The Enemy Knows Who You Are—But Do You? - Javan Smith - Charis Daily - Season 18 Ep. 4

Summary

Javan Smith’s central message is that believers should become firmly established in their identity in Christ before trying to fulfill their God-given purpose. He argues that Christians may see themselves as weak or inadequate while God—and, in his framing, even their spiritual enemy—sees them in light of their relationship with Christ. The believer’s confidence should therefore rest not on personal strength, but on being loved by God and united with Jesus.

Main Ideas and Biblical Examples

• Gideon: Identity can differ from self-perception. Smith contrasts Gideon’s view of himself as the least member of a weak clan with God’s greeting of him as a “mighty warrior.” Gideon initially hid from the Midianites and feared his own family, but later led Israel to victory. Smith also points to the Midianite captives’ description of Gideon and his slain relatives as resembling “the sons of a king,” and to a Midianite’s dream that identified the threat as Gideon. Smith uses these accounts to illustrate the difference between how Gideon saw himself and how others perceived him.

• The enemy’s intimidation is meant to shape self-image. Smith says the spies’ report about the Israelites being like grasshoppers reflects how they saw themselves, not the whole picture: other biblical passages, he notes, describe the peoples of Canaan as afraid. His lesson is that fear and intimidation can encourage people to adopt a diminished view of themselves. In Smith’s Christian framing, a believer’s significance comes from being “in Christ,” not from individual power.

• Solomon: Identity precedes public assignment. Smith discusses Solomon’s name Jedidiah, which he explains as “beloved of the Lord.” He contrasts this personal identity with Solomon’s public role as king and builder of the Temple. Smith reads Psalm 127 as connecting Solomon’s Temple-building task with his assurance that God gives rest to his beloved. The lesson he draws is that a person can carry out an assignment without striving anxiously when their identity and security are rooted in God’s love.

• Believers are loved by God. Smith presents being beloved by God as the foundational statement of Christian identity. He also refers to Revelation 2:17, where a new name is promised to the one who overcomes, as an indication that God knows each person personally.

• Understanding who God is helps clarify who you are. Smith points to Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ and Jesus’ response identifying Peter. He uses this exchange to suggest that recognizing who Jesus is can help a person understand who they are to him. He also argues that mistaken beliefs about God can contribute to identity struggles.

• Comparison can arise from insecurity about belonging. Smith recalls that Israel was described as God’s treasured people, yet later asked for a king so they could be like other nations. He presents this as an example of people seeking to resemble others when they have not grasped their own identity and value to God.

• A misconception about God can affect self-understanding. Smith cites Naomi’s request to be called Mara (“bitter”) after her losses. He interprets her words as reflecting a mistaken view of God’s character and argues more broadly that identity crises can stem from misunderstanding who God is.

Practical Takeaway

• Ask God to show you who you are to him.
• Ground your sense of worth in God’s love and your identity in Christ, rather than in fear, personal weakness, or comparison with others.
• Approach your responsibilities from that secure identity instead of treating achievement as the source of your value.
• Remember, in Smith’s teaching, that a believer’s authority and significance are understood through association with Jesus—not as independent personal power.

Speakers and Sources

• Speaker: Javan Smith, host and teacher on Charis Daily.
• Biblical sources cited: Judges 6 and 8; Acts (the account of the seven sons of Sceva); Numbers 13; Joshua 2 and 5; 2 Samuel 12; Psalm 127; Revelation 2:17; Matthew 16; Deuteronomy 7; 1 Samuel 8; Ruth 1.
• Other source mentioned: Andrew Wommack, including his booklet Your Identity in Christ and a remark Smith attributes to him.