Good afternoon Church, 
 
Last week, we looked at our adoption by God to be his sons and daughters. God planned it, sent his Son to accomplish it and gave us his Spirit to confirm it. The wonderful news of the Gospel is not only that we have been forgiven of our sin, but that through the work of Christ we are sons and daughters and are no longer slaves (Galatians 4:1-7). This truth is so powerful when it enters our hearts, that it transforms the way we live and how we see everything. 
 
I remember being powerfully moved by a Korean man’s testimony of how this knowledge of God as Father changed his life. He grew up in an unbelieving home; His family life was extremely negative. His father died when he was young and his brother was abusive. He had deep bitterness and hatred in his heart because of what had happened to him. One day when he was in a church, he heard the Lord’s prayer. The words “Our Father, who is in heaven” broke through into his heart. Even though he had no earthly father, he realized he could call God ‘Father’. Here was a Father who loved him, who forgave his sins in Christ. Years of bitterness and anger began to soften and be taken away and eventually he was able to forgive those that mistreated him. Have you been transformed by this knowledge of God as Father? It is easy for us, like the Galatians, to fall back into slavery.
 
The first sign that we have been gripped by this reality is that we have this deep trust and security in God as our Father. Jesus is our example in this. In Mark 14:36 as Jesus was praying in the garden on the way to the cross he said, “Abba, Father, I know all things are possible for you”. Even though he was on the edge of going to the cross and being abandoned by God, he remained completely confident in his Father. He knew God was his Father and that the Father does all things well, so he had no need to fear. The Father holds all things in his hands. Jesus encourages us to have this same confidence and security in God, our Father. Our Father knows our needs even before we ask. Jesus says to us, “do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them”. He then says, “fear not little flock, it has pleased the Father to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:29-32). In Jesus, we have received the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15). We can know our Father cares for us intimately. 
 
This deep trust and security that we are called to is given to us by the Holy Spirit. This security and trust are under constant attack. The old spirit of slavery and fear is constantly seeking to creep into our hearts. In this time of uncertainty, a spirit of fear and distrust can be seen running rampant in our society. It is more important than ever that we, as followers of Christ, show we have a different Spirit from the world. We do not fear what the world fears. The fear of sickness, famine or even death has no power over us. We do not have to worry about who will take care of us: we know our Father will. We are secure in our Father’s love. 
 
The second sign that shows we have been gripped by this reality is that we do what God says. Jesus did this when he said, “Not my will, but your will,” in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). He chose to obey even at great cost to himself. We are also called to obey and submit our lives to Him. Jesus says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me,” (Matt 16:24). As children, we should always be seeking to live in a way that pleases our Father. Practically, this means we must have a radical commitment to read God’s word and put into practice what we read in it. As we do this we will be empowered to obey, because just as the Spirit gives us security and trust in God as our Father he also gives us hearts that want to obey and please our Father in heaven.
 
This week, let us live Spirit-filled lives as adopted children, filled with trust and walking in obedience to our Father who loves us and gave his only Son for us.

Taylor Ewert
Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church
taylorewert@friendship-bc.com
604.970.8506