“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1: 1-14 ESV)
The problem is, even though Christ has redeemed us and we are now sons and daughters of God, we often still live as Orphans. We tend to live in anxiety and fear.
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!‘” — Romans 8:15 ESV
How do you know you’re living as an Orphan? Orphan Spirit vs. Spirit of Sonship Chart ¹
EXAMPLE:
- Orphan Spirit: Feels alone. Lacks a vital daily intimacy with God. Is full of self-concern.
- Spirit of Sonship: Has a growing assurance that “God is really my loving heavenly Father.”
We often stay in these cycles.² When we face uncertainty or uncomfortable situations, we make FAST decisions and often follow the course of blaming, avoiding, victimizing… etc.
But, as a child of God, the cycle is broken. We can make SLOW decisions, and instead: bless, be neighborly, love, forgive, give and serve.³
- As a child of God, I am Blessed (satisfied) and now I can Bless (and not use others for my satisfaction alone, I can take ownership over my life, be thankful in everything) and now in humility, I can help others knowing that I was weak and deserving of blame and shame.
- As a child of God, I am Adopted, hence I can be hospitable, eating with sinners, the broken, because I know I was a sinner and contaminated everyone else. I can now by neighborly.
- As a child of God, I am Redeemed. I am liberated from Oppression, Injustice, Past Offenses, and Offenders, therefore instead of being defined by past “Pharaohs” I can now be present and pay attention to others! I am free to love others.
- As a child of God, I am Forgiven and in light of His mercy, I can Forgive.
- As a child of God, I am an Inheritor of the Kingdom of God, therefore I can give generously and sacrificially without desperately asking for things in return such as money, affirmation, or acknowledgment.
- As a child of God, I am Sealed with the Holy Spirit, therefore, I am empowered to serve.
Live like you are a Child of God, and not like an Orphan.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:25-34
Pray with us this week:
Heavenly Father, help me to remember:
Through Jesus,
I am Your child.
I have Your smile,
Your hands,
Your feet,
Your heart,
Your spirit,
But, when I forget who I am,
Remind me again of Who You are.
You can listen to the sermon New Story from the Ephesians series that inspired this post here.
¹ From The Gospel-Centered Life by Robert H. Thune and Will Walker.
² The cycles were adapted from 5 Days to a New Marriage by Terry Hargrave, Ph. D. & Shawn Stoever, Ph.D.
³ The idea of the Six courses we often subscribe to in the orphan spirit was originally adapted from a talk given by Brian McLaren.
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