Oh, that God's people would embrace the Lord in such a way that the Spirit of Adoption would be manifest in their lives! Abba -- three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6) the Holy Spirit uses that precious word to illustrate our wonderful dependence upon, and union with, the Savior. It is almost impossible to translate this word selected by the Holy Spirit to so wonderfully describe our childlike disposition toward the Lord. It is the child's prattle. It is best expressed by our English word, "DaDa". It is the first uttering of the infant as he looks, with arms outstretched, to his father bending over him to lift him up. "DaDa", says the baby.
For years, I was profoundly moved by the intensity of the suffering of the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. His agony was so intense. He cried out with a loud voice, and He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. But there is something else in the Garden of Gethsemane as awesome as the intensity of His sorrow. When He asked His Father if it was possible to remove the cup from Him, He began His request with the precious words, "Abba, Father'.
Exactly one day before He would accomplish death and redemption on the cross, He looked up into the face of His Father, and in the agony of His soul, He said, "DaDA".
O, my friend, the indignity of those hours is forever past, and now our Lord is exalted at the Father's right hand. He has sent the Spirit of God into our hearts, crying in us, and causing us to cry, "Abba, Father". That is the spirit of Adoption! That is the childlike mark of maturity. That is the manifestation of our union with Him.
I know of nothing more wonderful than the fact that the Holy Spirit in my heart is crying out utterances of childlike dependence through me. He did not come into my heart, crying "Local Church", or "Missions", or "Discipleship", or "Ministry", or "Spiritual Gifts"; He came initially into my heart, crying, "Abba Father"! God has poured His life into me, and that very life cries out for more of His life.
Since the Holy Spirit is every praying that we realize the depths of our son ship and adoption, we may draw near to Him in childlike familiarity and trust. May this evidence of maturity mark our lives evermore."
One other note: Romans 8:27-8 is especially precious in light of understandings on "Abba Father". Verse 27 says:
"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Therefore, during our most troublesome times, Jesus our Intercessor is pleading with the Father, "Father, John Jones is your little child, and calls you 'DaDa'. Intercede for him now at this most terrible time in his life."
And, when the Father intercedes for all His 'John Jones' of this world, Romans 8:28 comes into reality:
"...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
All because God has set up an "Abba Father" relationship with His Born Again children!
For years, I was profoundly moved by the intensity of the suffering of the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. His agony was so intense. He cried out with a loud voice, and He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. But there is something else in the Garden of Gethsemane as awesome as the intensity of His sorrow. When He asked His Father if it was possible to remove the cup from Him, He began His request with the precious words, "Abba, Father'.
Exactly one day before He would accomplish death and redemption on the cross, He looked up into the face of His Father, and in the agony of His soul, He said, "DaDA".
O, my friend, the indignity of those hours is forever past, and now our Lord is exalted at the Father's right hand. He has sent the Spirit of God into our hearts, crying in us, and causing us to cry, "Abba, Father". That is the spirit of Adoption! That is the childlike mark of maturity. That is the manifestation of our union with Him.
I know of nothing more wonderful than the fact that the Holy Spirit in my heart is crying out utterances of childlike dependence through me. He did not come into my heart, crying "Local Church", or "Missions", or "Discipleship", or "Ministry", or "Spiritual Gifts"; He came initially into my heart, crying, "Abba Father"! God has poured His life into me, and that very life cries out for more of His life.
Since the Holy Spirit is every praying that we realize the depths of our son ship and adoption, we may draw near to Him in childlike familiarity and trust. May this evidence of maturity mark our lives evermore."
One other note: Romans 8:27-8 is especially precious in light of understandings on "Abba Father". Verse 27 says:
"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Therefore, during our most troublesome times, Jesus our Intercessor is pleading with the Father, "Father, John Jones is your little child, and calls you 'DaDa'. Intercede for him now at this most terrible time in his life."
And, when the Father intercedes for all His 'John Jones' of this world, Romans 8:28 comes into reality:
"...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
All because God has set up an "Abba Father" relationship with His Born Again children!
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