We were four passengers in the vehicle, we all had our different destinations, when we encountered a sudden roadblock. It was a military roadblock and I was running late for a meeting, the man by my side was checking his watch with clear impatience.
15 minutes later….
An unassuming young lady-mind you, she was the only female in our little car- got out of the car and went to have a conversation with the soldiers, we didn’t see what happened but we were cleared to move immediately. As our vehicle passed them, the soldiers saluted and all stood at
attention till we passed. Then I understood she was someone with a military identity. She didn’t look too different from us, but she had an identity card.
In the book of Acts 19:14-15 tells us about the experience of seven brothers, the sons of Sceva, a high priest. These brothers had heard of the fame of Paul and they saw the miracles which he did. They were astonished and they like wannabe went to a man possessed believing they could deliver him. Can you guess what happened? They were thoroughly embarrassed as the man tore their clothes and sent them running naked.
The possessed man said something highly important in verse 15, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?” (Acts 19:15 KJV). This should be a question that should speak directly into our soul, ‘Who are you?’, ‘Who am I?’
These men didn’t understand the meaning of an identity in Christ, they thought they would just go and shout and that’s all. No! Severally, during Christ ministry, people possessed knew him by sight. Once the spirit bitterly complained, “…What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” He was a pain to them, a proverbial thorn in their flesh.
A Christian without an identity is a finished Christian. The way the possessed man dealt with this seven brothers, the same way Satan will play with a powerless Christian like a child popping a balloon with a needle.
The centurion told Christ, “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he
goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to myservant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Matthew 8:9 KJV). This is a perfect biblical
example of a person who has an identity and uses it.
There are two things there, first of all he has authority and the second he is conscious of the authority that he has and he commands others and they obey him. As Christians how can you get that authority? How can you gain an identity? It is through being born again.
All children of God have an identity with God. It’s not as complex as we sometimes think. When born into a particular family you automatically
gets the surname of that family. Same here, when you join the family of Christ, you get an identity with Christ.
Next is to command like the centurion. What’s the point of a soldier with a gun who doesn’t know how to use it? He may shoot his ally or even himself. A true believer must learn how to pray, there are moments of supplication and moments for authority. In the book of Jude, the scripture told us that at the body of Moses the angel didn’t begin to argue with the Devil, instead he said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 1:9 KJV). And that was all.
So, what if the devil knew Paul but he didn’t know himself? The centurion knew the position that he occupied, for you to utilize power, you have to be conscious of power.
The story was told of the late minister A. A. Allen. One day the prayer warriors were trying to deliver a possessed man to no avail. Allen stepped inside the room and said, “My name is A. A. Allen”. Immediately that devilish spirit left that man. This was a man that was conscious of the authority
that he had and the power of darkness knew this is a man of power.
Without being born again, you cannot have an identity in Christ. Without identity, you don’t have an authority with Christ. Identity without consciousness of your identity, is disability. A spiritual disabled Christian can never answer the question, “Who are you?”
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17-18 KJV) Simply believe, then utilize that name and you become a man or woman with an identity in Christ.
John Oguntoyinbo
