Bulletins - NBMChurch21 BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Rooted In Royalty
Romans 8:14–23 TPT
14 The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. 15 And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” 16 For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!” 17 And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as our own. 18 I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us. 19 The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! 20 For against its will the universe itself has had to endure the empty futility resulting from the consequences of human sin. But now, with eager expectation, 21 all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children. 22 To this day we are aware of the universal agony and groaning of creation, as if it were in the contractions of labor for childbirth. 23 And it’s not just creation. We who have already experienced the firstfruits of the Spirit also inwardly groan as we passionately long to experience our full status as God’s sons and daughters—including our physical bodies being transformed.
The Spirit of Consecrated Children:
Bible Passage: Romans 8:14–23
Summary: In Romans 8:14-23, Paul speaks about the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, emphasizing our identity as God's children and the hope of future glory that awaits us, despite the suffering we may currently endure.
Application: This passage encourages Christians to leverage their identity as children of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It helps them understand that their struggles are temporary and part of a larger redemptive narrative. Embracing this truth can lead to greater resilience and hope in times of difficulty.
Teaching: This sermon can teach that being a child of God brings responsibility and privilege, allowing believers to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. It illustrates the transformative work of the Spirit in our lives, helping us to press on amid hardships toward the promised glory.
How this passage could point to Christ: The role of the Spirit as described in this passage ties back to the work of Christ. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as our Helper, indicating that our status as God’s children is made possible through His sacrificial work. This connection points to the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the believer's life and the hope of future redemption linked to Christ's resurrection.
Big Idea: As children of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to live in the hope of future glory amidst our current struggles, affirming our identity and purpose in Christ.
THE SPIRIT OF CONSECRATED CHILDREN
Scripture Foundation: Romans 8:15 (TPT) "And you did not receive the 'spirit of religious duty,' leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the 'Spirit of full acceptance,' enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, 'Beloved Father!'"
The Passion Translation Chapter 8
But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance

