Identity Theft
By
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Gen. 27 1-5 & 34-38
John 10:10
No doubt we have all seen what I call some of the best commercials on T.V. They consist an elderly woman sitting in a chair talking in the voice of some man she talks about her truck with the Dayton tires, the mud flaps with the silver naked lady, and the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror, another commercial is a man sitting on a lawn mower talking about the finger nails with the diamonds built in and the 100.00 leather boostee’ he says in his female voice I know it’s wrong, but I am the best dressed person in the whole development. The commercial is about identity theft.
Identity theft is a criminal offense. It occurs when a person knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit or to aid or abet any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law. It is the fasting growing crime in America. Last year more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft costing them roughly 5 billion dollars.
If you have never been a victim of identity theft I pray that it never happens to you because it is a very hurtful and violating experience. I remember when someone got hold of my wife’s identity, they had phony checks and divers licenses made with her identity on it. Through this identity theft the person was able to purchase a computer, some computer furniture, and plenty of accessories and they had charged our account, why, because they had stolen her identity.
Identity: is the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. Your identity is the most important part of who you are. Your identity is the doorway to your destiny. No doubt you have heard the phrase your circumstances or your situation doesn’t determine your destiny, or your past doesn’t determine your future and that’s true; however, your identity differently does determine your destiny. Who you are will determine where you will go and what you can do. If you don’t believe that just try to walk right up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington D.C. , you will see just what your identity will or will not let you do. If you have the right identity you could, but if you don’t we will see you on the news under the headlines strange man or woman tries to enter White House, crazed individual was taken away in straight jacket, details at 11:00. Your identity is very important. I remember when I was in the Army and we would have our Dress Green or Class A inspections, even though I wore a uniform that said U.S Army and a patch that stated the unit I belonged to, my true identity was on 2 small pieces of tin, that was wore under my T-shirt. We called them dog tags, on these dog tags was stated my name, my SSN, my blood type, and my religion, even though on the outside I looked like any other soldier my true identity was on the inside of my uniform. The dog tags said who I really was, it was my identity. It didn’t matter how well I ironed my uniform, it didn’t matter how well I shinned my shoes. It didn’t matter if everything else was dress right dress, if I didn’t have on my identity tags it was all in vain, why, because that was my identity. That said who I was, the uniform said who I belonged to, but those dog tags said who I really was.
Identity theft is a very serious issue. Statistics state that every 79 seconds in America there is an identity theft victim. Technology has caused the prediction that in a few years there will be a massive identity theft crisis in our nation.
The terrible thing about identity theft is you can spend your whole life building your credit, building your positive identity and in one moment somebody steals your identity and your future is destroyed.
The same thing happens in the spiritual realm. You can spend your entire life building your spiritual identity but in one moment the devil steals your identity and you find yourself in a situation that you didn’t even realize why because your identity has been stolen.
We find in our text the first documented case of identity theft. The story goes Isaac, the promised son of Abraham was now old, he was about 138 years old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see. We call this condition today cataracts. So he called for his eldest son Esau that he my bless him. Understand that the first born son received a special blessing, he received a double portion because it literally was his responsibility to take care of the family after the death of the father. The eldest son was responsible for carrying on the traditions, customs, and occupation of the family. He was responsible for making the decisions that would affect the family; therefore, he would receive a double portion blessing because of the responsibilities that were to be placed upon him after the death of his father.
Isaac realizing that his days were soon to be over called for Esau that he may bless him. However first he told Esau to go and hunt a deer and cook it and bring it to him and he would eat of it and bless Esau for his time of death was soon to come. So Esau being obedient went and did what his father asked of him to do.
Rebekah, his mother, who loved Jacob his brother more than him, heard what Isaac her husband said and knew that Esau was about to get a blessing, so she told Jacob to go and kill two kid goats, which wasn’t even what Isaac asked for. She said she will make his savory meat and you give it to your father because he can’t see and say that you are Esau and steal his blessing. However, Jacob said surely he will want to touch me and see if I am Esau, because Esau is hairy and I am smooth. Then instead of a blessing he will place a curse upon me.
Just like the devil, Rebekah said upon me be thy curse just go and do as I said. She took the skin of animals and placed it upon Jacob to make him feel and smell like Esau, in other words she knowingly and without lawful authority stole his identity in order to get something that didn’t belong to him. Jacob went into his father under the false identity of Esau and Isaac discerned it not. Isaac touched Jacob to see who he was, He said the voice is the voice of Jacob, but your hands are the hands of Esau and your smell is the smell of the field which God hath blessed; therefore, because of your identity I’m going to bless you.
