Casting My Mind Back To Bethlehem…

This is the week before Christmas and it is important to take our minds back to the actual events of the very first Christmas. On that eve, almost the entire world was oblivious to the amazing occurrence that was about to be witnessed. Divinity was about to be born in human form. In a special body crafted and formed in the womb of a virgin Jewish lady, God the Son was birthed in a manger. In Heaven He said His goodbye and made His entrance to earth. Ushered by the chorale of angels singing in the skies, Jesus our Redeemer said hello to the world.

 Each time I cast my mind back to the cradle, I do not just think of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes:

 “But we do see Jesus — made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone — crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering in death.  For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God — all things exist for Him and through Him — should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.  That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,  ... Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the Devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.  For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.  Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.”

Hebrews 2:9-11, 14-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible

 I see Jesus, my Sacrificial Substitute, Salvation Captain, Special Sibling, Sacred Sanctifier, Satan Destroyer and Sympathetic High Priest.

 This week, I want to leave us with the words of another poem I read not too long ago:

 Who art Thou, precious little babe, nestled in the hay?

God I am, come to earth this day.

Why didst Thou come, sweet little babe nestled in the hay?

To die, I came, the price of sin to pay.

Who's sin, tender little babe, nestled in the hay?

Yours it was, that brought Me down today.

Exchanging temporarily His throne for a stable, He came here on a mission to save His own. Calvary was the reason for Bethlehem; the reason for the cradle was the cross at Golgotha. And so even now, as we celebrate His birth, let us remember He was born to die. The reason for His birth was His death and resurrection.

This week, I have chosen “O Holy Night” by Hillsong as my song for the week. Have a merry Christmas folks.

"O Holy Night" by Hillsong

Our Greatest Need

As we approach Christmas, I decided to share a poem and then the lyrics of a song written by a dear friend. The poem gives a profound insight into the need God met when He sent us His Son while the song captures a swift sweep of our Savior’s life from the cradle to the cross.

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,

God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent us a Savior.

-Roy Lessin

Sons To Him

In Bethlehem a child is born,

In a cradle as a Son.

The Mighty God becomes a man,

Emmanuel unfolds the plan

He was wounded for our sins,

Suffered on the cross to set us free,

Paid a perfect price for us,

It was all just to make us sons to Him.

He staggered carrying the cross,

They nailed and crucified the Lord of lords,

They thrust a spear into His side,

No one even wondered why.

Now He’s risen from the dead,

Seated up above the Lord our King,

Placed us right beside Him there,

And it was all just to make us sons to Him.

-Samuel Nwanze

Finally this week, I want you to be my guest at our Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 18^th December 2016 as we together worship our King.

Who Are You? (3): The Believer’s Identity In Christ

Salvation isn’t just a fancy word that preachers and pastors use in their sermons or teachings. Salvation is an actual experience. It is an experience in which we encounter the transforming power of God. The problem is that believers in Christ hear so little and know very little about what now accrues to them as a result of that experience.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” 2^nd Corinthians 5:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible

One of the things that has now become ours is a new identity in Christ. 1^st Corinthians 15:20-49 gives a treatise on this new identity. Adam and our Lord Jesus are termed the first man and the second man respectively. They are both progenitors of 2 lineages of men, each lineage with its distinct characteristics and unique identity. By natural birth, we took on the characteristics of Adam’s lineage and bore his identity. Through spiritual birth and regeneration in Christ, we take on the characteristics of a new lineage and bear a new identity from Christ Jesus.

This is so because believers in Christ have entered a spiritual union with Him:

“But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” 2^nd Corinthians 6:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible

Romans 6: 3-7 also teach us about the union we have with Christ. This spiritual union with Christ should form the basis of the believer’s identity. Rather than follow people’s opinions or the perceptions of culture about our identity, we should focus more and more on who God says we are in Christ Jesus.

Permit me to share a personal experience. I noticed early in primary school that I had a squint (the medical term is strabismus). As we all will probably remember, the taunts of other children can be so hurtful. I was called “4 0 Clock eyes” by some of my primary school mates. Many of them looked at me in a funny way. People constantly looked around when I spoke to them as they were not sure I was addressing them because of my squint. I was brilliant and I had very bright ideas but I had a major difficulty speaking with people. This experience coupled with some other events in childhood made me lacking in confidence in public gatherings or even in conversations with people I was not familiar with. I had allowed my physical appearance (the squint) and people’s opinions (the taunts from my mates) to form a basis for my thoughts about myself. After I got saved in Secondary School, one day while reading my Bible I found a verse in Paul’s second letter to Timothy:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” 2^nd Timothy 1:7 New International Version.

