THE NOTHOS SYNDROME

Before we begin... 2 Lets look at a true son

Spirit of Sonship 3 “Christ was faithful as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6) You can only be a Father if you are a Son.

Example of a true son, Timothy 4 A genuine son embraces and cares for the concerns of his father. Philippians 2:20. A son is not self-centred. Philippians 2:21 A son serves his father. Philippians 2:22 A son serving his father is compared in this passage with serving Christ. Philippians 2:21,22 A son can be sent to represent the father. Philippians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 4:16,17 A son reproduces himself. 2 Timothy 2:2

Exposing the Nothos Syndrome in our lives 5 “Christ was faithful as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6)

Nothos 6 ‘Nothos denotes an illegitimate child, one born out of lawful wedlock.’ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8, AV)

Roots of the Nothos Syndrome 7 Unsure of/Loss of identity Loss of father Dysfunctional father; absent, distant, disinterested Abusive father; verbal, physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual Misunderstanding Wrong teaching Poor or incorrect example set by church leaders/parents Self-centredness Immaturity Trauma

Group One: Spirit of a Hireling 8 “He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them.” (John 10:12)   “He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.” (John 10:13)

Identifying a Hireling Spirit 9 Works for a wage. Institution mentality. Comfortable commitment. Disappears under pressure. Not whole-hearted My way Takes offence, gives criticism Reasons from part to whole Correction Finds it easy to leave

Group Two: Spirit of an Orphan 10 The root for the Hebrew word 'orphan' means 'to be lonely'. Example of an orphan spirit, Ishmael. Genesis 16:3-12; Genesis 21:9,10.

Defining an Orphan Spirit 11 Independence and self-reliance. Live by the Love of Law. Insecure and lacking peace. Strives for man's approval. Motivated by need for personal achievement. Christian disciplines are a duty. Holiness brings God's favour. Opinion of self derived from comparison with others.

Defining an Orphan Spirit 12 Comfort sought in counterfeit affections. Threatened by peers. Exposing of other's faults to improve own standing. Find it difficult to receive admonition. Conditional expression of love. Walks in condition of bondage. Spiritual ambition to achieve and be seen and counted among the mature. Attitude to the future is fight for what you can get.

Group Three: Spirit of Slavery 13 So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman. (Galatians 4:31)

Identifying a spirit of slavery 14 Sonship Slavery Parentage Free woman and Father God Covenant; Hebrews 12:22-24 Mount Zion – New Covenant Basis of acceptance Promise Inheritance Heir to all the Father has Timescale; John 8:35 Permanent, the son stays forever Parentage Bond-woman and Satan Covenant; Hebrews 12:22-24 Mount Sinai – Moses' Law Basis of acceptance Works Inheritance None Timescale; John 8:35 Temporary, the slave does not remain in the house

Identifying a spirit of slavery 15 Sonship Slavery Yoke; Matthew 11:29-30 Light, easy Attitude Peace and rest Characteristic feeling; Life, hope and confidence Depth of relationship Rom 8:15 Intimate Assurance of salvation Certain Yoke; Matthew 11:29-30 Heavy, burdensome Attitude Lack of peace, always work to be done Characteristic feeling; Death, hopelessness and fear Depth of relationship Superficial Assurance of salvation None

Identifying a spirit of slavery 16 Sonship examples Slavery examples Jacob Abel Paul Onesimus Esau Cain Saul Onesimus

Group Three: Spirit of Slavery 17 Watch out for the warning signs. Has serving the Lord or serving in the church has become a duty or a chore? For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! (Romans 8:15)

Dealing with the Nothos Spirit 18 Spiritual orphans, hirelings and slaves do not have legal rights to the inheritance.

Dealing with the roots 19 Loss of father. Fathering. Understanding that God is Father to the fatherless. Father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. (Psalm 68:5). Dysfunctional father; absent, distant, disinterested. Fathering. Forgiveness and healing. Understanding the character of God. Abusive father; verbal, physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual. Fathering. Forgiveness and healing.

Dealing with the roots 20 Misunderstanding. Fathering. Equipping and teaching the truth. Wrong teaching. Fathering. Correction. Poor or incorrect example set by church leaders/parents. Fathering. Forgiveness and equipping. Self-centredness. Repentance. Fathering.  Trauma. Fathering. Healing, equipping and restoration.

Dealing with the Nothos Spirit 21 Approach your life from a godly perspective But to this one I will look, to the afflicted and contrite spirit, and the one who trembles at My Word. (Isaiah 66:2) Acceptance Confession and repentance Receive forgiveness Walk out the heart's decision Walk in your inheritance