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Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

The Beginnings of All Things Created
Lesson 3

The LORD GOD's Spirits of Adoption,
Bearing, Bondage and Burning

The LORD GOD is not a Physical Being. He is a Spiritual Being. He does not embody form, but yet His Spirits are organized together to create the ultimate Being of our LORD GOD. To understand the Being of the LORD GOD, you must first know the individual Spirits that make up the complete essence of Him. Combined together, the LORD GOD's Spirits have created our omnipotent and omniscient GOD. They define who He is, and establish Him as the great I AM.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 AV)

The LORD GOD is not a Physical Being. He is a Spiritual Being. He does not embody form, but yet His Spirits are organized together to create the ultimate Being of our LORD GOD. To understand the Being of the LORD GOD, you must first know the individual Spirits that make up the complete essence of Him. Combined together, the LORD GOD's Spirits have created our omnipotent and omniscient GOD. They define who He is, and establish Him as the great I AM.

Further in these studies, you will understand how all of the Spirits of the LORD GOD interconnect and interrelate with His People. The exact identity of Jesus Christ will be made known to you, as the Spirits given to him by the LORD GOD are examined. The specific place that you occupy in the great Plans of the LORD GOD are revealed as the Spirits given to His people are learned, and the Ways of the LORD GOD will be known through the study of the Holy Spirit. The spirits of Lucifer will also be discussed, to allow you to form a complete picture about how all things are interconnected and controlled by the LORD GOD.

You are about to receive the most dramatic, awe-inspiring teaching that anyone one can ever receive. It is a great honor to be given the opportunity to come close to the LORD GOD. This specific and detailed information reveals the essence of the LORD GOD in a way that will redefine your relationship with Him, and allow you to draw closer to your Creator than you ever thought possible. Embrace your journey of new discovery. You are about to be blessed with knowledge that will bring you into a close relationship with the LORD GOD, a new understanding of your Savior and King Jesus Christ, and an awareness of where you fit in the great Plans of the LORD GOD. Praise Be to the LORD GOD!

To begin our study, you must first have a basic understanding of the functionality of the Spirits of the LORD GOD. We will start with some basic concepts to start your learning process. Normally in our studies, we present Scripture proof at each statement of fact. When we use a "concept" in our studies, we are giving you information that will be proven throughout our study by Scripture when taken together as a whole. Oftentimes, the "concept" method allows the student to delve right into the new material and gain a quicker understanding. This "concept" method does not give us permission to lazily omit Scripture proof, however, and we strive diligently to include proof throughout the study to each concept. Be aware of these proofs, and apply them to the concepts and known truths in your mind as you discover them in your study of the Word of God.

An orange is a good example of understanding the makeup of our LORD GOD. An orange in it's wholeness is formed as one, complete piece of fruit. Contained within that whole piece of fruit are individual sections making up individual parts of that fruit. Each of the LORD GOD's Spirits are like these sections of fruit. They are all similar.....they are all part of the LORD GOD.....but yet each is contained within itself and able to separate from the other Spirits. Each Spirit has His own responsibility, His own Work, His own personality, His own Will. Just as an orange section that separates from the whole orange continues to be an orange, so is a Spirit of the LORD GOD who separates from the whole of the LORD GOD to independently perform His Works.

The Spirits of the LORD GOD are fluid, moving, living Beings. They go, they come, they talk to each other and they move to the Will of the complete LORD GOD. When these Spirits are not moving they have a resting place. While all Spirits belong to the LORD GOD and respond to His Will where ever they are, some Spirits have different resting places. These resting places have been chosen by the LORD GOD to further the carrying out of His Will. Specifically, there are three resting places for the Spirits of the LORD GOD. They rest either in the essence of the LORD GOD, in the essence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, or in the essence of a Christian.

