Sonship---Are You of God or Man by Rexkennedy Saltlove.

Matthew 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV):

And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

"He was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” - Matthew 17:5

As said in the maiden edition of this series: "children are born. Sons are given," Isaiah 9:6.

God's earnest desire is that we grow to be sons, know whom we are to Him so He can present us to the world Himself.  And then we can exercise Kingdom authority with discretionary powers to bring His Kingdom's will on earth or the territories we reside.

The presenting of son are backed up by the command: 'Listen to him!"

Even without the command, the authority of the one doing the presentation suffices in determining the degree of power to be wielded by the son (Person) presented.

It means, "This person is an authority to speak on my behalf with regards to issues pertaining to me in any capacity." God's command that son is listened to, is fundamental here. Nature, things, and issue that surround us need a commanding voice to obey.

This was the first temptation of Satan to Jesus. He said: "Command These stones..."

"The earnest expectations of creation waiteth for the manifestation of the Son of God."

As Jesus went about carrying out his ministry on earth, the majority of His good works were centered around COMMANDS.

Check out the miraculous that surrounds Jesus ministry:

Lazarus

the storm

the raising of the dead

the demoniac etc

The seven sons of Sceva, though not of God tried to COMMAND a possessed girl in the name of the Lord that Paul preaches and they were attacked because sonship authority is not exercised through the third party. That is why Gehazi could not do anything with Elijah's staff in his hand. But in Luke 10, there was a clear commanding authority to heal the sick and cast out demons!

The disciples/apostles could not cast out demons until they were presented into the realm of the son and empowered. You have to be led by God to perform. Without God's leading, ministering will be misleading.

Compare the incidence surrounding the two verses:

 "Why could we not cast it out?" Matthew 17:9.

 And

"Lord even the demons are subjected to us," Luke 10:17.

Our greatest undoing in Christianity today is too many people who are babes want to talk and exercise the sonship authority. We think it comes from how long we've been in Christianity or by the circle of "fathers" we are close to.

Jesus was led into the wilderness. His coming to Jordan for baptism was already told John the Baptist that he would know the son by the descending of a dove on him.

Are you of God or Man?