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.
One of the best ways to read scripture, especially the four gospels about Jesus, is to see how many times Jesus referred to God as his “Father”, which for the Jews was unheard of. Today, the word “Father” is so common that we don’t appreciate or engage in the kind of relationship that Christ afforded us in dying on the cross. Remember that Jesus’ main objective was not just dealing with our sin issue, which is a roadblock to intimacy with God, but a “Lifestyle” change that opens the door to the life we were designed for.
There is a famous verse that many people know that is often misused because of the failure to see the context in which it was given. Let’s look at this verse in the gospel of Matthew and see the context of why Jesus said what he said.
Matthew 11:25-28
At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. [26] “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. [27] “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
[28] “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
The verse that is so famous is verse 28 which talks about finding rest for the weary. Jesus is actually letting people hear him having a conversation with the Father in order to give people insight about His goal of revealing the Father’s heart, not just his commands. For the Jews “Knowing” God was more about learning rules for living rather than getting to know God personally. Jesus goes so far to say that wise and intelligent people often miss knowing the Father because they get stuck in the thinking process and fail to discover the “Knowing” aspect of who God truly is. Jesus says that “Infants”, those who are simply trusting, are experiencing the Father intimately. He links this revelation to those who listen to his words and respond with their hearts as well as their head.
Here is the “Finish line” statement – Our incentive for coming to Jesus is so we are not carrying the burdens of the world on our shoulders because we don’t know that Jesus gives us access to our Heavenly Father’s heart. Our lives experience true rest because we trust more than we worry. Again, there is a catch. We have to exchange our “Yoke” and that comes from focusing on the kingdom of God “First” in all our living.
Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The question is how do we know if we are living or at times operating in an “Orphan Spirit”? Here is one things to consider. Are we laboring towards becoming like Jesus in our approach to life?
Romans 8:29
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan he confronted Satan with what the word of God said rather than what he felt at the time. How often do we flip out when Satan tempts us to do the wrong thing. I believe partly it’s because we have not shed our orphan mentality to live like children of God.
Luke 4:1-4
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness, where the Devil tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.
[3] Then the Devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life.’ ”
Satan was challenging his relationship to the Father and Jesus used the scripture to battle him. You can often tell if you’re operating in an orphan spirit by how you battle the enemy. Do you do it in your strength or the strength of the Holy Spirit? How do we relate to God when trials come our way? Do we start to doubt our relationship just because God doesn’t take the trial away? Look how Jesus responded when he said he was being crushed by his current and future trial.
Mark 14:32-36
They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
At the worst time in his life, when the burdens on his soul were crushing him, he speaks to the Father in the most intimate terms possible. The term “Abba” would be the equivalent to our “Daddy”. So, the harder the circumstances the more intimate he goes in his communication with his father.
An orphan suffers from many of the following issues, though in our own personal lives we may operate if just a few: Insecurity, Desire for Attention, Fear of Commitment, Substance Abuse, Aggression, Pride, Dependency on Achievement, Isolation.
My closing article will cover how we can find relief and overcome an orphan spirit.
Questions:
1) Do we find ourselves longing to be conformed to the image of Jesus or content on just getting by with our faith? The Holy Spirit is the “Helper” that can assist in pursuing the right thing but we must be willing to follow.
2) When trials come is it normal to cry out to “Daddy God” or does that seem foreign? It is again the Holy Spirit that enables us to use such terms and not feel like we are faking it.
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
May we find “Abba” closer than we realize.
Pastor Dale
Love this! I did not think I had the orphan spirit but this article really opened my eyes to issues I do have that say otherwise! One issue is I tend to isolate myself when big trials come, with the intent to dig in deeper; but I am realizing I seem to fight depression when I isolate, so it is a vicious circle I need to break.
Hi Cindy
That fact you now know some areas of an orphan spirit gives you an ability of tell tail signs you can seek the Holy Spirit’s help to face that scares you. Let the Holy Spirit guide your prayer life to learn how to be honest regularly about the things that scare you so that when they appear you have already confessed them and been empowered beyond them.
Pastor Dale