Know your rights | Rev. Uche Asugha

Understanding Your Rights and Privileges in Christ

Primary Text: 1 Samuel 17:3–11, 16
Supporting Texts: 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4–5; Acts 19:13–16; Luke 13:10–17; 2 Chronicles 20; Joshua 6; Isaiah 53

Central Message

It is too costly for a believer to remain ignorant of their rights and privileges in Christ.

The Christian life is a knowledge-based life. What Christ has accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection has made certain realities available to us, but our experience of those realities is greatly influenced by our knowledge of God’s Word.

What do you know?

1. INTRODUCTION — KNOWLEDGE MATTERS

In everyday life, knowledge has practical consequences.

People learn about their legal rights, financial benefits, career opportunities and privileges because ignorance can cause them to miss what is available to them.

The same principle applies to our spiritual lives.

There are things Christ has already accomplished and made available to the believer. Yet a believer may fail to enjoy those realities simply because they do not know them.

Key Principle

You cannot effectively appropriate what you do not know belongs to you.

Therefore, the question every believer must continually ask is:

What do I know about my identity, authority and privileges in Christ?

2. IGNORANCE CAN PREVENT YOU FROM BENEFITING FROM WHAT IS ALREADY PROVIDED

Illustration: The Airline Passenger

A pastor once shared a testimony about travelling on an aeroplane for the first time.

When food and drinks were offered, he declined because he assumed they would cost extra.

When he later discovered that the food and drinks were already included in his ticket, he realised that he had failed to benefit from something that had already been paid for.

Spiritual Application

The provision had already been made.

His problem was not the absence of provision.

His problem was lack of knowledge.

Likewise, Jesus has already paid the price for us.

The question is not only:

“What has Christ done?”

The question is:

“Do I know what Christ has done for me?”

3. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS IN THE KINGDOM

There is a dangerous assumption that ignorance protects us from responsibility.

It does not.

If something is established in God’s Word as part of our inheritance, remaining ignorant of it does not change the reality.

Key Statement

Ignorance is not bliss in the Kingdom of God.

This is why spiritual growth requires intentional learning.

We cannot simply assume that because we have been Christians for many years, we automatically understand everything that belongs to us in Christ.

We must continually examine ourselves:

• What do I know?
• What do I believe?
• What have I understood?
• What am I applying?
• Where am I still living below the reality of God’s Word?

4. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS KNOWLEDGE-BASED

The Christian faith is not merely about religious activity.

It is about knowing God and understanding what He has accomplished through Christ.

Key Principle

The Word you know, understand, personalise and believe becomes a weapon in your hands.

It is not enough to hear the Word.

It is not enough to memorise the Word.

It is not enough to repeat Christian phrases.

The Word must become an established reality within you.

5. DAVID AND GOLIATH — WHEN KNOWLEDGE IS TESTED

1 Samuel 17:3–11, 16

Israel had a covenant relationship with God.

Yet Goliath intimidated the entire army for 40 days.

Every morning and evening, he appeared before them and challenged them.

The Israelites had covenant rights, but they did not appear to understand or exercise those rights.

David was different.

David arrived at the battlefield and heard Goliath’s challenge.

Instead of asking:

“How big is Goliath?”

David asked, in essence:

“Who is this man that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David understood something the army had forgotten.

Key Principle

Your perception of the problem is influenced by your knowledge of God.

The army saw the size of Goliath.

David saw the greatness of God.

6. YOU ARE WIRED TO OVERCOME

1 John 5:4

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world…”

1 John 4:4

“Greater is He that is in you…”

The Christian life does not promise an absence of challenges.

Challenges will come.

Pressure will come.

Difficult circumstances will arise.

But the believer is not designed to remain a victim.

Key Statement

You are wired to overcome.

The issue is not whether challenges will come.

The issue is what comes out of you when they do.

7. BATTLE CRIES ARE NOT THE SAME AS SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

1 Samuel 17:20, 24

The Israelite army was going out with battle cries.

They sounded like people prepared for war.

But when Goliath appeared, they became afraid and fled.

Why?

Their outward declarations had not become inward convictions.

They knew the language of battle, but their knowledge had not been tested.

This teaches us an important distinction:

Mental assent vs. experiential knowledge

Mental assent says:

“I know this Scripture.”

True spiritual knowledge says:

“I know this truth, I believe it, and I know how to stand on it when circumstances challenge me.”

Key Statement

Situations will test what you claim to know.

