This is the final article on the orphan spirit in the church and I want to close with the parable in Luke’s gospel where Jesus addresses the problem of God’s children living and acting out of an orphan spirit. When I use the term “Orphan Spirit” I’m referring to an attitude that many believers have who would never consider the fact that they move in such a “Disconnected” way in their relationship with their Heavenly Father.
This is the fourth part of a series on having an “Orphan Spirit” which is defined as a person who, although being a child of God through the sacrifice of Christ, still lives as if they are disconnected from their Heavenly Father’s care and interaction. It is my experience that far too many confessing believers live lives less than God designed or desires. When Jesus said in the gospel of John chapter 14 that he would not leave them (the disciples) as orphans, it was due in part to their feeling of abandonment as Jesus was heading to the cross.
This is the third article asking the question of whether we are living like orphans as followers of Christ. For some people the question doesn’t make any sense. However, as you read what Jesus said to his disciples just before going to the cross in John 14:18 it makes a lot of sense and should give us pause to ask the same question. Am I living more like an orphan or like God is indeed my Heavenly Father who I can trust him no matter what. It is not about a “Works Thing” of trying to earn points with God but rather a “Relational Thing” because we have grasped the Father’s intent for our lives. If you have not read the first two articles on an “Orphan Spirit” please do so before reading this one.
In my first article on “Are We Living Like Orphans” I wrote about how so many believers live with the mindset and behavior of being an “Orphan” rather than thinking and acting like God is our loving Heavenly Father. I wanted to reveal what a lie and deception Satan has introduced into the body of Christ that keeps us at a distance from our creator rather than learning to being intimate with him as our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. If you haven’t read part one please do so before continuing with part two.
Previously, I wrote about how so few believers in the body of Christ today demonstrate the kind of transformation that the apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Today’s preaching and teaching tends to be about how God can help us overcome obstacles more than our privilege and opportunity to build an intimate relationship with Him. This is often due, in part, to our culture promoting a self-centered lifestyle, which the church has bought into. Also, many fathers desired to give their kids what they didn’t have as kids, which caused being a provider to supersede the importance of actually fathering their children. Even those who grew up with a loving and nurturing father figure also had authority figures in their lives that distorted their ability to develop healthy trust with those in authority, be it fathers or bosses.
The premise of this study is based in part on John 14:18 where Jesus said he would not leave us as orphans. The disciples had to be worried that Jesus was leaving and they had learned to trust and rely on his presence and his spiritual and practical leadership. Jesus was trying to comfort them by saying that he had already planned for his departure and it would include a “helper” who would follow Him. This helper would guide them throughout their lives as they listened and obeyed him just as they had Jesus. There is the catch though. He reveals that they ( the disciples ) needed to “Obey” his instructions so that they could live in an ever deepening way.
John 14:18-21
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. [20] “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. [21] “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Jesus reveals that the purpose of their discipleship was not just to do good and obey rules, but to be intimate with our Heavenly Father. Obeying Christ’s commandments was an “Indicator” that we were living a loving relationship, just as the Father and Jesus were experiencing. Obeying rules don’t make us adopted sons and daughters. Instead, they demonstrate our trust of the one who made them. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross opened the door for this relationship and bonding. When we chose to surrender to Christ for forgiveness we automatically start being transformed day by day into loving sons and daughters. However, if at any time we stop trusting Jesus the transformation stops as well. John 15 illustrates this perfectly and this was said by Jesus right after his promise that we would not be left to fall like orphans.
John 15:4-5
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. [5] “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
This is a key principle for our walk as sons and daughters rather than as orphans. He emphasizes that the ongoing relationship with God as our Heavenly Father is through choosing to abide. The responsibility comes on our part to want and choose relationship. This growing intimacy means the longer we grow in the Father’s love the more we understand Him and his ways. Ultimately, it is seeing the character of God that our love is meant to deepen and our relationship grows because we have great understanding of who He truly is.
The goal of our Christian life is to be centered around loving God as our “Abba”, not a distant creator. Paul brings this whole concept of chasing and enjoying intimacy with our Heavenly Father as Jesus did.
Romans 8:12-17
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— [13] for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. [15] For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” [16] The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
I remember older Christians in my young days of walking with the Lord who consoled young believers that they needed to stand on and confess they were children of God. It seemed odd to me to have to be assured of their relationship by confessing this truth. It seemed to me if they were having conversations with their Heavenly Father and reading scripture they would be confident of this fact rather than trying to convince themselves of their confession.
Everything Jesus did for us as our savior was to make available an intimate relationship with God. It wasn’t just to forgive. It was meant to break down the barriers. As we continue with this topic of overcoming an orphan spirit I hope you realize how much your Heavenly Father desires to be the father you always wanted.
Questions:
2. Are you walking in the security of Christ’s forgiveness yet have not loved him in return? John 15 illustrates that if you
don’t abide in His love you will wither and die in your relationship. Confess your wandering soul and return to the one who
loves you.
Loving God and pursuing a deeper walk.
Pastor Dale
I recently preached a sermon on how many believing Christians have what I believe is an “Orphan Spirit” that hinders them from trusting and truly enjoying an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father. Jesus said that he came to give us “Abundant Life” and he did so because of the Father’s love. Yet, it seems few believers experience such a life. Far too often professing Christians talk about what they believe without actually experiencing the reality of what they strongly agree biblically.