** If you read about the blessing Isaac gave unto Jacob, it was a 10 fold blessing, the number 10 means Divine Order, thus we have the Ten Commandments the Divine Order of God, there were Ten plagues that feel upon Egypt the divine order of God, the Disciples had to wait in the upper room for Ten days before the Day of Pentecost was fully come before they received the Holy Ghost; therefore the blessing upon Jacob was a divine order.**
After Isaac blessed Jacob and he left from the presence of his father, here comes Esau and he says “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s venison that thy soul may bless me.” Isaac said “Who art thou”. Esau said “I am thy first born son Esau.” Isaac trembled and said where is he that hath brought me venison and I blessed him. In other words, where is he that has stolen your identity? Esau heard the words of his father and cried with a bitter cry, because Jacob had stolen his identity and took what didn’t belong to him, but what Esau had waited all his life to receive.
Because Jacob took the identity of Esau he also took his blessing. Well this is just what the devil wants to do to the people of God today he wants to steal your identity. If he can steal your identity he can kill your joy, if he can steal your identity he can steal your blessing, if he can steal your identity he can destroy your destiny. The Bible says in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:..”
The devil knows your identity is the key to your destiny; therefore, if he can steal your identity he can cause you to miss out on what God has for you.
Have you ever wondered why people act the way that they do it is because the devil has stolen their identity? You don’t even have to look at someone else, just take a few seconds and look back over your life before you were saved and realize some of the things you used to do. The reason why you used to be hooked on drugs is because the devil had stolen your identity and you didn’t even realize that you were a child of God. The reason you used to drink like a fish was because the devil had stolen your identity. The reason you used to sleep around not carrying about the consequences, you thought you were enjoying life, but what it really was, was the devil had stolen your identity. He knew that you were set up for a blessing and he said if I can steal their identity I can cause them to miss out on the blessing that is laid up for them.
The devil understands that your identity is a very powerful resource, because when you know who you are nothing is impossible to you. My mind goes to when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Bible says, the heaven parted and a voice came from heaven and said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The voice of God didn’t go on and tell of all the things that he would do, but he just simply said this is my beloved son, it established his identity, once His identity was established nothing was impossible to Him. Understand that Jesus didn’t turn water into wine until after His identity was established. He didn’t raise anyone from the dead until His identity was established. He didn’t heal the sick until His identity was established. WHY, because His identity was going to lead Him to His destiny. When Moses in front of the burning bush said whom shall I say sent me, God said say I am that I am, He established His identity. In other words, tell them whatever they need me to be, whenever they need me to be it, I am because that is my identity. He is a way out of no way, a will in the middle of a will, He is Jehovah Jireh my provider, He is Jehovah Nissi in Him I have victory, He is God. That is His identity.
When you know who you are, when you understand your identity your confidence rises up in you. My mind goes back to a little story that we all should remember from school about a little engine that could, because he knew that his identity was that he was a train, that hill that he had to climb should not have been a problem, so he kept saying over and over again in his mind I think I can, I think I can and because he knew his identity he achieved his destiny.
When you understand your identity then you know what the next step is for your life. The goal of the enemy is to steal the identity of the believers. If the devil can get you to forget who you are, if he can steal your identity then you will forget about your destiny.
So many times we ask the question why does it seem like people are falling away from God. Why are people doing the things that they are doing. Why are the church folks acting like this? Christian shouldn’t act this way. The body of Christ, which is made up of those that are called by His name according to His purpose shouldn’t be going around doing the things that they are doing. So then WHY are they doing it, it is because even if for a moment the devil has stolen their identity. Why do people commit adultery, because they lost their identity, they didn’t realize that their identity had been stolen and failed to realize that they were a married individual so they committed that atrocity why because their identity had been stolen. They failed to understand their identity and therefore began to destroy their destiny. Why does it seem like all of the sudden a person that seems to have it going on in mans eyes just seem to snap and go off the deep end, it is because they have become a victim of identity theft. Why is the homosexual living that perverted life-style, it is because they are a victim of identity theft. Why is the prostitute selling herself, it is because she is a victim of identity theft.
Many people want to achieve fortune and fame; they strive for popularity and prosperity. They say that God wants us to prosper and that is true, but before you can walk in your destiny you must walk in your identity, before you can walk in God’s promises you have to under stand your identity.
So many times people especially church folk are stressed about a title or position, they get so frustrated over what they are supposed to do or what they feel they have been called to do, but they need to stop worrying about what they are supposed to do and figure out who they are.
When you straighten out the identity, when you figure out who you are then your destiny logically and expectantly will begin to flow in your life. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” I don’t have to try to impress you all I have to do is know who I am and my destiny will work itself out, but I must first know my identity.
The Bible tells me that I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. Understand that because I am a royal priesthood, because I am a child of the king, because I am chosen, because I know my identity. I can stand in confidence and say I am more than a conqueror. I can say with assurity that No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Because I know my identity I can say to the mountain be thou removed and it must be done. Because I know my identity I can lay my hand on the sick and they shall recover, I can open up blinded eyes. It’s not because I am someone special, but I know my identity, I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Do you know your identity?
