Walking in Your Spiritual Identity

Hebrews 12: 1 - 2, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

I recently preached a message entitled, "Living in Dominion in a Fallen World." I discovered a truth by the Holy Spirit that was so profound and powerful that I wanted to share it with you today. If you look around in today's society, you can see the "church" becoming a lot like the world in many respects. The fact of the matter is we are all humans. But, that can't be used as a basis for choosing to live in sin as a Christian. In Romans 6, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes to us that, if we are born again, our old man is dead; sin should no longer have dominion over us.

If you are born again and struggle with the weakness of the flesh nature and desire sin, then know that you don't fully understand or know your spiritual identity. When you were born, your mom was asked what she would name her new baby. In much the same way, you were born again as a child of God and given a new identity in Christ. (Ref. 2 Cor. 5) When we don't understand what it means to walk in our new nature or spiritual identity in Christ, we have a tendency to identify with our old ways and desires.

The remedy to dying to your old carnal or fleshly ways is to continue to walk by faith. What does that mean? You no longer listen to what your heart, lusts, the world, or Satan is saying. Rather, you adhere to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. As you begin to walk by faith, and you discover your new identity apart from sin, your fleshly desires will begin to scream out, "Stop this faith stuff; I need some attention." You will know when your old man is getting the attention of your heart, when you begin to look at what walking by faith is keeping you from.

If this describes where you are spiritually, then you should know that you have gotten to the place in your faith walk that today's passage is teaching us all. When our flesh nature and worldly desire begins to tell us what we're missing while trusting and following Jesus, then we will have to begin to make some tough decisions. But if we will make the correct choices, we will find that it will get easier as our faith grows, and we walk consistently in our new identities.

It will become easier for two reasons. As you say "no" to the old man and "yes" to the Lord's will for your life, the old man is being crucified by the Word daily. As a result, you will walk in more authority over that flesh nature that once ruled you. This will make it much easier for you to say no to the flesh and the cares of this world. But, if you get to a place in your walk with Christ where it seems like He is asking more of you than you are receiving from Him, then know that is the time to seek Him more. Remember, you must decrease, and Jesus must increase. If you decrease, and yet don't pursue Him more, then the flesh nature will grow back stronger.

 The desired result is to seek first the kingdom of God and walk in His righteousness by faith, and everything else will be put in its proper place in our lives. Then we will walk in the fullness of our new identity and in spiritual authority. FREEDOM!!!

Crucifying the Flesh Nature,
Pastor Asa