THE NOTHOS SYNDROME

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Before we begin...

Lets look at a true son

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Spirit of Sonship

“Christ was faithful as a Son over His house”(Hebrews 3:6)

You can only be a Father if you are a Son.

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Example of a true son, Timothy 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

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“Christ was faithful as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6)

Exposing the Nothos Syndrome in our lives

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Nothos

‘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)

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Roots of the Nothos Syndrome 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

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Group One: Spirit of a Hireling “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)

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Identifying a Hireling Spirit

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

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Group Two: Spirit of an Orphan 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.

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Defining an Orphan Spirit

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.

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Defining an Orphan Spirit

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.

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Group Three: Spirit of Slavery So then brethren, we are not children of

the bondwoman, but of the free woman. (Galatians 4:31)

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Identifying a spirit of slavery

ParentageFree woman and Father God

Covenant; Hebrews 12:22-24Mount Zion – New Covenant

Basis of acceptancePromise

InheritanceHeir to all the Father has

Timescale; John 8:35Permanent, the son stays

forever

ParentageBond-woman and Satan Covenant; Hebrews 12:22-

24Mount Sinai – Moses' Law Basis of acceptanceWorks InheritanceNone Timescale; John 8:35Temporary, the slave does not

remain in the house

Sonship Slavery

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Identifying a spirit of slavery

Yoke; Matthew 11:29-30Light, easy

AttitudePeace and rest

Characteristic feeling;Life, hope and confidence

Depth of relationship Rom 8:15Intimate

Assurance of salvationCertain

Yoke; Matthew 11:29-30Heavy, burdensome AttitudeLack of peace, always work to be

done Characteristic feeling;Death, hopelessness and fear Depth of relationshipSuperficial Assurance of salvationNone

Sonship Slavery

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Identifying a spirit of slavery

Jacob Abel Paul Onesimus

Esau Cain Saul Onesimus

Sonship examples Slavery examples

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Group Three: Spirit of Slavery 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)

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Spiritual orphans, hirelings and slaves do not have legal rights to the inheritance.

Dealing with the Nothos Spirit

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Dealing with the roots

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.

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Dealing with the roots

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.

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Dealing with the Nothos Spirit 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