1 ¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Isaiah 11:1-2 AV)

Though all Spirits of the LORD GOD have a specific and chosen resting place, all Spirits have the ability to move to all places in accordance with the Will of the LORD GOD. For example, all Christians will always have the six Spirits resting in them, however, they are not limited to just these six Spirits. The LORD GOD is able to send measured amounts of all of His different Spirits to a Christian to help accomplish His Will and His Works.

Each Spirit of the LORD GOD has the ability to be measured and dispersed according to the Will of the LORD GOD. If again, we were to compare the functions of the Spirits of the LORD GOD to an orange, a tiny drop of juice from one section would exemplify the measuring and dispersing of a Spirit of the LORD GOD to a Christian for the accomplishment of the LORD GOD's Will and specific Works.

We will discover more concepts as we get deeper into the study. Make sure you watch for the Scripture proofs of each of these concepts, and unite them with your known truths of the Word of God as they are revealed to you.

Spirit of Adoption

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:14-17 AV)

If not for the Spirit of Adoption, the LORD GOD would be unable to hear your cries. If not for the Spirit of Adoption, the LORD GOD would be unable to accept you as His own child.

This quiet witness of the Spirit of Adoption inside you allows a faithful confidence of your equal standing as a son of God.

Those things given to Christ through inheritance, are also given to the followers of Christ, as they all are "sons of God." You have the same inheritance rights as Jesus Christ because you are also a son of God.

The LORD GOD allows His Spirit of Adoption to rest in you through the Spirit of Christ because it is His Will to do so. The LORD GOD chooses you to be His child and to have all rights and privileges associated with that honored position. Praise Be to our Father!

Spirit of Bearing

16 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. (Numbers 11:16-17 AV)

The LORD GOD commanded Moses to lead His people from Egypt to the Promised Land, and to make them a God-fearing, commandment obeying people as they journeyed. Moses was unable to the lead the mass of people as instructed by the LORD GOD, because of their continued disobedience and lack of faith in the LORD GOD. Moses called out to the LORD GOD in frustration, saying...

“I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” (Num 11:14-15).

Moses pleaded with the LORD GOD to kill him because he was so disappointed in his inability to bear the burden of the people alone.

The LORD GOD chose not to kill Moses. He opted instead to take part of the Spirit of Bearing from Moses and distribute it to seventy other trusted elderly members of the tribes of Israel. Notice how the LORD GOD did not send any additional Spirit of Bearing toward Moses and the group of seventy. The Spirit of Bearing had been measured exactly into Moses. The LORD GOD had a works for Moses to do, and the LORD GOD gave him the amount of the Spirit of Bearing that Moses needed to complete the job.

When Moses had a weakness of flesh, and was unable to sustain the strength necessary to bear the burden of the people, the LORD GOD shared that Spirit of Bearing with seventy other men. These seventy men, each infused with a piece of the Spirit of Bearing, assumed the burden for a portion of the people each.

Sometimes the Spirit of Bearing is incorrectly called the Spirit of Government, which identifies the Spirit as bearing just the burden of the people. Although there is limited description about the Spirit of Bearing in the LORD GOD’s Word, we can confidently know that the Spirit of Bearing is used by the LORD GOD in a variety of situations. The Spirit of Bearing is not just for the bearing of the burdens of the people, but is helpful in the bearing of all burdens created when the LORD GOD has a Work for a Christian to accomplish.

If the LORD GOD gives you a job to do that causes a burden spiritually, physically, mentally or carnally, He’s going to give you the Spirit of Bearing to uphold you while you accomplish the job. He will measure out the exact amount of Spirit of Bearing that you need for His Works. Just as Moses was given the exact amount of the Spirit of Bearing, so will you receive the Spirit of Bearing if the job requires it. Just as Moses defeated himself by looking at that burden so closely that he was unable to overcome it’s grasp, so can you fail to realize the potential of the Spirit of Bearing and be unable to accomplish your task.

