Preparing for Battle: Healing Our Identities, Part 2

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:11-20).

As I studied this story, I realized we can know who God made us be, and it will radically change our impact in the spiritual world. We can have an answer when culture or demons demands to know who we are. 

But where do we start? I am happy I had two loving parents that brought me into this world and raised me, but I am more than the son of Richard and Carol Maiden–you are more than the product of two parents and the family you grew up in. If our primary identity is our family or ethnic background or social standing, then we have life upside down. Those things are shallow and can’t help us when we are faced with real evil—like demonic spirits. Our identity begins with the fact that we are known by God. 

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3). 

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

[Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. [Jesus] came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:10-13).

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine (Isaiah 43:1).

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace… (Galatians 1:15).

Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: “Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 44:2).

…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… (Ephesians 1:4).

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself…” (Isaiah 44:24).

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).