Thursday, September 28, 2017

Walking in your true identity

I heard and released these words from the Lord (as we enter the Hebrew New Year 5778):
"Come to Me! Draw near to Me! And you will know who you are in Me, not what people think or say you are! Even before you were born, I already knew you! I know your true identity! I know My plans and purposes in your life, from beginning till the end! This is the time to walk in that true identity! It doesn't matter what people think or say you are, but what I think or say you are!"

People may have a certain 'stereotype' or opinion regarding you. They may say this or that about who you are. But what does God say you are? Because that's what matters the most! Indeed, the time has come for you to walk in that true identity God has intended for you! Not what the world thinks or says you are!

Let's look at the Scripture now.

Luke 8:43 says, 'Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any'. There is a symbolic meaning here. This 'woman' speaks of 'you and I', i.e. the 'church', who is the 'bride of Christ' (see Ephesians 5:25). But for twelve years, she had a physical condition that wasn't supposed to be, and had never been intended for her to be! The Bible says she had tried every physical means (or methods) on earth to be healed, but to no avail!

But the time came when Jesus was passing by, and she knew her opportune time for healing had come. In the midst of the multitudes, she came from behind and touched the border of Jesus' garment (Luke 8:44). Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she was healed!

What does Jesus' garment symbolize here?
The kingdom and the righteousness of God!
Isaiah 61:10 says, 'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels'.
Matthew 6:33 says, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you'.

Jesus perceived power going out from Him, and asked who touched Him? (Luke 8:45-46) When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, falling down before Him, and declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately (Luke 8:47). And Jesus said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

You know what? After twelve years, this woman could finally be who she's supposed to be! By the way, the number 'twelve' in Hebrew is the number for 'divine government, divine power, divine authority'. She had finally regained whatever she had lacked as a woman all these while, and she could now be fruitful in her life! If this woman is a 'picture' of 'you and I', or the 'church', then the time has also come for 'you and I', or the 'church' to walk in 'divine government, divine power, divine authority' again!

Interestingly, the Greek translation for 'Go in peace' here is 'por eis eirene', not 'por en eirene'. And the word 'eis' means 'into', not 'in'. Therefore, Jesus was in effect saying to this woman, "Go into peace", or "Enter into the peace of the Lord". This peace ('eirene' in Greek) is none other than the shalom peace of the Lord - the unshakeable, 'nothing broken, nothing missing' peace of the Lord that He has given you! (see John 14:27)

People of God, as an individual and as the 'church', this is the time to look away from the means (or methods) of this world, but instead, look to Him, your Righteousness! (Matthew 6:33) He is your Source, your Answer, and your Solution that the world cannot give! Like the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, the time has also come for you to walk into who God has intended for you to be - Blessed! Healthy! Rejoicing! Victorious! Powerful! You can, because of all that Jesus has done for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago!

When you begin walking in that true identity (i.e. who God has intended for you to be), you also enter into the peace of the Lord, and in turn, peace with yourself! You will begin to rejoice in who you are in Him, and you will begin to walk in the fullness of God's plan in your life. Amen!