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by Vic Porter
I grew up in a small Missouri town, raised by hardworking people. My dad had been "farmed out" at the age of 13 which meant he had to quit school and work full time to make his own way. This developed his belief system: 1. You'll have to work two or three jobs at a time to make it. 2. Never challenge the system. 3. Try to do everything people ask without making anyone mad. Dad was a good man, loved and well regarded by everyone, but he instilled this belief system in all his children.
I struggled constantly in my Christian life until I learned enough to recognize the problem. I was living out these same beliefs in my life; although I had gained revelation my Dad never had. You can only imagine my excitement when, after pastoring for 15 years, I discovered that my performance had nothing to do with my righteousness. Jesus' performance had made me righteous.
The greatest deception in Christianity is to believe that we can add to our righteousness by our works. We would like to think that the better we perform the better God likes us, but what happens when we don't perform well?
Jesus Identity
Matthew 3:16-17 tells of Jesus' baptism. A voice from heaven tells Jesus two things. "You are my Son" and "I am well pleased" with you. Different translations say, "I delight" or "take pleasure" in you, my "great favor" is on you. The Father spoke His approval over Jesus before He had done any miracles or "great works." His Father established Jesus' identity by expressing His confidence in who He was not for what He did.
In Matthew 4:3 & 6 we find that the tempter came to Jesus saying, "If thou be the Son of God, do something to prove it." He did not tempt him with sin, but with performance. If Jesus had turned the stones into bread He would have been performing or depending on His works to prove who He was. Jesus believed what His Father had said about Him and acted accordingly. He knew His Father believed in Him for who He was, not for what he could do. Our salvation is not based on what we do, but on what we believe. The identity that we receive from our Father through Jesus produces our worth.
Approval, Worth, and Confidence
The greatest need in peoples' lives is worth, and out of that worth comes confidence. Worth is determined by identity. Identity comes from one of two types of approval: approval for who I am or approval for what I do (my performance.) If I receive approval based on my performance, then my identity, my worth and, therefore, my confidence are all based on my performance. When my performance is not up to par I lose my identity, my worth, and my confidence. When I receive approval based on who I am in Him, this is then the basis of my identity, my worth and my confidence. Who I am never changes so I am able to walk in confidence in every situation.
The Windows of Heaven
Malachi 3:10 says, "...if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing..." This verse is talking about money, but I believe it is also talking about us. What if we add one comma? The verse would read like this: "...if I will not open you, the windows of heaven, and pour YOU out a blessing..." If Jesus is the door (John 10:9) could we be the windows? People look through the windows to see what's inside but they have to go through the door to get in. As windows, we are to be transparent panels that open and close, full of refreshment for others. God desires to fill us up with His identity and worth and pour us out on others as a blessing that they can't contain.
Christian Mafia?
If, as leaders, we get our approval from performance, we will lead based on that belief system. We can only give what we have. A "works" mentality requires us to lead from a position of fear to control the lives of others and see them only as tools. Christian leaders often operate from this mentality that is similar to that of the Mafia. One source states, "Mafia is the consciousness of one's own worth, the exaggerated concept of individual force as the sole arbiter of every conflict and every clash of interest and ideas." Their approval and worth is obviously based on performance.
As leaders and believers our responsibility is to let Him pour us out as refreshment for each individual showing them His approval which will establish their identity in Jesus and His performance. This will produce a body full of biblical self-worth and the confidence to live a victorious life.
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