What Is Your Name?

One of my favorite movies is Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe. I sat down for a few minutes before bed last night, flipping channels and came across it in my perusing. As I usually do when it's on, I stopped to watch.  It was the scene where Maximus fights in the Collusieum for the first time.

If you've not seen the movie, Russell Crowe plays Maximus, a general in the Roman army. He is betrayed by Ceasar's son who murdered his father for the throne. Maximus ultimately becomes a slave placed in the world of gladiators.  I saw something in the opening battle scene last night I had not noticed before, even though I've watched this movie countless times. 

As the gladiators are being slaughtered, Maximus takes command and leads the men with him in an upset victory.  I heard in my heart as I watched this the voice of the Holy Spirit say, "Once a leader of men, always a leader of men."  And that is so true.  Maximus knew who he was, and regardless of his situation, he reacted to the situation at hand based on who he knew himself to be.

What I love about this scene is the power portrayed by Maximus. Ceasar's son calls him a slave demanding he tell him his name. Maximus turns and tells him exactly who he is. If you watch closely, you will see how scared he is of Maximus too.

As men, we should be able to give an answer of who we are to all the voices in the world which try to keep us down.  And we have to know who we are before the voices call us out.  Watch the scene again, and notice how Maximus doesn't have to think about it, he takes command of the situation, saying exactly who he is.  Can you do that?

As a Christian man, knowing who you are in Christ should be one of the first things you learn.  Jesus is our example, and if you study how He answered the devil when in the wilderness being tempted, you'll see a man who knew who He was, and didn't hesitate to answer his enemy right back.

One of the best tools for finding out just who you are in Christ is a little mini book written by Kenneth Hagin titled "In Him".  In this book you will find all of the Scriptures listed for who you are, what you have and what you can do, "in Christ".  I recommend getting it today and start immediately finding out just who you are. So when the voices show up calling you one thing, you can answer back with the truth.

Strength and honor, for the Kingdom and the King.