Stepping Into Our Sonship
Galatians 4: 1-2
It is one thing to have a revelation that we are God’s children. It is another to fully embrace this revelation and step into it. Stepping into our sonship is like stepping into a new realm complete with a new mindset. It is walking on earth just like how Jesus walked on earth – always in constant communion with the Father and able to perform mighty works through his Spirit. The time has come for us to grow from childhood to maturity, from glory to glory; to being men and women who reflect the image of Jesus Christ. When we are conformed into the image of Jesus we are transformed into someone who can receive the full rights of an heir – sons and daughters of the living God. But first we have to undergo a discipleship process, to be trained, because as long as the heir is a child he is no different from a slave.
Under Tutors
We used to be slaves. We are slaves to our desires. We are slaves to this world. We used to be under the influence of the Evil One. Satan was able to wreak havoc in our minds and bodies; supplanting it with lies. We became addicted to just about everything this world offered. We became weak, afflicted and lost. But when we were adopted through the sacrifice of the first born we were supernaturally redeemed into God’s family. We were bought with a price, the blood of the only begotten. We rejoiced in this experience of rebirth, savoring that initial experience of spiritual victory from sin. From living in darkness, now we are thrust into His marvelous light. This is only the beginning of the process. Next we must undergo a laborious and sometimes painful process to change our slave mentality and transform it into that of a true son and daughter of the Almighty.
Let us take a look at how the Israelites were freed from bondage. Remember that they were taken out of Egypt long after Egypt was taken from their minds and hearts. God’s ways are higher than our ways so we really couldn’t say if the wilderness test God employed is such a drastic move. It should have been as easy as one – get out of Egypt, two – do not be caught by the pursuing Pharaoh and his army and three – welcome to the land of milk and honey. But before they can reach Canaan they had to endure the wilderness. Even though they have become stiff-necked, grumbling bunch of God’s chosen people, He was with them, as a Father to a son, guiding them and patiently teaching them about his ways. A few weeks into the wilderness, God revealed his glory to them and shared his innermost desires – he longs for a family who can love him with all their hearts and minds; for he is more than willing to do the same to them. Unfortunately, in a mind-boggling manner, Israel refused to be treated like sons and daughters. They wanted the predictable and easy-to-grasp-carnality of Pharaoh rather than the incomprehensible glory of God’s presence.
The Israelites failed to understand that they are heirs of the presence and the promises of God. They were the chosen nation. The bloodline from whence the Savior comes. Yahweh’s heart was grieved for it was his desire to Father the whole of Israel and transform the whole nation into a kingdom of sons and daughters – reigning as kings and serving as priests.
In the New Testament the Lord revealed that there are those whom he had knowledge before they came into existence. And He has marked them out to be conformed into the image of his Son Jesus Christ. Friends, you were chosen before the foundation of the earth, to be sons and daughters, but you have to endure the whole process, the tests and the trials. In the case of the Israelites, the wilderness was the crucible that purified their faith. The fiery trials that they faced in the wilderness, as well as the gut-wrenching fight with the giants, served a purpose. This is to teach them faith, courage, dependence and to cleanse their hearts from all manner of wickedness. Sadly, there were only a few who endured and matured into sons of God: Moses, Joshua, and Caleb are among those who were able to come out victorious and as a result they were able to get hold of the inheritance. Their names are forever etched in the Hall of Fame of faith in the Book of Hebrews. And more than three thousand years later we still talk about their exploits; we honor them, and their lives continue to inspire millions of believers all over the world.
God is in the process of discipling each one of us. He wants to remove the spirit of slavery in our hearts and minds so that He can replace it with the Spirit of his Son – the Spirit that calls “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). When we learn to call out to him “Abba, Father” we are in the right path to spiritual maturity. We begin to enjoy his presence as well as hear his voice.