That verse was an eye-opener! It began to revolutionize my considerations and conclusions about who I thought I was. I started changing my sense of identity and my perspective about who I really am. Now my squint hasn’t gone but I do not take my identity from it anymore, in fact when young children meet me in the Clinic and I notice them gazing into my face and appearing confused, I smile and gently explain to them that one of my eyes is not in focus. I know I am more than just how my eyes are. I am more than just how I look. I am more than the things I own, or what people say or think of me. I am who God says I am.

In secular life, we have identity documents like International Passports, Driver’s Licenses and Identity cards that contain details of our natural identity like gender, nationality, birth date, place of birth, etc. Similarly, we have the Scriptures as a written record of our new identity in Christ. Particularly in the Pauline epistles, we find descriptions of the believer’s new identity in Christ. In the book of Ephesians alone, I find at least 20 statements about who the believer is, about who I am. I have found it immensely helpful in my spiritual sojourn to return again and again to these epistles to be reminded of these realities.

Here are a few of what Ephesians says about the believer in Christ:

You…

·         Are a saint in Christ Ephesians 1:1;

·         Are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Ephesians 1:3;

·         Were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Ephesians 1:4, 11;

·         Were predestined for adoption to sonship in Christ Ephesians 1:5;

·         Are redeemed in Him Ephesians 1:7;

·         Are forgiven in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7;

·         Are sealed with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13;

·         Are made alive in Him Ephesians 2:1;

·         Are raised up in Christ Ephesians 2:6;

·         Are seated with Him in the heavenly places Ephesians 2:6;

·         Are God’s masterpiece created in Christ Ephesians 2:10;

·         Have been brought near by the blood of Christ Ephesians 2:13;

·         Have been reconciled in Him Ephesians 2:16;

·         Have access to the Father by one Spirit in Him Ephesians 2:18;

·        Are no longer a stranger or a foreigner but a fellow citizen with God’s people and a member of His household in Christ Ephesians 2:19;

·        Along with other believers are being built a holy temple in Christ as God’s dwelling Ephesians 2:21, 22;

·         Are equipped by grace in Him Ephesians 4:7-12;

·         Are given a new self, created in true righteousness and holiness Ephesians 4:24

This our new identity is not based on feelings but on spiritual facts and realities. If I may illustrate with this example, I am a Nigerian by earthly descent. My parents are both Nigerians and I was born and bred here in Nigeria. I may not “feel” like a Nigerian but you see, that is my nationality, purely based on facts and not on feelings. In the same way, even though we may not always “feel” like who or what God says we are, that does not change the reality of our new identity. So, you see I may not “feel” like I am God’s masterpiece but the spiritual reality is that I am exactly who He says I am!

“…Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true…” Romans 3:4 New Living Translation

So, dear child of God, fill your mind with the realities of your union with Christ and let these facts form the basis of your sense of identity. The video this week tells us some more about the believer’s new identity in Christ while the second link is to a list of 52 identity statements of believers in Christ. Kindly watch the video and read or even download the list. Don’t settle for anything less. Rise and take your place in the reality of the new identity you have been given in Christ.

Identity In Christ video 

The Believer's Identity In Christ PDF 

Who Are You?(2): Recognizing Your True Identity

Having the right sense of identity is crucial to our lives. Our sense of identity guides our choices in life and is vital in living our lives to achieve or fulfill purpose.

Moses was born as Hebrew but was raised as an Egyptian Prince. He could have continued living in Pharaoh’s Palace as royalty as he grew into adulthood, but he recognized his true identity as Hebrew. This led him to fulfill his divine purpose in the emancipation of his people from their slavery in Egypt. Can you just imagine how different the whole of the history of the Israelites would have been if Moses did not recognize who he was?

Consider also our Saviour Jesus during His walk here on earth. Scripture records in John 6:14 & 15 that the people wanted to make Him an earthly King by force but He refused to bend to their wishes because He had an unshaken understanding of His true identity. Even John the Baptist who had been given a visible sign affirming Jesus’ identity as the Son of God began questioning whether Jesus was truly the Messiah at some point in time (Matthew 11:2-6, Luke 7:18-23). Jesus was firmly rooted in His sense of identity and that led Him to the Cross at Calvary where He purchased our everlasting freedom and eternal redemption. I shudder to think of what would have happened if by any chance, Jesus had become confused about His identity. We would have remained in our sins, hopeless, godless and eternally doomed!

Common Sources of False Identity

Unfortunately for man, since the fall of Adam and Eve, we have continually looked outside of God for identity. People rarely turn to God for the answer to the question that plagues the human mind “who am I?”. The following are some common sources of false identity:

1.       Physical appearance: Many people derive their personal identity only from their physical appearances and they go all out of their way to meet acceptable standards in their culture. Some young men would go to any length to develop well-toned muscles while some young women make huge expenses to modify their skin colour or even alter their body shape with a view to project themselves in a way that is acceptable.

