Shiloh Place Ministries
Seeing The World Experience the Father's Healing Love
Through the Hearts of the Leaders
www.shilohplace.org

From Slavery to Sonship Part 1

In our recent monthly letters, I shared that what we see taking place in the natural is often a reflection of what is beginning to occur in the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46). I want to briefly review and build upon that. The spirit of Ishmael (the orphan heart) warring against the spirit of Isaac (the spirit of a son) seems to be the dominating spirit upon the earth today. The same spirit that is releasing terrorism upon the earth is also prevalent within all of society. Rivalry, envy, and jealousy produce violence within both the natural and spiritual realms as we compete with one another for the hearts of people and seek to establish our own land. Our search for acceptance, significance, and identity often results in a wrestling match as we grasp for what we deem is rightfully ours. It is evident within politics, the workplace, the entertainment and sports industries, and sadly, even within the Church. The result can be a "holy war" unconsciously proclaimed by those with an orphan heart as they struggle with their brethren for position, and authority, and inheritance.

Ishmael (meaning "whom God hears"), was the first-born of Abraham to Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarah, Abraham's wife. At 16 years of age, Ishmael was forced into the wilderness, away from his father, because of jealousy and rivalry between the two women over whose son would have rights to the inheritance of Abraham (Genesis 21:9-21). Arabic historians divide the Arabs into two races: (1) Pure Arabs, descendants of Joktan; and (2) Mixed Arabs, descendants of Ishmael. The prophecies from Genesis 16:12 and 25:18 are now and have always been true: "And he (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him He settled in defiance of all his relatives." Since the moment Ishmael experienced rejection from his father through the next 3900 years, many of Ishmael's descendants' attitudes, dispositions, manners, habits, government, or dress have not changed. What also has not changed is the tension between the one who lives life as if he does not have a home (the spirit of an orphan) and the one who is secure in his father's love and heart (the spirit of sonship).

Often within the church, it is difficult to tell whether a person walks in the heart attitude of an orphan or a son (this includes daughters). Outwardly, a person may have a pattern of service, sacrifice, discipline, and apparent loyalty, but you do not know what is inside a person until he or she gets bumped. Then the attitude of the heart overflows at a time when they feel they are not getting the recognition or favor they deserve. Somehow the difference lies in the motives and intentions of the heart. Let us look at the following chart and see what is revealed as we put definitions to the terms "spiritual orphan" and "spiritual son" and place them side by side in contrast with one another.

"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:7-9)

With the chart and scriptures listed, let's define the orphan spirit and the spirit of sonship. The orphan spirit causes one to live life as if he does not have a safe and secure place in the Father's heart. He feels he has no place of affirmation, protection, comfort, belonging, or affection. Self-oriented, lonely, and inwardly isolated, he has no one from whom to draw Godly inheritance. Therefore, he has to strive, achieve, compete, and earn everything he gets in life. It easily leads to a life of anxiety, fears, and frustration.

The spirit of sonship is all about having a heart attitude of submission ­ being subject to another's mission. Jesus Himself said, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19) In Hebrews 12:9, "Be subject" is also the word "submission." In the Greek, this word means "to get underneath and to push up." So to have the spirit of sonship is to put yourself underneath another's mission and do all you can to make them successful, knowing that as a son/daughter, there is an inheritance that lies ahead. Sonship is about security, significance, identity, patience, basic trust, faithfulness, loyalty, humility, and being others-oriented.

After reading through the contrast chart and definitions, you probably are saying to yourself, "Woe is me!" You may fit into only some of the categories, but most likely you will have some bleed-over between the two. Now perhaps you can see why walking in healthy relationships with God and/or others has been so difficult for you or someone you know.

Next month we will look at what to do about the orphan spirit.

 

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