THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD

It has always been God‘s intention to have children that bear His Image and function like Him. This was first expressed in the creation of the first man Adam, who was later referred to as a son of God (Luke3:38). Despite the fall of Adam, the purpose of God for mankind remained the same.

Jesus coming to earth was to do a new work, which was similar to the creation of the first man Adam.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

(Rom 8:29 KJV)

From the above portion of scriptures, we see that Jesus is now the first of many brethren because of His work at Calvary. This proves that forgiveness of sins was a means to an end; God forgiving our sins has given space for mankind to be restored as children of God and have come into that relationship where they can grow into manifesting their sonship.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, different nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

(Gal 4:1-2 KJV)

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

(Gal 4:4-5 KJV)

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

(Gal 4:7 KJV)

In the verses of scriptures we just read, we see that there is a difference between a child and a son. Though this comparison was between those under the law and those in Christ, the same holds true for us in Christ today. A child in Christianity is one who is carnal or one who just came into the faith. The spiritually matured are those who can operate as sons of God.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

(1Co 3:1 KJV)

 

Some Questions

1. 1. What is the implication of being a son?

Being a son means we have full access to our inheritance. A child cannot access his/her inheritance.

1. 2. Now, what’s our inheritance as sons?

From Gal 4:7, we read that we are heirs of God through Jesus Christ.

1. 3. What does being an heir of God mean?

This means that all that God is, and all that God has is ours. The fullness of God, His Glory, is ours.

The Present Situation

Despite this has been done by God; things pertaining to humans regaining sonship, it is a reality that is in Christ Jesus, who is in our spirit. How can this truth be our daily experience? This is a question of manifestation.

Let’s consider the scripture below;

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

(Rom 8:19 KJV)

To understand the above verse of scripture lets go back to the creation story and see how the creation was held until man manifested.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

(Gen 2:1-2 KJV)

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

(Gen 2:5 KJV)

In Chapter 1 of Genesis, we saw that God completed the creation. But in chapter 2, we see that it was stated that the creation did not manifest until man manifested. After man came on the scene, then the others were made visible. This was because man was to tend the garden.

God always starts from the Spirit before the natural. I.e., the creation was in the spirit before it manifested in the natural. This is also true for us today.  This is why Philippians 2:12 admonished us to work out (manifest, bring out) the salvation that has been worked in us (in our spirit).

How Do We Come Into This Reality

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

(Heb 2:8-9 KJV)

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

(2Co 3:18 KJV)

One of the things Jesus Christ accomplished when He walked this earth was that He did set an example for us to follow.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Heb 12:2 KJV)

Jesus did not gain anything new by His coming to earth apart from us. Even then, He owned us from the beginning. By setting an example for us, the repeat of the rebellion demonstrated by Lucifer can be stopped (in later teaching, I will explain this).

We need to know that manifesting our sonship is same as manifesting the glory of God. Glory is simply all that God is and He Has, and this is what we are heirs to. As we behold what Jesus did to enter into His glory we are changed into the same image, reflected by His actions and the result

How did Jesus enter His glory? He did so by obeying the father, which was possible because He was dead to Himself. The death experience was accomplished twice. Firstly, He died to self when tempted in the wilderness. it was by dying to self He overcome the devil. After this experience, the glory of God was seen in His life (John 2:11 – 12).

The second time was when He went to the cross to die. That death made Him step into His eternal glory.

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

(Joh 12:28 KJV)

In both cases, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the death situation. Jesus was led to the wilderness by a spoken word, Jesus overcame the temptations by the revelation of the written word of God and knowledge of God’s character.

Now, the below verse will make more sense;

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 (Rom 8:14 KJV)

IN SUMMARY, HOW DO WE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD

To simply put, we manifest the glory of God by being obedient to His voice. The voice of God is both the spoken word and the written word.

For us to be able to obey God, we have to be dead to ourselves. This is the reason God permits hardness and suffering (sometimes referred to as the wilderness experience). The suffering is to produce in us the heart of a servant that can obey God at all times, thereby helping us to manifest His glory.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Hebrew 5:8

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(Rom 8:17 KJV)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Heb 12:2 KJV)

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Php 2:8 KJV)

Prayer point: Lord, give me a heart of service and help me to yield myself to your process in Jesus Name, Amen.

Thank you all.

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