July 15th, 2024
by Paul Cypert
by Paul Cypert
If you don't know who you are...you won't defend your future.
For many of you, much of your Christian background was a thorough indoctrination in offense, for most of us are whether we know it or not, or want to admit it or not, we were steeped in evangelicalism (offense). If you were taught defense it was primarily how to defend your faith. Nothing wrong with that, but developing a personal defense to ward off what the world, the flesh and the devil (calamity, heartbreak, money, loss, temptation, bad marriages, addiction, religion) throws against you probably not.
Although there are tons of scripture that alert us and describe to us the need to create a good defense most don’t seem to have received the game plan. For instance; Ephesians 6 orders us to put on the whole armor of God and assume a defensive position and hold your ground!
David the Shepherd, Warrior, Poet, and King.
It seems to me that from the biblical account, almost from day one, David’s life was designed by God for him to become the Shepherd, Warrior, Poet, King.
He was the herdsman for his father Jesse.
In the Bethlehem area probably close in proximity if not in the En Gedi wilderness where several of the only fresh water springs existed that was given to the tribe of Judah after the promised land was subdued, David ben Jesse tended the sheep of his father. And David’s family were the decedents of Judah. There watching over his father’s sheep David learned everything he needed to eventually become the king of Israel. It was there he learned the skills of a shepherd as he watched over, pastured, watered and protected the sheep folds. He learned in the remote areas to be a warrior, he became an expert marksman with his weapon, a sling shot. He faced and defeated the lion and the bear.
It was there he learned to keep a journal, to write the thoughts, praises and prayers that came to him from the Holy Spirit. And eventually this practice over the years became the book of Psalms. It was there through his disciplines he learned and acquired the skill set needed to be the king of Israel.
Although David’s life was a lofty calling, his life was eventually public and visible and much of it was recorded in scripture for all to know and see … it was simply a normal progression of David knowing who David was meant to be.
Clothed in this identity and well before he was crowned king, David was anointed king by Samuel. It wasn’t a prophetic word, it was a matter of this is who you are. Samuel the prophet didn’t come to prophesy he came to act on what he had received. So, Samuel anointed David King and for sure this gave David an image of his future.
Identity and Image are powerful. One is learned and discovered, the other awakens possibility. David’s time tending sheep built into him a strong sense of identity – a Shepherd, Warrior, Poet.
Samuel’s action awakened his imagination to the possibility of a soon to be king. David’s identity as a man was formed in the challenges and solitude in the pastures and sheepfolds. His imagination awakened by the action of Samuel, and it was all the plan of God.
If you don’t know who you are, you won’t defend your future.
And defend he did; David’s epic battle against Goliath demonstrates his strong belief of the warrior inside him. If he had faced Goliath in hand-to-hand combat with someone else’s armor [identity] he would have surely been defeated. No, he fought from who he was, a well-trained, tested and seasoned marksman with a well-aimed stone. Israel’s future was at stake.
A future in which David would have place. He defended that future. As the crowned king, David eventually drove the enemies of Israel from its borders. David brought peace to the region and ensured the pursuit of prosperity and goodness in the pastures, villages and cities of Israel.
Although, our lot in life may not be as high or public as David’s or the local mega church pastor never the less it is as divinely breathed. Solomon noticed this and wrote about the gift of someone knowing who they were and where they were fitted into life. He called it a good thing.
Here are his words recorded in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the NLT translation:
18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. Emphasis mine.
19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. Emphasis mine.
20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
And David wrote about knowing who you are as well and he called it living in your inheritance … My wife’s favorite scripture Psalm 16:5-6 NIV
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance.
Don’t be seduced away from who you are and for sure know thy self and don’t lose you to all the plots of the world, the flesh and satan.
3 quick ways to defend against get your identity getting stolen:
As I survey the world of church today, well, ‘oh how the mighty have fallen’ ...wouldn’t want to be them and but by the grace of God and without a good defensive strategy for our lives any of us could be … seduced beyond who we are, a slave to the approval of others or measuring ourselves against others.
One of my best friends in this life often tells me how God created him to be exactly who he is and to do exactly what he does. Long ago he accepted his lot and his place in life. He’s not mighty or powerful from a worldly vantage point but he has defended his future by fighting off drought, disease in his herds, floods, blizzards, bankers, debt, lean years, difficult family relationships, his past all which would gnaw at a man’s soul, yet he thrives. When he speaks at church in classes and other venues, people listen. He knows who he is and where he belongs.
It is good to know who you are! It is a gift. And it’s worth fighting for and enjoying.
Although there are tons of scripture that alert us and describe to us the need to create a good defense most don’t seem to have received the game plan. For instance; Ephesians 6 orders us to put on the whole armor of God and assume a defensive position and hold your ground!
David the Shepherd, Warrior, Poet, and King.
It seems to me that from the biblical account, almost from day one, David’s life was designed by God for him to become the Shepherd, Warrior, Poet, King.
He was the herdsman for his father Jesse.
In the Bethlehem area probably close in proximity if not in the En Gedi wilderness where several of the only fresh water springs existed that was given to the tribe of Judah after the promised land was subdued, David ben Jesse tended the sheep of his father. And David’s family were the decedents of Judah. There watching over his father’s sheep David learned everything he needed to eventually become the king of Israel. It was there he learned the skills of a shepherd as he watched over, pastured, watered and protected the sheep folds. He learned in the remote areas to be a warrior, he became an expert marksman with his weapon, a sling shot. He faced and defeated the lion and the bear.
It was there he learned to keep a journal, to write the thoughts, praises and prayers that came to him from the Holy Spirit. And eventually this practice over the years became the book of Psalms. It was there through his disciplines he learned and acquired the skill set needed to be the king of Israel.
Although David’s life was a lofty calling, his life was eventually public and visible and much of it was recorded in scripture for all to know and see … it was simply a normal progression of David knowing who David was meant to be.
Clothed in this identity and well before he was crowned king, David was anointed king by Samuel. It wasn’t a prophetic word, it was a matter of this is who you are. Samuel the prophet didn’t come to prophesy he came to act on what he had received. So, Samuel anointed David King and for sure this gave David an image of his future.
Identity and Image are powerful. One is learned and discovered, the other awakens possibility. David’s time tending sheep built into him a strong sense of identity – a Shepherd, Warrior, Poet.
Samuel’s action awakened his imagination to the possibility of a soon to be king. David’s identity as a man was formed in the challenges and solitude in the pastures and sheepfolds. His imagination awakened by the action of Samuel, and it was all the plan of God.
If you don’t know who you are, you won’t defend your future.
And defend he did; David’s epic battle against Goliath demonstrates his strong belief of the warrior inside him. If he had faced Goliath in hand-to-hand combat with someone else’s armor [identity] he would have surely been defeated. No, he fought from who he was, a well-trained, tested and seasoned marksman with a well-aimed stone. Israel’s future was at stake.
A future in which David would have place. He defended that future. As the crowned king, David eventually drove the enemies of Israel from its borders. David brought peace to the region and ensured the pursuit of prosperity and goodness in the pastures, villages and cities of Israel.
Although, our lot in life may not be as high or public as David’s or the local mega church pastor never the less it is as divinely breathed. Solomon noticed this and wrote about the gift of someone knowing who they were and where they were fitted into life. He called it a good thing.
Here are his words recorded in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the NLT translation:
18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. Emphasis mine.
19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. Emphasis mine.
20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
And David wrote about knowing who you are as well and he called it living in your inheritance … My wife’s favorite scripture Psalm 16:5-6 NIV
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance.
Don’t be seduced away from who you are and for sure know thy self and don’t lose you to all the plots of the world, the flesh and satan.
3 quick ways to defend against get your identity getting stolen:
- Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s a trap.
- Make sure you never get your identity or the sense of who you are from the approval of others. It’s the quickest way I know to lose your God breathed identity to the feckless fickleness of the minds of men.
- Find the level you function well at, don’t be seduced into trying to be somebody you're not, be at peace and enjoy the fruit of your work.
As I survey the world of church today, well, ‘oh how the mighty have fallen’ ...wouldn’t want to be them and but by the grace of God and without a good defensive strategy for our lives any of us could be … seduced beyond who we are, a slave to the approval of others or measuring ourselves against others.
One of my best friends in this life often tells me how God created him to be exactly who he is and to do exactly what he does. Long ago he accepted his lot and his place in life. He’s not mighty or powerful from a worldly vantage point but he has defended his future by fighting off drought, disease in his herds, floods, blizzards, bankers, debt, lean years, difficult family relationships, his past all which would gnaw at a man’s soul, yet he thrives. When he speaks at church in classes and other venues, people listen. He knows who he is and where he belongs.
It is good to know who you are! It is a gift. And it’s worth fighting for and enjoying.
3 Comments
Excellent!! As usual
The 3 ways to defend against your identity being stolen are practical tools I can use every day on the path to knowing who I truly am. So helpful!
Thank for posting this sermon! Powerful message!