I KNOW WHO I AM
Dearly beloved, I bring you greetings in the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God and our soon coming King. Oh what a joy and privilege to be alive today, to be able to share the word with you, this beautiful Sunday morning. Child of God this morning, I want to ask you this very important question, “Do you truly know who you are?” Think deeply on this; don’t be too quick to give me an answer. We all know how easy it is to sing the famous lyrics of the song, “I know who God says I am, what He says I am….I know who I am”; we know how to sound all religious and Christian, when such questions are asked, but somehow our actions differ when we’re faced with real-life situations that challenge us. Beloved, in such situations, how do you respond? That is where the rubber meets the road!
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
The issue of identity is one we know to be very essential, because to a great extent, your identity defines you, and it forms the basis of what you are known by. In other words, as a believer, your nature, qualities, beliefs, character, behavior, abilities, etc. are all embedded in your identity. Another interesting thing about an identity is that it remains the same, unchanged, even under varying aspects or conditions. For example, your fingerprint is peculiar to you, and it does not change, even under the most grueling conditions.
Apostle Paul in our text today, writing to the Ephesian church, lets us in on our true identity as new creation believers – we are God’s workmanship, His handiwork, His masterpiece, recreated in Christ Jesus. What do you understand by that? What was Paul trying to tell us? He simply was trying to tell us that as believers, we are the best expression of God’s expertise. Bear in mind that Apostle Paul is not writing about your physical body, he’s writing about your spirit man, which is actually the real you. It is the spirit that is regenerated, born again, when you receive Jesus into your life as Lord and personal Saviour. In other words, Apostle Paul is saying that the quality of work that God performed in recreating your spirit man in Christ Jesus, is perfect, excellent, and cannot be outdone by any other.
In the preceding verses leading up to the text, Paul describes the state of our lives prior to being born again. We were dead in trespasses and sin, under the control of the devil. Therefore because of the fallen nature which we once possessed, it was only natural that we fulfilled the lusts of the flesh. Like I’ve said before, and it bears repetition, you’re not a sinner because you sinned. You did not have to do anything to be called a sinner, you only needed to have been born. In Adam, we all were born with the sinful nature. But see what happens when you received Jesus; the sinful nature which hitherto plagued and enslaved you, was put off, and you took upon the very nature of God, in Christ Jesus. Your spirit is now made alive, through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you.
Beloved, as long as you’re a believer, you have received the Spirit of Christ. The book of Galatians 4:6 (KJV) says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father.” Therefore, as the very Spirit of Christ dwells in you as a believer, you share identity with Christ. So the question is, “Who is Christ?” He is the anointed One, the Second person of the Holy Trinity. Throughout the scriptures, we read of all the miracles that He wrought, and how He healed the multitudes of their infirmities and diseases. Even when the religious leaders of the day tried to ensnare Him, He exhibited wisdom superior to what they had ever encountered. Beloved, Jesus was, and still remains undefeated. The Bible makes us understand that as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17), so if Jesus cannot be defeated, you also cannot be defeated.
Child of God, you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, at the right hand of the Father, far above principalities, powers, dominions, and thrones (Eph. 1:20-21). It is not in the character of your shared identity in Christ, to be subject to any situation or circumstance. You are an overcomer (1 John 5:4) and you must live true to your identity. As you go into the week, I declare over you that the purpose of God for your life will not be aborted; you will arrive at God’s ordained destiny for your life, nothing will cut you short. I bless you in Jesus’ name!
Maranatha!
In His Royal Service,
Dr Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop
