Genesis 24:14-15, John 17:12
Outline:
1. The premise
2. Identifying who you are becoming
3. Enforcing who you are becoming
4. Changing who are becoming
5.
Rebekah was enjoying a life under her parents roof and woke up on a normal day and was carrying out her duties as a daughter, a sister and a representative of her family when she met the servant of Abraham.
Her life changed forever. She took a step into matrimony, became the wife of Isaac and spent the next 20 years with Isaac, not having a child until Isaac pleaded with the Lord (Genesis 25:20-21)
Rebekah did not realise what she was becoming when she became pregnant. She did not realise she was carrying the promise of the Father, to Adam and Abraham. She agreed to follow Abraham’s servant not realising who she was becoming.
From that first day, she became a carrier or a conduit of God’s promise.
Perhaps, the greatest indication everything was different can be found in Genesis 25:22.
This is place of struggle. A place of discontent. A place where the abnormal is happening to you even though you are carrying God’s promise but you do not know it yet. A place where your unknown righteousness decision is beginning to stir up the purpose you were made for.
The question Rebekah asked is worth exploring : “Why am I like this?” Or put in another way: “Who am I becoming?”
Even though, every pregnant woman thinks she’s becoming a mother, for some, again, yet there is a person you are becoming when the Lord stirs up your heart.
Throughout the scriptures, we see this pattern, and it is worth exploring, to ensure you and I understand that who we are becoming is important in the plan and purposes of God.
Imagine Joseph, being righteous, told his father what evil his brothers committed, told his brothers and father his dreams but that got him a tenure in the pit and move away from home. Only to land in a house of Potiphar, being diligent and meticulous, only to land in prison.
Joseph did not know, realise or understand who he was becoming when all these was going on. He was becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt saving the nation Israel from extinction and laying the pipeline for the promise God made to Abraham about his descendants being in a strange land but coming out with great wealth.
If you were Joseph in the pit, Potiphar’s house or the prison, would you imagine that you were becoming a Prime minister? Or better still a preserver of the nation Israel. A carrier of God’s promise. Genesis 42:1-4
Another example is Mary and Joseph. Met somewhere and fell in love but ensured they did not enter into fornication but found Mary with a baby. Both Mary and Joseph did not realise who they were becoming. Now we all say Mary the mother of Jesus easily but did she realise who was becoming when she met Joseph?
What about Moses? Born slave, raised in the palace, self assigned defender Prince of Egypt – murderer and a fugitive in the backside of the desert for another 40 years! While tending sheep, did you imagine that he thought he was becoming the deliverer of Israel, a prophet, the man with encounters with God?
So that we do not go on for too long, let’s consider Judas.
A freeman that decided to become a disciple of the Saviour of the world. The Messiah, expected by generations, a culmination of prophesies right from the garden of Eden and the expectation of Israel.
A treasurer, keep account of the finances of the creator Himself and helping himself in the process as well. For 3 years, followed and eat with Jesus Christ, yet he did not realise who he was becoming. He had intentions, good intentions, unknown intentions and many more intentions but he did not realise who he was becoming.
He collaborated with the priests (pastors/ministers/rulers) to deliver Jesus – remember he had an intention, he dined with Jesus and other disciples at the Passover and then Jesus told him to do that which he wanted to do.
Judas pulled the trigger, he returned with mob, kissed Jesus, handed Him over to the ruling class. He fulfilled prophesy – he betrayed the Saviour. The events that happened the next couple of hours opened his eyes, albeit partially, only to retrace his steps and then commit suicide. Even though his name means Praise, no one really wants to name his or her child Judas but would rather give the name Judah, which literally means the same thing.
Why all these analogies and examples?
We need to examine ourselves, locate ourselves in the plan of God. You need to ask yourself: “Who am I becoming?”
We cannot exhaust this question in this session and it requires we spend time to evaluate our lives, check scriptural prophesies, ask questions about our names, remind ourselves certain events in our lives that are pointing to the fulfilment of bible prophesies.
For example, at the return of our Lord Jesus, some Christians will be the 5 wise virgins while some will be the foolish ones. This is certain to happen. Who are you becoming? The wise or the foolish?
Another one is what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said some will be cast away on the last day even though they claim to have done many things in His name. This is certain to happen. Who are you becoming?
[As a clue on what we can do, let’s look at the life of Daniel.
Daniel understood by the books what should happen and placed himself in it. He fasted and prayed.]
2. Identify who you are becoming (John 1:12-13)
Who you are becoming is embedded in your daily activities and pursuits.
Galatians 5:16-18
To become a prayer warrior, then your daily activities must include praying according to the will of God. Not only in church, not only on the prayerline, not only on the family prayer altar.
To become a doctor, you ensure you study the right subject, enroll in
Medical school, pass the exams, graduate successfully and then practice the code of medical profession.
To become a disciple of Jesus, you have to accept Him as your Lord and saviour and continue in His word (John 8:31)
John 8:32 is the key to identifying who are becoming. Are you operating in the truth of the Word of God as per how a husband should operate? How a leader should operate? How a follower should operate?
3. Enforcing who are becoming (John 8:31-32, Galatians 5:16-18)
Once you have discovered who you are becoming and that end product is in line with God’s Word, purpose and plan for for, then continue in the truth from God’s Word. Acts 2:42
Also, communicate with the Holy Spirit Romans 8:14-17
4. Changing who are becoming (Acts 2:37-43)
What if you identify that who are becoming is not in line with God’s plan?
First you must know God and accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. John 1:12, Romans 10:9-11
Secondly, you must search the scripture to see and know what God says about who want to become. Let nothing stop you from taking this step. If you find out that you are becoming or have become a careless, unruly bully husband – that’s not in line with the Word of God (Psalm 103:13)
What if you are a minister not in line with God’s standard for a minister (1 Timothy 4:16 NLT)?
What if you as a wife do not submit to your husband willingly?
What if you as a child you do not honour your parents as commanded by the Lord?
What if you are an unprofitable servant in your office or the house of God?
Search the scriptures for what God says about how to do these things in the right way then do exactly what the Word of God says.
Stop doing the old to move into the new.
The third step is to engage the Holy Spirit to help you to become the person you ought to be in every ramification. Employ the ministry of the Holy Spirit as found in John 16:13-14
Perhaps you actually do not know who are becoming or have become, go to God in prayer and tell Him to reveal you to you. Until Jacob recognised who he was, his name was not changed.
Prayer:
1. Lord reveal who am I becoming to me, help me to conform to your Word and your way.
2. Holy Spirit I invite you into my life. Come and guide me into all truths