GROWING FROM CHILDREN TO SONS

CHILD1. Under guardians

(Gal 4:1-7)2. Needs to be fed

(1Cor 3:1)3. Controlled by

fleshly appetites4. Needs to be led5. Spiritually Unstable

(Eph 4:14)

SONS OF GOD

Romans 8:14 – 17

Spiritual Birth = Children of God

Led by the Spirit = Sons of God

CHARACTERISTICS OF SONS

1. Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14-17)

2. They are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

3. Love their enemies and pray for those that persecute them (Matthew 5:44-45)

CHARACTERISTICS OF SONS

4. Learn obedience through suffering (Heb 5:8)

5. Are chastised by the Lord (Heb 12:5-8)

6. Live a separate life from unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-18)

GOD SOWS SONS

Matthew 13: 36-39

1. God is sowing sons of the Kingdom

2. Sons are sown into the world

3. There are two types of sons in the world

4. These two types are always in contention for space and influence

Zechariah 9:13

“For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man.”

Jeremiah 51:20“You are my battle-ax and weapons of

war: For with you I will break the nations in pieces; I will destroy kingdoms……I will break in pieces the governors and rulers

I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion in your sight”

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SONS

1. Psalms: 2: 7-8; Isaiah 61:4-5

Sons are the only ones who have the mandate to ask for nations

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SONS

Matthew 3:16: Mark 9:7

2. They receive affirmation from heaven - God Himself

3. They receive and earn the right to be listened to.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SONS

John 3:16, Romans 8:19

4. They bring release, freedom, salvation into a situation, into society

Sons are God’s gifts to society, to nations.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SON

1. Christian disciplines:

a) Study of God’s word

b) Prayer

c) Fasting

d) Fellowship

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SON

John 1:1,14; Romans 13:14

2. The Word must become flesh

“But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SON

3. The way of the cross

Philippians 1:29

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but to

suffer for His sake.”

Acts 14:22

“ We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

SONS OF GOD

The kingdoms of this world will

become the kingdoms of our God

as the sons of God are revealed

and take their place.