7/58 The Roman Custom to Adoption

dad4In writing to the Galatians, Paul used a Greek word,luiothesia” to describe our adoption by Father God. He described adoption as an act of God, whereby a born-again child is placed into the family as a Son, and given the full privileges of sonship, Galatians 4:1-2.

Paul was using the common terns of the Roman custom to raise their sons in the care of slaves, guardians and tutors until they reached the age of maturity, usually around 15 or 16. Then they were formally adopted and given the full rights and responsibilities of a grown son in the household.

7/57 Welcome to the Family – Adoption

We now begin STAGE 4 in our Series: Welcome to the Family!dad5

We have travelled from a slave to the world’s way of doing things into being a Steward. However, we found that being a Servant in the Church or religious system is still not enough for those who have been truly touched by the living God.

We then step into learning what it means to be a growing child of God. For most of us, we must face and grow through an Orphan Spirit. We can leave behind the abandonment and rejection that marks the life of an orphan as our next step is to become that adopted child.

7/56 How do we go from Orphans to Heirs?

So how do we heal the deep wounds that developed into the Orphan Spirit?  How can we allow the Holy Spirit to do the work Jesus was sent to do?   How do we heal the Orphans and grow them into the treasured child of God?  Here are a few suggestions you might want to apply in your own life:

  1. Forgive parental authority for misrepresentation of the Father’s love. This is non-negotiable!!Linda 1

Matthew 18 – Tormentors are released when we hold unforgiveness.

Book Review: Awakening the Slumbering Spirit

John Sandford is one of the heavy weights of Discipleship, Deliverance or Prayer Ministries. In this Slumbering Spiritbook, John and Paula Sandford take us into a detailed journey of what he calls the ‘Slumbering Spirit’. He coined this phrase after encountering people who seemed to have a bi-polar walk with God or who just didn’t seem to respond to what works for most in encountering God.

7/55 Reflection questions on Spiritual Mothers & Fathers

Here are seven reflection questions that allow us to assess whether we have spiritual mothers and heavy load2fathers in our life:

*Does our spiritual leader (mother or father) restrict or liberate people?   ________

*Does our leadership lead to conformity or promote Godly creativity?   _________

*Does our leadership lead us to dependence on them or on God?  _________

*Do our spiritual mothers and fathers produce servility or Godly servanthood? _____

*Does it build on rules or grace?   _________

*Do my spiritual leaders undermine or build my confidence in the Lord?  ______

7/54 Healing the Orphan Spirit

Every child born into this world was created to be a son or daughter to someone. Each of us was created with a son2capacity to receive love from a mother and father. Yet, many of us cannot say that we have been true sons or daughters to our parents or to spiritual fathers. We are born with a spirit of independence and want control of our own lives. This kind of orphan thinking affects our relationship with authority and Father God.