The credit card commercial says we must protect our identity. Well in the spiritual we must protect our identity as well. How do we do that, well we must understand how the devil fights.
If we go to the 4th chapter of Matthew we find that after Jesus was baptized and His identity made known, He was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Matthew 4:3 says: “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” This temptation was first an attack on His identity, if thou be the Son of God. In other words do you really know who you are? The devil will always try to tempt your identity because if he can steal your identity he can steal your blessing. If he can cause you to forget who you are then he can cause you to make a stupid decision. That’s how Jacob got Esau the first time, he made him forget just for a moment who he was and he made a stupid decision. How many times have you heard in your mind this: If you really call yourself a child of God how come you had that thought? If you really were saved how come you said that. If you really were saved how come this or how come that? Understand he is attacking your identity. “If thou be the Son of God…”
Matthew 4:6 says: “And he saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Once again we see that the devil was attacking the identity of Jesus, why because if he could steal his identity he could cause him to make a stupid decision. However, Jesus knew who He was, He knew His identity for he said in the 7th verse “It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” In other words I know who I am, I am the Lord thy God. I don’t have to prove myself to you so don’t even waste your time for I know that I know who I am. I know my identity. I am the Lord thy God.
WATCH THIS: After the devil had attacked the identity of Jesus he didn’t just stop because he knew who he was, but he changed his attack. When you know who you are and the devil realizes that you know who you are, he will not stop attacking you, but he will change his attack on you.
Matthew 4:8 - 10 says: “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan for it is written, Thou shalt serve the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thy serve.”
The devil now wasn’t attacking His identity, but he was trying to see if Jesus would compromise His identity for pleasure. He said I will give you all these things. Many people are looking for a quick fix, that’s what happened to Esau, he was hungry and his brother said I have a solution, if you give me your birth-right, which was his identity, I will give you something to eat. Esau compromised his identity for a quick fix. Are you going to compromise your destiny for the pleasures of this world? I am reminded of the scripture that says “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul.”
Are you willing to take the easy road to achieve something now? Are you willing to loose your inheritance for a temporary fix? Are you willing to settle for fool’s gold?
Too many people want to take a short cut to get somewhere or something. They feel as though if I can get next to that person, if I can meet this person, if I can have that Bishop or that prophet lay their hands on me then that which I want will come easier. They are looking for an easy road to take, but your destiny will cause you to take the Via Delarosa, which is the way of suffering. Jesus could have taken the things that the devil was offering him, for he showed him the glory of them, but Jesus knew His identity and because He knew His identity He knew what His destiny was. So He knowingly and willfully chose to suffer, because He knew His identity which lead Him to His destiny. Understand that the cross wasn’t His destiny, because He didn’t stay on the cross, but His destiny was to set the captive free, His destiny was to reconcile man and God back together again. His destiny was to tell death Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave where is thy victory. That’s why He was willing to suffer, that’s why He was willing to be beat all night long. That’s why He went to the cross, because He knew His identity and His identity lead Him to His destiny.
For I know my identity and it’s going to lead me to my destiny. If I got to cry sometimes I must hold on to my identity. For the afflictions of this world cannot compare to what is laid up for me. How do I know what is laid up for me, because I know my identity and because I know who I am, I know where I’m going, and I know what is waiting there for me. I know that I know that I know. Someone may say well you sure are cocky, they may even feel that you feel that you are putting yourself on some kind of pedestal. They may even feel that you feel you are more intellectually proficient then they are and that’s not true, you just know your identity and because I know my identity my confidence is built up in me because I know who I am. I am more than a conqueror because I know my identity. I know that the devil can’t do me no harm, because I know my identity.
Too many people are going around here not sure of who they are. They do not understand their identity. Since they do not understand their identity they are making all kinds of wrong decisions. We have society telling the church that you can’t have God in the pledge of allegiance and the church is sitting back taking it, why because we have become a victim of identity theft.
Society is passing laws saying its ok for same sex couples to marry and the church is not standing up against it like they should why, because they have become a victim of identity theft. Wrong is being called right and right is being called wrong, why because we are victims of identity theft.
We must remember who we are. I am reminded of a song we used to sing that said “We are soldiers in the army we have to fight although we have to cry, we have to hold up the blood stained banner, we have to hold it up until we die.” We don’t sing that song any more why because we have lost our identity.
You may have been a victim of spiritual identity theft, but it’s time to get your life back. The commercial says we will help you to get your life back.
It’s time to get your life back. How do you get your life back? You must repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It’s time to take back what the enemy has stolen from you.. The Bible says in Proverbs 6:31 “But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.” It’s time to take it back. Your joy, take it back, your peace take it back, your deliverance take it back. What ever the devil has stolen from you it’s time for you to get your life back. Do you know your identity? Do you know who you are? Then tell the devil to get that hell out of your life for you are not going to take it anymore.
It’s time to take back your identity. Don’t be a victim of identity theft any more.
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Boanerge Ministries.
