The only way to really know you're a child of God
One of the first things people starting giving me when I first 'became a Christian' was booklets and instructions on how to have what they called 'assurance'.
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"Assurance of what?" I would ask.
"Well, assurance that you really are a child of God... and not deluded by mere delusions!" they would reply.
"Ah I see." I said.
"Do you? If you want to know you're a child of God then you have to answer yes to the following questions... allllll of them." they said with an utmostly patronizing look. (Yes, I just made up a word there).
I said nothing but simply looked on incredulously, thinking that this was starting to get weird. It didn't matter that I didn't care to answer their questions but they pressed on as if I did anyway.
"Number 1: Have you repented of you sins?" they asked.
I looked up, motioned with my fingers and pretended that I was about to say something. I then put my hand down and just kept looking at them. It caught them off guard. Yet again they continued as if I had answered in the affirmative...
"Number 2: Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
This time I didn't pretend I was going to say anything. I kept my polite silence making it even more awkward for them. And you guessed it... they asked me yet another unsolicited question!
"Number 3: Ok, good. But now, you know, you have to read the Bible, pray, witness of your faith, go to church, confess-repent-ask God to fill with you His Holy Spirit when you sin and tithe."
"That wasn't a question." I retorted.
This time they had nothing to say. And so it was that our lovely exchange concluded... and not just that!
Ok, I'll confess. That entire conversation was not even remotely associated to anything that ever happened to me - I had great and true friends in those days. But it is based on a conglomeration of instances that happened mostly to others that I know. I'll even seriously confess this time, that I myself used to think in those ways; namely, that knowing whether you're a child of God or "saved" (ugh! such a churchian word that is completely unintelligible to the uninitiated) was a matter of answering yes to the above questions and doing the prescribed things of the third pseudo-question.
I truly am sorry for that! No really I am. I taught many these horrible and empty principles that only get people mired into law and religion instead of the freedom and joy of being a son and daughter of God.
So how do you know if you're a child of God or not?
You just listen to the Holy Spirit in you, of course!
What!? Is that too hard, too simple... too easy? Yes. It is. But it really is the way. At least, that's the way Paul seemed to see it.
He spoke of how the Holy Spirit is the one that teaches us to cry out to God calling Him - not Lord, not Savior, not Almighty, not even God, Yahowa or another of His many beautiful Names - but to call Him Daddy! Papa! Baba! Abba! "You are my Dad, Lord!" Sure you can call God in His other names, we are free in this regard. But how important it is to settle it in your heart that you are His son or daughter! And though we may not be the best children, He is the most perfect, loving, caring, ever-present Father to us all. And that is enough for me to know.
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| Courtesy of Flick: Miguel Pires de la Rosa |
"Well, assurance that you really are a child of God... and not deluded by mere delusions!" they would reply.
"Ah I see." I said.
"Do you? If you want to know you're a child of God then you have to answer yes to the following questions... allllll of them." they said with an utmostly patronizing look. (Yes, I just made up a word there).
I said nothing but simply looked on incredulously, thinking that this was starting to get weird. It didn't matter that I didn't care to answer their questions but they pressed on as if I did anyway.
"Number 1: Have you repented of you sins?" they asked.
I looked up, motioned with my fingers and pretended that I was about to say something. I then put my hand down and just kept looking at them. It caught them off guard. Yet again they continued as if I had answered in the affirmative...
"Number 2: Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
This time I didn't pretend I was going to say anything. I kept my polite silence making it even more awkward for them. And you guessed it... they asked me yet another unsolicited question!
"Number 3: Ok, good. But now, you know, you have to read the Bible, pray, witness of your faith, go to church, confess-repent-ask God to fill with you His Holy Spirit when you sin and tithe."
"That wasn't a question." I retorted.
This time they had nothing to say. And so it was that our lovely exchange concluded... and not just that!
Ok, I'll confess. That entire conversation was not even remotely associated to anything that ever happened to me - I had great and true friends in those days. But it is based on a conglomeration of instances that happened mostly to others that I know. I'll even seriously confess this time, that I myself used to think in those ways; namely, that knowing whether you're a child of God or "saved" (ugh! such a churchian word that is completely unintelligible to the uninitiated) was a matter of answering yes to the above questions and doing the prescribed things of the third pseudo-question.
I truly am sorry for that! No really I am. I taught many these horrible and empty principles that only get people mired into law and religion instead of the freedom and joy of being a son and daughter of God.
So how do you know if you're a child of God or not?
You just listen to the Holy Spirit in you, of course!
What!? Is that too hard, too simple... too easy? Yes. It is. But it really is the way. At least, that's the way Paul seemed to see it.
He spoke of how the Holy Spirit is the one that teaches us to cry out to God calling Him - not Lord, not Savior, not Almighty, not even God, Yahowa or another of His many beautiful Names - but to call Him Daddy! Papa! Baba! Abba! "You are my Dad, Lord!" Sure you can call God in His other names, we are free in this regard. But how important it is to settle it in your heart that you are His son or daughter! And though we may not be the best children, He is the most perfect, loving, caring, ever-present Father to us all. And that is enough for me to know.
"And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" Gal 4:6
Do you know the Spirit of Christ in you, is always wanting to talk to you, teach you, comfort you, guide you, bless you and speak to you? Really, He is. The best way to know you're child of God is to hear Him telling you who you really are... and, my friend, when you start knowing that from His mouth (and not merely what others tell you) your life will never be the same again!
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Rom 8:16
So what is He telling you today? Don't worry - there's no need to ask someone else, this is something only you can know and only He can tell you.
You are His precious child and He truly gave His all to make that true today!
By David Roiel
The Green Leaf Blog - Discover your inheritance!
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I don't know HOW to hear Holy Spirit talking to me. Please explain how to do it. It seems so difficult for me.
ReplyDeleteHi there.
DeleteThis is a very important question. I'm glad your asking and pray I'll answer wisely and helpfully.
I wasn't even a believer in Jesus when I first heard His voice - though it wasn't until years later that I even knew it was His voice.
Jesus said 'Ask and you will receive' and 'How much more will your Father in heaven send the Spirit to those who ask'. I encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit into your life, Ask for Him, Ask to hear Him, Ask Him to open your ears.
Here are some things you can do too:
1) Listen to His voice, His gentle voice. Don't be afraid to confuse it with your own thoughts. He will never condemn you or hurt you. He is your Guide, your Teacher, your Comforter and will always glorify Christ.
2) At first, go to quite places that you enjoy.
3) Use a notebook and write out your conversations. No matter how silly or crazy they may seem. Paul wrote that we should "Test every prophetic word and cling to what is good, don't despise prophecies". This is prophetic, in the sense you are hearing God's voice. It is possible to make mistakes, but it's ok. Don't be afraid of doing that. Always remember, the wisdom of the Spirit is full of peace. His wisdom will not make you anxious, frustrated or fearful, but will bring light, revelation, and joy to you.
4) Practice. Yes, don't be afraid to practice. He is there to talk to you all the time.
5) Don't be afraid to be heretical. The Spirit of Christ, is JESUS. He will never go against His written Word revealing the covenant of Grace. Many people fear they will blaspheme and attribute to God what is not from God. It is in a way, a holy fear, but it keeps us away from listening to God. So listen, don't be afraid and He will teach you how to listen.
Blessings.
Your brother in Christ,
David