Positioning II

The second category of positioning I would like to tackle is that of Identity. (Find attached part one here). Let us read about a man who curtain raises this type of positioning:

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Daniel is a model for us in this teaching. A decree was passed, that all ask petition of no other god, save for the statue of the king. Daniel was not shaken. He prayed ‘as was custom since early days.’ You would not separate Daniel from prayer. It was part of his identity.

Prayer is a position. The number of times a day, or where — depends on one’s personal consecration with the Lord. But, the denominator is prayer. Yours could be a specific hour. Don’t leave that position. If your schedule becomes crazy, reschedule the prayer, but do not neglect it altogether. Prayer is not only a position, but a positioner. I have four scenarios;

Daniel, shortly after he was thrown in a lion’s den; God being true to his position ensured the lions ate him not. Prayer positions us for life (Deut 30:19) The second scenario is when King Nebuchadnezzar dreamt in Daniel 2, and he forgot what he dreamt, and he threatened to kill everyone who could help him but would not. Daniel asked for a night, prayed, and returned with the dream. The result: everyone was spared! Prayer positions you for life.

Number three, was when Herod had imprisoned Peter to kill him. The saints prayed. An angel appeared! His chains fell off! They passed all the guards, as the iron gates opened for them by themselves. In the morn, Herod having not found Peter, executed the guards who had kept watch over him. Many else have as well averted death projected towards them. Proverbs 22:3 says a wise man sees evil and hides himself. Prayer is a hider.

Fourth; I doubt Isaiah stumbled into the Throne Room meeting by mistake. I perceive he must have been praying, and suddenly … Heaven. And God asked ‘who shall we send?’ He responded. And grasped that privilege. Perhaps Isaiah’s book would have ended on chapter 5. But what if that encounter led to the rest of the new 61 chapters!

A preacher once said some assignments are not obligated to a particular person. They are for available men. Notice as well how this position of identity affects your purpose in life. It can get you assigned, and given a whole new assignment, at a time when you felt worthless or unvisionary. In otherwords, this type of position influences your position of assignment (the first type we discussed).

That’s one of the positions of identity.

Now, last year, I blogged addressing someone using apologetics & allegories. It was an attempt to soul winning, but it back fired. I had no ill intentions, but the individual asked me to pull it down. I grew anxious, and in the long run: guilty, especially when he stopped communicating to me.

He never revealed exactly what ticked him off. Perhaps I triggered something from his past. Notwithstanding, I felt waves of judgement bash my way. I prayed about it days after. Begging God to make it alright — to say something about all this.

He stepped out His closet one evening and loudly (but ever so gently) said, ‘Hey son, no matter what you did, I want you to remember one thing: do not lose your position! You are loved by me. still favored, still talented, a great writer, a co-heir with Christ ordained by me for the nations! And so, let not whatever happened on earth, make you think these other constituents of you will change.

Kings still come to your rising! You are still the salt and light of the world. Don’t dim out because of one thing gone askew! There are 8 billion others in need of your savor and incandescence! If one person doesn’t see your value, I do. Don’t lose the position of magnificence that I have placed you.’

Ah! By the time God was done, my head was back up. I wiped my tears and clad on my back the garment of praise!

Like me, the enemy will exaggerate some of life’s issues and manipulate your thoughts. Suddenly you’ll feel insignificant! Useless! Unworthy! Degenerate! And a couple of other bad stuff! It could be something from your past. You could have had a child out of wedlock, and the preacher could be using you in his sermon’s example, but do not lose your position! Do not be fazed!

You are still the apple of God’s eye! Favor still surrounds you as a shield (if you are born again and repented). You are still the head and not the tail! You are still above and not beneath!

Your turning from these realities in thought is enough to dethrone you from the position of ‘kings and priests unto God most high.’

His word holds your positions of identity. In other words, if you do not know His word, you will always be incognizant of particular positions of identity required for a specific time.

You might know your identity of joy or peace, but how about that of your health and forgiveness. You might have understood that He’ll keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on Him, but have you knowledge that by His stripes you were healed? WERE! And not ‘will be.’ Do not only hold your position of your joy identity, and lose that of your well being. There must be a balance.

This is why the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. This is why Paul hard-lined that ‘we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.’ Every thought must be a slave to what Christ says and is, for in Him (if you are born again); you live, and move, and have your being.

