Watermark Fellowship: Embracing Our Identity as God's Children

Devotional

Day 1: Adopted Into God’s Family: Our New Position in Christ

Through faith in Jesus, believers are no longer spiritual orphans or enemies of God, but are adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family, sharing a new identity and relationship with Him. This adoption is not based on our worthiness or efforts, but on God’s love and the finished work of Christ, who reconciled us to Himself and gave us peace. No matter our past, we are now welcomed, cherished, and called His own, with all the rights and privileges of family. [08:49]

Romans 8:12-17 (ESV)
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Reflection: In what ways do you still live as if you are trying to earn God’s love or acceptance, rather than resting in your secure identity as His beloved child?

Day 2: Led by the Spirit: Assurance and Guidance

God’s Spirit not only marks us as His children but actively leads, guides, and transforms us, giving us new desires, growing obedience, and inner peace as evidence of our belonging to Him. This leading is not passive or mystical, but comes as we humbly seek God’s will, open His Word, and allow the Spirit to direct our steps. Even in moments of doubt or failure, the Spirit’s presence assures us that we are never alone and that God delights to spend time with us as His sons and daughters. [24:24]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally paused to seek the Spirit’s guidance before making a decision? How can you create space today to listen for His leading?

Day 3: Freedom from Fear: The Spirit of Adoption

The Holy Spirit frees us from the spirit of slavery and fear, replacing it with the assurance that we are fully accepted, loved, and protected as God’s children. We no longer need to approach God as trembling slaves, but can come to Him as “Abba, Father”—with the intimacy and confidence of dearly loved sons and daughters. Our past is wiped clean, our identity is secure, and we have full rights to the kingdom of God, just as Mephibosheth was welcomed to King David’s table. [33:27]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where fear or shame keeps you from drawing near to God as your loving Father? What would it look like to bring that to Him in prayer today, calling Him “Abba”?

Day 4: Our Inheritance: Security and Hope in Christ

As God’s children, we are not only adopted but made heirs—our inheritance is not just future blessings, but God Himself: His presence, glory, and eternal fellowship. This inheritance is secure, not because of our strength, but because we are held in the unbreakable grip of the Father, Son, and Spirit. No suffering, failure, or enemy can snatch us from His hand; our destiny is to dwell with Him forever, enjoying all that belongs to Him as our portion. [52:53]

John 10:28-29 (ESV)
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Reflection: How does knowing your inheritance is secure in Christ change the way you face uncertainty or loss today?

Day 5: Suffering and Glory: Present Trials, Future Hope

Though suffering is a reality for God’s children, it is temporary and cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed to us and in us. Every trial is lovingly calculated by God, who promises not to give us more than we can bear and to provide a way through. Our hope is not in escaping pain, but in the certainty that, as heirs with Christ, we will one day be glorified with Him—our suffering will end, and our seat at the King’s table is permanent. [54:10]

Romans 8:18 (ESV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Reflection: What present struggle or pain do you need to entrust to God’s loving calculation today, trusting that it is temporary and that eternal glory awaits you?

Sermon Summary

Romans 8 reveals the breathtaking reality of what it means to be a child of God. Through Christ, we are not only forgiven, but adopted into God’s family, given a new identity, and welcomed as sons and daughters with all the rights and privileges that come with that status. No longer are we bound by the flesh or enslaved to fear; instead, the Spirit now leads us, assures us, and empowers us to live in freedom and holiness. Our relationship with God is transformed from distant judge to intimate Father—Abba, Papa, Daddy—who delights in us and desires to be with us.

This new position means we are debtors, not to the flesh, but to the Spirit. The old contract with sin has been torn up; we owe nothing to our former way of life. Instead, we are called to tend the garden of our hearts, pulling out the weeds of sin and nurturing the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit’s presence is not just a theological truth, but a living reality—He changes our desires, convicts us, and gives us peace and assurance even in the midst of suffering and doubt.

Adoption into God’s family is not a mere metaphor; it is a legal, spiritual, and relational reality. Like Mephibosheth, who was brought from obscurity to the king’s table, we too are given a permanent seat at the table of the King of Kings. Our past is wiped clean, our inheritance is secure, and our future is filled with hope. Even as we walk through pain and suffering, we do so with the unshakeable confidence that our suffering is temporary and our glory is certain. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children, and nothing—no power, no failure, no enemy—can snatch us from His hand.

