In Romans 8, Paul declares the beautiful inheritance of salvation–the spirit of sonship. It is our seal of adoption. It anchors us in our true identity as sons and daughters of the living God.
Operating out of the spirit of sonship as an heir with Jesus Messiah frees you to embrace your true Kingdom identity. You’re empowered to walk according to the path and purpose God has planned for you.
Yet as with all of God’s good gifts, they are opposed by the dominion of darkness. Paul writes in the book of Romans that there is a spirit of slavery that fights to consume your thoughts. This spirit of slavery brings fear, doubt, lack, and rejection with it. This oppressive spirit of slavery makes you feel orphaned.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”— Romans 8:14-15 (emphasis added)
The key to walking in confidence and freedom is to operate out of the spirit of sonship.
The Holy Spirit Himself will bear witness to the fact that you are a child of God. The answer to the question, “What is the spirit of sonship?” can be summed up in Romans 8:17…
“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”
In other words, when you operate out of the spirit of sonship…
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You have the mind of Christ.
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You believe and expect God’s promises to be manifested in your life.
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You live according to the Spirit and not the flesh.
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You are confident in your God-given identity and purpose.
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You welcome God’s direction and discipline in your life.
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You serve the Lord because you know you are fully adopted and accepted.
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You receive favor and know you have every spiritual blessing.
Let’s look at these seven operations of the spirit of sonship and the scripture verses you can come into agreement with today. Begin renewing your mind with these verses when you feel the spirit of rejection or orphan spirit set in.
Declare God’s Word and the Spirit of Sonship
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The Spirit of Sonship has the Mind of Christ
“For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”— 1 Corinthians 2:16
Through the spirit of sonship, we begin to think like Jesus. Jesus knows who He is, who His Father is, and what His mission is. He is secure. Ask Jesus to help you grow in having a mindset like His.
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The Spirit of Sonship Believes and Expects a Manifestation of God’s Promises
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” — Isaiah 55:11
As sons or daughters of the King, we are secure in God as part of his family, co-heirs with Jesus. We trust the heart of the Father, knowing He cannot lie and will be faithful to perform His Word.
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The Spirit of Sonship Lives According to the Spirit
“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 as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” — Romans 8:13-14
As we live according to the Spirit, we are led into all truth, as the Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ words, causing them to renew our minds and transform us.
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The Spirit of Sonship Has Confidence in Identity and Purpose
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6
If we aren’t anchored in our true identity and purpose, we are vulnerable to the enemy’s lies, schemes, and distractions. The spirit of sonship aligns us with who we are, Whose we are, and the divine purpose we are called to.
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The Spirit of Sonship Welcomes Godly Discipline
“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” — Hebrews 12:7-8
God disciplines those He loves. His discipline is holy and helpful. It’s constructive and leads to life. If you grew up in a home where discipline was weaponized and abusive, invite Jesus to heal your understanding of this word. Ask Him to reveal to you what He means by discipline, in contrast to your experience. Invite His love as the perfect Father into places where authority figures failed you.
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The Spirit of Sonship Knows Full Acceptance and Is Fully Adopted
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” — Ephesians 1:4-6
The spirit of sonship cancels the assignment of the orphan spirit and spirit of rejection. Through the blood covering of Jesus, you are not scrounging for scraps on the outside looking in. You are inside at the table–welcomed, needed, forever secure in your place in God’s family. You are accepted and beloved.
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The Spirit of Sonship Receives Favor and Has Access to Every Spiritual Blessing
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” — Ephesians 1:3
“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” — Isaiah 58:11
The spirit of sonship operates from a mindset of abundance and overflow. The Father is faithful to meet your needs in His perfect time and way. You are not left to make life work on your own. You’ve been spoken for, and provision is promised.
Coming Into Agreement With the Spirit of Sonship
The spirit of rejection and the orphan spirit battle the spirit of sonship. The oppressive spirits operate out of insecurity, lack, shame, and guilt. In contrast, the spirit of sonship—which you have been legally given through the blood of Jesus—operates out of a place of joy, peace, prosperity, and security.
The child of God knows the Father intimately. If you are a son or daughter of the Most High King, you know Him as Abba Father, as Daddy. From this place of deep and intimate connection, you can operate out of His abundant love.
The spirit of sonship will take thoughts captive and make them obedient to Jesus. This means that when lack and insecurity bubble to the surface of your mind, you lay them at the foot of the cross, declaring that Jesus’ blood has been shed and these thoughts of anger, guilt, shame, and lack no longer have a hold on you.
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Renounce the oppressive spirits in the name of Jesus Christ—Yeshua the Messiah!
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Declare God’s promises of sonship over your life. You have been given a new life and a robe of righteousness. Lift the promises of God (written above) as proclamations of your identity. Stand up and proclaim them into the atmosphere.
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Welcome the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to train you to think and meditate on the thoughts of God rather than the negative mindsets you are used to. Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Decide today to “crucify the flesh” and walk in the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:16-26.
The Takeaway
Operating in the spirit of sonship is about coming into agreement with your God-given identity.
You must first renounce the lies of the orphan spirit and the spirit of rejection. Then allow the Holy Spirit to teach and train you to think differently. Welcome His comfort, counsel, and instruction. Then, you will be able to walk confidently as the victorious child of God that the Lord says you are.
Curt Landry
