Monday, May 23, 2011

Who Do You Think You Are??


As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Proverbs 23:7

Have you ever heard that story that goes something like this: You can bring a pig inside, give it a bath, dress it up in a tuxedo, but the minute you open the door, it will dash outside and jump right back into the mud. - Basically, once a pig always a pig. I don’t know who came up with that version, but I just love the analogy. It’s so visual. I dated someone like that once, or rather, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but that’s a whole other story. (lol!)

Growing up, my father always taught my brother and I to never forget who we are. In fact he still reminds us of that. He would tell us the history of our family and our lineage that goes back to royalty and how our great, great grandfather was the King of Persia, the Kadjar family. Often times, he’d go over all the photographs and our family tree and explain who’s who and where we all fit in. It’s quite fascinating and I appreciate it so much more now than when I was younger. I use to get embarrassed when my father spoke of these things because I thought he was just boasting. In my home, I have photographs and paintings of our ancestors, but I never talk about it unless someone takes an interest and asks me who they are. I guess that’s just my nature, I’m not one to just start talking about myself. But, as I grew up and matured, I came to understand my father’s intentions all along. My father never said these things out of arrogance, but only to encourage my brother and I. He was teaching us these things to build our confidence in knowing who we are and where we came from, so we will always believe that we can accomplish anything in this world. That we can be and do whatever it is we so desire to do. Nothing or no one can stop us and even through the worst of times we can stand back on our feet and reach for those stars, because we know where we come from. My father speaks this with such conviction because he is a walking testimony of such a life. His life story is of one who’s had it all, lost it all and got it all back because he’s never forgotten who he is. Even now, he tells his only granddaughter the same thing. I’m so proud of my father and the things he has accomplished, and I am truly blessed to have a father who believes in me and has always shown his love and support in all that I do.

I share this story because I believe it is the same with our Heavenly Father. Once you have become born again in Christ Jesus, you are a new creature and have a new family. You can now call the God of the universe your father, who loves you so much and wants to give you everything according to his glory and riches. You are now sons and daughters of the King of all Kings, the God of all creation. You have been adopted through Jesus and now an heir to his kingdom. Romans 8:15-17 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,
This also means that your old self and old ways have passed away and now you can put on the new and improved you, who can do all things through Jesus Christ! You can now walk in confidence knowing that you are a child of God’s and have been given all of His promises and the assurance that you’ll be spending eternity in heaven. The Word of God (The Bible) is now your family heritage. Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. It is the history of your lineage, your inheritance, the bloodline that bought and paid for your transgressions, and you have access to the power of the Holy Spirit that now lives in you, so you can be more than a conqueror! Do you believe this is who you are? I think many who have accepted Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, don’t actually walk in that power because they don’t truly believe who God says they are. 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

As the saying goes, a pig will always be a pig, but that’s because it’s an animal and was created a certain way. Humans on the other hand, were created with a mind to think on their own and make choices. Some people think a person can never change their ways, and yes, I believe they are right, a person can’t do it on their own. But, I believe and know that there is only one who can change a person’s heart and way of thinking. His name is Jesus Christ, and in Him old things are passed away and all things have become new. (2Cor. 5:17)

Unfortunately, I think many Christians don’t actually believe God can change those things in their life that keep them in bondage. They don’t actually believe that “by His stripes we are healed!” The suffering Jesus endured at Calvary was not only for the forgiveness of our sins, but he took away all sickness, disease, oppression, and any power that Satan has over us. As born again Christians we need to have that confidence of knowing who we are in Him and that Jesus defeated the enemy, for good! You are a child of God, so act like it! If we don’t believe that, then we will not live a victorious life and those old things will continue to rule over us.

I love what one pastor said, that our body can only do what our mind tells it to do. Scientifically, this is true. God knew exactly what he was doing when he created this intricate and most incredible organ called the brain. It does in fact control all functions of the body. So, what information are you feeding your brain with? What are you telling it to do? Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Recently, it seems every time I turn on the TV to one of the Christian Channels all the preachers and evangelists I’ve listened to were speaking about “renewing the mind.” Romans 12: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. It truly is the key to how we are living our life! Until we actually stop listening to those negative voices in our head telling us how terrible we are, and start listening to God’s voice and his Word, and believe all the good things that the Lord says about us is true, then we will continue living in our old way of life. If we don’t know who we are in Christ, then we wont be much different than that pig.

Psalm 139: 13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 103: 1-5 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your (my) sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.


No matter who your family is or was, whatever your lineage, whether they came from Kings, Queens or Rulers, at the end of it all, there is only one blood line that truly matters, and is above all. I pray and hope that everyone will one day come to know their true heritage and be adopted into the family of God, through Jesus Christ, so you too can experience your inheritance in God’s glorious Kingdom! And you too can walk in confidence, knowing who you are!