2.       Performance or achievements: Many individuals derive their identity from their performance or achievements in different areas of life and this is where their value is found. Such people will always search for something to excel at to show superiority over others. This often results in individuals who are so focused in only such areas that they become shallow and isolated. Academics, athletics, job performance and personal achievements then become their only focus. If, however, anything goes wrong they then view themselves as failures which may lead to depression or states of emotional imbalance.

3.       Possessions: Many people derive their identity from their material possessions. This has been described as an “I am what I have” mentality. Many people own possessions that project their desired images. In fact, many people purchase items not out of need but to gain status among their peers. For such people, the brand they wear, the logo on their shirts, the shoes they wear and cars that they drive make them who they are. This usually produces people who are driven to obtain the best possessions among their peers and many times such people could go to any length to get these possessions. Eventually for such people, life will be full of greed, worry and jealousy of others’ belongings. In addition, any minor change in their financial state will almost completely erode this foundation. Scripture teaches us after all: “…one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15)

4.       Past or prevailing circumstances: Many individuals derive their identity from either past events or current circumstances in their lives. Usually it is based on their interpretation of those events but such mental or psychological constructs are firmly rooted in people’s minds. It is very likely for instance that someone who perhaps failed academically at different times in the past would begin to carry a label of “failure” and perhaps adopt that as a personal identity. We find such an example in the life of Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, who adopted a new name (Mara) to reflect the bitterness of the events she had been experiencing (Ruth 1:20 & 21).

Each of these common false identity sources or bases can be easily affected by any change in the life of the individual. All 4 described above are based on factors that are constantly changing. It means therefore that if we develop an identity based on them, it will be an unhealthy identity as it will always be changing. It will be an identity based on a weak foundation, not a solid foundation.

God Wants Us To Have The Right Sense Of Identity

God however, desires for each of His children to have the right sense of identity. He wants us to know and be assured of our true identity. His desire is that we are not confused by the perceptions from the culture around us or the deceptions of the devil. Our true identity is found only in our Creator. All through His dealing with people recorded in Scripture for us, God acted at different times to ensure that His people had the right sense of identity. Let us consider the following examples of such instances:

Abram and Jacob: In earlier dispensations, people’s personal names were sometimes descriptive of the circumstances of their conception or birth and at other times their names were reflective of their future endeavor or unique personality traits. Many times in those dispensations, people’s names became representations of their identity. God gave Abram and Jacob new names to emphasize to them their true identity. To Abram God gave a new name Abraham (Genesis 17:5) because He wanted Abraham to start seeing himself indeed as a father of many nations and to Jacob He gave a new name Israel (Genesis 32:28) so that Jacob would no longer see himself as just that serial deceiver who perennially schemed his way to his achievements. Their new names-Abraham and Israel were symbolic of the new identities that God wanted them to have.

The nation of Israel: 400 years of slavery in Egypt must have deeply damaged the mentality of the Israelites. They had never personally known any freedom, maybe some of them would still recollect stories passed down from previous generations of how they initially came to Egypt as free men and women. However, for that generation, the only identity they had was that of slaves. So, after Moses led them out of Egypt God made sure He told them about their new identity:

“...you will be My own possession out of all the peoples..., and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation” Exodus 19:5 & 6 HCSB

They were no longer slaves, they were now to be God’s own special people, His treasured possession. That was their true identity and He made sure He communicated that to them.

Subsequently after God had established them as a nation in their own land they regularly displayed their rebellious nature towards Him, many times disobeying His commands. Because of their disobedience, they often went through times of tribulation. In some instances, they were invaded by foreign armies and taken into captivity in distant foreign territories. In each tribulation they went through, God always raised a Prophet to whom He gave specific messages reminding the people of their identity as His special possession. One of such Prophets was Isaiah:

“Indeed your husband is your Maker-His name is Yahweh of Hosts-and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected, says your God.” Isaiah 54: 5 & 6 HCSB

Jesus Christ: In the life our Lord, there were specific events in which God gave public affirmations of Jesus’ true identity. At His baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:16 & 17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21 & 22) and also at His transfiguration (Matthew 17: 5), a voice from Heaven proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God.

In the same way, even today, God keeps affirming to His children our true identity. Our true identity is not earned but received from God. Your true identity is not about what you do, how you look, what you have or do not have, or what other people say about you. Your true identity is in who God has made you and how He sees you. Your true identity is not based on feelings but on spiritual facts and realities. This true identity of God’s children is clearly elucidated for us in the Scriptures and confirmed to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The link below is to a Youtube video that introduces us to the reality of our identity in Christ.

Your Identity in Christ

To be continued…