Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Eddie Lawrence
Alternate Title: YOU ARE ADOPTED!
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements
of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption as sons.
ROMAN LAW CONCERNING ADOPTION
Source-- Backgrounds of Early Christianity, by Ferguson, page 51.
kingdom of God
WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE FATHER:
1. Fellowship with the Father
1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may
have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father and with His Son
Jesus Christ.
2. Access to the Father
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
3. Guidance by the Father
John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all
truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come.
Psalm 32:8 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you
with My eye.
4. Security from the Father
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
5. Correction from the Father
Heb. 12:5"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged
when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges
every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with
sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
6. Inheritance of the Father
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed
we suffer with [Him], that we may also be glorified together.
1.
Illus--A lady called me and was very upset that her husband wanted
to spend all his time with his sick parents. This was unusual for
him. She was very frustrated. I shared with her that her prayers
were being answered. She had been praying for months that he would
God is working all around you--look for the evidence and when you
see it be sensitive to it.
Jesus said:
What I see the Father do that's what I do.
What I hear from the Father, that's what I speak.
If you have seen me you have seen the Father.
Illus--A "good" salesman can make you think you have to have what
he is selling. We use expressions like "He could sell ice cubes to
an Eskimo." Or "He could sell anvils on a sinking ship." Satan is
a shrewd salesman!
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Proverbs 26: 28
In the Garden of Eden Satan caused Adam and Eve to doubt what they
"knew" about their God. He is doing it today. He flatters us and
shatters God. If he can make God smaller in our thinking then we
will begin doubting what we have known about out God.
When Jesus (the second Adam) was tempted he refused to move off the
voice of God. It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds out of God's mouth.
*Friends voices--well meaning friends who meant no harm but who were
not hearing from God.
3.
A.
Is. 40:12 HE can measure the universe with the span of His hand.
(And he knows the stars by name.)
Ps. 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God.
Illus--Soviets enter space "We've searched the heavens and there is
no God."
USA "The heavens declare the glory of God.
B.
Microscopic World
C.
Read
Psalm 139
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1
13
sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
19
22
4.
Eph. 3:20-21
Matthew 6:5-15
Kingdom Truths Seen in the passage and context of the Lord's Prayer
You are a part of a kingdom.
Your life as a believer is intrically weaved into the kingdom of God.
We are members of a local church but member also of the Universal
Church.
We are believers living locally but our loyalty and allegiance is
international in scope touching all believers.
1.Don't showboat your spirituality. (Don't be a hypocrite)
The secret place is the place of power.
Illus--Pastor asked his wife, "Honey, how many truly great
preachers do you think there are in the earth?" She replied, "One
less than you think!"
2.Keep prayer simple.
One of the greatest prayers you can pray is "Help!"
Jer. 33: 3'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great
and mighty things, which you do not know.'
Some people say, "I do not know how to pray." If you can talk you
can pray.
Just complain in reverse and that will be praise.
Grumble backwards and that will be thanksgiving.
Feel free to drop the King James English. It does not speed the
answer up at all.
The amount of words you use does not determine the amount of
response you will get.
Knowing He is with you will not make you sinless but it will make
you sin less.
11.Know He's the boss and He gets the credit for what is done.
Illus--Imagine the donkey that Jesus rode on cocking his ears and
saying, "Look at what all these people are doing for me."
Invitation--Are you living by Kingdom rules? Are you praying the
kingdom way?
Interesting Paul had already told Timothy he saw a bold faith in his grandmother and his
mother and was convinced it was in him. You see the previous generation (old
monkeys) can pass on either positive or negative attributes to us. Sometimes we do
things and dont know why? It has been passed on to us. Sometimes those things are
negative and we find there is hindrances (cold water experiences) that keep us at the
bottom of the pole.
Instead of arguing over whether or not you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, ask are
you full of the Holy Spirit? How can we know. Paul told Timothy there were three
powerful effects in the life of person who was full of the Spirit he was given. LOVE,
POWER, and A SOUND MIND. One of the big hindrances is the work of FEAR. This is
what turned a brave bunch of monkeys who love bananas, had the power to climb the
pole and the sense to know they wanted bananas into cowards who lived at the bottom
of the pole.
These verses tell us that in order to get freed up, something has to happen:
1. IN REGARD TO RECEIVING LOVE
We have been given "love" The word is Agape. It is selfless, committed sacrificial love.
The God kind of love. The nailed to the cross for others kind of love. The fight through
the cold water kind of love.
How do you know when it is hindered by the spirit of fear?
When there is bitterness, unforgiveness, grudges, hatred, selfishness, vengenance, etc.
Maybe you need to recieve a fresh baptism of the love of God. Knowing you are loved
will free you to love.
2. IN REGARD TO ACHEIVING POWER
We have been given "pwer". The word is dunamis. Spiros Zohiates says it is the power
to achieve. God gives us the power to climb the pole and face the water in order to get
the bananas.
What have we been given to do? The great commission (Matt. 28:18-20). How can we
do it? Acts 1:8. The power of the Holy Spirit to achieve what God has given us to do.
Maybe you need a fresh baptism of power in order to get back into the game of life.
3. IN REGARD TO A BELIEVING MIND
We have been given a "sound mind." The word means a self-disciplined mind. A mind
that is rightly ordered. We have the mind of Christ. We can see our pole climbing battle
infested lives from Gods point of view because the Holy Spirit has the mind of God and
we have been given the Holy Spirit.
Maybe you need a fresh baptism of wisdom in order to see what the hindrances are and
to deal with them rightly with courage and authority.