Spiritual Orphans and Spiritual Sons

Your identity is the most fundamental aspect of your life. It defines you and your relationship with God, your family, and your community. This was true for Jesus himself. In Matthew 3:17, His identity as “Beloved Son” was proclaimed by God the Father as He emerged from the Jordan River. Shortly after, once the 40 day fast had concluded, the devil himself challenged Jesus’ identity, asking “If thou be the Son of God…”

Christ was constantly challenged or suspected throughout His ministry, sometimes those closest to Him, such as Judas Iscariot.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior we too are given the power to become “sons” of God. (John 1:12, Galatians 4-7). We receive an adoption into the heavenly family.

However, many of us have difficulty seeing ourselves as sons for a variety of reasons. Many of us can, unknowingly, be living with at least some aspects of an orphan spirit, and the negative impacts can be far reaching. Although God can and does send spiritual fathers into our lives (1 Corinthians 4:15), their primary role is to point their spiritual sons toward being sons of Jesus. We never compel someone to follow us. Jesus never did that! Growing into authentic sonship is based on a voluntary submission to spiritual authority with an attitude of complete liberty and freedom. Examine your heart as you answer the questions in this exercise. Are you acting out of spiritual
compulsion, or out of a wholesome desire to grow in maturity?