Identity crisis
Many believers today seem to be experiencing an identity crisis. What I mean by this is that the life they are leading does not match up the life of the believer that is found in scripture. The identity crisis leads to them being defeated, dejected, downtrodden and beaten up by life whereas the scriptures tell us we should be living in victory and that we are more than conquerors, we are the head and not the tail, we are the winners and not losers etc. We are being conditioned to believe we are less than God says we are, conditioned to believe we have nothing to offer in the Kingdom, conditioned to only see the natural instead of the supernatural.
Satan seeks to steel our identity in Christ.
We must remember that we are no longer under the circumstances, but we are overcomers through Jesus Christ. The basis for victory in the believer's life comes from the magnificent victory of Jesus Christ.
The magnificent victory of Jesus Christ
God expects us to live victoriously in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus victory was achieved via the cross and resurrection but especially in his ascension to the Father’s right hand. In this way Jesus who was 100% man and 100% God, took his humanity on to the level that increased our ranking to above the angels and fallen angels.[2]
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Ephesians 1:19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
All things are under Jesus' feet.
Jesus is head over all things pertaining to the church.
Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
When Jesus Christ won the victory over sin and death at the cross and then ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father he gave us victory in every area of life; we are completely identified with Jesus Christ. The picture here is like a victorious general returning to Rome, with his legions, and fierce captives, in Jesus case he defeated the fallen angels.
When we become born again we move from the old creation into the wonderful new creation.
Old creation vs New creation
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
I
Born again believers
Old Creation Order New Creation Order
Angels (Elect and fallen) Angels (Elect and fallen)
OT believers Unbelievers
OT unbelievers Animals
Animals
Hebrews 2:5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour 8 and put everything under their feet.”
Although mankind was created a little lower than the angels when we become born again through Jesus Christ we are so identified with Jesus that we receive his ranking which is now above the angels and this includes fallen angels/demons.
Amen
Personal Prayer
In Part 3 we consider Jesus as the glorified man