LESSON OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will:
"Upgrade Your Life" Vibe 🚀
Connection VS. Tradition: Why the Holy Spirit is your essential "connection" for life, not just a Sunday obligation.
Know Your Worth: Get a clear picture of your value through God’s eyes—spoiler: He’s crazy about you.
The "Orphan" Trap: How to identify the "I’m all alone" mindset that holds you back and how to delete it for good.
Level Up: Start walking in your true inheritance. You aren't just a guest; you’re an heir to everything God has.
PART 1 — WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT
Key Truth: The Holy Spirit is not a religious accessory — He is the voice inside us that says "you belong." Teaching Points:
Religion gives us rules; the Holy Spirit gives us relationship
Without the Spirit, we default to performance-based identity ("Am I good enough?")
The Spirit of full acceptance replaces the spirit of religious duty (Romans 8:15)
He is the seal of our sonship — not our behavior, not our consistency
Cross-References:
John 14:16-17 — "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter"
Galatians 4:6 — "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts"
1 Corinthians 2:12 — "We have received the Spirit who is from God, so we may understand what God has freely given us"
Discussion Question #1: "Before today, how did you understand the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
What changes when you realize He is the one who tells you that you belong?"
PART 2 — HOW GOD FEELS, SEES, AND THINKS ABOUT US
Key Truth: God's posture toward us is not disappointment — it is delight. How God FEELS about us:
He enfolds us — not just accepts us (Romans 8:15 TPT)
Romans 8:15 TPT
15 And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!”
(From Foster to Forever) 🏠
"Imagine a kid who has moved from house to house, always wondering if they’ll be kicked out if they break a dish or get a bad grade (that's the 'fear of never being good enough'). Then, a family officially adopts them. They don't just sign papers; they enfold them by clearing a space in the closet, putting their pictures on the wall, and giving them the Wi-Fi password. They aren't a 'guest' who has to be on their best behavior anymore—they are a son or daughter who can run to their parents in their pajamas and just say, 'Hey, Dad!'"
He takes pleasure in His children (Psalm 149:4)
Psalm 149:4 KJV
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
He rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
How God SEES us:
He sees us through the finished work of Christ — not our failures
He sees sons and daughters, not servants or strangers (John 1:12)
He sees our potential, not just our present (Jeremiah 1:5)
How God THINKS about us:
His thoughts toward us are more than the grains of sand (Psalm 139:17-18)
He thinks about our future, not our past (Jeremiah 29:11)
He calls us "Beloved" — a term of deep, chosen affection
Cross-References: — God's intimate knowledge and thoughts toward us
The Passion Translation Psalm 139
13 You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside
and my intricate outside,
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!
Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking.
It simply amazes me to think about it!
How thoroughly you know me, Lord!
15 You even formed every bone in my body
when you created me in the secret place,
carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something.
16 You saw who you created me to be before I became me!
Before I’d ever seen the light of day,
the number of days you planned for me
were already recorded in your book.
17–18 Every single moment you are thinking of me!
How precious and wonderful to consider
that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!
O God, your desires toward me are more
than the grains of sand on every shore!
When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.
— Chosen, holy, blameless, adopted
Ephesians 1:4–5 “4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
— "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God"
1 John 3:1 “1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
Discussion Questions 2, 3 & 4:
"Romans 8:15 says God enfolds us into His family. What does it mean to you personally that God doesn't just accept you — He wraps Himself around you?" "How is it different to be seen through the eyes of a Father who calls you 'Beloved'?
What would change in your life if you truly believed that's how God sees you?" "What thoughts about yourself do you need to surrender in order to receive what God actually thinks about you as His child?"
PART 3 — THE ORPHANED SPIRIT: ROOTS AND SIGNS
Key Truth: The Orphaned Spirit is not just a feeling — it is a false identity that shapes how we live. What is the Orphaned Spirit?
A mindset that says: "I am on my own. I must earn my place. No one is coming for me."
It entered humanity at the Fall — when Adam and Eve hid from God (Genesis 3:8-10)
It is reinforced by: absent fathers, rejection, abuse, religious performance, comparison
Signs of the Orphaned Spirit:
Striving for approval — never feeling good enough
Fear of abandonment — clinging or pushing people away
Independence from God — "I'll handle it myself"
Jealousy and competition — scarcity mindset
Difficulty receiving love, correction, or affirmation
Living in survival mode rather than sonship
Cross-References:
Luke 15:11-32 — Both the prodigal son AND the elder brother had orphan spirits
(If we had time we would unpack it) Yall Got Time?
While the Parable of the Prodigal Son is often taught as a story of rebellion versus obedience, looking at it through the lens of an "orphan spirit" reveals that both brothers suffered from the same core issue: they didn't truly know their father’s heart or their own identity as sons.
An orphan spirit is a sense of spiritual displacement where one feels they must earn what should be given freely or find their worth outside of the father’s love.
1. The Younger Brother: The Rebellion of the Orphan
The younger brother’s orphan spirit manifested through independence and self-gratification. He viewed his father as a source of "stuff" rather than a source of "relationship."
Entitlement & Disconnection: By asking for his inheritance early, he was essentially saying, "I wish you were dead; just give me what I’m owed." This is the orphan’s drive to find security in things rather than in a person.
The "Runaway" Defense: Orphans often flee intimacy. He went to a "far country" to avoid accountability and the vulnerability of being known.
Performance-Based Repentance: Even when he decided to return, he planned to say, "Make me like one of your hired servants" (Luke 15:19). He didn't believe he could still be a son after failing; he felt he had to "work" his way back into the house.
