Spiritual Warfare: Overcoming an Illegitimate Identity

There is an overwhelming amount of individuals who struggle daily with the idea of doing something for God, as they are consumed within a idea of feeling like that have no value in their life or that they are simply worthless.

These two concepts, valueless and worthless, have kept many from fulfilling everything that God created them for. So, how can individuals become unwilling to be effective in their obedience to the voice of The LORD? I believe that the answer can be discovered by understanding what an illegitimate spirit can do to those within the body of Christ.

Yes, there are many in the body of Christ today that are being hindered because of illegitimacy.

David Was in the Field

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from ruling over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for Myself from among his sons’” (1 Sam. 16:1, MEV).

“Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are these all your young men?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and there he is shepherding the flock.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here’” (1 Sam. 16:11, MEV).

When we read the Scripture where David was anointed to be King, chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel, we are reminded of how devoted David was to be about the business of his father. Although it is true that David was a devoted worker, there is more to understand why David was in the field when Samuel came. 

Upon the arrival of the prophet, God would speak directly to Samuel and tell him to anoint one of the sons of Jesse and go about it in the manner of hosting a sacrifice unto the Lord. So Samuel arrives and calls for Jesse and his sons to gather for this sacrificial offering. In the process, Samuel begins going through each of Jesse’s sons to determine if the LORD would permit that son to be the anointed king.

One by one they would be passed over, causing Samuel to ask Jesse if there was another son. It was then that Jesse brought up his youngest son, David. At this point it should be rather strange to us that the prophet of the LORD has arrived at your house for a special sacrificial offering, calling forth for the sons to be there, and yet David would not be in the room. He was not among his brothers; he was among the flock in the field alone. Why? David was an illegitimate son of Jesse. 

It’s difficult for us to wrap around our minds, but ultimately the reason David was in the field and not in the house was due to the fact that Jesse was ashamed of David. David would give us keys throughout the Psalms as he would describe his relationship with his brothers. At this point I encourage to read the entire chapter of Psalms 69, but for now I want to highlight a few verses.

“Because for Your sake I have endured insult; humiliation has covered my face. I have become estranged to my relatives, and a foreigner to my mother’s children” (Ps. 69:7-8).

“You have known how I am insulted, and my shame and my dishonor; my adversaries are all before You” (Ps. 69:19, MEV).

Let me also share with you Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” When we read Psalm 69, we get the understanding that David would be prophesying about Jesus one day, but we also have to realize that this was a result of the life that David himself would also endure. 

When the prophet had arrived, David would be in the field. This young boy who had freckles and red hair, which was a constant (visible) reminder of the sin of the father. Jesse would not recognize David as a son, but had him always in the identity of a servant. When the brothers of David would be in battle before Goliath, the Scripture tells us that David was at home working and his father, Jesse, told him to bring supplies to his brothers. Jesse witnessed the prophet Samuel anoint David to be king and he is still treating him differently than the other sons (brothers of David).

Ashamed by One but Not Denied by the One

If you take the time to study the life of David, you see that he was able to do great things for God. From killing giants, to bringing back the presence of God to Jerusalem. Did David make mistakes? Absolutely! However, you have to understand that at one time in his life, David was being robbed by an illegitimate spirit. There would be times in his life where he was being tormented with feeling worthless, having no value in life. (Remember to read Psalms 69 to get a better picture of this.) There was a time that David was living a life of shame because of how he was brought into this world and how his father, Jesse, felt about him. And yet, there would be a day that David would realize that his identity was not illegitimate. God created him for a greater purpose than that of a servant or even a shepherd. God had more for David!

It’s possible that you’re reading this article and realizing that you have been battling the same thing that David once battled. It’s possible that you have been rejected. You’ve been manipulated by others. You’ve been deceived by others. You’ve been disobedient to the commands of God because you have bought into what they said about you. You’ve heard for most of your life that you will never amount to anything. They said you could never be or do anything great. They called you stupid, worthless, incapable, dumb, someone who has no value. It’s because of what they have said, it has become your identity. 

It’s time for you to come back into the house and take your place among the other Sons! No longer can you allow what they said be more powerful than what he was already destined. The LORD dreamed about you. He created you with purpose. He destined you for greatness. It’s time for you to be a Son! You are not broken, You are not a mistake, You are not an accident, and You are not a disgrace. The moment you accept Jesus as your Savior, and make Him your LORD, you are a Son!

Don’t allow the enemy to rob you from your destiny. Rise up and take your place. Are you ready to be anointed into your purpose? I hear the Father calling for the sons to be anointed. Destiny awaits you! {eoa}

Ryan Johnson is mantled in equipping the Body of Christ to Awaken the Nations with a Prophetic call of a rising Ekklesia. As a Revivalist, and Apostolic Minister, Ryan ministers with a prophetic voice of Revival and Awakening, with the demonstration of God’s purposes in regions, individuals, and the church. 

For the original article, visit ryanjohnson.us.