I trust you had a good 4th of July weekend. I sure did. One of my children, Joshua, turned 13 years old over the weekend. He is now a teeenager and we enjoyed spending time with him. Celebrating family is one of the most enjoyable things we can do as human beings. I bring this up because it lines up with today’s message.
As we continue our series entitled, “Power of Fellowship”, I will share something a little different. Yesterday I preached a message entitled, “From Slaves to Sons.” The point of the message was to contrast the religious mindset the Jews had in Jesus’ day (which is unfortunately a mindset many have today), with the freedom Jesus came to bring us. The reason why Jesus had so many run-ins with the Jewish religious leadership of his day was because they were focused on rules, while he was focused on having a relationship with the Father. They were focused on the Old Covenant, which put a spotlight on man, and the emphasis was on man working for God. Jesus came to usher us into the New Covenant, where the spotlight is now on God, and what God has already done for us. Under the Old Covenant we worked for God’s approval. We were like servants who were slaves to sin and slaves to service. Under the New Covenant we are the sons of God. We are members of God’s family. If you are a son you don’t have to work to be a son, you are simply a son. Because of Jesus we are not slaves, we are not servants, we are SONS!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Bible says, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5 NLT). You were literally adopted into God’s family. When a child is adopted into a family, in most cases, the parents may go out of their way to tell the child that they are now an EQUAL member of the family, but it is hard for the child to believe initially. If the parents already had a boy and they adopted a boy, they may say, “I don’t love you any less than I love your brother.” But at first it is hard to believe and it takes time to sink in. However, once the adopted child finally believes it, he can act like a true son. When the parents get a new house, the boy can say, “We got a new house.” When the parents go to the grocery store, the boy will simply go into the fridge and take what he wants, because he is a member of the family. He is not a visitor, he is not a servant, he is a SON! This is the image God wants us to have. We are SONS of God. God does not love us any less than He loves His own Son. He sees us the same way He sees Jesus! We are not slaves, we are not servants, we are SONS of God! By the way, the term “son” here is gender non-specific. This applies to males and females.
2. The Bible says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 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.” (Romans 8:16,17 NIV). When you are Born-Again the Holy Spirit comes to testify of God’s goodness. Based on this passage, what does the Holy Spirit say to you? He says, “You are a SON!” He says, “There is NO DIFFERENCE between you and Jesus, your elder Brother! The Father loves you THE SAME WAY He loved Jesus!” Once you get this down in your heart, you realize you are a member of a family and you start acting like it, in this world.
3. I will share the same passage with you from the J.B. Phillips translation. It reads, “All who follow the leading of God’s Spirit are God’s own sons. Nor are you meant to relapse into the old slavish attitude of fear—you have been adopted into the very family circle of God and you can say with a full heart, “Father, my Father”. The Spirit himself endorses our inward conviction that we really are the children of God. Think what that means. If we are his children we share his treasures, and all that Christ claims as his will belong to all of us as well!’ (Romans 8:14-17 PHILLIPS). You have been adopted into God’s family. When God holds a family circle, to share His heart, you are invited. Paul says, “Think what that means.” Think of the implications of this. You are God child. This means you are His treasure and everything that belongs to Jesus ALSO belongs to you. When you read God’s will YOUR NAME is listed right alongside Jesus’ name. You are an HEIR of God. You get to participate in the inheritance, because you are NOT a servant, you are NOT a slave, you are a SON!
4. If you are a member of God’s family, then you know that as a Father, God wants you to have a good relationship with your siblings. He expects you to get along with your Brothers and Sisters in the Body of Christ. Just like you expect your children to act like loving siblings, the Father expects that of you today and every day. Remember that as you launch out into this week.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I have been adopted into Your family. I am Your Son (or daughter). You love me the same way You love Jesus. You love me with the same love You loved Him with. You gave me the same Holy Spirit You gave Him. My name is listed on the WILL alongside Jesus, my elder Brother. There is no difference between me and Jesus. As Jesus is, so am I, in this world. I enter this day as a child of the Most High God. I am NOT a slave. I am NOT a servant. I am a SON and I will act like. I seek to please You Father, so I will get along with my Brothers and Sister in the Body of Christ. This is Your will. This is true fellowship. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
