School of Prayer: Spiritual Identity

The Hebrew word for love is “ahavat.” It is a gospel message in and of itself. It first appears in Scripture when God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac whom he loved, on Mt. Moriah (Gen 22:2). This event was a type and shadow of God’s greatest act of love—Yeshua being offered as a sacrifice on the cross, a crucifixion that was held in the vicinity of this same mount. The construction of this Hebrew word further expounds on God’s expression of love for us. Its first letter is an “aleph” which denotes the invisible presence of the one God (John 3:8). The next letter is “hay” which denotes God’s divine breath (the Holy Spirit, Acts 2). The third letter is “vet” which symbolizes the house that God is building for His people (Rev. 21). The last letter is “tav,” depicted in ancient Hebrew as a cross. It denotes truth, life, and death. Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6). God gave us Himself, continually breathes His power upon us, and is building an eternal house for us. As “ahavat” demonstrates, the love of God is the foundation of our faith and the gospel message for the world.

What is the office of the intercessor? Is that biblical and where can it be found in scripture. God spoke of needing it in Ezek 22:30. Joseph stood in the gap in Gen 50:20. Moses stood in the gap in Ps 106:23. Ester stood in the gap in Est 8. The high priest stood in the gap in Ezek 44:15-16, Heb 5:1. The gap is the distance that separates others from God (his person, blessing, promise, salvation). The intercessor is a person who prays and partners with God to bring his will about. That gifting is often coupled with another gift in the area God has called us to works so that there are intercessors in every part of the church ministry.

(from Agape Church, core virtue of identity) “We will never rise above our own understanding of who we are...and that understanding will affect every relationship we have.

On the Mount of Temptation what was Satan's first challenge? Matthew chapter four: “If you are the Son of God...” He was challenged to validate his identity using Satan's methods which would have invalidated who he was. Satan's role was not to validate Yeshua, it was to violate him. This happened three times. 1st (tempted with bread)- He was challenged to validate his identity to meet his needs selfishly and in contradiction to the word of God. Jesus' point is that man was to meet his own needs in a godly way. This attack was on his person after fasting for forty days. 2nd (on the pinnacle of the Temple)- He was challenged to validate his identity and mission as Messiah by sacrificing himself in violation of the word of God. He was to be sacrificed on the cross. 3rd - He was challenged to validate his identity by sacrificing his ultimate devotion and accepting a counterfeit salvation for the world. The temptations were on his personal needs and weaknesses, personal life and calling, and ultimate devotion and personal mission. All three tested Yeshua's humanity at his weakest point. This was the first opportunity for him to abandon his identity, calling, and mission. Another opportunity was in the Garden of Gethsemane where he was sorrowful even unto death and prayed for God's will concerning the cup of suffering (Matt 26:38-39). Still another opportunity is Yeshua's admission that he could ask for twelve legions of angels to protect him (Matt 26:53).

When Satan could not destroy Yeshua’s mission by violating his identity, persecution set in. (Jn 15:20) This was designed to impinge his character in order to destroy his mission. Some of the Jews in Jesus' time believed in who Jesus was (the Messiah) and some did not, even in the face of miracles (Jn 14:11, Matt 9:5). But ultimately, the of life of Yeshua bore out the fact that he did fulfill the messianic prophecies and reflect the ways and very person of God in his actions and speech. The enemy will fight you, not because of your specific calling, but because you reflect the person of God in the world (2 Tim 3:12). Yeshua's identity included putting the Father on display for all to see personally and publicly. (Jn 17:21-23, Eph 5:21-30)

First know that you were B’tselem Elohim, created in God's image and likeness (Gen 1:27). We were not created in the image of your past, your detractors, your enemies, or the lies that the enemy tries to peddle in your life. There is a place to remind him that you belong to God and were created to worship and please him and participate in the work of the Kingdom. Your accusers do not define by your mistakes, problems, or life situation. God defined who you are and who you will be.

Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him... (KJV); Don't lie to one another, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, Who created this new nature within you. (NLT) Col 3:9-10.

