House of Hope Online

August 9, 2026

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The last time we talked about the tears of the oppressed, and the lament of King Solomon from Ecclesiastes 4.

Ecclesiastes 4:

 1 ¶ Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold [I saw] the tears of the oppressed and [that] they had no one to comfort [them;] and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort [them.] (NASB)

We looked at several scriptures that promise that the tears of the oppressed make their way to Heaven, and God very much wants to dry those tears.  Another such promise is found in Psalms 72, which interestingly is one of two Psalms to which authorship is ascribed to King Solomon.

Psalms 72:

 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save.

 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence; And their blood will be precious in his sight;

The Hebrew word for “needy” in this passage is “ebyown” (pronounced eb-yone’) which means more than just financially poor.  Its meaning also encompasses want especially in terms of feelings.  It describes one who is destitute, which is defined as abandoned, empty, devastated, and frustrated.  Deprivation of basic needs such as love and belonging can lead to oppression and depression, which is exactly what Solomon referred to in Ecclesiastes 4.

The good news in Psalms 72:14 is the promise that God will rescue their life from the oppression and violence (suicide).  John 1 prescribes the pathway leading to that rescue.

Pathway to Rescue

John 1:

 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name,

 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The destitute feel abandoned and deprived, but John 1:12 promises if we receive Jesus and believe in His name, He gives us the right to become children of God.  I have made this point before, not everyone gets to be a child of God.  God created us all, but only those who receive Christ have the right to become children of the Most High God.

But there is more to becoming a child of God.  Accepting Jesus gives us the right, but only those who are led by the Holy Spirit actually become children of God.

Romans 8:

 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Childhood Benefits

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul goes on to list the many benefits of becoming a child of God.  We will cover just a handful today.

• Spirit of Adoption:  The first benefit is the spirit of adoption by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” 

Romans 8:

 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The spirit of adoption brings with it a feeling of belonging that the oppressed often lack.  Crying out “Abba! Father!” is a cry of indescribable joy!  Several weeks ago, in the Father’s Day podcast, I described the day the Lord freed me from the oppression of an orphan spirit by telling me He was my “Abba! Daddy!” if only I would accept Him as that.  I was unburdened in a big way that day.  I felt true Fatherly, Agape love, no longer abandoned, no longer oppressed.

• Heirs of God:  The second benefit of being a child of God is that we become heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus.

Romans 8:

 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

 17 ¶ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] in order that we may also be glorified with [Him.]

Verse 17 promises we are heirs of God, not errors.  It is the keynote scripture for today’s word.  Many times, oppression manifests as feelings of worthlessness and abandonment when we look to the world for acceptance and approval.  When God told me He was my Father, I received His unconditional love and acceptance, and it was a palpable feeling.  I was overjoyed that day, and now even when I fall short, I know that nothing can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:39).

• Revelation: The next benefit of childhood is revelation.

Romans 8:

 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

Verse 18 promises that glory will be revealed to us.  The word “glory” in the Greek means dignity, honor, praise, and worship.  The King James Version says this glory will be revealed in us.  This is a tremendous promise to us, such that Paul writes that our present struggles, whatever they are, are not worthy to be compared to this glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Now, let me give you my opinion here.  I believe the glory to be revealed to us, and in us, is the Rapture.  I believe all creation is wondering about these end days, whether or not the prophecy of the Rapture is true.  I believe the Rapture will be such a glorious event because our struggles will be over, and we will be with the Lord forever.  Our faith will be rewarded that day.  It will be our dignity, our honor, and our praise and worship of Jesus as Savior and King.  His coming in the clouds will be revealed to us and in us, and it will be incomparable.

There is great revelation coming, and you are entitled to it as a child of God!

• Deliverance:  Another benefit of being a child of God is deliverance.

Romans 8:

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Verses 20-21 are powerful.  All creation is subject to futility because of sin.  God subjected it to futility, not to be mean, but in hope that it would be set free from its slavery to corruption.  Our selfish, fleshly nature is slave to corruption, but God has made a way to free us, to deliver us, from that slavery into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  Note this deliverance is not for everyone – only those who are His children, only those who have submitted themselves to Jesus, bowed before Him, called Him Lord, and agreed to be led by the Holy Spirit.

• Justification:  Perhaps the most significant benefit of being children of the Most High God is that we are justified by Him.

Romans 8:

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.

 29 ¶ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

 31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?

He called us by the Holy Spirit, we became children of God, and He justified us.  Now justification is significant.  It is greater than a pardon.  To pardon one does not remove the offense, it simply excuses without penalty.

Justification goes much further than pardon. It certainly forgives, but it also restores to pre-sin status.  Justification restores us to a state of righteousness as though we never sinned.  The scripture teaches that Jesus is the propitiation of our sins.  Propitiation is the act of regaining the favor or goodwill of God.  As children of God, we are forgiven, yes, but we are also justified in the eyes of our Lord.  We deserve to be with Him and to be called righteous because Jesus is the propitiation of our sin.  Jesus justifies us before the Father!

The Potter’s Affirmation

Today many are deprived of love and feelings of belonging, which can lead to dissatisfaction with oneself.  Some resent the way they are and attempt to change themselves.  The Bible warns against disapproving the Potter’s work.

Romans 9:

 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?

 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?

Accept that the Creator made you who you are, and He makes no mistakes.  You are who He made you to be.  Trust in Him.  Worship the Creator, not the creation (yourself).  Do not disrespect the Potter.  Accept His affirmation rather than seeking the world’s approval.

Closing

One of Satan’s tricks is to convince us that Jesus is an eternity issue and not a solution to our struggles of today.  In John 10:10 Jesus said “… I came that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.”  Many are oppressed and suffer depression because they do not realize they can have the right to become children of God by accepting Jesus in their hearts and then being led by the Holy Spirit.  If we can teach others that once they become children, they are then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus to all the Kingdom of God.  They are heirs and not errors.  They have a right to revelation, deliverance, and justification.

The Potter has formed us all, and the Potter has a right to continue to form us as He wills.  If we accept Him as Creator, He not only affirms us, but He also justifies us.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for the Potter’s wheel and for forming us according to Your will.  Thank You for having compassion for the needy and for providing us the pathway to rescue in the person of Jesus Christ.  Thank You for the right to become children of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Thank You for making us heirs, not errors, and thank You for revelation, deliverance, and justification.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

If anyone has not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart, and desires to do so, please repeat this prayer after me:

Father God, I repent of my sin and ask for forgiveness today.  I confess and declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with all my heart that You raised Him from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, please come into my heart and change me.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me in wisdom and to enable me to overcome temptation from this day forth.  Thank You for my salvation.  I look forward to the day of the Rapture when I can be with You forever.  Amen.