One of Satan’s greatest agendas is identity warfare: his attempt to destroy our true identity, the image and likeness of God in us. This warfare is the first thing we see him do in the scripture. Right from the start he goes to work to strip Eve of her sense of identity, dignity and security by casting dispersions on the reliability of God’s Word to her and Adam. The first attack is on her security:
Genesis 3:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
This is an attack on the integrity of God's Word is also an attack on Eve’s security as a daughter of God because if she cannot trust his Word then she is not safe.
The next attack is on her dignity of identity:
Genesis 3:2-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be LIKE God, knowing good and evil.”
When the enemy says this he implies that her eyes are not already open and that she is not already made in the image and LIKEness of God.
So we see that insecurity and inferiority are the two deepest and most foundational demonic strongholds of fallen man. They are the evidence of the success of the enemy’s identity warfare against God’s children who are made in his LIKEness right from the beginning.
These strongholds allow the enemy to bind people up in the flesh and the world because these latter things promise relief from the pain of insecurity and inferiority. Pride also comes in as a compensation for the pain of insecurity and inferiority by promising that we can stop feeling inferior by feeling superior. But it doesn't work and just adds to the demonic infestation. Insecurity and inferiority also set people up for rejection when we reach for something in the world but get rejected because someone else is also trying to satisfy the need of insecurity and inferiority at our expense.
So God has an answer, he has gone to war against the enemy’s identity warfare. He is holding out to us the spirit of sonship which is the cure for the enemy’s identity warfare. His deliverance from this painful bondage is encapsulated in Roman’s 8:14-39.
The first part of the passage is a word for our identity and dignity that silences the voice of inferiority by telling us that our true identity is that of a son of God, a brother of Jesus(v.29):
Romans 8:14-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The rest of the passage attacks the enemy’s lies about our security by telling us how favored we are and how unshakable is our position in Christ and how loved we are:
Romans 8:31-39 New King James Version (NKJV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”[a]
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So as we receive this word we become free of the lies of insecurity, inferiority, rejection, worthlessness etc. and all other demonic attacks on our security value and identity. Meditation on this passage in Romans 8 is a powerful tool in driving out the enemy and silencing his attacks on our identity and growing in the spirit of sonship. Implicit in the teaching of sonship, it is important to note that there is a cost to becoming a fully mature son of God: that it is a life that includes much suffering for Christ and that suffering for and with him is entirely necessary in order to be perfected just as Jesus was perfected through suffering:
Hebrews 2:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
PRAYER
Abba, Father, I come before your awesome throne of Grace right now seeking healing for my identity and the fullness of sonship to you. I thank you that you created me in your image and that you have a destiny for me in your eternal Kingdom. Your Word says that I have been given the spirit of sonship so I claim that right now:
Romans 8:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption[sonship] by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Abba, I thank you that you call me your son.
Your Word also says that some are predestined to become like Jesus and be his brothers:
Romans 8:29 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
I declare my desire to be found among these who are called the Brothers of Jesus. So by faith I take my rightful place as your son and as a brother to Jesus and I renounce, reject, curse and cast out the lies of the enemy on my identity. I declare that I fall out of any agreement with the spirits of insecurity and inferiority as well as related spirits such as rejection, worthlessness, self-hatred, self-condemnation, self-rejection, self-accusation, pride, superiority, self-righteousness, etc. By faith I claim and declare the fullness of my identity as your son and as Jesus’ brother. Abba, I ask you to release over me all the spiritual and natural provisions that are a part of my rightful inheritance in the Kingdom as your son and as Jesus’ brother. Your Word says to be led of you is to be your son:
Romans 8:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
I declare my desire to be led by you and to employ all that is given to me to build your Kingdom and to help raise up a Bride to my Savior, King and big brother Jesus the Christ, your Only Begotten Son. I ask you to put me through all the training it takes for me to become a fully mature son of God and a helpful friend to my big brother Jesus. Your Word says that this requires suffering:
Hebrews 2:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Romans 8:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
So I willingly and gladly offer myself to you to endure suffering for your sake to become a fully mature son of God and I declare my willingness and desire to rejoice in it and consider it a blessing as your Word instructs:
Matthew 5:10-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Abba, by faith I believe that today I am becoming your son and I understand that you scourge your sons:
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.
So I ask you to scourge me and shape me into the fullness of a son of God that I might be a pleasing son to you and a brother to Jesus. Do whatever you have to do in my life to make me a fully mature son of God, no matter of how painful, fearful or humbling.
Abba, thank you for replacing the enemy’s lies against my identity with the Truth of your Word and the promise of glory in sonship. I praise you for what you are doing in my life and I give you all the glory.
Thank you, Abba, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Steve Pursell, 1/31/16