2. The Elder Brother: The Performance of the Orphan
The elder brother stayed home, but his heart was just as far away. His orphan spirit manifested through religious duty, resentment, and a "slave" mentality.
Serving as a Slave, Not a Son: He told his father, "Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you..." (Luke 15:29). He didn't see his chores as a shared family legacy, but as a transaction. He was working for the father, not with him.
Comparison and Jealousy: An orphan spirit is highly competitive. Because he didn't feel secure in his father's love, he felt that the grace shown to his brother was a "subtraction" from his own value.
Self-Righteousness: He focused on his own "perfect" record ("I never disobeyed your orders") to justify why he deserved more. He was blinded to the fact that everything the father had was already his.
Relational Distance: Notice he refers to the younger brother as "this son of yours" rather than "my brother." The orphan spirit breaks horizontal relationships because the vertical relationship with the father is broken.
Comparison Table: Two Sides of the Same Spirit
Trait The Younger Brother (Rebellious Orphan)
The Elder Brother (Religious Orphan)
Core Lie “I am what I do/have. / /“I am how well I perform.
"View of Father An ATM /An obstacle to freedom.
/A Taskmaster /An employer.
Symptom: Reckless living and escapism/.
Bitterness and judgmentalism.
Need: To know he is still a Son/ To know he is already a Son.
The beauty of the text is in the Father's response to both.
He runs to the younger one to restore his identity, and he goes out to the elder one to plead with him to enter the party.
Both brothers prove that you can be "in the house" or "out of the house" and still be living like an orphan.
Hebrews 12:8 — "If you are without discipline, you are illegitimate children"
Isaiah 41:10 — "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God"
Discussion Question 5: "What are some signs that a person is living from an orphaned spirit — even inside the church?
Can you identify any of those patterns in your own life, and what would it look like to break free?"
PART 4 — BREAKING FREE FROM THE ORPHANED SPIRIT
Key Truth: Freedom begins when we stop performing for God and start receiving from Him. Steps to Breaking Free:
— Name the orphan thought ("I am not enough," "God is disappointed in me") Identify the lie
— Verbally break agreement with the lie in prayer Renounce the agreement
— Replace the lie with what the Father says (use scripture) Receive the truth
— Start conversations with God as Father, not as Judge Practice sonship daily
— Orphans isolate; sons and daughters stay connected Stay in community
Prayer of Renunciation : "Father, I renounce the spirit of orphanhood. I break agreement with every lie that says I am alone, unwanted, or not enough. I receive Your Spirit of full acceptance. I am Your child. I am enfolded in Your family. I belong to You. Amen." Cross-References:
2 Corinthians 10:5 — "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"
Romans 12:2 — "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind"
Galatians 4:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir"
PART 5 — WALKING IN JOINT HEIRSHIP
Key Truth: You are not just saved — you are an heir. Everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to you. What Joint Heirship Means:
Romans 8:17 — "Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ"
We share in His glory, His authority, His access to the Father
Heirship is not earned — it is inherited through relationship
We are not servants waiting for wages; we are children living in the Father's house
Practical Implications:
You have access to the Father at any time (Hebrews 4:16)
You carry His name and His authority (Luke 10:19)
You are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
You lack nothing — because your Father owns everything (Psalm 23:1)
Cross-References:
Ephesians 1:11 — "In Him we have obtained an inheritance"
Colossians 1:12 — "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people"
Romans 8:32 — "He who did not spare His own Son... how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"
Discussion Questions 6 & 7: "Romans 8:17 says we are co-heirs with Christ.
What does it mean to you that everything belonging to Jesus also belongs to you?
What are you currently living beneath that God has already given you access to?" Sometimes we forget we belong to a Father who owns it all.
In what part of your life do you need to stop 'surviving' like an orphan and start 'thriving' like an heir?"
CLOSING DECLARATION (Read Together)
"I am not an orphan. I am a consecrated child of God. The Holy Spirit lives in me and confirms that I belong. God feels delight over me. God sees me through the eyes of a Father. God thinks about me with love and purpose. I break free from every orphan mindset today. I walk in the fullness of my inheritance as a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I am Beloved. I am His. Amen."
HANDOUT SUMMARY (For Participants)
The Spirit of Consecrated Children — Romans 8:15 (TPT) 5 Things to Remember:
The Holy Spirit is your proof that you belong to God
God feels delight, sees worth, and thinks good thoughts about you
The Orphaned Spirit is a lie — you are not alone and you are not on your own
Freedom comes through renewing your mind with the Father's truth
You are a joint heir with Christ — stop living beneath what you already have
This Week's Challenge: Every morning this week, say out loud: "I am a consecrated child of God. I am not an orphan. I am an heir." Key Scriptures to Memorize:
Romans 8:15 (TPT)
Galatians 4:6-7
Romans 8:17
Bishop Robert L. Middleton, Jr.
- - Romans 8:14–23KJV
- - Romans 8:15KJV
- - Romans 8:15KJV
- - Hebrews 12:8-9KJV
- - Hebrews 12:10-11KJV
- - Romans 8:15AMP
- - Psalm 149:4AMP
- - Zephaniah 3:17AMP

Rooted In Royalty

The Spirit of Consecrated Children:

Bible Passage: Romans 8:14–23

THE SPIRIT OF CONSECRATED CHILDREN

LESSON OBJECTIVES

PART 1 — WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT

PART 2 — HOW GOD FEELS, SEES, AND THINKS ABOUT US

(From Foster to Forever) 🏠

PART 3 — THE ORPHANED SPIRIT: ROOTS AND SIGNS

1. The Younger Brother: The Rebellion of the Orphan

2. The Elder Brother: The Performance of the Orphan

Comparison Table: Two Sides of the Same Spirit

PART 4 — BREAKING FREE FROM THE ORPHANED SPIRIT

PART 5 — WALKING IN JOINT HEIRSHIP

CLOSING DECLARATION (Read Together)

HANDOUT SUMMARY (For Participants)

Romans 8:14–23KJV

Romans 8:15KJV

Romans 8:15KJV

Hebrews 12:8-9KJV

Hebrews 12:10-11KJV

Romans 8:15AMP

Psalm 149:4AMP

Zephaniah 3:17AMP