Comfortable in your own skin

It seems not many people are comfortable in their own skin.  Too many people are always trying to find their identity.  There are a number of problems with this identity crisis as a life style.  You have seen these folks spending great amounts of time, energy and money always trying to get the "thing" that will make them feel good about themselves.  This search causes them to never be satisfied "in the now".  They are unhappy with their phone, computer, car, body, personality or maybe even their mate!  What misery!  Coming to a place of peace and rest within yourself is a freedom much like living debt-free.  When you are debt-free you aren't nearly as concerned about the economy as a person who is captured by the system.  When you are at peace within your own skin you are not too concerned with status because you are not finding your self acceptance based on external things.  Very few people get there!  These blessed few care about others but they are not consummed with what others think.  Self image is determined by self worth and not the worth others may or may not place on you.  Actually it is difficult to give yourself to helping others until you have settled this identity issue.

Where in the world do we obtain self worth?  You don't!  You can't get it "in the world".  You see, it's the unregenerate world that is most involved in the pursuit of identity and the most uncomfortable in their own skin.  Christians should be the most at ease and at peace with themselves.  When you see a Christian still struggling with the identity issue you can be certain they have not allowed the full process of redemption to occur.  Only in appropriating the full redemption of Jesus and His full forgiveness and reconciliation can you possess a redeemed identity.  Once a believer has done that they are at peace with God and man.  The first man we must be "at peace" with is ourselves. 

“Back-Seater”

For a number of years I had the joy and challenge of being pastor to a number of fighter pilots and their families who were serving with the U.S. Air Force. Some of that time I worked with F-16 pilots. They were a great bunch trying to balance their training that told them they were the “best of the best”, with the humility required in their Christian walk. It was difficult because the F-16 was every pilots dream. You were the only one in the jet and it was designed to “dogfight”. While the challenge was great, most learned the balance for the good of their families and sadly some did not. Prior to my experiences with F-16 pilots, our base was armed with the F-4. The F-4 Phantom II was a “two seater” fighter used a lot in Viet Nam. Obviously, the pilot sat in the front seat and the weapons systems operator or “wizzo” sat in the back seat. I was told by a few “wizzos” that they had a stick by them designed to land the plane in the event that something happened to the pilot. More than once I asked the question, “So are you confident you could land the plane if you had too”? Usually the answer they gave was in the form of a laugh! I’m sure many “wizzos” in combat had thoughts at times that they might could do a better job than the pilot. Many would have liked to have had a shot at it. Yet, they all knew that the space from the back seat to the front seat was far greater than the inches measured on a ruler.
I spent about four years training for the ministry under a Senior Pastor. Prior to that I had worked a secular job and worked in the church. I later became an elder. Next I had the privilege of serving as “Student Pastor” (Trainee position). Finally, I was sent out and started our first church at the ripe old age of 27. When I was serving in all the earlier roles I truly felt that I had the same burden as the Senior Pastor. At times I felt he was making mistakes and secretly I had to fight thoughts that I could do it better! I wondered why he didn’t move faster. Why didn’t deal with issues more forcibly? Yet, I was a “back seater”. When I was commissioned to go plant a new church I remember the weight of the moment. It was a shocking transition, yet exciting. I couldn’t wait to get started and really do it right! I had made the move from the back seat to the front! That first year was an amazing and painful year. It had been much easier to shout things from the back seat but now an entirely different deal to have your hand on the stick and missiles within reach. It was a solemn weight to know that you had it within you power to help or hurt people. I began to think of an old saying I had heard somewhere: “discretion is the better part of valor”. I never had those thoughts as a “back- seater”. I called my former pastor, the man who had trained me and asked his forgiveness. I was seeing things a little differently now. It is truly easier, much easier to be the “Monday morning quarterback” than doing the right thing in the heat of battle.

Boldness and Spiritual Warfare

Certainly the greatest weapon in battling the forces of hell is the name of Jesus! Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! Amen. We all know and believe that God is greater than the devil and God's power is greater. Yet we see too many servants of the Lord being immobilized by the enemy and sidetracked to a place of powerless immobility.

What causes a Holy Spirit filled minister of the Lord to be ineffective? A number of things come to mind but a weak conscience is a primary problem. By weak conscience I mean a conscience that condemns a person from within. No one knows about the attack but this internal war is one of the most effective of all against a servant of God. It could be brought on by unconfessed sin. Certainly this person feels no right to victory or being used by God. As Kind David lamented, the sin is ever before me. Yet, just as powerful is a "consciousness of sin" within the conscience of the believer. While there may be no sin, yet deep within they feel undeserving of anything good happening to "or through" them. This is ministerial "poison"! It is the work of hell itself!

The man or woman of God that wants to be used by God must, as Hebrews 11:6 says
"believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." I believe God wants to use me. I believe the Lord wants to use you too. However, my believing that about you won't accomplish much. You must believe it. Listen carefully, it's not enough to believe in God. You must believe in the GOD WITHIN YOU! Then from that strong foundation of faith in the God within you, you are now ready to be used by God. This is the boldness needed to win against the enemy. Now listen to these verses in the light of this understanding:
Ephesians 6:10-16 (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.