September 23, 2011

Picture the scene from Apple Cider Rules when a couple came to look over the children at the orphanage to find a child.  All the children made sure that day they looked their best.  They tried to not hope too much that they would be chosen.  There was always a huge possibility of disappointment.  As the children grew older their chances of being chosen grew slim and many became adults having never been chosen, always to be orphans.

 

We too are orphans.  And yet when we hear that there is a Father who owns and rules the entire universe that wants us to be His children, wants to adopt us, many times we just shrug our shoulders and walk away.

 

This Father had a son, only one.  But he wanted to be able to adopt us so much that he gave up that one son so that it would be legal for Him to adopt us all.  But rather than waiting with anticipation for that moment when we could be chosen with our hands extended high in the air, crying out, ‘pick me, pick me”, we wait unconcerned.

 

Romans 8:19-23

19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].

 

20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to ^[i]frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it–[yet] with the hope^(D)

 

21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

 

22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.^(E)

 

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).

 

 

The entire universe is waiting on the sons of God to be revealed.  They wait expectantly for that very day.  But it is delayed.  This Father who rules the universe waits to see that as many as desire can come to be His sons.  But one day the wait will be over and those sons will be revealed.

 

Yes I know we call ourselves children of God if we go to church and we have said the sinners prayer.  But if you remember from the Wednesday Word Study last week when we talked about the word children, that word means anyone living in full dependence on the heavenly Father, i.e. fully (willingly) relying upon the Lord in glad submission.

 

But how many out there that call themselves a child of God really are?  Do they, in their heart of hearts live in FULL dependence on the heavenly Father, willingly relying upon Him in GLAD submission?

 

Do you?  Do I?

 

Phillipians 4:13

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 

This is a favorite scripture for Christians.  We love to quote it.  It gives us encouragement.  But what I have come to see and to know is that our perception of this scripture is that we can do many things, but for those things we cannot do, He will give me strength.  We go through our days full steam ahead doing what we do.  We do our jobs, we do our lives at home.  But when it gets tough we turn to God to give us that strength mentioned in verse 13 above.

 

The Father that I know wants us to submit as little children do.  Children who rely totally and completely on Him as infants do on their mothers.  He calls those children who are COMPLETELY in all areas dependant and submissive to Him.

 

Are there areas of our lives that we have chosen not to submit to Him?  A stronghold or a bad habit?  Will we let Him handle all but that?  What about areas that we feel we have conquered on our own from our own strength, persistence and willpower?  It may have appeared that we have conquered it, but if it was brought under our own submission then it was not brought under the Fathers submission.

 

He wants to do it!  He wants to take care of us in all areas.  He wants us totally submitted and relying on Him completely.  He wants to do the small things for us, not just the things we deem are too difficult for ourselves to handle.  Then He can call us children.  When we have become once again infants, in that respect, totally completely dependant on Him.

 

When will those children be revealed?  Not until that day when we are redeemed from our flesh.

 

Verse 23:

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).

 

I believe what will be revealed on that day will be a great disappointment for many who declared by their voice that they were children of God, but were never really His children at all.

 

Are you hungry for Him?  Are you waiting anxiously to be adopted?  So eager you submit EVERY area to Him willingly and submissively?  What are you waiting for?  You must trust Him with your entire life.  Your sonship depends on it.

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