8. THE POWER IS NOT IN RECITATION ALONE

Acts 19:13–16

The seven sons of Sceva attempted to use the name of Jesus without possessing the understanding and relationship behind that authority.

The evil spirit responded:

“I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”

They had words.

They had terminology.

But they did not have the substance behind those words.

Lesson

Spiritual authority is not a formula.

It is not about repeating the right words.

It is about knowing Christ and understanding the authority that comes from Him.

Key Statement

It is not merely the words you speak; it is the truth and authority behind those words.

9. GOD CANNOT BE REDUCED TO A FORMULA

Scripture gives us several examples of God giving different instructions in different situations.

Joshua 6

Israel marched around Jericho without speaking for six days.

Then, at the appointed time, they shouted.

2 Chronicles 20

Jehoshaphat’s army responded to God’s instruction through praise and worship.

The lesson

There is no single formula that controls God.

The question is not:

“What worked last time?”

The question is:

“What is God saying now?”

Key Principle

Know God. Know His Word. Understand His instruction.

10. DANIEL — IT IS NOT EVERYBODY THAT THE LION DEVOURS

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.

Yet the lions did not destroy him.

The account demonstrates that the outcome of one person does not necessarily have to become the template for another person’s experience.

Likewise, believers should be careful about making negative experiences into universal conclusions.

Key Statement

It is not everybody that the lion devours.

There are people who go through the fire and come out without the smell of smoke.

There are people who encounter difficult circumstances and emerge with their faith intact.

The emphasis is not on denying the reality of challenges.

It is on maintaining confidence in God in the midst of them.

11. KNOWLEDGE CHANGES EXPERIENCE

Illustration: The Mobile Phone

Two people can own exactly the same phone but use it completely differently.

The difference is not the phone.

The difference is knowledge and application.

One person may only know how to make calls and send messages.

Another may understand the phone’s advanced features and use it much more extensively.

Spiritual Application

Believers may possess the same salvation and the same access to God, yet their practical experience can differ significantly.

Why?

Because knowledge affects application.

Key Statement

What you know determines how you use what you have.

12. KNOWLEDGE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN EXPERIENCE

The believer has been translated from darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

That is a radical spiritual transformation.

However, if the believer does not understand what has happened, their daily experience may not reflect the reality of their new identity.

Hosea 4:6

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Notice the language:

“My people.”

The issue is not that they do not belong to God.

The issue is that they lack knowledge.

13. THE WOMAN WITH THE SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY

Luke 13:10–17

The woman had been bound for 18 years.

Yet Jesus identified her as:

“A daughter of Abraham.”

She had a covenant identity.

She belonged to God’s people.

Yet she had lived under bondage for years.

Jesus challenged the situation by highlighting her identity.

Lesson

You can belong to God and still fail to understand what your relationship with God means.

Therefore, knowledge of our identity and privileges in Christ is essential.

14. ARE YOU TRACKING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

In other areas of life, we measure progress.

Career

We set targets and review performance.

Education

We measure academic progress.

Business

We analyse results.

Finance

We track income and expenditure.

Personal development

We establish goals and milestones.

But what about our spiritual lives?

Ask yourself:

• Am I growing spiritually?
• Do I know God more deeply than I did last year?
• Is my understanding of Scripture increasing?
• Am I becoming more mature?
• Am I developing my prayer life?
• Am I applying what I learn?
• Am I simply attending church, or am I actually growing?

Key Statement

Don’t just attend church; grow in Christ.

15. PREPARE IN THE DAY OF PEACE

Challenges often arrive without warning.

Therefore, spiritual preparation must happen before the crisis.

Prepare when things are calm.

Learn:

• How God speaks to you.
• How to pray.
• How to study Scripture.
• How to meditate on God’s Word.
• How to recognise His leading.
• How to build your faith.

You should not wait until you are under intense pressure before trying to develop your relationship with God.

Key Principle

Prepare for war in the day of peace.

16. KNOW GOD, NOT JUST ABOUT GOD

The ultimate goal is not simply increased biblical information.

It is relationship.

We should move beyond:

“I have heard about God.”

to:

“I know Him.”

Philippians 3:10

“That I may know Him…”

The more we know Him, the more we desire Him.

Knowledge should lead to relationship.

Relationship should lead to transformation.

Transformation should become visible in our lives.

17. LET THE RUINS REJOICE

There will be situations that look broken.

There will be moments that do not make sense.

There will be seasons when the picture appears incomplete.

But the message of the sermon is:

Ruins are not the end of the story.

God can bring restoration, purpose and glory out of situations that appear hopeless.

