Focus: Do You Know Who You Are?

Text: Act.21:39

"But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people."

Paul was a brilliant lawyer and a spiritual giant in Christ. He saw the need to introduce himself before the people, and he did not hesitate to take advantage of the situation. With so much boldness and braggadocio he stood and declared:

*I am a man - a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia.

*I am a citizen of no mean city.

He didn't mince words. He was straightforward and proud of his citizenship and his badge of noble identity and rich heritage.

Guess what happened! The centurion listening to Paul was frightened. Luke reports, "When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman." Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born" (Act.22:26-28). The captain came down from his high horse upon discovering that Paul was a free born Roman citizen. He acquired his own, but for Paul, it was his natural birthright. In fact, the centurion warned the captain, "Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman."

Someone had rightly said, "Those proud peacocks who mock us for our faith and persecute us because we live in righteousness should be careful. They don't know with whom they're dealing." The psalmist declares, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Ps.105:15). 

In Christ you are secure. The oil of Christ is on your head. You are untouchable because of the anointing, except God says otherwise.

Angel Gabriel, at a critical moment, introduced himself to Zecharias, saying, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings" (Lk.1:19).

Do you know who and what you are in Christ? You are God's anointed, and whoever touches you touches the apple of God's eye. Zechariah declares, "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye" (Zech.2:8). Paul makes bold to say, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil.3:20). The word 'conversation' means 'citizenship' in the Greek. Child of God, Paul is saying that you are a citizen of heaven, and the church is a colony of heaven on earth. As Rome conquered and dominated the entire world they established colonies in different cities where their own citizens were allowed to live. In those colonies Roman laws governed the people and the Roman way of living was welcomed and adhered to. Philippi was such a place.

The church is governed from heaven. Our culture and customs are that of heaven. The King of heaven reigns in our hearts. In our lives, his word is law. We are here on earth for the business of heaven. This present earth is more or less our workplace, not our home. We are pilgrims and sojourners here, and for as long as we live in this temporary world, we give our King our total allegiance and pay to Him alone our utter homage. A new earth is coming for us to permanently dwell in.

Do you know who you are in Christ? You are a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords, and John tells us that he has "made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…" (Rev.1:6). He is both the King and also the Kingmaker.

Do you know who you are in Christ? You are born of the Word, baptized and filled with the Spirit. You are a terror to the devil and an asset to the kingdom of God. You are God's heir and a joint-heir with Christ. You are beloved of God and destined for glory. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. You are an ambassador of Christ and a reconciler of men to God. You are God's vessel of honor and a disciple of Christ. You're blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You are the elect of God and a bringer of glad tidings. You are beyond the reach of the devil.

See yourself as God sees you and rejoice in the fact that you are known and loved by God. You belong to God and serve Him with all your heart.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter