Daddy Issues (part 1)

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (Matt. 3:17)."  The revelation of God as our father, and we as His children, drastically alters the way we view Him. As we step into our identity as children of God, we begin to relate with Him and others around us in Spirit and in Truth; we are transformed into His likeness and are able to steward what he has given us on this Earth just like Jesus did.

Much of the church today is suffering from 'Daddy Issues' because we do not have a correct revelation of God as Father and we has His children. Because of this, we have failed to step into everything that he has made available.  There is a great inheritance that God has made available for His children, but it is our job to claim that inheritance.  Our 'Daddy Issues' have caused the church to function under a slave mentality rather than a family mentality; and this is devastating to the way we steward the Kingdom of God.

When the people of God finally were able to enter the promise land, two tribes decided not to cross the Jordan into the land of promises (read Numbers 32).  They did not choose to do this because they believed that the inheritance God had promised them wasn't actually meant for them (verse 19).  They even fought with the rest of the tribes to conquer the promise land, but were again not able to accept the inheritance from the Lord; "We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan (Verse 32)."  I believe that the reason why the two tribes didn't cross the Jordan into the land of promises was because they were still suffering under their 'slave mentality' from Egypt.

Much of the church suffers the same issues, they refuse to truly believe that the promises of God are for them, and so live in a state of unbelief that produces fear, worry, anxiety, and false humility.  Not accepting our inheritance from God is not humble, it is the worst form of pride. God has promised us new life, power from on high, and freedom from sin, grief, and shame.  Simpering on about how 'we don't deserve it', 'we aren't worthy', and 'I don't want anything God but just to serve you', are slaps in the face to the mercy and grace of God; these attitudes most often stem from a misunderstanding of our Father.  Of course we don't deserve it, but we need it; and we cannot let our pride and our shame prevent us from stepping into everything that God has made available.  Ask God today to reveal himself as your father.