Reclaim Your Supernatural Kingdom Identity – Who are You (Part 2)

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Hello, and welcome to the fourth video in the “Reclaim Your Supernatural Kingdom Identity” series. I’m Randy Crane, from Leaving Conformity Coaching.

We’re going to pick up this time right where we left off last time. Let’s read Ephesians 1:3-14 again. – What does this passage say about you?

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

 

What did you hear in there? Who are you?

• You are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
• You have been chosen to be holy and blameless in His sight.
• You have been predestined to be adopted as His sons.
• You have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
• God has lavished on you the riches of His grace with all wisdom and understanding.
• He has made known to us the mystery of His will.
• You are chosen.
• You are for the praise of His glory.
• You were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth.
• You were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
• You are God’s possession.

 

God made you, and He loves you. In your head you know that, but it’s easy to let it get squeezed out. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

1 Peter 2: 4-11 has more to say, about your Supernatural Kingdom Identity, and your purpose.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

 

Consider Disney Cast Members. Disney has a careful selection process when it comes to hiring Cast Members. It used to be even more stringent than it is now, but it still holds true that not just anyone can walk in off the street and work for Disney. And the really good ones remain there for years. One Disneyland Cast Member, Oscar, just celebrated 55 years of service at Disneyland. Disney Cast members are chosen.

 

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” (Ephesians 1:4-6, NIV)

 

We, too, have been chosen. We have been adopted into His family. We are His chosen people.

 

 

The Greek word for holy means, when applied to people, “to be set apart for a specific purpose”. Cast Members certainly fit that description. They are set apart for a specific purpose: to be employed by the Walt Disney company to operate the park in their various capacities. Each has their own role to play. Walt Disney said, “Disneyland is the star, everything else is in the supporting role.” Being hired as a Disneyland Cast Member means being set apart for a purpose, as one with role to play.

 

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:13-16, NIV)

 

To call a person holy is to say that they belong to God, they are used in His service or dedicated to Him, or in some special way are His property. Nothing, except for God, is holy of itself or by nature. It becomes holy by being dedicated to God and His service.

 

 

The analogy breaks down a little at “dearly loved”, but not because of an inherent flaw in it. It happens because of how rarely Cast Members get shown much appreciation. I don’t fully know how recognition works inside the company itself, but I so often see Cast Members get criticized, yelled at, or even insulted by guests for doing their jobs. I do see some guests thank them, and that’s always encouraging. Most of the time, what I see is guests ignoring them, as though they were just part of the scenery.

 

My wife and I always thank Cast Members for doing their job, whether it’s directing us to a line, giving us our food, or helping us onto or off of a ride. (We do need to get better at thanking custodial Cast Members, though.) One step we have taken to really show our appreciation is with autograph books.

 

Of course, we have one for the characters, but we also have a separate one for Cast Members. We carry it with us to the Disney parks as often as we can, and if a Cast Member does something that makes a magical moment for us, or that just shows an extra reminder of what Walt wanted his people to be, we ask them to sign our autograph book.

 

You should see the responses. They are always touched, and a couple have been near tears. No one has ever asked them to do that before. I don’t understand why, though. They are such an important part of our trip that I can’t imagine Disneyland or Walt Disney World without them.

 

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV)

 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

 

We are dearly loved children of God.

 

Here’s the bottom line: Cast Members are chosen, set apart, and appreciated & valued. What they do comes from that identity, and the more they grasp it, the better they tend to be as Cast Members. It’s not hard to tell which ones really “get it”.

 

We are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Who we are comes from our identity, and right there our identity is summarized. The more fully we understand and internalize this, the more we live out the characteristics in this verse—and His love. It’s not performance, trying to earn His approval. It’s a natural expression of who we know we truly are and we do it out of love and gratitude.

 

“Our significance doesn’t come from who we are, but from Whose we are.”

In light of all of this, are you important? Are you powerful? Are you significant? Do you have “greatness within you”?

• Yes to all of these, because they all come from God and your identity in Him.

 

 

That is who you are, your Supernatural Kingdom Identity. Now, what do you do with it?…That’s to be answered next time.

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For Reflection:

• Re-read 1 Peter 2: 4-11. Is it difficult for you to see yourself in this passage?
• What part is the easiest? The hardest?
• What is one struggle or challenge in your life right now that becomes easier or more manageable if you really internalize this passage?
• As you begin to really understand your Supernatural Kingdom Identity more, how does this affect your choices, and what you see as your purpose?