An Identity Crisis

An Identity Crisis

By Evangelist Robert Osborne

Matt. 4:1-11

This is the first place where Christ has the opportunity to question who he really is. Jesus was hungry.

It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantage of our outward condition, in that to plant the battery of his temptations.

Outward afflictions, wants and burdens, are the great arguments Satan uses to make the people of God question their sonship; as if afflictions could not consist with, when really they proceed from, God’s fatherly love. We need to be as Job, "though God slay me I will serve him."

The devil will take your all of your questions and problems and try to cause you to have an identity crisis. He did the same thing to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He tried to tell them that God had a grudge over the tree of knowledge and therefore he did not want them to eat of it. He always questions God. The truth is that Jesus could have done any of these things but he didn’t because he didn’t have anything to prove to the Devil. Satan tried him again on the cross in:

Matt. 27:40

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Lk. 23:36-74

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The Devil wanted Christ to have an Identity Crisis. He wanted him to prove who he was the truth is even the people followed Christ after his miracles. Even if he didn’t do any miracles he would have still been God. Jesus didn’t do anything to prove who hw was. He does it because he is who he is.

The Devil tries to cause us to have an Identity Crisis by telling us that we are not a Christian. But he is wrong for the bible tells us who we are no matter what he says. Because Jesus Said:

Lk. 20:36

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

The truth is the Devil don’t want to face the fact:

A. That we are Children of God

Ro. 8:14-17

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

B.That we are Heirs of God

Ga. 3:29

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ga. 4:7

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

C.That we Are Sons of God

Jn. 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 Jn. 3:1-4

1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

And there is nothing he can do about it. WE can’t let him try to make us think that we are something other than what we are.