B
beejay
Guest
One major problem in the church today is the issue of identity… the first Adam lost it in the garden of Eden. God made him like himself. God gave him his nature. He was given an identity; the misconception of this identity made the First Adam lose it to the devil in the garden. The temptation in the garden of Eden has to do with the question of identity and the first Adam lost it, the devil came again to the second Adam in the person of Jesus in the wilderness. Remember the first Adam was tempted in the garden, the place of rest but lost it. The second Adam in the wilderness was confronted with the question of identity. Jesus, knowing who he was defeated the devil. Jesus went through all the ordeal on the cross to restore that lost identity and bring us back to the place of rest.
Jesus overcame the temptation because he knew who God has made him. The problem confronting the believers today is the problem of identity; who they are in Christ. Believers have failed to understand the transition in this new covenant.
I PUT THIS QUESTION TO YOU: WHO ARE YOU?
Are you sure of who/what God says you are or you are still being tossed by every wave of lie you hear about your identity?
Lets take a look at one of the areas believers are confused about their identity:
HOLINESS: are you holy?
I once asked a believer the question above.. “Are you holy? And she replied “ I am not holy” she went further to say no one is holy. Hence, our discussion today.
Sometime ago, when a song is raised on lifting up holy hands in worship to God, I struggle with the thought in my mind that tells me never to lift up my hands because I am not holy. It reminds me of my fault and how unworthy I am to lift up holy hands. That is what the devil does to us, he wants us to always feel our relating with God is based on when you we are doing well and when we make any mistake then our identity changes. The knowledge of who we are in Christ gives us the confidence to come before our father. Are you holy or trying to be holy?
Ephesians 1:4 “according to as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him”.
Ephesian 5:26,27 “that he sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word 27,that He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Colossians 1:21,22 “and you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled, 22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.
The scriptures above show believers are holy. Who made us holy? God made us holy through his son Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:26, Paul said he sanctified us and cleansed us. Verse 27, says the reason he sanctified and cleansed us.. that he might present us holy, blameless and without wrinkles.
Jesus made us holy, we are not trying to be holy. We are made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Believers should know who they are and then live it. You are holy because of Jesus, all you have to do is live in that consciousness. Believe right to live right. Believe in who God has made you and live it… when you believe you are holy, you will not have to struggle like I did in raising up holy hands before God. When the bible talks about the believers lifting up holy hands, God wasn’t saying you should lift those hands because you have done everything to be holy. If you are lifting up those hands based on what you feel you have done right to lift up your hands then you are lifting up unholy hands…your hands are considered holy because of what Jesus did not because of what you did to be holy. You are holy because Jesus sanctified you and presented you holy and blameless in the sight of God. In the eyes of God you are holy because of His son Jesus.
According to Ephesian 1:4 To be HOLY means “to be set apart by God and for God” God set you apart, he predestined and chose you for himself to be holy. The issue of being holy has much to do with imputing a nature in you. The reason you are holy is because God made you to be holy. You are not holy by your performance. The fruits you exhibit is a result of the nature God has given to you.
You can lift up holy hands without being condemned knowing who you are in Christ. God made you different from the world. You are holy, meaning you are set apart by God and he made you different from the world… know who you are and walk in the likeness of who god has made you. YOU ARE HOLY!!!
You are made holy because of Jesus…
LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AN THE FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH
It is all about Jesus…