Therefore, our praise is not necessarily based on the appearance of the situation.

We praise because we know who God is.

Key Thought

You may cry.

You may experience pain.

You may have difficult days.

But you can still rise, continue and trust God because you know:

This is not the end of the story.

18. MAKE OCTOBER A GROWTH MONTH

The sermon challenges the church to approach October intentionally.

Instead of simply allowing the month to pass, establish spiritual growth objectives.

Ask:

Where am I spiritually?

Where do I need to grow?

What do I need to learn?

What needs to change?

What Scripture do I need to understand more deeply?

Personal challenge:

At the end of October, you should be able to identify specific areas in which you have grown.

Don’t just count the days; make the days count.

19. WHAT DOES “TRIUMPHING ALWAYS” MEAN TO YOU?

The theme “Triumphing Always” should not become merely another church phrase or annual theme.

It should become a personal revelation.

Ask:

What does triumphing always mean for me?

What does it mean:

• In my family?
• In my career?
• In my finances?
• In my relationships?
• In seasons of pressure?
• In seasons of uncertainty?
• When circumstances appear impossible?

The objective is to understand and personalise the Word.

20. GOD IS NEVER BACKED INTO A CORNER

There may be situations where it appears that there is no way forward.

But God is the One who makes a way where there seems to be no way.

Israel had:

The Egyptians behind them.

The Red Sea before them.

Yet God made a way.

Key Principle

God is never backed into a corner.

When we know Him, we can maintain confidence even when we cannot yet see the solution.

21. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GOD?

Do you know Him as:

• The Way Maker?
• The Deliverer?
• The Provider?
• The Fourth Man in the Fire?
• The One who makes a way where there seems to be no way?
• The One who causes all things to work together for good?

Your knowledge of God should become personal.

Not simply:

“The Bible says…”

But:

“I know Him.”

22. DON’T PLAY CHURCH

Church attendance is valuable.

Fellowship is valuable.

Worship is valuable.

Hearing the Word is valuable.

But the ultimate objective is transformation.

We cannot afford:

• Surface-level Christianity
• Empty religious language
• Mental assent without application
• Scripture without understanding
• Church attendance without spiritual growth

Key Statement

We are not called merely to play church; we are called to know Christ.

23. THE ULTIMATE DESIRE — MORE OF JESUS

The sermon concludes by turning from knowledge about God to a deeper desire for God Himself.

“The more I know You, the more I want to know You.”

This is the heart of spiritual growth.

The goal is not simply to accumulate information about God.

It is to know Him more deeply.

To know Him as:

Abba.

Father.

Saviour.

Way Maker.

Deliverer.

Faithful God.

And when pressure comes, the desire is that Jesus is what comes out of us.

KEY SERMON TAKEAWAYS

1. Knowledge is essential

Ignorance can prevent us from benefiting from what Christ has made available.

2. Know your rights and privileges in Christ

Understand your identity and inheritance.

3. Don’t confuse repetition with revelation

Knowing Christian language is not the same as knowing God.

4. The Word must become personal

The Word you know and believe becomes a weapon in difficult moments.

5. Challenges will test your knowledge

What is inside you will eventually be revealed under pressure.

6. Don’t depend on formulas

God’s instructions may differ from one situation to another.

7. Track your spiritual growth

Be intentional about developing your relationship with God.

8. Prepare before the crisis

Build your faith while things are peaceful.

9. Know God personally

Move from information about God to relationship with God.

10. Don’t allow circumstances to define your conclusion

Ruins are not the end of the story.

11. Make October a growth month

Set intentional spiritual goals.

12. Make “Triumphing Always” personal

Discover what the Word means for your own life.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Take time to answer these questions honestly:

1. What do I really know about my rights and privileges in Christ?

2. Is my knowledge of God merely intellectual, or has it become experiential?

3. What happens to my faith when I face pressure?

4. Am I growing spiritually, or am I simply going through the motions?

5. What area of my spiritual life needs deliberate attention?

6. What do I want to know about God more deeply?

7. What will I intentionally do differently in October?

FINAL DECLARATION

I know who I am in Christ.
I know what Christ has accomplished for me.
I know my rights and privileges in Him.
I will not live beneath the reality of God’s Word.
I am born of God and I overcome the world.
Greater is He that is in me.
I will grow in my knowledge of God.
I will prepare in the day of peace.
I will not merely recite the Word; I will know, believe and apply it.
When pressure comes, what God has placed within me will come forth.
I will triumph always.
The more I know Him, the more I desire to know Him.
Jesus will be revealed through my life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.