Like Father Like Son

When the world looks at us, they should see Jesus.

Summary

There is a radical difference between being a child of God and a son of God.  The whole term “son” speaks of spiritual maturity, which is the goal of Christian ministry.  When we become mature in Christ, we look like our Father in heaven.

Outline

1. Growing up in Round Rock, wherever Mike went, everyone asked him if he is “Mambo’s boy.”
   1. Mambo was a nickname Pr. Mike’s father won.
   2. People asked Pr. Mike that question because they could see his father in him, he had taken on some of his characteristics.
   3. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen my Father.”
2. Is there a difference between a child of God and a son of God.
   1. In Greek there are two terms for “son” – tecknon and huios.
   2. Tecknon – descendant by birth.
   3. Huios refers specifically to a mature son.
   4. Jn. 1:12 – all who believe in Jesus become “technons” of God.
   5. Matt. 5:9 – Peacemakers are “huios” – taking on the characteristics of their father.
   6. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God are “huios” of God.
   7. The term “huios” is often used for adoption – Paul uses this in Romans 8 “the Holy Spirit brings forth the act of adoption.”
3. Adoption in the ancient world.
   1. It was very different in the ancient world than today.
   2. Adoption was a ceremony – it was huge, public and contained many declarations.
   3. Children were picked to be sons.
   4. Before adoption – maturity had to be reached before they could be called a son.
   5. A son was one who could faithfully represent the father.
   6. A son carries on the business of his father.
   7. A son inherits from his father.
   8. All of these things were seen concerning Jesus in the gospels.
   9. A child is one born of God a son is one taught by God.
   10. One is a son by nature, the other a son by character.
   11. We are predestined to be conformed into the image of Christ.
4. There is a progression from when we are born again until we are mature in Christ.
   1. God is looking forward to the day we come of age.
   2. Hebrews 6:1 – we are called to advance toward spiritual maturity.
   3. Eph 4:15 – speaking the truth in love…we are to grow up …into Him…Christ.
   4. Many scriptures call us to maturity – sonship.
   5. Adoption is all about a young man coming into maturity and inheriting from his father.
5. Romans 8:19 – the world for “revealing” has to do with taking off the cover – exposing something which has been hidden in obscurity – revealing the truth that we are the sons of God.
   1. Many locate that passage in the future.
   2. Rather, it is speaking about what the world is groaning for today.
6. Three major events of an adopted boy.
   1. Circumcision – occurred at 8 days old. Here he was marked as a covenant man which was celebrated by the community.
   2. Bar Mitzvah – when a boy enters into puberty – it means a son who is now accountable for keeping the commandments of God and an apprentice in the family business.
   3. Being set in place as a son – formally and legally declare someone – he is now in the family including all rights and inheritance. During this ceremony the father would declare “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”
7. We need to grow up into sonship.
   1. Pr. Mike received a prophetic word that spawned “the New Man Awakens.”
   2. There is a renewing in our minds that needs to take place for us to be revealed as sons of God.
   3. The first thing we need is a new way of seeing, from the perspective of the New Man.
   4. We need to do more than know who we are, we need to grow into mature sons.
   5. Every believer needs to be taught by and led into all truth by the Holy Spirit.
8. Why are we talking about this? Because today is the day for the sons of God to be revealed.
   1. Once you know who you are as a son of God – we are not just sinners saved by grace, we are sons and daughters who represent and carrying on the business of our Father in Heaven.
   2. The enemy does not want us to know who we are, because who we are reveals Jesus.
   3. The world has heard a lot from the church but has not seen a lot from the church.
   4. We need to get back to the place where we walk in authentic spiritual authority.
   5. The major problem in the church is an identity crisis, we do not know who we are.
   6. We need to be fully equipped for every work by knowing who we are.
9. A lot of the church has become specialized.
   1. God has called us to go into the world and get people whole.
   2. In the church people call themselves teachers, prophets, intercessors, etc. and it often becomes an excuse to not be a son of God who is fully equipped to meet the needs fo the world.
   3. The fivefold ministry is to equip the church body to do the work of ministry so that everyone becomes an image of Christ.
   4. We all have different giftings to impart to one another.
   5. Often the Lord is stretching us to do things to make us fully mature in Christ.
   6. When there is a person in need, we need to be fully equipped to help them.
   7. When we go out, we need to have a solution for the world.
10. We need to have a relational revelation of Jesus in our own life.
    1. We need to know just know about Jesus, we need to know him intimately in a manner that we become like.
    2. The world has been let down by the church, and it is time for us to turn the tide.
    3. Proverbs – someone who promises a gift but does not perform is like a cloud without rain.
    4. IT IS TIME FOR US TO REALIZE WHO WE ARE IN THE LORD AND GO OUT AND TOUCH A DYING WORLD.
    5. IT IS TIME FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE MANIFESTED IN THE WORLD.