KNOW YOUR IDENTITY
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Thursday 4th July 2024
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 (KJV)
When Jesus came on the scene, without doing anything and without performing any miracle, God declared: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus had not done anything. But God came and validated Him. I want you to know that God has already validated you.
In Matthew 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The devil came and went after one thing: the identity of Jesus. “…If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3. (KJV).
Jesus said it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. In other words, ‘Satan, before you came to deceive me, He who made me has already informed me of my identity. So, I don’t have to prove anything. I didn’t prove anything to receive my identity, and I wouldn’t prove anything to keep it.’
Do you know why the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness? Do you think that God didn’t know what Jesus was made of? He knew that Jesus was His beloved Son. So why did the Spirit lead Him into the wilderness? The Spirit led Him into the wilderness to prove to the devil that you cannot have this one. Devil, fire your best shot, He already knows who He is. No matter what you do, you cannot make Him fall.
Just like He did to Job. God boasted about Job and permitted that he be tempted by the devil. Job said I don’t know what is going on with me, but “…I know that my redeemer lives.” Job 19:25. (NKJV).
That is the reason for the temptation. To prove to the devil that he would not fall, and you cannot have him. So, anytime challenges come your way, it is not meant to pull you down; it is God making an announcement to the devil that you see this one, you have lost him.
Further Reading: Job 1:13-22; Matthew 4: 1-11
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 28-29; Evening- Acts 13:1-25