If you have your being in Him, and you are a fish, do not entertain the thought that you can breathe outside water. You will suffocate my friend. Stay in the water. You sticking to what He said about you, and believing it, is staying in the water.

Now, we have other positions such as peace, joy, or anxiety and sadness. We have things that can get us into those positions. Speech is one of them. What is said to you can position you for joy or sadness. What follows with your thoughts can position you for anxiety or peace. Meditation therefore is another positioner.

Understanding is as well a positioner. Your understanding of scripture will guarantee your reigning in life. Deuteronomy 28 says if you obey the Lord … the blessings that were mentioned would overtake you. You’re behind them not ahead. So this changes your perception of things. Being ‘a head and not a tail’ is a blessing already in your future. It isn’t behind you. It is ahead. If you are new at a job, it’s opening the door for you, letting you know that if ye are willing and obedient, one with Him, you have no choice but eventually become ‘a head and not a tail.’ You don’t need to pray for it therefore. It is a guarantee for you …

… If you obey! Obedience is therefore another positioner. (Isaiah 1:19)

You engraved in the palm of His hand is a position. It is a position that can’t be undone! His being with you and loving you is a position that can’t be changed nor is it something God can repent from. Whether you take the wings of the morning, or make your bed in hell, even there, YOU WILL STILL BE IN HIS PALM! No wonder the psalmist says wherever he runs to God is there. He didn’t know that he’s permanently etched on God’s hands! Inseparable from Him therefore!

Rebekah going down to the well daily was a positioning, that found her in the right place, when Eliezer came. Right place, right time! She never returned as a mere damsel. She returned home betrothed!

Ruth obeying Naomi was positioning. Her not leaving Naomi was a position. Eventually, she became David’s grandmother, and Jesus’.

Notice how all these characters received a position of identity after careful acts and obedience to divine instruction. Ruth once a Moabite was now of house Judah by marriage. Her identity was fully turned around.

Inquiring of the Lord by David was him positioning himself. There are some who would rather go into battle without inquiring of God. Some never return on horse’s victory, but in the carriage of a coffin; and God would have warned them.

‘Seated in Christ’ is a position. Being born again is a position of identity. Jesus mentioned to Nicodemus that he would not see the kingdom of God unless he was born again. He later adds that no one can ENTER that kingdom unless they are reborn by water and spirit. If you are born again, you have a license to see God’s kingdom, and you would have entered it.

Cornelius’ giving of alms positioned not only him but his entire family to get born again. Thus, generosity is also a positioner. God appeared to him headlining that his gifts to the poor had come up as a memorial offering in heaven. The result was Peter being instructed to come to preach to him and his family.

Walking by faith and not by sight positioned Abraham to become a father of all believers. It too can position you under joy or frustration depending on the state of whichever promise or prophecy. Jehoshaphat, having received prophecy assurance of victory, appointed men to sing praise to God for what He had spoken, even if it hadn’t come to pass yet. By the time they reached the battlefield to fight the Moabites, it had come to pass! He walked by faith & didn’t wait to first see it.

Paul and Silas praised while in chains. They didn’t consider their present state (sight) but they praised their God! Not only did the chains break, but all prison doors swang open! Praise positions you for victory as well!

Love, and understanding how loved he was by Jesus positioned John to write about the same topic in greater measures for us. It also became a manifest shield and preserver over him, that when his prosecutors tried to boil him in oil, his skin was unscathed! What a wonder! What a position!

I might not have exhausted the categories of positions of identity there are; but let God’s word continue painting the picture for you, showing you how you can position yourself for good things and realms, and teach you how to stay there, anchored, and unwavering, through prayer, praise, and overall knowledge of your identity in Christ.

Other identities are not as important as you being in Jesus. You being in Him opens up all the other good identities to you. For He is the ultimate positioner for blessings, glory, honor, power, wisdom, strength, and might, for eternity.

If you read this, and are not in Jesus, pray this, with your mouth and believing in your heart (for He is the only way to access the Father, who is the author of good things);

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me on the cross that I may not perish but be positioned to receive eternal life and not eternal death. I believe in you, and your Lordship, and the price you paid that I might be part of you forever. Come into my life, and make my heart your home. And may you stay for good.

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If you have prayed that, you are born again, and have access to see His kingdom manifest on earth and in your life. You won’t be the same again. Jesus will drive away the darkness fighting you, and not only shine marvelous light in your life, but make your life a marvelous light for others.

And now, click here for the final position segment.