slavery to sonship

(Notes from the Slavery to Sonship podcast…)

I am certain in my heart that all that I am, I have received from God. – St. Patrick

Never trust a dog to watch your food – St. Patrick

St. Patrick was an English youth of a royal family. He was abducted into slavery by the Druids in Ireland in 403 A.D. During his captivity, he came to know the love of Christ in those dark years of his life. Eventually he escaped and sailed back to England. He had many dreams from the Lord instructing him to go back to Ireland, he would even hear the sound of the Irish people calling for him to bring the gospel of freedom to them. Patrick studied his Christian faith and the knowledge of God for 15 years before he eventually returned as a free man to plunder the gates of hell and bring the message of freedom to a dark and hopeless land. The very place of his affliction would become the power source for God’s love to come like a flood!!  St. Patrick left Ireland as a slave and returned as a son!

St. Patrick’s story is one that many of us can relate to in one way or another; God reaches into our lives and sets us free from the grip of sin and death and seals us with the Spirit of Sonship, eventually leading us to help others find that same freedom! 

Slave to Son

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that HE might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” – Galatians 4:4-7 (NASB)

“And you did not receive the spirit of religious duty, leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the Spirit of full acceptance, enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join Him in saying words of tender affection, Beloved Father!” – Romans 8:15 (TPT)

Let’s break down the understanding of what slavery and sonship are…

What is slavery? = Slavery is the condition of being in bondage – in this case to sin and flesh

Slavery as detailed in the scriptures above:

 – Serving out of religious duty (Rom. 8:15)

 – Living in fear of never being good enough (Rom. 8:15)

 – Being in bondage to sin and flesh (1 John 3:6)

What is sonship? – The state of being a son

The scriptures also use terms such as, The Spirit of Adoption, an Heir and The Spirit of Sonship, which all have the same meaning: The Holy Spirit.  

Sonship as described in the scriptures above: 

Servant out of love for the Master

An heir to the throne (Gal. 4:7)

Living in full acceptance (Rom. 8:15)

Living by the spirit (Rom. 8:14)

Freedom (Gal. 5:1)

“if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7)

Heir = The person who inherits the rank, title, position and property of another after death.  When Christ died, He transferred the authority, power and blessings of the kingdom to His kin (those who would call Him Lord). As an heir we have access to all thing through Christ Jesus pertaining to life and eternity!

Living Like a Son 

How does being a son affect the way I live?

The Spirit of Sonship is The Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is a Person and so, the key to living as a son is to get to know the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Sonship).

– Pray Ephesians 1:17 – ask God to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who He is by His Holy Spirit. 

– Get familiar with how He speaks to you, how He nudges you, how He corrects you, how He encourages you, how he relates to you. 

– Let Him search the deep things of God and show you the Father, likewise let Him search your depths and reveal your heart to you. 

For me personally, He often speaks in a word or a two-word phrase that I have to research & also pictures. He most often speaks to me when I’m in the shower, working out or on a walk. When I ask a question, I know how He dialogues with me, because we do it often. Getting to know how God relates to you though the Holy Spirit is the foundation of your identity in Sonship!

Often times the Spirit of Sonship will manifest in your life by how you think and live, primarily when it comes to your response to circumstances…

A slave mentality is a poverty mentality = questions like “what if there’s not enough?” will lurk and breed comparison, competition and contention with others.  

A son mentality is a prosperity mentality = statements like, “He is more than enough”, and “I am His heir, therefore I have exceedingly abundantly more than I need in Him.” Will be given real estate to your thought life and will breed confidence, contentment and contribution to others.

Paul says we are advertisements for the power of God that is within us; living epistles and our lives should reflect our position as sons and bring honor to the kingdom.

Stewarding Your Sonship  

What are we called to do with our position as sons and daughters?

When we say YES to Jesus and God seals us with the Spirit of Sonship, He sets in motion a life continually and completely transformed over time. But He doesn’t stop there, He begins to use our story, our testimony and our purpose to impact the lives of those in need. Your process is not just about you, it’s about those who are praying for what you carry. 

“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” – Matthew 10:5-8

To be a son is to represent our Father and share His heart with the world He calls us to… 

An heir receives the Inheritance and will choose to either fully consume or share what he/she is given. When Jesus sent the twelve, He said, “Freely you have received, freely give”

– The Spirit of Sonship grants us the authority to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons. 

– The kingdom of Heaven is at hand = where you are, the power of Christ is at hand. 

– The Kingdom is simply about carrying an eternal solution to the needs around you – find the needs and fill them. 

St. Patrick went to Ireland the first time as a forced slave. He returned willingly the second time as a free son.

To listen to the complete episode of Slavery to Sonship on the Occupy Freedom podcast, click on the link!

Blessings!