A Change of Victims: Seeing Yourself as God Sees You
Dr RJ Sing, 1 hr 3 min
Originally recorded as “Understanding Who You Are in Christ (first FCI Umhlanga meeting)”
Sermon outline
Through redemption, substitution and identification with Christ you are no longer a victim but a victor: righteous, seated with Him, and called to reign in life.
Main text
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Romans 5:17
Opening
Welcomed by Pastor Wesley, he says that despite the weather he and Pastor Zubeda decided to begin, recalling the Sunday evening meetings they held in Umhlanga in 2001 at the Breakers Hotel. He thanks the members who secured and paid for the venue, teaches from Mark 10:29-30 that God returns a hundredfold in this life to those who expect it, and takes an offering kept separately for the new church and its advertising. After an announcement about the business breakfast, he introduces his message, 'Understanding Who You Are in Christ', subtitled 'Seeing Yourself as God Sees You'.
Redemption: bought back to your original state
Recalling his earlier teaching on Romans 16:25-26, he explains that redemption means to buy back something that has been sold: we were sold as slaves of Satan, and God purchased us with Christ's blood and translated us into the kingdom of light. Through the second Adam you are restored to where Adam was before he sinned, in fellowship with God. Know this before the pressure comes, so you are ready to resist the devil.
“The only time and the only way to walk with God kind of confidence is to know who you are in Christ Jesus.”
- Romans 16:25-26
- Colossians 1:13
- 1 Peter 2:10
- Revelation 1:6
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
- James 4:7
Substitution: He became what we were
God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. God does not deal with you as a sinner saved by grace but as His son or daughter. There are two families on the earth, and you no longer identify with the devil's family but with Jesus and the family of God.
“Jesus was our substitute and he became what we were so that we could become what he is now.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Substitution means a change of victims
You were meant to pay with your own blood, but the Lamb of God became the victim in your place; you simply appropriate it by faith. So you are no longer a victim of circumstances, people or sickness: you are a victor and a king by status, ruling in Christ's stead, and you have a blood-bought right to answered prayer.
Illustration: Kings by status, not regalia: the world may not see a crown, but wherever you work, God's presence, angels and grace go with you.
“You're no longer a victim. You're a victor.”
- Revelation 1:6
- Matthew 18:18-19
- Mark 16:18
Identification: in union with Christ
The chief secret of all redemptive benefits is your identification with Christ. When He was crucified, buried, raised and ascended, so were you, legally, and now you are seated with Him in heavenly places. You do not struggle for God's attention or endorsement; you already have them, so order boldly and enlarge your vision.
Illustration: At lunch that day his steak came underdone, so he sent it back for medium to well: the waiter worked for him and he got what he ordered. Don't order from the starters; the bigger you order, the bigger you get.
“Are you trying to get God's attention? No, you have his attention now.”
- Galatians 2:20
- Ephesians 2:6
You are the righteousness of God
When the enemy says you are a sinner, answer that you are the righteousness of God, because if you think like a sinner you will pray like one. Confidence is not arrogance. Jesus, the first begotten from the dead, defeated Satan, and born-again believers do the same, covered by the blood so that no curse can touch them; Christ redeemed you from the curse of the law.
Illustration: A story he had told before: a woman practising witchcraft in a graveyard in the United States threw curses at a visiting pastor, but they bounced off him; after she was saved she told him it was because of the blood covering on him.
“If you think like a sinner, you'll pray like a sinner and you won't get manifestations.”
- Acts 13:33
- Romans 1:4
- Isaiah 54:17
- Galatians 3:13
The substitution becomes your identification: reign in life
Jesus defeated Satan and the believer identifies with the victory; He went to hell as the substitute to take you to heaven and was cast out of God's presence so you could be welcomed there. Romans 5:17 says those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life: God did not call you to crawl or beg but to rule as a king over your domain.
“Because he won, I won.”
- Romans 5:17
Putting it into practice
- Learn who you are in Christ before the pressure comes.
- Refuse the victim mentality: you are a victor and a king.
- When the enemy calls you a sinner, answer that you are the righteousness of God.
- Pray with confidence and enlarge what you ask for.
- Call into being what God has for you, by name, while staying diligent and faithful.
Closing
He sums up redemption, substitution and identification, then leads communion, declaring over the new congregation that the land and building God has for them in Umhlanga are theirs, that people will come from every direction and the hall will be too small. He tells them to call by name the job, house or business they are believing for, prophesies favour and open doors, and reminds them of next Thursday's meeting before the closing song and the grace.
Declarations he led
- I'm the righteousness of God.
- I'll defeat him.
- It's ours in Jesus' name.
- I'm blessed standing up, blessed sitting down, blessed going out, blessed coming in.
- I'm the blessed of God.
In his words
- “Jesus was our substitute and he became what we were so that we could become what he is now.”
- “Substitution means a change of victims.”
- “You're no longer a victim. You're a victor.”
- “You have a blood-bought right to have your prayers answered.”
- “Humility is one thing and confidence is another thing.”
Every scripture in this message
- Joshua 1:3
- Mark 10:29-30
- Romans 16:25-26
- Colossians 1:13
- 1 Peter 2:10
- Revelation 1:6
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
- James 4:7
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Matthew 18:18-19
- Mark 16:18
- Ephesians 2:6
- Galatians 2:20
- Acts 13:33
- Romans 1:4
- Isaiah 54:17
- Galatians 3:13
- Romans 5:17
- Deuteronomy 28:6
- Genesis 12:2
- Matthew 26:26-28
- Philippians 2:9-10
- Psalm 23:6