Sunday Morning’s message: 14th of April 2024
Kerry Hartly
Objective: Understanding and recognising the orphan heart and bring set free by the truth
Leaders Note: Pick and choose what part of this study below fits your group.
Read John 8:36 (NIV) “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Key thoughts:
Freedom comes from our thinking and thinking comes from what we believe. To have a life of freedom, safe in the Father, then it must start with what we believe.
What we believe is what we think about, what we think about is what we do, what we do is who we become, who we become forms our character and our character determines our destiny. It all starts with what we believe.
Questions:
How can we focus more intentionally on our beliefs?
What does it mean to be free in Jesus?
Reflection:
Thinking of an image of orphans in a third world country. We picture children that are rejected, dirty, hungry, poor and in a state of despair.
We have the Father, we are not orphans. Yet, spiritually speaking, are we acting rejected? Dirty? Hungry? Poor? In a state of despair?
This is not our true identity. The Father has restored us to our true place in Him.
Read John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Characteristics of an orphan
Fear and Anxiety:
1 in 5 people in our society is diagnosed with anxiety. It’s a billion-dollar industry. When you are safe in the bosom of the Father you have nothing to fear.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Fatherless:
In the world there are many masters, many instructors but few Fathers – leading people to feel distant from God. Jesus is not interest in servants, but relationship. We operate out of this relationship and because we love Him, not because of fear of repercussions.
Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba,Father."
Rejection:
The feeling that we have to do things to be accepted and loved. It is hard to receive love and acceptance when feeling rejected
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Identity Crisis:
If Jesus has forgiven our sins…then we are forgiven. He died once, for all people – for all time. Don’t think that we are forgiven sinners. We were sinners, but now we are saints. Galatians 4:4-7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Self-Sufficiency:
Feeling that we have to do things ourselves. We find it hard to trust in God for our families and our provisions. We aren’t designed to walk by ourselves, we need Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isolation:
Cutting ourselves off from others in the body of Christ.
Lack of Spiritual Authority:
Believing that you need someone of higher authority (i.e pastor/elder/leader) to bring power into situations. But the same Jesus that is in you is the same Jesus that is in them.
Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Key Thoughts:
Satan - 1st orphan - Cast out of presence of Father - through choice His influence will always show orphan spirit.
Orphan - Has house - But no home. Has father - But no relationship
Adam and Eve:
Adam & Eve - Only knew goodness of Father 1st voice, 1st touch = Loving Father.
They only knew love, peace, joy etc - nothing else.
Life in Garden = Blind to sin.
Only conscious of Father - only knew good
2 Trees - Love gives free will —> Free will needs choice.
Eve thought she had to do something to become something - She listened to orphan spirit (Satan).
Orphan thinking made her feel that she was missing out on something.
Questions:
How can we identify the orphan spirit in our lives?
How to combat the orphan spirit?
Conclusions:
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
We need to stop living for things and start living FROM God.
Comments