Who You Say I Am Pt.2
ORPHAN NO MORE
Galatians 4:7 – Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Visiting my Dad even at 93, he would be waiting for us on the back porch. He would wrap his arms around me and say, “Hey Son, Welcome Home!”
REALIZE THE DEPTH OF THE ISSUE OF FATHERLESSNESS
Warren Marcus – “40/50% of American children will go to sleep in homes where no father is present.”
Jack Frost – “Today more children than ever before are growing up in fatherless households, and many more are growing up without a father emotionally, even though their father is physically present.”
Jack Frost – “More than any other time in human history, fatherlessness is the curse of our generation.”
RECOGNIZE THE RISE OF THE ORPHAN HEART
One of the results of feeling “fatherless” is we begin to live out what some call an “orphan heart.”
We can feel disconnected from our families, homeless, no identity, even with both parents present.
McLeod Campbell – “Sin, in making us godless, has made us orphans.”
Chris Hayward describes people with an orphan heart: they believe they are all alone, they believe they must take care of themselves, they believe that their survival depends on their own effort.
Jack Frost – “People with an orphan heart get up every day feeling like they do not belong. They do not feel accepted, valued, honored, or loved. They believe they must perform in order to be approved.”
Where does it come from – Hurt and misunderstanding leads to a break of trust which leads to a closed spirit which leads to self-reliance which leads to becoming a spiritual orphan, increasing isolation.
Those with an orphan heart begin to chase counterfeit affections: addictions, possessions, positions, performance, power.
The Orphan Heart is jealous of the success of others, serves God seeking approval.
The Orphan Heart says, “I am all alone.” No one cares about me.”
The Orphan Heart vows, “I will never trust anyone again.” “I will never let anyone control me.”
RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS: WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVES US!
John 14:18 – I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Galatians 4:4 – But when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
Galatians 4:5 – to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Redeem – Bought with a price to be set free
On the cross, Jesus was rejected for us, abandoned for us, became an orphan for us, separated for us, so we could be forgiven in Him, accepted in Him, adopted into the Father’s Family through Him.
Galatians 4:6 – And because you are sons (and daughters), God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying “Abba, Father.”
Abba – Papa, Daddy
Galatians 4:7 – Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Neil Anderson – The foundational truth of spiritual identity: God is your loving Father and you are His accepted child.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO LOVES ME John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO DELIGHTS IN ME Zephaniah 3:17 – He will rejoice over you with singing.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO HAS CHOSEN ME Ephesians 1:4 – just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world
I HAVE A FATHER WHO WILL NEVER ABANDON ME Hebrews 13:5 – I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO ACCEPTS ME Ephesians 1:6 – He made us accepted in the Beloved.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO LOVES ME ENOUGH TO CORRECT ME Proverbs 3:12 – For whom the Lord loves He corrects.
I HAVE A FATHER WHO PROTECTS ME AND PROVIDES FOR ME Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want.
Jack Frost – There’s a place for you in Father’s heart right now, where you can live your life hearing His voice saying to you every day, “You are the child I love and in whom I am well pleased.”
RENOUNCE THE ORPHAN HEART AND REPENT OF ANY OPEN DOOR
Repent of any ungodly belief connected to the orphan heart.
Forgive any in authority over you who have wounded you or disappointed you.
Renounce and break all ties with the orphan spirit.
Receive the Father’s Love by the power of the Spirit and cry out Abba Father!