Through the Spirit We Cry Abba Father!
Scripture Reading: Romans 8: 14 - 17 (NIV)
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The 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.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now 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.
Message: Through the Spirit we cry Abba Father!
In awe of the Spirit
Jesus promised the Spirit before he was taken up in heaven
And the Spirit was given:
Acts 2: 1 - 6 (NIV): When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
I guess when you hear about blowing of a violent wind and bewilderment, it is safe to describe their reaction to the Spirit as: “they were blown away!”
I am in awe when I reflect and come to realize what the Spirit has done in my life!
The Spirit opened my eyes to the grace of God
The Spirit is showing me Jesus, not just to be aware of what He has done for me, but also that He is here in this world - alive and living in this world
The Spirit shapes how I think about life, helping me not to get stuck in my own ways
Today, we pause to celebrate the spirit in our lives on the day of Pentecost
Embrace this celebration and allow yourself to be awe-struck when you appreciate what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life!
The words of Paul in Romans 8 helps us:
Child of God
Paul reminds us that we are no longer slaves, but that we are now children of God
The Spirit does make us slaves, but the Spirit leads us to be children of God
To be called a child of God has meaning
It means that I am cared for by God
I am not left to fend for myself anymore
Every time I feel overwhelmed, the Spirit reminds me that I have a Father Who cares for my welbeing
Every time I feel guilt and shame coming into my life, the Spirit reminds me that the Father loves me unconditionally
Every time I am reminded of my sin, the Spirit reminds me that Jesus has paid the price and that I am free
“I am no longer a slave to fear - I am a child of God”
Through the Spirit, those words echo in my life
Shaped Identity
To be called a child of God speaks to a unique identity
It tells a story of belonging
I belong to God
I belong to the family of God
This is who I am now
And knowing that I belong shapes my self-image
I can now look in the mirror and instead of seeing someone who is lost, I can see someone who belongs
Living with the identity of being a child of God, gives me confidence
I can lift my head in a confused world, because I belong
I can have confidence in my identity, without being arrogant
I can face whatever comes my way with the knowledge that nothing can take me from the hand of my Father!
Relationship with God
But it is not only a thought to think of God as our Father
It is a relationship
Paul says: And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Abba literally means “Daddy”
It’s a word of affection
It speaks to a close and loving relationship
It speaks to intimacy with God
It also speaks to respect for God
Jesus transcended the barrier between man and God on the cross
The Spirit brings us into a life of a close relationship with God
That’s why, through the Spirit, we can cry: Abba Father!
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