An orphan is without parents, usually living without his/her relatives. An orphan usually lives depending on other people's mercy and charity. No one is obligated to help. A lot of orphans live without hope, without inheritance, and some people even think that they are just a burden.
Praise God there are chances for them to be adopted. Through the new birth, anyone can be a child of God. Through the new birth, we are also called heirs, God's people and we have covenant with the Father through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Any time you and I may call our Father, any time we may enter into His presence to pour our heart out without making an appointment first. He Who has adopted us to be His children is a Father with full integrity, holding true His promises. Now we know that we have a Father Who will always be with us until the end of time. Let's open our Bible and see what He has made available in His covenant.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in
the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the
Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:11-12).
Read the above Scripture carefully because it has a deep meaning. In the days of old, man is divided into two category: Jews and Gentiles. Jews must be circumcised--a symbol of covenant with God through the cut of flesh just like in the days of Abraham (read Genesis 17). If one is circumcised, he's automatically considered Israelis and has every rights to enjoy the privilege as an Israeli.
Ephesians 2:12 explains that before we are born again, we're counted as strangers from the commonwealth of Israel therefore we didn't enjoy their privileges. When one has not yet been born again (i.e. without Christ), he doesn't take part in the covenant with God and he is hopeless in this world since he lives without God.
Father God so loves mankind, but He is not in covenant with everybody. Right now I ask you to boldly judge yourself. Ask yourself this question, "What's my position now? Am I stranger to the convenants of promise or am I adopted into the covenant?"
The blood of Jesus is available, but many still refuse to take part in it. If there is a couple who want to legally adopt a child, they most likely have a set of criteria. They will find out as much background of the child's parents, health history, and so on. But there's a Father Who's willing to adopt anybody regardless of the child's background. He even abolishes the child's background when He adopts the child. His only criteria for someone to be adopted by Him is invite Jesus into his heart and make Jesus the Lord. As simple as that. Anybody wills to do so, is to be automatically His child and receive all rights and made a joint-heir with His oldest Son (Romans 8:17).
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God
(Romans 8:15-16).
An orphan has attitudes and behavior different than a normal kid. Normally an orphan has low self-esteem, fear, insecurity, and uncertainty. Now that you have a Father, it is not normal for you to still feel that way.
A child will tell his parents what he needs. A child doesn't have to think how to provide to the whole household. A child knows that his duty is go to school and study, meanwhile paying tuition and school supply as well as living supply are his parents' responsibility. Whatever that the parents own, the child knows well that it will be his. His daily needs are to be provided by his parents. If the child faces problems at school or in the neighborhood, he has confidence that his parents will stand up for him. If the child is in danger, his parents always come forth to protect and save him. This is also true in the spiritual realm. You don't have to be afraid in this life because if God is for you, who can be against you?! (Romans 8:31). If you are being afflicted, your Father will repay for you. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you (2 Thessalonians 1:6). You receive protection around the clock from the host of heaven.
Now we are no more orphans, no more slaves, but adopted into the family of God the Father. We should see ourselves as heirs. An heir must find out what is inherited to him from the will. Our will is the Bible. It is packed with God's promises. We should study it otherwise we will not prosper. If we are ignorant about our inheritance, we shall perish spiritually, financially, physically, and in all aspects of life (Hosea 4:6).
The keys to success at work, in life, business, family, and health lie in the Bible. It is a Manual Book to Life, the most bought book in the world in all times. The devil works hard enough to hinder children of God to read Bible because he doesn't want us to get revelation and God's wisdom. When you get God's wisdom, length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour (Proverbs 3:16).
Our will, the Bible, says that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to given them, as the days of heaven upon the earth (Deuteronomy 11:21). Then we can conclude that there'll be no barrenness among the children of God. It's also written that you can build good houses to live in, multiplication of your livestocks, your gold and silver and everything that you have (Deuteronomy 8:12-13).
We can enjoy our life in this earth on our way to heaven. We don't need to be distressed, no need to worry, no need to fear, because all things are provided for us. We just need to come and get it. You and I must get it, no one else can represent us, and it's not poured down on us from heaven. As His children we should come and get it.
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father (Galatians 4:1-2). When one finds out that he's made an heir and that there's abundance of it for him, his joy will overflow. His life will turn around 180 degree, from poverty to prosperity. Our desire is to receive the inheritance right now so that we can spend so much money to make up for the poverty that we suffered for so long. The Word says in Proverbs 1:32, ...the prosperity of the fools shall destroy them.
No parents want his child to fall. Parents don't give much wealth to their immature kid, a kid who cannot be trusted to manage that kind of wealth. You don't allow your under-age child driving your car without driving license, right? Remember that all truth is parallel. What is true in the natural realm is also true in the spiritual realm.
Our part is to position ourselves to receive. How? By dwelling in the Word. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come (John 16:13). But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). Through our fellowship with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we shall know and know and know for sure that we are in receiving position, and we shall receive our part of the inheritance according to our understanding of the Word.
Your inheritance has your name on it, it will never go anywhere else. The key is get wisdom and get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not
(Galatians 6:9). It's clearly stated that we are not to be weary in doing good.
The law of seedtime and harvest shall continually in effect as long as the earth
exists (Genesis 8:22). Our spirit man was born of divine seed, and therefore
divine characters (fruit of the spirit) are in our spirit man. Divine characters
of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self
control are hidden treasure in our spirit man. You and I are well able to keep
doing the good works, spreading the good news, waiting with patience. Our eyes
should be focused only on Jesus and His promises. We should train ourselves to
walk by faith, for we walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Then we should do what apostle Paul told the church in Rome. He admonished them to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing o your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
While you're waiting to enjoy the inheritance, there'll be no red carpet before you. Our enemy, Satan, will not let us alone. Remember that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. That's his job description. He comes always, not once in a blue moon but always. It is crucial for you to know who you are in Christ so that he can't deceive you. Our Father God is extremely good. He equipped us with His armor. Don't you take it for granted! It's His own armor. If we use it, we will be invincible.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10). The same instructions was also given to Joshua from time to time. Be strong and of a good courage. That's an order, and it has to be followed. No instructions from God that we cannot do. The Word is His armor. If you have His armor, the devil can try to deceive you, shoot fiery darts at you, but it will not succeed. And the Word will also prosper your soul.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy nect. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble (Proverbs 3:21-23).
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister (Colossians 1:23). In the waiting period we are to grow mature in the spirit. This is something that many Christians don't want to do. Many Christians loves milk. When they go to a place where they're served meat, they spit it out, call it heresy since it's not in line with their church/denominational teaching. Jesus said to the Pharisees, Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered, and many such like things do ye (Mark 7:13). Often, the Word of God doesn't have any effect in our lives because we cling to our traditions and church teaching.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Babies don't fight a good fight of faith and they don't stand steadfast in faith. Only grown ups fight a good fight of faith. Spiritual maturity cannot be judged by your biological age or your high involvement in church activities. Those activities are good, however it doesn't guarantee your spiritual growth. In fact, it doesn't mean you know the Lord you serve!
Grow up! Arise and shine so that you can count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4).
Jesus is the One Who leads us from faith to faith. If God authors is, He also finishes it. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 (Hebrews. 12:1-2).