Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Frost Jack

Author:Frost, Jack [Frost, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780768498738
Publisher: Destiny Image
Published: 2006-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

John knew he was not worthy to baptize Jesus because to do so would put him in a place of spiritual authority over someone greater than he. In another place, John confessed that he was not worthy even to untie Jesus’ sandals (see John 1:27)—a menial task for the lowliest household slave. Yet Jesus insisted that John baptize Him. He continued to subject Himself to the spiritual authority of someone inferior to Him. He submitted to the spiritual authority of one whom God was using at the time to bring revelation and repentance to Israel. Jesus’ submission was part of His spirit of sonship. He would not allow dry rot to enter His soul.

One characteristic of a son (or daughter) is a teachable spirit, a willingness to receive and learn from others even if they are less skilled or knowledgeable. Virtually everyone has something to teach the person who is willing to learn. Learning is the key to continuing growth throughout life. Those who stop learning stop growing, and those who stop growing start drying up while dry rot sets in.

People sometimes say to me, “Jack, you have an international ministry; you have counseled and helped bring healing and deliverance to thousands around the world. Why do you continue to position yourself frequently to receive ministry? Why do you still sit under others for prophetic prayer ministry and for marriage and family counseling?”

The answer is simple. How can I minister to others what I am not willing to receive myself? I have learned that I cannot effectively breathe life into others that which I am not willing to get underneath in humility and submission and receive for myself.

Humble subjection before God begins with humble subjection before legitimate human authority. John says that “anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20b) A funny thing about love—you can’t receive it without humbly submitting to it. Love always involves humility and submission. To paraphrase John, then: How can we have a heart of submission to God, whom we can’t see, if we don’t have a heart of submission to man, whom we can see?

Jesus understood this connection. He knew that part of His submission to His heavenly Father was to be in submission to His earthly parents and, in the case of His baptism, His cousin John. That’s why He told John, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Because Jesus was subject and obedient as a son to legitimate earthly authority, He received powerful affirmation of the favor of His heavenly Father. The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from Heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

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