Identity Theft

1 Samuel 9 - 15

By looking at the story of King Saul we can see a perfect example of how your identity can be stolen.

~~ Saul was Israel’s first king and he started off great. He was humble, forgiving and he knew that having peace was better than taking revenge.  He led the Israelites in victory threw many battles. Then one day the Philistines came to fight Israel again.  But this time the Israelites were greatly outnumbered. Many of the Israelites hid in caves nearby but a few of the soldiers did come to fight. 

Now the great prophet Samuel had promised to meet Saul to offer a sacrifice before they attacked. But they waited seven days and Samuel still did not come. Saul began to get worried and He didn't want to fight without asking for God’s help, but he was not allowed to offer a sacrifice. 
When his men began to get restless and leave, Saul decided to go on and offer the sacrifice anyway. As soon as he had finished with the burnt offering, Samuel came. 

He was horrified and demanded, “What have you done?” Saul tried to explain what had happened but Samuel just said “You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord. Now the Lord will take the kingdom from you.” But For the time being, God allowed Saul to go on being king over Israel. ~~

Sometimes, even after we disobey Gods commands things can seem to go good for a while.  The Bible says that sin has pleasure for a season.  But the Bible also has the principal of sowing and reaping. 

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

~~ In 1 Samuel 15 we see that the Lord gave Saul clear instruction to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them. So Saul and his army attacked but spared the king and the best of the animals. When Saul met Samuel He said I've completed the Lords instruction.  But Samuel called him out on it and said, “Then why do I hear sheep and cattle?” Saul tried to make an excuse and say they were saving the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord.  But the Lord didn't want the sacrifice he wanted his obedience. And Because Saul rejected the word of the Lord, he was rejected as king.” ~~

Saul allowed his God given identity as king to be stolen from him by his disobedience.

In my past I disobeyed Gods Word and in return I had to endure some really awful things and lost a lot that I can never get back.  It started with what seemed like little things that I knew were wrong but I explained away as not being that bad, anyways I knew God would forgive me.  Yes, He did forgive me but what I was choosing to do led me down a slippery slope that led to a lot of pain and even greater compromises that almost led to my destruction.

I had forgotten my identity in Christ and lost hope….

Saul's God given identity as king was eventually stolen from him by his disobedience.

We need to remember we are heirs to the kingdom.

Romans 8:17 says if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 

If you are not yet a child of God I want you to pray, repent, confess Jesus as your Lord and receive salvation today!

If we walk around all day with crowns on maybe we will remember- I’m an heir to the kingdom, I was born to worship Him, I was born to give Him pleasure. Then maybe we’ll be more careful about what we subject ourselves to.  We’ll be more careful when we sit down to watch TV or get on the internet or about other things we choose to do.

I want to encourage you not to let what may seem like small compromises- make you live like anything else than the royalty that you are.  As kings and queens you should be letting your light so shine among men!  Your light wasn't meant to be hidden by darkness your light was meant to draw others to what has been given to you!  Salvation! Don't let your God given identity be stolen by the things of this world.

·        I know a lot of us deal with condemnation- let me tell you something- that is not from God.  If you are a child of God- the devil- the accuser of the brother, is accusing you day and night to God saying look, look at what he or she has done.  And God looks and says where- all I see is a big blood spot!  

See the enemy knows he can’t pin anything on you. He can see your crown in the Spirit realm but if he can keep you from seeing it he can keep you in bondage.

·        I've heard the stories about when Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation that some slave owners didn't want their slaves to find out about it because it would grant their freedom.  So these evil slave owners hid it from them to keep these people in bondage. The devil knows as long as he can keep us Christians deceived about who we are in Christ he can keep us in bondage!

If we walk around with our crowns on, in the rightful authority through Christ that we have we won’t be so quick to get under the devils condemnation.  We can walk with our heads lifted high and say back silly devil don’t you know who I am?  I’m His beloved, my prayers are powerful and I have Heavens attention because I come in righteousness in the name of Jesus!

1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

 Pray tonight and ask God to help you get rid of any darkness in your life that is trying to steal your identity.  I don't need to know what it is but you and God do.   

Now symbolically throw away whatever is making you live like less than royalty.  

When you’re done throwing out the trash I want you to praise God for this fresh start!  

Anything that’s hiding your light- hiding your true identity- making you live like anything less than the queens and kings you are must be thrown out tonight!