In the end, our greatest inheritance is not a place, but a Person: God Himself. All that belongs to the Father is ours in Christ. We are held in the sovereign, loving grip of the Triune God, and our hope is anchored in His unbreakable promise. Even as we face the unknown, we can rest in the assurance that we will one day wake up in our Father’s arms, forever secure, forever loved.

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Key Takeaways

1. Adoption Transforms Our Identity and Security God’s adoption moves us from being spiritual orphans and enemies to beloved sons and daughters. This is not based on our worthiness, but on God’s initiating love and Christ’s finished work. Our new identity is secure, and we are welcomed into a family where we are fully known, fully accepted, and never at risk of being cast out. [08:03]
2. The Spirit Empowers Us to Live Free from Sin The Holy Spirit is not a distant force, but a Person who dwells within, enabling us to put to death the deeds of the flesh. We are no longer debtors to our old nature; instead, we have the power to say no to sin and yes to God, tending the garden of our hearts so that the fruit of the Spirit flourishes. This is a daily, active cooperation with the Spirit’s leading. [13:04]
3. Intimacy with God: From Judge to Abba, Father Through the Spirit, we are invited to approach God not with fear, but with the intimacy of a child calling out “Abba, Father.” This relationship is marked by assurance, peace, and the freedom to be honest and vulnerable before God. Even in our pain and weakness, we can cry out to Him as Papa or Daddy, knowing He delights in us and longs to be near. [44:12]
4. Our Inheritance Is God Himself, and It Is Secure As heirs with Christ, our inheritance is not merely future blessings, but the very presence and fellowship of God. All that belongs to the Father is ours, and nothing can separate us from His love. Our security rests not in our own strength, but in the unbreakable grip of the Triune God, who holds us fast through every trial and season. [49:42]
5. Suffering Is Temporary, Glory Is Certain The trials and sufferings we face are real, but they are also temporary and carefully measured by our loving Father. God uses suffering to shape us, but it is never the end of the story. Our hope is anchored in the promise that the glory to be revealed far outweighs our present pain, and one day we will wake up in our Father’s arms, whole and home at last. [56:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Prayer and Introduction
[01:10] - Romans 8:12-18: Our New Position
[01:33] - The Story of Adoption: From Orphan to Family
[03:20] - Life in the Spirit vs. Life in the Flesh
[04:00] - Our New Position: Debtors to the Spirit
[07:09] - From Enemies to Family: The Miracle of Reconciliation
[10:46] - Two Ways of Life: Flesh and Spirit
[12:03] - The Garden of the Heart: Tending the Spirit’s Fruit
[14:54] - Practical Application: Living Debt-Free in Christ
[18:47] - Our New Privilege: Led by the Spirit
[22:01] - Assurance of Sonship and the Spirit’s Leading
[27:55] - Adoption and Identity: Children of the King
[33:11] - The Story of Mephibosheth: A Picture of Grace
[39:41] - Our Permanent Seat at the King’s Table
[43:44] - Abba, Father: The Intimacy of Adoption
[48:37] - The Spirit’s Testimony and Our Eternal Security
[51:39] - Our Inheritance: Heirs with Christ
[54:10] - Suffering and Glory: The Calculated Hope
[56:39] - Suffering Is Temporary, Glory Is Certain
[58:19] - Trusting God in the Unknown
[63:28] - Closing Reflections and Gratitude
[64:21] - Praise and Final Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 8:12-18 (ESV) — 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8:15, what kind of spirit have we received, and what does this allow us to call God?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is our new position regarding the “flesh” and the “Spirit”? [[04:00]]
What does Paul say is the evidence that someone is a child of God, according to verse 14 and the sermon? [[19:24]]
What does the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 illustrate about our relationship with God? [[39:41]]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor describes adoption as a legal, spiritual, and relational reality, not just a metaphor. What does this mean for how believers should view their relationship with God? [[33:11]]
The sermon says, “We are no longer debtors to the flesh.” What does it look like in daily life to live as someone who owes nothing to their old way of life? [[09:42]]
The phrase “Abba, Father” is described as intimate and childlike. Why is it significant that Paul uses this term, and how does it change the way we approach God? [[43:44]]
The pastor says our greatest inheritance is not a place, but a Person—God Himself. How does this perspective affect the way we think about heaven and our future hope? [[52:53]]

