “discovering your identity in Christ” and that’s quite essential because 2Corinthians 5:17 says
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new.
So, yes you ought to know and discover the New You in the New family you now belong. You have to become acquainted with the rules and principles governing your new way of living. For instance, it is stated that the just shall live by faith, not by sight. Whereas the world proclaims that seeing is believing, Scripture asserts, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!
Moreover, you must also understand your rights and privileges such as “You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You are the Light of the world. You are the salt of the earth and so forth.. But what does this signify for your everyday practical living?
The world is incessantly clamoring to define your experiences, influenced by external factors beyond your control. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain a consciousness of your identity—one that is unwavering and impervious to circumstances. Scripture affirms that you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you.. And while all of these points hold validity, I believe that the revelation of your unique identity in Christ is what truly gives you a competitive advantage in life. As believers, we may not be exempt from enduring the tribulations of this world, as Jesus articulated in John 16:33 – “in this world, you will encounter afflictions.” However, what you are liberated from is the capacity to be adversely affected by them. God seeks to make a distinction between those who belong to Him and those who do not.
Let’s draw inspiration from the story of the Israelites during their time in Egypt. While the rest of Egypt endured severe afflictions from sickness and death, the Israelites in Goshen remained unaffected. This exemplifies what it means to be in the world but not of the world; You are set apart to be preserved and unaffected as the systems of this world continue to fail.
However, it is your personal revelation that provides you a more steadfast anchor when confronting challenging situations or when the enemy tries to challenge what you know about yourself. Thus,
- Who has God uniquely called you to be?
- What has God uniquely called you to do?
- What grace has He specifically bestowed upon your life?
- What assignment has He entrusted to you that reflects your true identity in Him?
Think about it, the first temptation of Jesus revolved around the unique identity as the Son of God. The devil was intentional in attacking his unique identity because he knew that it was vital to the success of Jesus’ ministry on earth
“If you are the son of God, command that these stones be made bread” he said, just right after God’s proclamation from Heaven “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him”
Do you see the tactics?
And it is same for you. The enemy knows who God has called you to be as a blessing to this world, but do you know it? His strategy is perpetually aimed at keeping you in a state of ignorance, thereby preventing you from fully realizing your potential.
So, if you are yet to discover this, I invite you to ask the Holyspirit, ‘Lord who have you called me to be in my generation” Consider embarking on a retreat for some days if possible. Spend time in engaging in the prayer of enquiry. The Bible says “Ask and you shall receive”..
Additionally, take the time to reflect upon your journey so far anddiscern the patterns, the predominant instructions and the divine guidance you’ve received from the Lord. It often serves as a significant indication of who you are meant to be.
If the enemy cannot shake your confidence in who you are, he can’t derail you from realizing your divine purpose which is why you have to consistently reinforce your identity in Christ so you don’t fall for the enemy’s trap. You don’t need to perform to validate your identity, much like Jesus did. He understood his identity didn’t come from performance, but rather from the divine affirmation bestowed upon him by God’s word so he didn’t succumb to any form of pressure to prove otherwise.
Reinforcing your identity in Christ serves as a steadfast anchor against the deceptions of the adversary and the faltering systems of the world, empowering you to fulfill the divine calling that God has bestowed upon you.