When you have a Work to do for the LORD GOD, and you find yourself tired, frustrated, worn out, scared, burned out, and weak of spirit and mind, call out to the Spirit of Bearing. Have confidence that the LORD GOD has given you enough of His Spirit of Bearing to overcome all obstacles you will face in carrying out His Work. If the LORD GOD does not think you can do the job He needs done, He will not ask you to do it. When He does asks, and infuses you with the Spirit of Bearing, He knows you will be able to sustain if you focus on Him and His Works. It is only your weakness of conviction in the power of the Spirit of Bearing that will defeat you.

Most importantly, the Spirit of Bearing IS the LORD GOD. When you receive a portion of the Spirit of Bearing, you are receiving a portion of the LORD GOD. The Spirit of Bearing is one of many Spirits that make up the complete essence of our LORD GOD.

As we learn about each of the Spirits of the LORD GOD, we tend to focus on Their individual qualities with regards to how They relate to us and our lives. We’re human, and our capability to understand is limited, but if possible, try to understand the individual Spirits as a part of our LORD GOD. The more your mind can grasp that each Spirit is an integral part of the LORD GOD, and each part forms His whole, then you can truly know your LORD GOD. In this specific case, we have been given a small glimpse of the Spirit of Bearing. The Spirit of Bearing that IS our LORD GOD, is so much bigger than has been shown us. The Spirit of Bearing that IS the LORD GOD is able to bear tremendous and horrific conditions to effect the Works of the LORD GOD. The Spirit of Bearing is one of the Spirits that allows our LORD GOD to give us chance after chance after chance to move toward His Will, and His fortitude displays the tremendous ability the Spirit of Bearing has for endurance.

If that person fails because he lacks faith in the enduring power of the Spirit of Bearing, it is that person’s weakness, and not the LORD GOD’s wrong measure. If a worker becomes self-focused, He will quickly lose strength to do the magnificent Works of the LORD GOD. Works of the LORD GOD require the Spirits of the LORD GOD to accomplish His Will.

Spirit of Bondage

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15 AV)

21 ¶ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:21-31 AV)

Abram was an old man without children when the LORD GOD promised to multiply his offspring greatly, and make him a father of many nations. His wife, Sarai was barren. Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands and she encouraged her husband to go into her maid, Hagar, to have sexual relations with her so he might have a child. Abram complied. As a result Ishmael was conceived by Hagar and Abram. Ishmael was born into bondage as a result of his mother's servant status, as well as a result of being born of the flesh rather than born of the spirit.

Following the birth of Ishmael, the LORD GOD changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. They were very old by this time and were not physically able to produce any offspring. As promised by the LORD GOD, when Abraham and Sarah had sexual relations, the LORD GOD caused their child Isaac to be conceived through spiritual intervention. Unlike Ishmael who was born of the flesh in bondage, Isaac was born of the spirit and free.

The LORD GOD made great nations from the children of Abraham. Through Isaac the nation of Israel was formed. Through Ishmael the nation of Islam was formed. Christians are brothers to Isaac and the nation of Israel, and as a result, are "children of promise". Muslims are the brothers of Ishmael, and are "children of bondage". (Gen 21:9-13)

In future lessons we will be studying this relationship between Isaac and Ishmael in great detail. Please understand this....Muslims have a true and real relationship with the LORD GOD, but it is completely different from the relationship that Jews and Christians have. The Muslims relationship with the LORD GOD is focused on their status as bonded servants, which can be readily observed through many of their chosen religious practices. The Jews relationship with the LORD GOD is focused on their status as being "children of the promise of the LORD GOD" and His Chosen People. Their religious practice is focused on the keeping of the laws of their LORD GOD, and differs dramatically from the religious practice of the Muslim, who is focused on serving their Master LORD GOD. Christians are "adopted children of the promise" and through their faith and following of Jesus Christ are free, and able to stand and walk toward the LORD GOD......End of Background.

While they walk in the spirit of that Promise, the Spirit of Bondage does not control them. When they choose to walk in the flesh, the Spirit of Bondage masterly controls them as He does all things of the flesh.

