Moving Into Greater Authority
In a post last week, I mentioned an important passage from Romans 8, regarding mature sons and daughters of the Lord, capable of representing Him on earth. I knew at the time that further explanation was needed regarding this. I want to address this today. Today’s teaching is also an appropriate follow-up to yesterday’s regarding anarchy and a lack of leadership.
There are several Greek words for a child, each depicting a different level of maturity. These words are used to describe various stages of spiritual maturity.
Nepios(1) means “no speech” and refers to an infant or baby; 1 Corinthians 3:1 (NASB) says: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.” Hebrews 5:13 - “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.”
A paidion(2) is a toddler or young child; Matthew 18:4 says, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
A teknon(3) is a child, up to and including a teenager or young adult. Galatians 4:19 says, “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” 1 John 5:21, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
Finally, a huios(4) is a fully matured “son.” (Spiritually speaking, huios is not gender-based; just as a male can be part of Christ’s “bride,” females can be a fully matured “son.”) Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Matthew 5:45, “…so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
In Christ’s day, when a child matured and had been adequately trained, they were “placed” into “sonship.” For this important transition, a public ceremony called a huiothesia(5) was held. This word literally means “placed as a son.” It was different than a bar mitzvah ceremony and normally occurred at 30 years of age. The father of the child would invite members of the community to this event, for it was a public announcement that the child was now a fully mature son with full authority to represent the family name, business, etc. During the ceremony, the father would announce, “This is my beloved son (huios), in whom I am well pleased.” This is why Father God spoke these words at Christ’s baptism (Mark 1:11); He was declaring that Christ was fully authorized to speak for Him and conduct His business. It was Christ’s huiothesia.
Huiothesia is usually translated “adoption as sons” in the New Testament. Technically, however, this word isn’t saying we are being adopted into God’s family. It refers to the above ceremony, stating that as His children, already in the family, we are being positioned or placed into “sonship.” God’s plan is to mature us from spiritual babies to mature sons and daughters, qualified to fully represent Him.
This understanding is important regarding Romans 8. The chapter tells us that as God’s “children,” regardless of our maturity level, we have all the rights, blessings, and privileges of being in His family. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children (teknon) of God, and if children (teknon), heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16-17; NASB).
However, the passage makes an important distinction between children and sons, saying that “sons” (huios) of God are led by His Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (huios) of God” (Romans 8:14; NASB). Many of God’s kids are not yet led by Holy Spirit. Though they have access to His blessings, they are not mature enough to know His voice and ways. Some never grow to this point. Children have rights and benefits; sons possess representational authority. The passage goes on to say that creation is groaning and travailing, waiting for the revealing of the “sons” of God - NOT His children (verse 19). The children of God cannot bring healing to the earth; only mature sons and daughters, those led by Holy Spirit, can do so.
Obviously, a time of complete healing and restoration will one day come to the earth, just as a full manifestation of our sonship will one day occur. But as Christ’s Ekklesia, we are to manifest a level of this sonship now, representing His spiritual authority and releasing His healing to a groaning earth.
I am confident that God has matured a company of believers throughout the earth into their “sonship” stage. They have grown in wisdom and knowledge. No longer spiritual babies or children, these believers have matured to a point where they can be trusted with Christ’s authority. As mature sons and daughters, they will bring salvation, healing, and restoration to impoverished nations, teaching them to prosper. They’ll transform governments, education, economies, medicine, farming, and more. They will be healers of decimated cities and nations (Isaiah 58:12), deliverers of the oppressed and downtrodden (Luke 4:18-19). This is all part of the discipling of nations we were commissioned to in Matthew 28:18-20.
Although we are in an era of increasing spiritual warfare on the earth, with evil increasing and manifesting in many ways, God has a people prepared to accomplish His will. We must not fear but stand boldly in His name, releasing His kingdom authority and salvation. We are His healers and deliverers. We must move in humility, but also in power. We must operate in love, but also in authority. We are ambassadors of the King of kings, and this can be our finest hour.
Pray with me:
Father, we are a people called for such a time as this. You intend for and have prepared the Ekklesia to accomplish Your purposes on earth. Though we feel inadequate at times as we see evil abounding on the earth, may we be continually reminded that Your grace abounds even more! Keep us reminded that we are equipped for this battle, not from our own strengths and gifts, but because of the Greater One in us, and Christ’s authority upon us.
We join our hearts as a vast prayer army, agreeing in intercession for the church around the world. We ask that a higher level of revelation be released in Your people, awakening us to our calling and equipping. Make this revelation as powerful for us as it was for Peter, who only weeks after denying Christ stepped into his apostleship and authority. Bring revelation to the church of Holy Spirit’s transforming power, of the incredible reality that He resides within us. Through His holy presence in us, we truly ARE more than conquerors, and CAN do all things through Christ.
Pour out Your Spirit. Awaken Your spiritual army. Cause us, Your sons and daughters, to realize our full authority and position in Christ. Infuse us with new levels of humility, love, faith, boldness, and discernment. Do these things with such strength that we, like the early Ekklesia, turn our world “right side up.”
Our decree:
We decree that mature sons and daughters of the Most High God will arise in this hour to heal individuals and nations.
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James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3516.
Ibid. Ref. no. 3813.
Ibid. Ref. no. 5043.
Ibid. Ref. no. 5207.
Ibid. Ref. no. 5206.