Spiritual Rights 2

Intro:

In today’s modern times we seem to be going backwards instead of forward. Many people and powers that be seem vitally interested in keeping things as they were or in some cases even attempt to go back to a sinful day and time in which Racism, Sexism, and other isms were accepted and practiced sometimes even legal. We have witnessed alarming instances of prejudices and hate in our country and communities. We are constantly fighting the ideal that our young blacks sons are dangerous and life threatening, that our children are of value, and the church or specifically the predominantly black church is relevant to the fabric of our spiritual community. The struggle is real, but the only way change will ever come to America is when we repent and allow God to change us spiritually. When we allow the Holy Spirit to change us then we will see what God sees and Love like God loves, and treat our neighbors as Jesus commanded. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Spirit

Paul says, “14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” First church we have to recognize the fact that there are a lot of spirits out here, but when Paul says The Spirit he is referring to the Holy Spirit. There are lusting spirits, evil spirits, demonic spirits, greedy spirits, fleshly spirits, and all types of spirits which have led us to the place we are at right now, but the Apostle Paul is talking about the pnuema the breath of God the Spirit of God. When you have received the Holy Spirit you have received power, beause informs us that you receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you! Paul says if you are led by The Holy spirit you become a child of God. In this instance Paul ratifies that in order to be son or child you first need to have God’s spirit. In other words if your spirit doesn’t change your status doesn’t change. Many people have it backwards you want your status with man to change before you want you standing with God to change let me help two or three people in here what you are looking for from man God already has it and what God has is way better than what man can give! Many want acceptance from Man but I need God to accept me. Don’t lose yourself trying to please man. Get the spirit of God and watch that Pnuema Power move you to a place of sonship with God! Touch your neighbor and say we need the Spirit

Mindset

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

In verse 15 Paul begins to deal with mindsets. Paul says God did not give you a slave mindset of fear. Many people operate in a slave mindset. We have a leftover mindset, a cheap mindest, a that’s good enough mindset, a just get by mindset, a take what is given mindset, a last place mindset, subservient mindset, and God says I didn’t give you that. Now let me break something down real quick in order for you to shake this mindset that has been taught, that has been passed down for generations, that has become normal in many cases will only happen when we change spiritually. When we really look at the word spirit we also get the Greek work πνεῦμα or pnuema, but the word pnuema also can mean mind which informs me that my mind is also attached to my spirit. So if my mind is fleshly I will be spiritually in bondage! Oh my church so the crux of the issue with my mind is related to my spirit.

Relationship

Watch this Paul then says “but you have received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba Father.” This moves us further people of God. Follow me because our spirit changed our status changed, and because our mindset changed our outlook changed. Now the first two are imperative but when you look at this Paul uses legal language to illustrate a spiritual power. He says spirit of adoption υἱοθεσία huiothesias literally means adopt son. This depicts a change in relationship because you can then call God daddy. Abba is personal realationship. Which means I no longer just know God as God but I also know God as my personal Father or Pater in the Greek. This means my relationship changes. Let me pause right here. This is one of the main things I want to get across to many of you today. When you know who you are and you know who your Father is you will not allow anyone else define you. When you have a relationship with God not just coming to church, not just reading you Bible on Sunday, not just singing in the choir, not just praying on Sunday, but I am talking about having a real relationship with God! To the point you can confidently address God as your father! and Paul says in verse 16 that the spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit puts a stamp on the fact that you are a child of God! In other words the spirit of God will verify you and those who have Gods spirit will bear witness that you are a child of God and that then causes all of humanity to recognize the God in you! Touch your neighbor and say neighbor I see God in you!

Rights!

Paul then moves on forward and says if children then heirs! In the 1st century we still had a patriarchial society which meant that all rights, property, and wealth was transferred through the son. So if God gave you the spirit of adoption he then made you an heir which means you have rights to an inheritance! See an heir in Greek was κληρονόμος kleronomai which means heir or possessor of an estate in legal terms. Which meant physically you had the rights to property and or money. This is good because the Bible also teaches us to leave an inheritance for our children, but spiritually and I am about to close it means beneficiary. Which means that with God you not only have rights but also benefits! See yall missed your shout. You have the right to be treated like a child of God but also have the benefits of God’s blessings, because our Abba Father wants to bless his children. Somebody says Rights! to be blessed Rights to be treated equally, Rights to be loved, Rights to have wealth, Rights to have health, Rights to be saved, Rights to get that position, Rights to be promoted, Rights to get that house, Rights to get that car, Rights to God’s miraculous works, Somebody say rights! But this is what messed me up and I am gone not only do we have rights and benefits, but if we suffer with him we can also share in His glory