The LORD GOD has specific inheritances for the specific people. Your inheritance as a Christian comes through the Spirit of Adoption, not through the Spirit of Bondage.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:6-7 AV)

It is necessary to understand the three differences between Christians, Jews and Muslims, if you are to understand the Spirit of Bondage. The Spirit of Bondage plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the Muslim faith to effect the Will of the LORD GOD. The Spirit of Bondage, however, is not limited to the Muslim faith, and has been used often in the punishment of the Jews by the LORD GOD when they have been disobedient to Him and walked in the flesh rather than the spirit. This can be witnessed throughout the Word of God when the Jews are placed into bondage by other nations, and literally forced to change their relationship with the LORD GOD. The Spirit of Bondage is apparent and vocal as the Jews are bent to the Will of the LORD GOD.

Bondage is the state of being subjected to external control. Since the Garden of Eden, The LORD GOD made and enforced laws to control the behavior of His disobedient people who walked with the flesh. The Spirit of Bondage was responsible for subjecting the LORD GOD's people to His control through the means of enforcement of His law and manipulating their destiny to His Will. The laws of the LORD GOD were used to establish control, and His punishments were intended to bend and break the people toward His Will. Jews are free by being children of the Promise. Jews become servants and controlled through the Spirit of Bondage, when they choose the flesh over the spirit and reject their status of children of the Promise. It is the Spirit of Bondage who executes this plan.

There is one more thing you must understand about the Spirit of Bondage. The Spirit of Bondage rules people of "the flesh". If the flesh sins, it will result in death. (Remember your studies in 001 Foundation?). If there is death, there is fear. If there is fear, Satan takes advantage of it in an attempt to control the person. It becomes a vicious cycle of flesh, sin, and death and Satan influence which often leads a believer to mistakenly confuse the LORD GOD's Spirit of Bondage with Satan's "spirit of the world".

Thankfully, Christians are released from this terrible cycle of fearing death and being controlled by Satan through belief in Jesus Christ. As a result, you are "born of the spirit" and a child of the LORD GOD. You are not controlled by the Spirit of Bondage. The Spirit of Bondage controls all things "born of the flesh". Many great and wonderful things are controlled through the Spirit of Bondage, but always in the capacity of Master directing a servant. As a Christian, you are not a servant to the LORD GOD. You are the LORD GOD's beloved, adopted child. Praise be to the LORD GOD!

One tiny note.......As Christians we are servants to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Master, He is our King. By serving Christ, we are allowed to come to the bosom of our LORD GOD. As a result, we are sons of the LORD GOD. Because we are sons, we are not under the direction of the Spirit of Bondage. We are always, however, under the direction of our Lord Jesus Christ and a servant to him. As Jesus always does His Father’s Will, we are in essence, servants to the LORD GOD also. It is a very difficult concept, and sometimes confusing. Scripture says....

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. (1 Corinthians 7:22 AV)

Maybe the best way to understand it is this.......We are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ because we choose Him to be as our Master and He has chosen us to serve him. People that walk in the flesh are servants without choice to the Spirit of Bondage, because they must be controlled.

Spirit of Burning

2 ¶ In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:2-5 AV)

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12 AV)

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:30 AV)

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3 AV)

If a thing, a person, a city, a nation, or a Kingdom is to stand in the LORD GOD’s presence, then it must first be purged of all unrighteousness. This is the responsibility of the Spirit of Burning.

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. "The LORD God's Spirits of Adoption, Bearing, Bondage and Burning." The Beginnings of All Things Created Jan 2005.   <http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/002spi3.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2005, January) "The LORD God's Spirits of Adoption, Bearing, Bondage and Burning." The Beginnings of All Things Created Retrieved   from http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/002spi3.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2005) "The LORD God's Spirits of Adoption, Bearing, Bondage and Burning." The Beginnings of All Things Created (January), http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/002spi3.htm (accessed )

About the Author

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, and is currently seeking her Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School. Kathy is also a Hebrew language student attending an Israeli taught Ulpan and a noted expert on Old Testament exegesis, Christian apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.

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