Who are you?

The moment we accept Christ as the Lord of our lives, we are called children of God. That identity as a Child of God is by far the most important and valuable thing a Christian can have. Thus, it is something the devil has tried to steal, and unfortunately, had been successful in sowing lies in our minds. The devil knows that the moment we have that revelation of who we are in God, nothing can shake us. In other words, all his plans to harm us will fail.

Knowing who you are in God can and will drastically change your life. As you begin to realize that you are no longer a ‘commoner’ but a prince/princess of the King of kings, you are going to look at things differently, and no longer will you think and live like a nobody.

This must be a revelation, not just head knowledge. This is a problem many Christians have. We know that we are children of God, but there is no revelation of that. We don’t live and enjoy the privileges a child of God should have. We live in a palace but unless we know that we are a prince/princess, we cannot enjoy life as one.

What are the privileges a Child of God should enjoy?

A child of God

1. Can be assured that he is loved unconditionally (Romans 8:25)

Romans 8:25 says that “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”. So often because of circumstances or what other people did to us, we tend to subconsciously believe that the ‘big guy upstairs’ will do the same. It is thus very important to remember that while human love is conditional, God’s love is unconditional. His promise to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” That is His promise. It does not matter what other people think or say about us, God still accepts us just as we are. Our past may be ugly or broken, but God still accepts us and He is not bothered by that. One thing we must know, is to differentiate between our WHO and our DO. No matter what has happened or what we have done, it does not affect who we are in God. Like it or not, you are still a child of God no matter what, just as a rebellious child is still his parent’s child even if his parents disown him.

2. Can come into the Father’s presence

Like any other prince or princess, a child of God has access into the Father’s presence anytime, anyhow. You do not have to follow the normal procedures other people might have to follow, such as making an appointment to meet Him. In other words, you don’t need a high priest like in the older days, because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 7:17). The Father is never too busy for His Child, and His ears are always attentive to our cries. So often we don’t come before God because we think that He is too busy to listen, or we’re too insignificant for Him to take any notice of us. That is a lie; you are His child and He holds no favoritism. You can come just as you are. You don’t have to put on a mask. He loves you anyhow.

3. Can ask anything from His Father

John 14:14 says that you can ask anything in My name and I will do it. So many of us don’t get what we’ve asked for because we don’t believe that we can have that. When you do not know who you are in Christ, there is no faith in asking. In other words, you ask, but you do not believe. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” The key principle is to earnestly seek God. You will only be persistent if you know that God will do something for you.

So now, do you really have that revelation that you are a child of God, and you’re enjoying the privileges a child of God should enjoy?

So what did the Bible said about us being a child of God?

Here are some of them:

1. We are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
2. We have been adopted as God’s child (Ephesians 1:5).
3. He gave us the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
4. We have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
5. We have been established, anointed and sealed (guaranteed) by God (2 Corinthians 1:21,22).
6. We are born of God, and no evil one can touch us (1 John 5:18)
7. We are seated with Christ in the Heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)
8. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing from Heaven (Ephesians 1:3)
9. We may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
10. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)

Why is it so important to know who we are?

People who know who they are in God can stand in the midst of the fiercest storms. They are so deeply rooted in the love of God (Ephesians 3:17) that no matter what the devil tries to do to harm them, they will not be moved. They have that revelation that no matter what happens, God is always there for them and He loves them.

Next, knowing your identity in Christ will help you to rise up to your fullest potential in Christ. God is a Father who gives us good gifts (Matthew 7:9-11). The moment we come into His kingdom, God has planted in our lives ‘mysterious’ gifting and talents which are up to us to discover. The first step for you to be effective in whatever that God has called you to do is to know that you are a child of God, and He has got gifts for you. If you do not know that the gift is for you, you will not unwrap it; and unless you unwrap the gift and use it, the gift will be of no use.

Thirdly, those who know who they are in God will receive the full blessing of Heaven. Again, the principle in Matthew 7:9-11 applies here. It is God’s desire to bless His children, whether it be in the area of finance, relationships, studies or work. Yet again, if you do not believe that God can do that for you, you cannot receive the blessing, for “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

So do you have that revelation of who you are in Christ? One way to have that revelation is to start spending time with God, for as you begin to do that, you’ll begin to know who God is and how much He values you!

REMOVING THE MASK

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:2)

A ‘mask’ is described in the dictionary as a ‘disguise over a true feature’. In other words, what is portrayed on the outside is different from what it really is. For whatever reasons, many of us have put on masks so that our true self will not be made known to others.

When circumstances have destroyed our lives, we try to put on masks to make us appear strong and OK on the outside. We try our best to drown ourselves in work and relationships. We try to achieve success in different areas of our lives to cover up our pain. We try to laugh, work, talk, and even go to church like other people. But deep inside our hearts, we’re breaking. When that hard shell is broken, the yolk inside will flow out.

So many of us are perfect in acting that we’ve never been hurt. Some feel ashamed of their pain, while there are others who simply do not want to bother other people. However, no matter how much you can try to hide and deny your suffering, your eyes will always show it, for your eyes are the windows of your heart.

We even try to hide from God. We try to cover up our emotions when we come before Him, not realizing that God knows exactly (and maybe even better than we do) what we are going through. He saw the tears that you tried so hard to hide. He saw the sadness behind that smile.

The first step to receiving our healing is to remove that mask. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32). I used to wonder what this meant (I mean, we are all sinners, not one righteous among us), but it did struck me when God revealed this to me: it is only when you admit that you are sick that you’ll go to a doctor or take your medication. A man suffering from cancer but does not admit that he needs medical attention will not consult a doctor.

In the same way, the first step to healing is to quit denying. Stop hiding and acting as if you’re OK when you are actually not. Admit to God that you are hurt and you need His healing. Allow the Lord to begin that process of restoration. Remember, God is not surprised by what we tell (or are going to tell) Him because He already knows what is happening; He just wants you to bring them before Him.

Healing can never begin if you keep pretending. Jesus will never force you to receive His healing. Nevertheless, the price has been paid over 2,000 years ago. By His stripes we are healed. The only thing now lies with us: are we going to receive that healing?

I understand that after putting on that mask for so long, it will be difficult for us to remove it and expose our true conditions. We may feel vulnerable. We may be afraid at what other people will think, or rather, what God will think. But God will never despise our pain, nor will He reject us when we hurt. In fact, the Lord is closed to the broken-hearted, and He binds up their wounds (Psalm 34:18). And from Isaiah 61:1-3, most of what Jesus is anointed to do is to minister to the brokenhearted.

Do not live in denial any longer. Receive the healing and wholeness that God has for you and start living a victorious life. Remove that mask!