WAR 5 (Know Yourself)

The difference between defeat and victory sometimes lie in what we know about ourselves.
Not long ago, I was having a chat with a very respectable man. He shared a story about his starting days undertaking his PhD research work. His supervisor had requested he wrote an academic paper for presentation. He wasn’t prepared neither was he equipped to do that which was being asked of him, so he gave it his best shot and gave it to the supervisor.
The supervisor was very disappointed at the paper and made it clear that it was so bad that it would go into his file and would ultimately serve as a negative mark.

While recounting the story, the man told me he didn’t object to the supervisor’s comments because he was aware of his ability. He said “I couldn’t do much, at the stage where I was then, that was the best I could do”.
Rather than allow the situation to have a negative effect on him, he worked at improving who he was when it came to writing academic papers. About a few months later, the same opportunity presented itself and he went to the supervisor asking for permission to re-present the paper.
His second submission was outstanding that he flew outside of the country to present it in a conference.

In Genesis 22, Abraham found himself in a position that requires a huge amount of confidence in his belief in God. He had to know (i.e. remember) who he is in God.
God had given Abraham a near impossible task to sacrifice his only son (the same one he waited almost 100 years before having) to Him.
Abraham then obediently sets out on this very depressing journey….. only difference is, Abraham was not depressed at all.
In vs.7 Isaac questioned the absence of a ram for the sacrifice but Abraham’s reply showed us that he knows God is in control over his life.

Vs. 8 “And Abraham said, my son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering”

When you start showing signs of success, life, people and situations will start questioning who you are. No one questions the people on the loosing team (Apart from Sir Alan Sugar)….

In our quest for winning everyday battles, we need to devote time into knowing who we really are. Lack of personal knowledge undermines our ability to reap maximum benefit from fighting.

So at work, you struggle to get your voice heard, but after constant top of the range performance and impeccable hard work, you were given a platform to express yourself……..then …. You can’t define yourself… what a waste of effort that would have been.

If you call yourself a Christian (i.e. Christ follower) stammering when your identity is called into question places you on the platform of defeat... (Long before the battle commences).

Jesus during His time on earth was constantly questioned about who He was, what He knows and how He does the things He does.


Jesus was still reeling from a victorious ride into Jerusalem when His identity was called into question (Matthew 21). Firstly by a situation that can best be represented by a “state of being” and second by people.

First: (Matthew 21 vs. 18)

"Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered."

What a master we have in Jesus, He placed an embargo on the production capacity of the fig tree that failed to give him food.
To me, what Jesus said did not sound like prayer…. (Well not the kind I know anyway) but when His disciples marvelled, He told them

“if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Basically, when Jesus said “May you never bear fruit again”, He was praying and the result of the prayer was instant and He said we can do the same….. Oooops.... and whaoooo

I’ve heard people tell me whenever I speak to something not human that it couldn’t hear me… well, I know who I am and as long as I am in Christ, faith filled and prayer"FULL"…

I will speak a thing and it will be established.

So as believers we need to start speaking to those seemingly inanimate things…. Cos they really do hear…. That is who you are.

Second: (Matthew 21 vs 23)

"Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

After the fig tree did its part, it was human’s turn to challenge Jesus. Jesus’ response was intriguing; He also asked them a question that got them confused:

Vs. 27
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

In a chain of events after his victorious entry into Jerusalem, Jesus stamped his authority in sustaining His victory.

Not just has Jesus shown us who we are in him…..now we can go about speaking to those things and people that are challenging us or will challenge us.

Next time you are thrown in the spotlight, handle the microphone, need to give a talk, , or faced with a problem or difficulty, remember to let the light of who you are in God shine through.

With your fighting ability, success will come, but can you stand the questions of identity?

Errrm….errrrm….errrrm….errrrm….. is not good enough…. You can simply say…

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5 vs. 21).

Many people might not understand that….. But you do….. And that’s what matters......