Did you know that the entire creation is waiting for us to manifest as God's sons?
"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." (Romans 8:19 NIV)
It's true. The earth is eager for us to bring to fruition our godly identities! The word "revealed" in this passage means that the earth awaits our manifesting as God's sons. And yet it also implies that we become "uncovered" and disclose ourselves as "who" we actually are in Christ. We are no longer to be hindered by a sin mentality. No! We are to receive His grace—the unmerited favor of God—and His empowerment to demonstrate His Kingdom on this earth. We are to be revealed as those who are engulfed with His light and walking in the maturity of our sonship. It is our season to manifest but in a godly way!
Looking in Eager Expectation for Manifestation
Let us unpack this Scripture. The whole creation is looking earnestly and intently for the same manifestation of glory in His sons. Earnest expectation is a single word in the Greek (Strong's G603), and it is a striking one. It means, literally, a straining forward with "outstretched head," just as we might imagine the crowds on the grounds at a horse race, stretching and straining over the fence to catch sight of the horses as they approach the finish line, in eager expectation to see which horse will finish first.
Apostle Paul is giving us a spiritual viewpoint for when the manifestation of the glory of God comes upon the sons of God. As His glory is revealed, and as His glory is manifested, then all creation will take notice. For all of mankind, it is true that the full expression of oneself is impossible. Each man's deeds fall short of His glory.
Many times in the Old Testament, the manifestation of God's glory was accompanied by supernatural fire, thick clouds, and a great quaking of the earth. We see these phenomena when God gave the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The mountain was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently (Exodus 19:18). Even the prophet Ezekiel's vision of the glory of God was full of fire and lightning and sounds, after which he saw what looked like a throne, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man (Ezekiel 1:26–28). (Photo via Pixabay)
In the New Testament, the glory of God is revealed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came as a light of revelation to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, this world, full of corruption, waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
What Causes All of Creation to Groan?
"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Romans 8:20–22 NIV)
The groaning in Romans 8 is linked back to Genesis 3, where the ground is cursed because of humanity's sin. The sinful state of the world can cause creation to groan, but ultimately God is allowing the earth to "cry out." This is not necessarily a direct punishment, but rather the overall fulfillment of Genesis 3:17, which says, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life" (NIV). The earth is under the curse of sin. But thank You, Jesus, for redeeming us.
All of creation awaits. Paul's passage in Romans declares that creation eagerly awaits God's future glory. Creation groaning is like an expecting mother in labor awaiting the birth of her child. Similarly, Christians groan in anticipation of our adoption as God's children.
We must take notice of the word "groans" in verse 26 of Romans 8: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (NIV). Unlike the other times we see this word in the Bible, it is not creation or created beings that are doing the groaning.
In this chapter (Romans 8), we see three "groans." Creation groans, awaiting a future freedom and glory (v. 22). Christians groan, awaiting a full adoption and redemption (v. 23). Lastly, the Holy Spirit groans, praying in a way that God hears, so that we will be sanctified, conformed to His image of the Son, justified, and glorified (v. 26). Scripture says, when we don't have words to pray, the Holy Spirit groans with and for us.
Seasons and Times
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) says this is about seasons and time: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
It is very interesting to note, dear ones, if you read this in The Message Bible, it says, "There is an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth." Did you notice it says "an opportune time" and "a right time"? An opportune time is a time of opportunity that has opened up for us. It's as if a door or gate has been opened to us, and we are to lock our faith into what God is speaking and begin to move forward and fulfill our mandates in God. (Photo via Unsplash)
Divine Grace to Fulfill Our Mandates
These opportunities from God will always be coupled with divine grace to begin to take proper steps. It also involves God's grace to let go of the old and embrace the new. It involves leaving what is familiar behind us and becoming courageous to embrace a new horizon.
Grace, as many have taught, is undeserved favor. But the bottom line is this: Our times and seasons are in His hands. He is the God of time but not limited to time, because God is outside of time. The changing of spiritual seasons is expansive and flexible according to His desires. However, in order to keep the main thing the main thing during a time and season, we must position our hearts toward fulfilling the revelation given to implement a mandate. Though it may take some of us a while to see the fulfillment, at least we will have made a determined shift to lock into the specific plans and purposes of God at that time.
What Would All Creation Look Like in Its Glory?
Let me end with this: Our mandate for fulfilling Scripture comes from the Lord. Paul had spiritual insight when he said the whole world waits and groans for the manifestation of God's glory. I have traveled nationally and internationally, seeing thousands of people hungry and thirsty for more of God's word. We are shifting into a new season of groaning for more. Not only does the world wait for the manifestation of His glory through us, but so does His creation. Can you imagine a tree or a plant manifesting His glory, or a bird that can only tweet, singing songs of glory? What would that look and sound like? All of His creation awaits...
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, give us the heart of Moses, who cared only to see Your glory. Show us Your glory through Your Word and help us to reflect this glory to others. Like Moses, who did not know that his face shone, let us live in Your presence and radiate Your presence to others. Help us daily to realize Your glory resides within. Thank You for Your unfailing love. How majestic is Your name in all the earth. Amen.
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Sandie Freed
Sandie Freed Ministries
Email:Â zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.lifegatechurch.org |
sandiefreed.net
Dr. Sandie Freed is an apostolic, prophetic leader, author of more than fourteen books, and travels nationally and internationally preaching, teaching, and ministering the Word of God. Ordained as a prophet by Bishop Bill Hamon, Sandie's ministry involves a strong prophetic anointing and spiritual discernment. Her unique gifting is in dreams and visions, and as a modern-day Joseph, she empowers others to interpret God's voice through dreams and visions. Sandie's goal is to always equip the body of Christ in their callings and empower them through revelation of the love of God. To this day, her best selling book is Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord: How to Discern and Defeat the Lies of Jezebel, Athaliah and Delilah, which has been taught around the world and is printed in many different languages. Sandie and her husband Mickey co-pastor Lifegate Church in Hurst, Texas.
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