Your Identity As A Child Of God

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

Do you feel tired and exhausted in your Christian life despite serving God and doing all the things you need to do for the Kingdom? Do you feel the urge to be someone significant in the body of Christ by being in a leadership position in your church? Do you sometimes find yourself comparing your worth against someone you think God is using more powerfully and effectively?

A lot of Christians suffer these things internally despite hearing and reading the Word of God. You just can’t deny the fact that deep down in your very soul, you are troubled, offended, hurt, insecure, bitter, and so on. Many Christians feel that their worth in the Body of Christ has something to do with their position – being a pastor, a worship leader, a prophet, an apostle, an evangelist, a missionary, etc. – so someone who is an ordinary member or simply a follower may feel less valuable or significant.

But did you know that Jesus himself did not marvel at any of those entitlements? In (Matthew 16:13-17 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.), Jesus asked His disciples about who people said He was. They replied that people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. And Jesus asked them again who they thought Jesus was. Peter then replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Jesus reacted when the Father revealed to Peter who Jesus really was—the Son of the Living God. Note that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and he had all the spiritual gifts to be called a prophet, a pastor, the greatest leader, etc. But all these titles are less than something greater – to be called a Son of God – because in being a child of God, our total dependence, worth, value, and security comes from the Father alone.

Being drawn to entitlements in the Kingdom of God or thinking you need to create a name of your own to be significant in the Body of Christ reveals an orphan spirit (hyperlink). You can check this article to learn more about the orphan spirit. The nature of an orphan is their lack of comfort, and their security is based on personal performance in order to survive or get what they need. An orphan doesn’t have a home and is endlessly seeking the love, acceptance, approval, and applause of men due to a lack of revelation about the Father.

When a child is orphaned, only one major thing is taken away from him or her—parents who could provide a loving and safe home. That’s what entitlements all reveal. If your value isn’t secured in being a child of the Heavenly Father but in other things, that could be why you are seeking these positions. The reason many Christians are internally still broken, insecure, jealous, and so forth is because their value and worth are placed on something other than the Father alone.

But as Jesus marveled at being a Son of the Living God and not in other things, you must know that these titles and positions are only responsibilities specifically assigned to people by God. It doesn’t mean that those people are more valuable than you. When you begin to understand more deeply that who you are does not change because of what you do, then you will remain secure, confident, and ever more focused on what God wants to do through you specifically and uniquely.

These titles in the Kingdom of God are mere labels to identify what God has called on His people to do, but everyone is a child of God. Romans 8:19 reveals to us that creation wasn’t waiting for pastors, apostles, evangelists, or missionaries but for the revealing of the sons of God. This is far greater than any other title. Jesus Christ himself called Simon Peter blessed because the Father had revealed to him Who Jesus really was—Son of the Living God.

What is the Father revealing to you right now? What is He putting in your heart?