THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 24 of 30 – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
" . . . and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . . "
Are there any advantages to being a child of God? The devil would have us think there are not – at least not enough to press toward the Lord with zeal and consistency. That, in essence, is what he deceived Eve into thinking (Gen 3:1-6). With subtle aggressiveness, the Tempter promotes the idea that the world has more to offer than God. This is why people are not seizing the Kingdom with violence, as a prize to be obtained (Matt 11:12). It is why church meeting houses are empty on Lord's evening, only briefly occupied on Lord's day morning, and hardly ever on Wednesday evening. It is the reason why believers are in the minority in our country, State, and city. People just are not persuaded God has anything significant to offer.
People have been duped into believing there are no significant advantages to being a child, or son, of God. It is why more men are not preaching. It is why people ignore their Bibles, preferring entertainment to edification. It is why supposedly Christian concerts are preferred to powerful preaching. It is why there has been a decline in evangelistic and revival meetings. This is the reason for compromise in Christian colleges. Satan has convinced people there are no real advantages to being the children of God. Thus, satisfaction is sought elsewhere. The epitaph over these conditions is, "An enemy hath done this!" Matt 13:28).
There ARE wonderful advantages to being the children of God. The world has nothing that can compare with them. They will survive the end of the world, and minister to the believer in both life and death. Here is something we must speak of more frequently. The words "reward" (Matt 5:12; 1 Cor 3:8,14; Col 3;24), "crown" (2 Tim 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Pet 5:4), and "prize" (1 Cor 9:24; Phil 3:14) must find their way into the vocabulary of the church! It is time to hear of "victory" (1 Cor 15:54; 1 John 5:4), "triumph" (2 Cor 2:14), and a peace that will "keep your heart and mind" (Phil 4:7). And what of a "good conscience" (1 Pet 3:16) and a heart that does not "condemn" us (1 John 3:21). There is "access" to God (Eph 2:18), "grace to help in the time of need" (Heb 4:16), and being kept "from falling" (Jude 24). Those who fear they will be unable to stand must be told God can "make" them stand (Rom 14:4). When enemies seem too formidable, someone must shout out "He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). There ARE advantages to being a child of God.
Preachers and teachers must get their heads out of the sand and deliver a message that speaks of the glorious future for the children of God. The subject of heaven needs to be revived. It needs to find its way into our singing as well as our preaching and teaching. Tell the people of God they have "in heaven a better and enduring substance" (Heb 10:34). Remind them their names are "written in heaven" (Heb 12:23). Tell them they have an incorruptible inheritance "reserved in heaven" for them (1 Pet 1:4). Words like "inheritance" (Eph 1:14; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 1:4), "treasures in heaven" (Matt 6:19-20), and "reign with Christ" (Rev 22:5 2 Tim 2:12) must become familiar to the saints! There ARE advantages to being a child of God.
There are rich promises that confirm the advantage of being children of God. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? . . . Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" (1 Cor 6:2-3). There is coming a time when the righteous will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt 13:43). A time has been appointed when "we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is: (1 John 3:2). There ARE advantages to being a child of God.
There is too much earth being thrown on the saints of God from the pulpits and literature of the land! Much of the supposed Christian literature of our time is nothing more than dust thrown in the eyes of believers. It becomes obsolete too quickly and does not pull back the veil so men may see the glorious future of the children of God. It deals too much with humanly assessed problems, and too little with God's exceeding great and precious promises. It is time to stop listening to the reports of self diagnosed problems, and be on the initiative to proclaim the provisions God has for men and women in Christ Jesus. Once those provisions are seen, the problems will look less formidable than they do now. There ARE eternal advantages to being the children of God.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank and praise You for all of the good and profitable things You have given me in Christ Jesus.