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Posts Tagged ‘spirit’

“The Slave turned Son”

March 28th, 2011 No comments

Galatians 4:6

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

The idea of slavery is a concept that though understood is foreign to our experience. Total submission and commitment were demanded of a slave. A slave was property rather than a person. He was at the mercy of his master. He was completely disposable. If age, sickness, weakness, or disobedience became a source of irritation to the slave owner, the master would not hesitate to sell or take the life of his slave.

There have been cases, however, where slaves have been freed by their masters. Although it has not been a common occurrence, some have even been adopted into the master’s family. In the Roman culture if a slave was adopted it meant that he became a citizen, his debts were paid, his family alliance was changed, and he became an heir to the master’s wealth. He was no longer a slave. He was now a son.

This is what takes place when we are delivered from the slavery of sinfulness. We become a citizen of heaven, the judgment of sin against us is cancelled, our allegiances to our former life and associations are changed, and we become a joint heir with the Son of God. We are no longer slaves but children of God.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Categories: News

Asking the Right Question

June 28th, 2010 No comments

Psalm 143:1-12 (10)

1 O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.

2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.

4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.

5 I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus instructed the disciples to pray “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This assumes that God’s will is not always done here.  When we pray “thy will be done” we’re not just saying,  “Whatever happens,  I will accept it.”  Instead we are praying in rebellion against every plan, deed, word, and movement that is at odds with the will of God.

Prayer is not enough.  We are to do our best to fit into God’s will.  The problem is knowing what the will of God may be.

Henry and Richard Blackaby make an important observation in their book, “Experiencing God.”  They state that we are asking the wrong question when we say, “What is God’s will for my life?”  Instead we should be asking “What is God’s will?”  Once we discover His will then we can re-orient our life so that it is in sync with God’s will.  Blackaby says, “My focus needs to be outward on God and His purposes, not inward on my life.” (p. 33)   He goes on to note that God’s plans for our lives are based on what He is doing in the world around us.  Instead of self-centeredly wanting a blueprint for our own life we come to understand what God wants to accomplish where we are.  When we see this clearly then we can get involved in what He is already doing.  Then we will gain the fulfillment of knowing that we are doing what we should.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Categories: News