THE WORD SIROCCO
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Month Theme: The Sons of Oil
Topic: Levels of Sonship – Nēpios
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-11
Main Text:
1 Corinthians 13:11
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
The issue of sonship or daughterhood is one of the most pressing needs of humankind. It defines our identities, natures and abilities. The word “son” or “child” refers to offspring as well as character and works. The Hebrew way of thinking assigns sonship to people who are rich in godly virtues. We shall study five Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “sons” or “children”. They are, nēpios (nay’-pee-os), paidion (pahee-dee’-on), teknon and huios (hwee-os’) and teleios. The first Greek word for son or child is nēpios which means
an infant, little child, a minor, not of age, metaphorically used for childish, untaught, unskilled, immature, not speaking, simple-minded person.
The Greek words for “son” or “child”, indicate the levels of maturity of a son or child. Your level as a child of God determines what you can do, your actions, reactions, etc. The apostle Paul said “that the heir, as long as he is a child (nēpios), differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all”
(Galatians 4:1-3). So the level of maturity of the heir determines if he will be given the responsibilities of a king or the responsibilities of a servant. In the fullness of time, God did not send a nēpios (Galatians 4:4). The assignment was too sensitive for Him to send a child. Many are children and have no intentions of maturing. Apostle Paul had to put away childish thoughts, understanding and speech and walk in maturity (1 Corinthians 13:9-11). We must seek to grow, so that we can fit into God’s assignment for our lives.
With children, you have to give one instruction again and again. It is childish to hold grudges against people for so long. Husband is not talking to wife and vice versa. People are sitting in the same church and not talking to each other. These are all character traits of children. We must mature. Even in our prayer and study of the Word, many believers are stagnant. The world, in this time of COVID-19, is growing in research, unity, manufacturing, etc but many believer’s have not grown spiritually since the beginning of COVID-19. We are rather selling ourselves out to the world through complaining, criticising, whining and noise. The children of this world appear to be wiser in their generation than the children of light. We must put away childish tendencies and grow.
Prayer: Pray for the grace and diligence to grow beyond where you are in Christ.
Recommended Reading:
“The Sons of Oil” by Eastwood Anaba
( Find e-books at http://www.amazon.com)
http://www.eastwoodanaba.com