Application Questions

The sermon compares our hearts to a garden that needs tending. What are some “weeds” (sin patterns or habits) in your life that the Spirit is prompting you to pull out? What is one practical step you can take this week to cooperate with the Spirit in this area? [[12:03]]
The pastor shared about struggling to believe he truly belonged in God’s family, like the adopted boy who slept on the floor. Have you ever felt like a spiritual orphan, unsure if you really belong? What helps you rest in your identity as God’s child? [[01:58]]
The Spirit leads us and changes our desires. Can you think of a recent time when you sensed the Spirit guiding you away from something harmful or toward something good? How did you respond? [[20:00]]
The sermon encourages us to call God “Abba, Father” or “Daddy.” Is this level of intimacy with God comfortable or uncomfortable for you? Why? What would it look like to grow in this kind of relationship with God? [[44:12]]
The story of Mephibosheth shows that God gives us a permanent seat at His table, no matter our past. Is there anything in your past that makes you feel unworthy of God’s love? How does the truth of adoption challenge those feelings? [[39:41]]
The pastor said, “Our suffering is temporary, and our glory is certain.” How does this truth help you face current struggles or fears about the future? [[56:39]]
The sermon says our security is not in our own strength, but in God’s unbreakable grip. When you feel insecure or afraid, what is one way you can remind yourself of God’s promise to hold you fast? [[49:42]]

Sermon Clips

``But before Christ, we owe everything to the flesh. We live under its demands, trapped in its desires, and bound to its debt-producing power. But now through Christ's finished work, and the Spirit's indelible presence in our hearts, in our lives, you owe the flesh nothing, you don't owe it your obedience, you don't owe it your allegiance, and you certainly don't owe it your future. [00:09:42] (31 seconds) #FreedomFromFlesh

There's nothing more that God wants to do than spend time with you. I don't know if you know that. As mighty and as awesome as God is, the creator of the universe, and you think he would be so busy, but you know how mindful he is of you. You know how caring he is of you. There's a God that when you wake up in the morning just wants to be with you. And do you know why he wants to be with you? Because you're his son. You're his daughter. And all he wants is to be with you. [00:23:10] (46 seconds) #GodDesiresIntimacy

Like Mephibosheth, we were undeserving, spiritually crippled, enemies of God through sin, a dog, a dead dog such as I. Yet the king, his name is Jesus, sought me out. Not because of my merit, but because of his covenant love. Through Christ, God restores what was lost and granted you and I a new identity as his child welcomes us to his stable of fellowship and grace. [00:40:13] (47 seconds) #RestoredByCovenantLove

The king of kings has prepared his big, big table in heaven. And I just want you to see the wonder of this. He built a chair that has your name on it. And that chair is permanent forever. That you and I will sit at the king's table forever and ever and ever. [00:42:05] (40 seconds) #EternalSeatAtTheKing’sTable

Adoption moves our relationship from one of the general sovereign sovereignty one of really personal love. I love this word Abba Father because it's intimate. It's a tender Aramaic term for Papa or Daddy. I don't know about you, but it took me years, years be able to say in my prayer Daddy. Is that weird? That's kind of weird. Can you imagine in prayer? Daddy. Right? Or Papa. Right? We always say father because when you see the father there's some authority behind it. But when you say to him Papa, when you say to him Daddy, it changes, doesn't it? [00:43:38] (67 seconds) #IntimateAbbaFather

Our eternal security does not rest in our fragile strength of our own faith. But in the unbreakable sovereign grip of God himself. And Jesus promises that he assures his sheep, his child, eternal life in that you will never perish. And assuring you that no one and there's no enemy and there's no power and there's no failure can ever snatch you from the hand of God. [00:49:44] (33 seconds) #UnbreakableDivineSecurity

Our inheritance is not just the gifts of God but God himself. His presence, his glory his eternal fellowship which he echoes inside us from Psalm 73. God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. All that belongs to the Father belongs to you. Heaven, peace joy, righteousness resurrection life all flow from possessing God himself. Our inheritance is not a place. It's found in the person of Jesus Christ. [00:52:31] (44 seconds) #InheritanceIsGodHimself

That every trial and every suffering of yours is spiritually calculated by God. And how many of you are glad that it's not Satan who's calculating your suffering? You know what great comfort that gives me? That my suffering has been calculated by God according to 1 Corinthians 10:13 that my God will not give me more than I can handle. And with the trial and with the suffering and with the pain God has shown me a way out. Because he's been spiritually calculated by my Father who loves me who loves you. [00:55:17] (49 seconds) #GodCalculatesOurTrials

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