Discovering your Identity in God

Prologue

An eagle would not be found slithering across the jungle like a snake because it knows what it is not—food. Similarly, a snake is not inclined to soar off the edge of a mountain and float away on air into the sunset because it knows it is not an eagle.

The question, “who am I,” is one of humanity’s most asked questions, a profound question that we have done so little to address. We struggle to define who we are; we equally struggle to identify who we are not.

I suppose that a good angle from which to introduce this book, would be at first to tell you what it is not. Then we must learn what it is, and then at last we learn its purpose.

This book is not an exhaustive manual of your identity in God, the Bible is. Although, this is the first in a series of detailed and carefully written volumes on this subject, this book serves to help you navigate through the Bible to discover who you are in God. Despite my efforts to be comprehensive—and I vow that I shall indeed try—some information will be excluded. Actually, we only scheme the surface of what one could imagine to be the eternally vast implications of our identity in God. It is my prayer that God’s Holy Spirit will fill in the blanks where this writer falls short and bring you to an ideal understanding of what He would have you know. A note of warning to the reader; be prepared to digest copious amounts of God’s Word in your time with this book and hopefully beyond. A second note of warning; the Word of God could be addictive, so prepare to get hooked.

This book in your hands is not a self-help book. These pieces of our identity are only attainable in God, with His help. They are too excellent to be within the scope and reach of imperfect humanity. Jesus said “…without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

I do not consider this book an academic read, but digesting the material may take some time. This is because it is in the primal nature of the Word of God to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The Amplified Bible’s translation of this verse says that the Word of God is used to “...refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God...” (2 Corinthians 10:5, AMP). We commit our lives to some lie about who we are sometimes. We may build entire traditions on these false beliefs. Then we experience God’s infallible Word addressing those areas and suddenly, these falsehoods are knocked flat before the truth of God.

This takes some getting used to.

You may see a need to adjust your perception of yourself and this requires deliberate action. In brief, prepare to be delightfully traumatized as the Word of God does the work of conviction, pulling down of lies, renewal and rebuilding in you. It is possible that the impact of God’s Word which you are about to receive in your time with this book will resonate with you throughout the rest of your life. As such, please do not feel compelled to rush through it. I’ve prayed, and still do, for everyone who reads this book to encounter God in its pages.

What is the purpose? To help you answer the age-old question, “who am I?” Maybe you have—like many others—asked this question.

The answer in brief is this. You are a creature far more amazing and valuable than you realize. Herein lies the problem, because you may not realize the value of your identity, you are very likely not living up to it. This book is intended to awaken you to the knowledge and value of your identity as God’s child, your sonship. It is prayerfully intended to edify as many as want to take their faith to personally unexplored greater heights.

This book is intended to exhort both novices and veterans in faith, to profit all—theologian and layperson alike. For this reason, we will proceed in an ascending order of weightiness. With each passing chapter, we will explore greater depths.

So, I pray that Almighty God will open your eyes to see wondrous things out of His Word as you read the pages of this book. I pray that the Word of God will be declared to you with simplicity and received in the same. I pray that the healing touch of our dear Lord Jesus will heal you from all wounds inflicted on your heart from years of labor under lies about who you are. I pray even now, for the sweet Holy Spirit of God to embrace your spirit and reveal your God-given identity to you with simplicity far beyond what human words can teach. I ask all this, giving thanks to God for all He will do in us, in the matchless name of Jesus.

Affectionately,

Fikayo Olu-Ayeni

January 2013

Washington, D.C. Metroplex