THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
Romans 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."
Recently while in Atlanta, a fellow preacher told about his (and wife's) adoption of two very young Russian boys that were in a Russian state run orphanage. This preacher flew there, everything was arranged beforehand, just needed to go to the orphanage and sign some papers. Upon arriving, they went straight to the orphanage, went in and noticed something strange about the place. There were 100's of children from babies on up, but, the place was silent. It is said that a baby will cry and cry and if not tended to it will soon just quiet down and become inactive. The place was silent, and smelled awful. Anyway, they met with the officials and signed the adoption papers and met the two boys. Both appeared to be malnutritioned and and just stared, with a blank stare. Once outside, it was apparent that neither had ever been outside the orphanage building. They were afraid of trees, wind, falling leaves, even their own shadows. The two boys were not used to anything but the inside of the orphanage, not used to anything but being kept like prisoners inside an awful smelling building. (Nevertheless, this is many times over better than the heineous, murderous, procedure called abortion; the slaughter of innocent little lives.)
BUT NOW THESE CHILDREN WERE ADOPTED
When people asked about them, this preacher replied that they were now his children, both his the same as his other two and would be treated as if they were of his blood with all rights and equal privileges now and to any inheritance later. The ticket agents, airport security personnel, passengers and passers by must have asked 500 times if these were his!! They said. "Are these two yours? Are those two adopted? What about those two boys?" His answer was "They are mine" over and over he repeated that they were his, no different than his other two.
Here is something to think about. The preacher knew nothing about these children's past nor did it matter. He did not know the parents, what kind of family they came from, did not know where in Russia they were born, nothing in their past mattered as, now, they were his children. That is exactly what happened when we were saved by the Grace of Almighty God. What we used to be does not matter. Who our earthly parents were does not matter. What our nationality, religion or race was, did not matter. Because, when we came to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour, we were adopted into the family of God by the Holy Spirit. We do not have one thing to do with the adoption, other than be saved. God the Holy Spirit takes care of the details. The two children mentioned had nothing to do with their adoption by a loving family, they did not have anything to do with the details of the adoption. Secondly, the two children would never have to worry about going back to that orphanage in Russia... ever. They were now this preachers children.
Nothing to fear
"...For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear..." There's one thing that God wants us to know, that is, in HIs hands we should not fear. In John 10:28, Jesus said, "And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all (including the Devil); and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." Notice that twice, our Lord said no man is able to pluck them out of my hand. Sadly, there's more than a few of God's children who wrestle and wrestle with matters of the past. It seems that some just cannot get over how they used to be, what all they were, what we call baggage. If any let it, the past will certainly hinder ones part in the great cause of Christ, cost heavenly treasures and, keep one on the shelf. The Scripture above and found in many other passages in the Bible are clear that we were not saved to fear!
My hat is off to the CEO of Chick-Fil-A who stated his stand regarding same sex marriage. That brought a firestorm of outrage from the perverts and liberals. The CEO said what he believed, that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and he said it without fear and did not care what others thought about it. AMEN!
Friends, let me close by saying this. If you are a child of God, you are adopted into the family of God, therefore you are in the safest place on earth, in HIS hands. The past is as the east is from the west. Don't fear! One thing God needs is more of His who will stand-up and speak-up!
