subject: Finding Your Part In The Family Of God Part 1 [print this page] Good Morning! Thank you for taking the time to read what I believe to be very good news! Victory over sin is possible for the child of God. We do not have to continue in sin. God has made a way for His children, making us more than conquerors. We come to the ministry of the Holy Spirit which allows us to become victorious Christians. This can be accomplished in our personal, family, corporate, and church lives, through the ministry of the Spirit of God. In this series of blogs, we will look at the privileges of being a child of God and how it relates to living a victorious Christian life. There are five privileges of being a child of God through the Spirit of adoption. Today, we will discuss the importance of being adopted into the family of God and the first privilege of being a child of God; personal leadership of the Spirit of God in your life.
There is an amazingly powerful, encouraging, and motivating revelation which occurs when we realize that the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of adoption. Through Him we have been adopted into a new family-the family of God. In John 14, Jesus encouraged His disciples as He went to Calvary saying, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. Comfortless in the New Testament is referred to as orphanas. He will not leave us orphaned or without parents. The Holy Spirit of God is referred to in Romans 8:15 as the Spirit of adoption. As such, He brings every born again saved person into the family of God.
The strategic placement of this adoption in Romans 8 reveals the realization that the kind of home we grew up in has an impact on our adult way of thinking. Praise God for the blood of the cross which allows our past to be forgiven. If any harmful or hurtful experiences exist, by Gods grace as we were forgiven, were given the opportunity to forgive those who hurt, neglected, abused, or abandoned us, providing us with freedom in our lives. Thank God that we dont have to be victims of our past. The battlefields we face are often influenced by the caliber or character of the home in which we were raised. However, God has great news which He reveals to us in Romans chapter 8. Hes saying that through the mystery of the Spirit of adoption, no matter what our earthly family may have been like, we can be victors instead of victims due to our acceptance into a new family. This adoption is not a right, but rather a great privilege, which cant be earned or deserved. When Christ takes us in, were not worth much. As sinners by choice and nature, were given the love and acceptance of Christ, the finest of fathers.
Were adopted into a new family, however if we dont appropriate or appreciate the benefits of that adoption, we forfeit the privileges. God chose us. We can choose to appreciate that privilege or focus on the negative family experiences of our past and fail to take advantage of, or appropriate our adoption, due to a bitter spirit. Privileges have to be appropriated if they are to become useful. Regardless of your past, if you are saved, youve been adopted into a new family. Jesus is the antithesis of your first father, the devil. You are now in an absolutely perfect family.
The first privilege of being a child of God is receiving the personal leadership of the Spirit in your life. The term led is used seventy one times in the New Testament. It has a focus that is extremely important. Its first usage is in Matthew 10:18, Ye shall be brought before Governors and Kings. In Matthew 21:2 when Jesus sent His disciples for a donkey colt to ride into Jerusalem, He said, bring them unto me. This phrase is used in the same way as led in Romans 8:14. The Spirit of God in your life, as an adopted son or daughter of God, is not passive but very personal. It is not general but specific, nor is it distant but rather up close. The Spirit wants to move, lead, guide, and direct your life. When issues enter your life which are not readily dealt with using scripture, how does one know what to do? God has given a heavenly Guide. As we listen to the Spirit and seek to know His will, He will lead us in the right direction. Christ was led in His public ministry by the Spirit of God as well as in His personal life. In Matthew 4:1 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Christs ministry, as He moved across Judea, Jerusalem, and Samaria, was directed by the Spirit placing Him in the right situations, with the right people and in the right positions to effectively deliver the gospel message. God also has a specific day by day walk and will for us.
His leadership, often times, may not make a lot of sense. It will always run contrary to your flesh, but youve been adopted and have within you a perfect leader. God wants to be part of everything you do. Hes not some potted plant inside of our lives. May we not resist the Holy Spirit, but rather yield and listen to His direction specifically in our lives. In the next two selections in this series on privileges of being a child of God, well discuss the second and third privileges; consistent undying love, compassion, and protection of God, as well as the assurance we belong to the Lord. Serve God with your life today! There are great benefits on the other side.
