THE ADOPTION - Thou Art My Son
by Bill Britton

Jesus came up out of the water, dripping wet, the river water mingling with the tears that ran down His face. And how He prayed! Those pious country folk, standing on the river bank along with the well dressed religious leaders from Jerusalem could not remember when they had heard a prayer like this young man prayed as He stood there in the water with John the Baptist.

Then a strange thing happened to Jesus. (Luke 3:21-22) As Jesus prayed, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "Thou art my beloved Son in Thee I am well pleased".

Have you never wondered WHY the voice spoke directly to Him, informing Him of His Sonship? Did it ever occur to you that God was bringing forth a milestone in the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth. Nothing happened by accident in the life of Jesus. Every detail was ordained before the foundation of the world. This was a momentous day in His life, and great things were happening in Heaven and earth. This was .... in fact, the great day of

THE ADOPTION

For thirty years Jesus had been in subjection, in His immaturity. For years he had been growing, physically, mentally, and spiritually, waiting for this day of Adoption, or "placing as a full grown mature Son. " Galatians, chapter 4, tells how that the heir, (though he is Lord of all) still has to be treated as a servant and others in the household while he is a child, in his immaturity. So it was that Jesus, in fulfilling the pattern for His Body, had to go through the same process. And it was in reality, not a hypocritical sham or token. This all actually took place, and were very real events in the life of our Lord.

A Jewish lad, the firstborn of his father, was tenderly cared for and watched over - not only by his father, but by all the servants as well. For they knew that this one would someday inherit all his father's possessions and become their master. But in this care there was involved a discipline. The child was not given all his father's authority, nor was he allowed to have his own way or choose his own course. He learned to do as he was told, to be obedient even to those of less stature than he was to be. CLARKE'S COMMENTARY has this to say of Gal. 1:1 .... "Though he be appointed by his father's will, heir of all his possessions, yet till he arrive at the legal age he is master of nothing and does not differ from one of the common domestics.

THE MANGER WAS REAL

The great humility of our Lord Jesus was marked by the manger in which He laid as a babe. It was no accident. It was all part of the pattern, and was very real. He was just a tiny baby born of a simple peasant girl, amid the smells and noise of a barnfull of animals. He did not lie there in robes of diety, thinking of all the ramifications of this great Plan of the Ages that was being brought forth at this time. No, beloved, all this had been stripped before He left the portals of glory. He is now clothed in the humiliating garments of His humanity. He thinks of nothing that any other baby would not think of. He was a very real baby. He does not have the intelligence to save Himself from Herod's fury, but is completely dependent upon God. In fact, speaking prophetically through the Psalmist in Psalms 22 of this very time, He said to the Father:

"Thou keptest me in safety when I was upon my mother's breasts. "This takes nothing away from the glory that belongs to our Jesus. It only adds to the luster of His brightness to realize the Depths to which He went to redeem us and give us a pattern of Sonship. His humility was real and honest. His discipline was as stern and Strict as any Jewish boy. Hebrews 5:8 says "Though He were a Son,......yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered," or by the discipline which He endured.

HE GREW IN OBSCURITY

Except for the lack of sin and the Adamic nature, and except that He was born of God and was diety being manifested in human flesh, the boy Jesus was just the same as any other boy. His young mind hungered for knowledge, and He daily learned more about God's Word and the promise of a coming deliverer, a Messiah. He was a strange one all right, to the world, for He did not have a complaining, grumbling nature, and He joyfully and obediently fulfilled His duties and tasks as instructed by those to whom He was subject. He was an example, a pattern, of what God's intentions were for children of this human race. He was the firstborn of a new creation, a new race of people, a people free from the corrupting influences of this Adamic nature. He was the sign of our inheritance!

