July 23
2 Chron 8:11-10:19 | PS 18:16-36 | Prov 19:26 | Rom 8:9-25
We must remember that each of us are God's creation, but not all of us are His child, in fact, it is the overwhelming minority, the so-called remnant, who are truly His children. You cannot point to a particular church and state that everyone who attends that church is God's child. The pastor often speaks in broad strokes and refers to those in their congregation as God's children. Many worship songs proudly use verses claiming that we are God's children. Being God's child is not relegated to a particular denomination, as some of those in mainstream denominations and some of those in non-denominational congregations are, while others are not. Just as living in a garage does not make you a car, going to church does not make you a Christian. Each and every one of us must ultimately make a decision. Jesus did it all for us, and there are no further works required on our part to become God's child, being an heir with Christ. But will you make that decision? Will you repent and change your mind about your ways? So many people state that they hope that Jesus doesn't come right away because they want to enjoy their marriage a little longer, enjoy seeing their children grow up, spend more time with their grandchildren, etc. What is it that is your greatest desire? If you are a Christian, if you are God's child, then you have the Holy Spirit residing in you, and the Spirit will guide you to desire being united with God in heaven over spending more time in your flesh on earth.
We read in Romans 8:8-9, "That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)" Notice that this statement is not a matter of degrees, if you have the Spirit you belong to Him, if you don't have the Spirit you do not. As everything with God, no shades of gray, just black and white. We read further in 8:14, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Being a child of God is not a feel-good designation, it is used for those who are born of the Spirit, and no others. Paul goes on to discuss in 8:15-17, "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." Once you are His child, you are also an heir with Christ of all that heaven offers.
Read Paul's description in Romans 8:23, "And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us." As believers, we groan as we await the glory of heaven. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your families and enjoying the experiences that God has provided for us on this earth. But we need to not just make statements because they sound good and inclusive and not mean them. God's children, led by the Spirit will not do things out of obligation, religiously, they will move forward as His vessels, as His ambassadors willingly, out of desire, due to a true relationship with the Father and the Son, led by the Spirit. What a glorious offer He makes available to us, His undeserving recipients of His grace and mercy. Please make that decision today if you have not yet done so.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: