Identity & Empowerment in Christ
By Carol Ann Caster
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” II Peter 1:2-4
Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding and read the passage above again. It is so vital that we take hold of this marvelous revelation. As it comes alive in us, it will empower us to live the holy life to which we have been called. But it must come through the true knowledge of Him who calls. Settle that issue first. Be sure you are a legitimate child of God. Search your heart. Do you really know Him? Does He really know you? Have you genuinely repented of your sins and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus? Have you transcended beyond religious attitudes and opinions or dictates and entered into a personal relationship with the Lover of your soul? Romans 8:16 declares that the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. If you are not, He will show you the Way and lead you into eternal Life. Once He confirms that you are truly His, stand firm in your identification.
As His children, we have inherited His precious promises. By them we have become partakers of His divine nature and are now equipped with God’s divine power. Ponder that and rejoice! Believe it and be victorious! We have been made free by the Living Word for he who the Son makes free is free indeed (Jn. 8:36 ). A way of escape from the corruption that is in the world has been made for us. Webster defines “corruption” as a departure from what is pure or correct. By the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit we are conformed to His holiness. His Word shapes and corrects us and enables us to live in our new identity. Our flesh man is being aligned with the finished work of sanctification in our spirit man. To sanctify means to make holy. Jesus prayed to the Father for us in John 17:17: “sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is truth.” And I Peter 1:15-16 commands us: “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.”
As His body, we are being called to a higher level. He is calling us back from our unbelief, apathy, backsliding and disobedience to once again being a people of excellence who reflect His image and divine nature to the world. And as His Word has already confirmed, we have been empowered to do so and all the more. The enemy can no longer enslave or control us for he has no part in us. But we must know and remember who we are because of Whose we are. The glory of the Lord is about to explode within His church and we are being readied to experience Him in a greater dimension than ever before. He has sent His refiners fire and beckons us to willingly step into that Holy fire. For those who enter as a living sacrifice ( Rom. 12:1), He will burn up everything that is not like Him and catch what remains on fire. Then as His ministers, we will be sent as flames of fire (Heb. 1:7).
Praise Him and be glad! Remain confident and steadfast in Him! Keep pressing in. The best and most blessed days for the church are just ahead of us for He comes quickly. Hallelujah!
Copyright © February 4, 2006 – Carol Ann Caster. All rights reserved.
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