PRIVILEGES OF GOD’S CHILDREN II – Saturday April 29th 2017
Memorise: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
8:15 For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
8:17 And
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if
so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Bible in one year: Numbers 26-27, Jeremiah 22:24-23:8, Hymn: Sing hymn 15
MESSAGE:
There
is a song that was popular among children of God some decades ago which
reveals not only privilege meant only for the children of God but also
their appreciation of what privilege. It goes thus: “Something more than
gold; The spirit of God in the heart of man; something more than gold.”
According to our memory verse, as many as are led by the spirit of God,
are the children of God. In other words, only those who are children of
God have the privilege of being directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Conversely, only those who are guided by the Spirit of God are genuine
children of God. If you take a look at the account of how God formed man
from the dust of the earth, you will observe that in spite of the fact
that every part was properly fixed and fitted, man could not fulfil the
purpose of his creation until God put His Spirit in him. Genesis 2:7 says,
“And
the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
After
man fell, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and he became a
shadow of his glorious past. Open Heavens 2017 Saturday 29 April 2017:-
Privileges of God’s Chldren II. Man became afraid of himself. Adam and
Eve lost trust in each another, so much so that they were ashamed of
seeing each other’s nakedness. Fear ruled the heart of man because the
Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. Man lost his sense of purpose
and direction. God appeared in the cool of the day and man took cover
with his wife, who he now viewed as the source of his troubles (Genesis 3:12).
The certainty of what tomorrow holds eluded humanity, and man groped in
darkness, being tormented by different taskmasters until God decided to
have mercy on us through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. Open Heavens Devotional Messages 2017. The moment we accept His
grace of adoption, we begin to enjoy the privilege revealed in Romans 8:15-16:
“For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God:”
I
believe you now understand the reason why the old-time believers sang
with great excitement that the Spirit of God in the heart of a man is
something more than gold. The Spirit gives us the assurance that we are
children of God. This consciousness gives us the impetus to live like
Him in this world, and also grants us boldness based on the assurance
that with God, our Father, on our side, no evil can come near us. So, if
you are yet to become a child of God, don’t delay further; give your
life to Christ today, and you will be adopted into the household of God.
Action Point
Thank God for His precious gift of the Holy Spirit and for all that His Spirit does in your life.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,
The
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the
largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ
the Redeemer's Ministries.
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