He did not grow with a great sensational fanfare. Movies were not made, nor was a diary kept of his every word and action as a boy. He was just a boy. In submission. Being taught, and disciplined. Can God grow ? Who can teach the Almighty ? Yet this boy grew, and has taught. In His immaturity the heir was no different than the servant, tho He be Lord of all! Born from above, seed of the Father, yet walking in humility. Not knowing fully who Hewas, but a growing consciousness that He was a child of destiny. Then the day of Adoption, in Jordan's muddy waters, when the Father spoke to Him. "Thou art my beloved Son". So this is why He is different. Placed as a mature Son. Ready to take His place alongside His Father in the work of redeeming mankind. Along with this voice came an appearance. He saw the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape. This was the first time He had, in His flesh, seen God. And the Spirit descended upon Him, and remained. There was an anointing that came upon Him, above and beyond anything that humans have ever experienced as yet. All this was because He was

A PATTERN FOR US

I feel the tug in my heart to go to the River Jordan. It is something I cannot explain in words that make sense to the ordinary Christian. It is just that I know that God is drawing me to a place of laying down my life, my self nature. This is something that is true of all those who are called into this High Calling of God, to be conformed to the image of the Son of God. Jordan represents death, in baptism there is a burial of all that remains of the self life. In the coming up out from the water there is a resurrection into His divine life. The Word of God is clear. I know I shall see Him, and shall hear His voice declaring our Sonship. I hunger for the fulness of the inheritance, the anointing of the Spirit without measure. This, too, came at Jordan.

A BODY FOR GOD

At Jordan Jesus laid down His own life and gave Himself into the hands of the Father in such a way that He became a vehicle of expression for God. God may reveal His might and power in the hurricane or the lightning. He might express His creative ability in the physical universe. But only in Jesus, His Son, could He truly reveal and express His own divine nature. So the Son, as a human laid down His own rights, His own thoughts, His own will, and became a visible means of expressing that which was divine, that which was invisible. Now man can see what God is really like. He has one to truly represent Him, one to express His love and compassion and wisdom and humility, as well as His authority and dominion in heaven and earth. Here He has one like Himself, in His own Image, and He is publicly placing Him as His Son.

A BODY FOR CHRIST

The true nature of Jesus must be manifested to the world. To them He is invisible, they will not read the Bible to learn about Him. Their thoughts are continually on other things. But He seeks a Body in which He can eternally express His own Nature. They are very close to His heart. He is wooing them, drawing them, bringing them to a place of laying down their own lives and partaking of His divine nature. For you see, this Body is a corporate body, it is made up of a multitude of chosen saints. Those willing to come into His own Image. This is a difficult road. For you cannot take your old life or self into this. You must become a vehicle of expression for the living Christ. Many today are willing for God to give them power and anointing and authority so that they Night express their owls desires and ambitions. Many are willing to sacrifice greatly in order to bring their own ministries to a place of great prominence.

But this is not the case with the Body. This is a laying down of our own lives, that we might manifest the life of Jesus in this mortal flesh.

OUR IMMATURITY

We are now in a time of discipline, child training, Learning. Learning obedience, and humility, Growing in obscurity, not even knowing ourselves, the full extent of our growth, or how near mature. Forget those who boast of their maturity, who tell of their Manifested Sonship. They are impostors, voices of the flesh. Acts 5:37, tells us that at the very time that the Baby Jesus was lying in the manger, immature and helpless, there was another from Galilee who thought that he was the deliverer and persuaded much people to follow him. He perished, and his followers were dispersed, having missed the reality of what was hidden in the womb of that little virgin of Galilee. They had not heard the voice of the angel, as did Salary, nor were they overshadowed by the awesome presence of God. So they were deceived when one came offering sonship without the Cross. Those who are coming into true Sonship will not have to announce their arrival. The Father will speak with a voice "from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," (II Peter 1:17). The day of Adoption is surely coming. Be patient, children, grow in God, and then let Him speak for you.

THE ANOINTING ABIDES

"Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him .... " (John 1:33) This was the word that came to John the Baptist as to how He would know the Christ when He came. The Spirit anointed and used other men. But where the Spirit came upon Jesus, it remained. Because He was the Pattern for a body that shall dwell under an anointing that abides. The anointing of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost is a glorious experience. It is the firstfruits of what comes upon the Body. But it is only the firstfruits, and God never intended for us to be satisfied with the firstfruits. Israel came to Kadesh-Barnea, on the edge of Canaan. From there they sent in twelve spies to spy out the land Numbers 13:20 tells us that it was "the time of the first ripe grapes". And they brought back a sample. It was good, yes, very delicious. But it was only a sample of the first ripe grapes, and God did not intend for them to subsist the rest of their lives on these samples of the firstfruits. They were toga in and possess the land. Make a permanent thing of these fine vineyards and harvests. God's desire is for you to have the very best, not a sample.

