Revival Ministries Australia

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What

SONSHIP?

God who has blessed us and chosen us has also “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” Eph.1:5

What does ‘adoption’ mean?

Greek – ‘huio thesia’ the placing of a son.

We are predestined to receive the placement as a son

When we are born again we become children [sons] of God.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children [sons] of God, to those who believe in His name” Jn.1:12

As children we do not inherit

“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.” But is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father” Gal.4:1-2

Children are subject to their parents: Jesus as a child was under the authority of Joseph & His mother

“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them” Lu.2:51

Children are heirs but are under “guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father” Gal.4:2

Children are meant to grow up

“we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…” Eph.4:14

There comes a time when we ‘become of age’ – the age of maturity when we can receive the spirit of sonship/adoption

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father’” Rom.8:15 NIV

We are redeemed from under the law so that “we might receive the adoption as sons” Gal.4:5

The inheritance is for mature sons

“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” Gal.4:7

Jesus at the age of 30 came to the Jordan River to be baptised by John. The Father identified Jesus as His Son

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” Matt.3:17

A son only does what the father tells him to do

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner, For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself does” Jn.5:19-20

Sons are those who are led by the Spirit

“As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God” Rom.8:14

The Lord disciplines His sons

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” Heb.12:5-6

Jesus has planted His sons [good seed] in the world

“the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom” Matt.13:38

These sons are the righteous ones who will “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” Matt.13:43 in the earth

Even creation is waiting for the sons of the kingdom to shine forth [manifest]

“The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing [manifestation] of the sons of God” Rom.8:19

God will give the inheritance to His sons

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” Rev.21:7

Three stages of growth

1) Salvation: we are saved “by grace through faith” Eph.2:8 it is God who “establishes us” * in the

new birth

2) Service: we receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit by grace through faith; it is God who “has anointed us” *

3) Sonship: it is a work of grace by faith that we receive the spirit of sonship to be placed in the body as a mature son ready to receive and walk in our inheritance. It is God “who has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” *

* 2Cor.1:21-22

It is time:

· to no longer be children

· to grow up into maturity

· to receive the placement of sons

· to shine forth in the kingdom

· to walk in our inheritance as sons

· to know God as Father