Personal Identification

[Eph 5:15-17; Exod 3:2-5; Eph 4:24; Col 1:21-22; 2Cor 5:18; Col 3:12; 1Cor 6:17]

We must have a close relationship with Holy Spirit, because we can’t win battles without hearing from the general! What we know is so important. God’s people perish because they lack, and reject knowledge (see, Hos 4:6).

It is the will of God that we redeem the time in these last days!

Eph 5:15-17 (KJV) –[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

People waste time in many ways, such as living in unforgiveness, holding onto bitterness, or being offended. When we walk circumspectly (with situational awareness and alertness) in God’s wisdom, redemption will work though us to empower us to understand what God wants us to do, instead of doing foolish things in our own ability.

“Redeeming the time” Believers are to take advantage of every spiritual opportunity (cf. Col 4:2-6; 1Pet 3:15) because we know that the night is coming when no one can work. There is an open window in time for the gospel. We must seize the moment!

The English Standard Version puts it this way,

Eph 5:15-17 (ESV) –[15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

And the next verse, 18… Is a huge part of being in God’s will. Look it up in your Bible, and talk to Him about it.

The devil will provide all kinds of distractions to keep you out of God’s will. There is power in knowing the will of God, and when we understand His will, He helps us make the best use of the time, as we become aware of His power working in our lives!

The enemy hates your true identity. A part of God’s will is know who you are in Christ.

Let’s look at Exodus chapter 3 verse 2.

It was an interesting day on the job, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock of sheep.

Exod 3:2-4 (ESV) – And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. [3] And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” [4] When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

“The bush” (the original Hebrew word comes from the word “to stick or to prick,” so this is a thorn-bush or bramble) which is a figure of the curse (see, Gen 3:18). A thorn-bush would normally burn up very quickly.

As he turned to to take a closer look at this great sight, God called Moses out of the fiery bramble!

The Bible says that His eyes search over the earth for those who will worship Him (see, 2 Chron 16:9; Jn. 4:23). God is in pursuit of us, and we see evidence of this here in Exodus 3.

The conversation between God and Moses continues in verse 5,

Exod 3:5 (ESV) – [5] Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

I have always thought God said this to Moses because He wanted him to remove his shoes out of respect. I’m sure there’s truth to that, but as I meditated and asked Holy Spirit about this verse, I realized that God has called this place holy, because He wanted Moses to experience all of His holiness. He didn’t want there to be a single thing between Moses and the holiness of God. Not even shoe leather! And it’s the very same with us today! If you’re born again by the Spirit of God, the Bible says you are holy ground.

God doesn’t want anything separating us from Him. He went to a great expense to come to Earth as a man, die a horrible death on the Cross, and become sin for us. Jesus did all that, just so we would come into that holy place — into the place of His presence. It says in the gospels that when Jesus said, “It is finished!,” the veil of the temple was torn. This veil was very thick, separating the temple from the Holy of Holies, a place so sacred that only the priest could enter this space once a year! It was a holy, holy place! But when Jesus died, that veil was torn — and at that moment, He opened up the holy place to you and me!

God has invited us into the place of His presence! That is amazing! We are made holy and can enter His holy presence through the blood of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:24 says, “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” If you have been born again, your spirit has been re-created in righteousness and holiness. You have a powerful personal identification in Christ! How awesome is that?

Colossians 1:21 says,

Col 1:21-22 (NKJV) –[21] And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled [22] in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

The Bible tells us that we were alienated from God, but He reconciled us unto Himself through the body of His own flesh through death! It is through Jesus’ suffering on the Cross that we were reconciled, and we are able to present ourselves before God as holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

The Greek, the word for “reconciled” compares to a court of justice. And as you stand in front of this court of justice, you are found without spot, without blemish, and without accusation. You’re acquitted, the verdict is NOT Guilty! Reconciled is a legal word indicating that there is no legal action that can be brought against you. That is who you are in your born-again spirit!

2Cor 5:18 (ESV) –All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Now let’s look at what we can do when we know who we are. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, [and] longsuffering.” It tells us we’re holy and beloved to give us the power to put on mercy and kindness for others! That is the power of God in you! You’re only able to put on these characteristics because of the holiness and righteousness that live inside your born-again spirit.

First Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” This is awesome! We are made one spirit with the Lord! It would be impossible to be unholy and unrighteous and share a spirit with the Lord! But the Bible says we are one spirit with Him. We are connected to the Lord and can have communion with Him because in our new birth, we are no longer separated from Him — Jesus bridged that gap with His blood on the Cross! He is holy, righteous, and beloved (i.e. having been loved) and, therefore, you’re just as holy, righteous, and beloved in your spirit as He is!

In these last days it’s so important to redeem the time, know the will of God, and know who you are. You are not just a sinner saved by grace! You used to be, but because of your born-again spirit, you are the righteousness of God in Him. I hope you see how important it is that you know and believe this. There is so much power in the revelation of who you really are. You are righteous, holy, and beloved in Christ Jesus. Your personal identification in Christ will empower in these last days.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond