I visited Gospel House North Carolina a couple of months ago, a house church made up of Spirit-filled people who routinely meet to pray, prophecy, and worship together. As is custom, we split into groups to encourage one another in prayer and prophecy. As the group started chatting, I asked the Lord what encouragement He had for the girl sitting in front of me.
Remember in John 6 when Jesus casually told his disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood? They found Jesus’ directions really tough to get on board with. What Holy Spirit had to say to me in this moment drew a pretty similar reaction out of me.
“Tell her she’s entitled,” he told me.
I had one of those “you want me to do WHAT” moments. But after asking for some clarification from Holy Spirit, I got really excited about the concept of entitlement.
STEPPING INTO THE FREEDOM OF ENTITLEMENT
We were once orphans — we thought like orphans and acted like orphans. We had no expectations from a father because we had no father to trust in.
There’s an epidemic in the church today that causes those who have been brought close to the Father’s heart to still operate out of orphanhood. We know the promises of the Father, yet preserve them for the next person rather than receiving them as our own. Thus, in times of need, we beg for what has already been given to us rather than running into the throne room where he says that we are welcome. That’s orphanhood.
Spiritual orphans — with a timid spirit — ask for a little more provision, a little more love, and a little more acceptance.
But didn’t our Father call us sons and daughters? Didn’t our Father call us coheirs, a holy priesthood, and a chosen generation? Didn’t he say to run with abandon into his throneroom of grace and to take our seats in heavenly places?
God thought it would be a good idea to adopt you as his own (i.e. he adopted you on purpose). Meaning that you have rightful access into all things having to do with sonship. You are entitled to act like a son.
Sons don’t knock on the door and peak their heads in. They STRUT into their Father’s house with authority because their Father says that they belong there.
Sons don’t kneel on the floor with their two hands cupped in front of the Father, hoping to receive a dime or two. They trust in the Father’s character as Provider and thank him that he has a really good plan to take care of them.
It’s not for an orphaned spirit that you have been set free. It’s for freedom that you’ve been set free — to walk in everything that God says his kids are entitled to walk in. Which is purity, peace, authority, righteousness, holiness, blamelessness, Holy Spirit, etc, etc.
I suppose that we retreat to orphanhood because we feel an obligation to pay Jesus back for what he bought for us. But the reality is that there’s no copay and there’s no reciprocity for the blood of Christ. He actually wants us to take ownership of our new identities as his kids, so let’s stop trying to pay Jesus back for what he chose to give to us. No orphan spirit and no timid disposition can convince the Father that you’re worthy of keeping as a son. You’re worthy because he says so.
What bondages are you in agreement with that Jesus’ blood says you’re entitled freedom from?
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear but have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:15
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My team and I arrived in the Philippines last Thursday. After 40 hours of travel, we spent the first 5 days in Dagupan at our hosts’ home where they run a house church. They treat us like we’re their own children, and we’ve all fallen madly in love!! The first place we went upon arrival was Tita Linda’s 69th birthday party (ya’ll KNOW that touches my heart). On Monday night, we took a 12 hour bus ride to Cagayan where we will be working with another church plant for the next 2 weeks. We’re asking for salvations and miracles and we would be stoked for you to intercede on our behalf.