Do you know what God is doing in your life? You have your past, present, and future that is often a mixed depiction of what you want and what God wants. If your future is focused on you establishing your own plan, when it is challenged it will crumble (Matt 7:21-29). God knows who you are and what you were created to be. Angels encamp around us (Ps 34:7-9) and they know us and what God is making us to be. In James 1:13-15, the tempter also knows us and what God has for us because he is the one who perverts it.

Do you wear God's clothes? Do you enter your day consulting with God and considering what his plan for you is? Do you meditate and listen to God in the morning? Seeking his purpose and plan in the morning creates a sensitivity throughout your day to the direction of God. The more we make room for God and are sensitive to it the more he will guide us and speak. If you want to hear God's voice, practice the Shema and listen.

We can't just say we have faith. In Jewish culture faith and action are the same. Action is always an expression of faith. Faith is not just what we believe, it is inseparable from what we do (James 2:17-18). Prayer and life are expressions of our faith and that faith is linked to action, which is also linked to our understanding of the Word of God. Being one with God means being a faithful reflection of his mercy, grace, and compassion in our response to life and people. Our spiritual identity is a reflection of the will and personage of God in everyday interactions with people, situations, challenges. It is our source of validation, authority, and identity. Coupled with our own personality each expression of faith is godly and unique.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father Do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Too many times we lose our focus on how much our actions and responses to life are intimately tied to the Word of God. We look at spiritual identity as being something God speaks to us prophetically in terms of our life purpose. God can speak in that way but if we are not careful our spiritual purpose gets separated from our spiritual character. What you do in ministry is not all of what you are. It is a part. The other part is bringing who God made you to be into what he called you to do.

What happens if God has not split the heavens with a divine proclamation? That does not mean you are void of meaning and spiritual identity. God also leads with passions or interests. Some people are gifted in helps and can be a jack of all trades (a spiritual generalist). Pleasing God is being involved in living his word and proclaiming it in the city and community of faith. Combining who and the do together gives us spiritual identity and the authority we stand in.

So “who” are we bringing into the purpose God has called us to? A biblically linked expression of life is a life of purpose. List three things you struggle with personally. How has the enemy and even your own mind used those things against you? What is the rhetoric in your mind? How have you dealt with the negative messages that hinder your faith?

List three strengths. Do you have meekness (strength under control) or have your strengths become a snare? An unregulated strength can be a double weakness. What do your strengths allow you to excuse away, ignore, or outright trample about people (rights, personage, pain, individuality, opinions).

Has God ever spoken to you about yourself personally. What was that about? Has he ever told or lead you to do something? Have you felt like you had a God-given interest in an area? What was it? Has he ever given you a scripture, a prophetic word, or a prophetic passion? Begin making a list and look for themes.

Sometimes we abandon our spiritual identity because some of it fits into the church ministry and some of it does not. How do we reconcile those things that fit within the church ministry and the things that do not?

What hindrances have been present that have blocked you from acting on the will of God? How can those hindrances be mitigated? What can be done now, re-imagined, or what must wait?

At the top of your page write a statement entitled, "who am I", then using the rest to write about what God has called you or lead you to do. What is your mission in life? How has God validated it?

Our spiritual identity is not just an exercise in defining something. That spiritual purpose must be prayed over continually. We need to seek God for detail and direction. We need to develop in that area and invest in knowledge. We need to confess our place before heaven, the enemy, and not be intimidated by our own limitations, our past, or the condemnation of the enemy’s voice.

Our identity in God is described in the two great commandments to first love God, then to love others as ourselves. Understanding God’s love for us helps us to love ourselves appropriately. When we understand his love for us, then we can biblically love others. A person must achrei mot-kedoshim, love yourself. It is our love for God that lends itself to trust (or reliance on God, bitachon) and faith in God (emunah). Both bitachon and emunah are also used in how we love and value others in God’s kingdom. Respect for our identity in God and that of others will help us participate in the larger arena of faith where we are all connected, all play a part in the accomplishment of God’s will and are all loved by him.

Rav Calev