Child of God

Context:

Romans 8:14-17

Romans 8:14–17 NIV

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Galatians 4:5–6 NIV

5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Paul explains that a believer in Jesus is the gateway into adoption with the Heavenly Father. Through the Holy Spirit who is given to those who are born again, we have this inner peace that reminds us that God is our Father.

Paul introduces the concept of adoption. The ancient Jewish understanding of adoption was very strict. The child would no longer have any connection with the biological family. There would be no ties whatsoever. Whereas the new family imparted on the child every benefit and blessing associated with the new family. As the child lost all rights from the former life, the new life imparted every right from this new family.

Background:

So Paul introduces this concept so that the believers would have no fear of their lives before Jesus. When a person is born again, the former family or lifestyle is completely void. There is no rights associated with the lifestyle that once was. The world would hold no significance anymore with a believer.

Paul speaks about the fear aspect because many feared for their eternal security in God under the law, but through the Holy Spirit our spirits has the reassurance that the blood of Jesus has conquered and our lives are rightfully God the Fathers.

Being a child of God has endless blessings. Over the next few weeks, we will look into this a little deeper.

Being a child of God has endless blessings

Lead By The Spirit.

What does it mean to be lead by the Spirit. Paul hinges the following 3 verses on this premise. If you are lead by the Spirit, You are a child of God. So what does it mean or look like to be lead by the Spirit?

The Greek word for lead is ag-ho, which is literally translated as: To willingly undergo an action or a course of actions due to the influence of adoration.

The key to being lead is the willingness. To be willing to do what is required because of the adoration one may have for God. To be willing to take action can be reduced down to be obedient. To be lead by the Spirit is to be obedient to the Spirit.

But you might not hear specific orders from the Spirit. Some believers will even say they don’t hear from God or His Spirit. But we are to seek The Spirit, understand the heart of the Father, meditate upon His word. We don’t always need a fresh revelation from God, because The Bible is his revelation to us. We can get the basics of the Desire of the Father from the Word.

But the key is to be obedient. We know we are to pray for people.

Matthew 10:1 NIV

1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Acts 9:34 NIV

34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

James 5:14–15 NIV

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

This is just one thing in a long list that we are to be obedient about. Im sure there have been times that you felt it impressed on you to pray for certain people, or do certain things but we find it difficult, but the confirmation comes after the commitment. When we commit to do the will of the Spirit, the confirmation of His action comes after the obedience. We need to step out in faith, James said that faith without works is void.

It is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that we will see lives changed. The New Testament church had thousands added daily after witnessing the confirmation of the Holy Spirit at work. When men and women were healed of diseases. When the lame walked, when the deaf could hear, blind to see, all of these things caused faith and faith grows when we hear of the Greatness of our God.

But the confirmation of The Holy Spirits power is not seen because of the lack of commitment. God never changes, so He can raise the dead today the same he could on the day Lazerus rose from the tomb. But we, myself included, got the picture that it is our responsibility to raise the dead or heal the sick and lame, but it isn’t. Our job is to lay hands on people and pray while living out the Good News of Jesus so that others may know the abundance in Jesus.

I know this, that 99.9 percent of the time that a person is healed is because of prayer. We would see many more healings if we were more obedient, which in turn will turn into more salvations.

But pastor, I’m uncomfortable praying with others, or I’m not good at praying, or I find it to hard to do that kind of stuff, or what happens if they don’t get healed, what will that person think of me? These are the excuses you think of or hear. But its not about your pride. Its not about us whatsoever, its about Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit work through you.

As Paul eludes to the former family life is dead to us. As adopted children of God, the pride associated with a sinners life is to be completely forgotten. We are not to be worried about people’s views of us (obviously in a spiritual way, don’t use this to become a mockery of God), but we are to be concerned with being obedient to God. Not our of fear but out of adoration, to see the confirmation after the commitment to do what the Spirit has asked.

As children, we are to be lead by the Spirit. To willfully act in accordance to our adoration.

Spirit lead is Peace

Paul says,

Romans 8:5–6 NIV

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

A life who is peaceful is a life lead by the Holy Spirit. Peace is not a good feeling on a good day, but when we are lead by the Spirit, peace becomes the assurance that everything is ok and will be ok when life is tough.

I’m sure there are people here who are going through things. Family issues, health issues, uncertainties in life, yet when we are in total pursuit of the Life the Holy Spirit has for us, the peace that passes all understanding flows generously in and through us.

2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Cor

If you are looking for freedom, it is as simple as willfully obeying the Spirit.

Conclusion:

To be a child of God is to be lead by the Spirit. Willfully act according the The Spirit’s plan for you.

We are dead to the things of the former life. Don’t worry about pride or peoples view of you, but be sold out to the commitment of the Will of God so the confirmation comes after the action has been completed.

A Spirit lead life is peaceful and filled with Freedom. If you are not filled with these things, now is the time to give your life over the the Spirit or God for Salvation.