UPON THE BEARD

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments". (Psalms 133:2). Here is a description of the anointing of the High Priest, with emphasis on the precious ointment. Notice .. . the same ointment not a different or cheaper kind, but the same ointment that came first upon the Head, ran down over the entire Body. Glory to Jesus! What a promise! Jesus, our High Priest, and Head of this priestly company, was anointed of the Spirit without measure. He had wisdom, understanding, discernment, as well as authority and dominion over the works of Satan never before experienced by mankind. He was anointed with a precious ointment. But God is not using a cheaper kind on the rest of the Body. The same divine anointing of the fulness of the Spirit that came upon Jesus shall come upon the entire Body, until every enemy shall become His footstool.

This anointing does not come upon babes in Christ, as does the Baptism in the Spirit, for the "beard" speaks of a full grown mature Son. This anointing comes at the time of the Adoption, -- at our Jordan. Gifts are given to God's children who are willing to receive .... on His terms. And God's gifts are surely wonderful, no doubt about that. But this anointing that we are speaking of is not in the "gift" realm For gifts are in part whether they be revelation gifts such as Knowledge or speaking gifts such as Prophecy. But that which is in part shall be done away with. When? When that which is perfect is come. Not when we go to heaven, but when that which is perfect comes to us here. And come it shall! Nothing shall hinder, for it is in the eternal purposes of God. Jesus, the Pattern has established it, and He cannot fail.

HE SHALL APPEAR

With the complete death to our own self-life and our own wills at Jordan comes the Adoption and an appearance of our God. For He shall appear unto His own and confirm to their own hearts this eternal relationship unto Himself. The Amplified New Testament says in Heb. 9:28 " Christ. . . will appear a second time, not carrying any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are eagerly, constantly, and patiently waiting for and expecting Him. " At His appearance there shall come a FULL salvation, a complete deliverance from every earthly bondage and demon oppression.

Some are saying that He has already appeared to them. In spirit. They have seen Him by faith. But this is not enough. Notice that Jesus saw the Holy Ghost "in a bodily shape". He physically, literally, actually saw something. Beloved, we are dealing with realities; not fantasies. It will take reality to deliver this world from the bondage of death and corruption. And this is the task reserved for the full grown Son. The world wants, and needs, reality. Strife, hatred, war on every side. They need something that will give them peace. Something that they can see has changed your life.

MINISTRY OF LIFE

From the Adoption at Jordan, Jesus entered a ministry for three and a half years that destroyed the powers of hell, and shook this world to its very foundations. He is the Pattern. Looking unto Him, we see our course set before us. "Be of good cheer," He said, "I have overcome the world."

Can you feel the tug of the Spirit pulling you to Jordan? Are you willing to go beneath the chilly waters, to die to all of your own ways? Consider carefully, for there is no turning back.

IN THE FULNESS OF TIME

Galatians 4:4 indicates clearly that there was a time element involved in the appearing of Jesus at the River Jordan. He could not decide to go at His own whim, or when He thought He might be ready. "God sent forth His Son. . . " This shows plainly the will of the Father in the time chosen for the Adoption. So it is today.: There are those who tell us it is unbelief to wait on God for this, that we must press our way into it by faith. And we are surely pressing toward the mark. But the fulness of God's plan will only come in the fulness of God's time. Be of good cheer, He is not late!

A PROPHETIC MINISTRY

There is a prophetic ministry, speaking at the mouth of the Lord, calling for a deep rooted repentance. This ministry is laying bare the secrets of our heart, and laying the axe at the root of the tree. As Jesus submitted Himself to John, so must we come to a place of submission in this hour, that we might taste the glorious fruits of full victory. Press in, saints of God, there is much yet ahead! We are just getting ready to come out of our immaturity. Sonship, full sonship, is God's plan for the mighty Body of Christ. Lift up your voice and praise Him that He has counted you worthy, and expect to hear His voice saying unto YOU .. . "Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased!