Luke 8:19-21
The Family of God
I can see something of this in my mind. Mary comes with her four youngest sons,
James, Joses, Juda, and Simon. We don’t know why they came. Joseph is probably
deceased. Jesus is the oldest. Perhaps it was family business. Or perhaps it
was a pleasure call. Regardless, the crowds were so great that they couldn’t
get to Jesus so they use the human telegraph method to convey a message to
Jesus that they are there. When Jesus receives the message, you might think He
would stop what He was doing and receive them, but instead, He lifts His arms
and with an encompassing motion declares, "My mother and brethren are all of
these who hear and do the Word of God!"
Now, I often miss things. My first impression is that Jesus devalued His earthly
family. (Many unrelated people have tried to get me or members of my family to
call them by a family name (i.e. papa, mamaw, uncle, aunt), but I never have
because I don’t want to devalue those who are blood related to me.
In response, the Lord has showed me two things:
1. I am the stranger Jesus included, not the natural family member who came to
visit Him. I am not Jesus’ blood-related mother, sister, brother, but He
has exalted me to that position! (In other words, I won’t be too critical
since I am the benefactor!)
2. Jesus never devalues anyone. He always exalts.
To understand this, let me ask you a question. What is the purpose of our
family?
1. Some species lay eggs or deposit their offspring then depart, never
looking back.
2. Other spend some time with them, hatching or nurturing them for a
short time, then depart.
3. God put human parents with their offspring for years. Why?
I believe God has given us an earthly family to teach us some heavenly truths.
1. Why does God refer to Himself as FATHER and to Jesus as the SON?
2. Why is salvation called BEING BORN AGAIN?
3. Why are new Christians called BABES and taught that achieving in maturity
is GROWING IN GRACE?
4. Why is our status in Christ after the rapture referred to as the BRIDE OF
CHRIST, and why does the Bible say that we are to MARRY Jesus, and dine
at the MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB?
Perhaps the answer is that God is teaching us about heavenly relationships using
our earthly relationships. I believe a major reason God gave the family and made
it an essential cornerstone to our society was so that we would have a platform
from which to learn heavenly truths!
What truths can we learn?
I. From our family ROLES we learn about our relationship to God.
A. Earthly children are types of CHRISTIANS.
1. Jesus taught us that we have some spiritual lessons to earn from
our children.
Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2. There are some characteristics that children are born with.
a. While we normally think of our natural attributes as sinful
not all are.
b. Earthly children do not have to be taught certain things.
(1) They come equipped with that knowledge or ability.
(2) Herein is one of the few things that we do better in the
natural world than we do in the spiritual world.
(3) So God takes advantage of that earthly ability and uses it
to teach us something spiritually.
3. What are these characteristics that the natural child can teach the
spiritual child?
a. Children rely totally on their parents. Christians must learn
dependence upon the Father.
b. Children trust their parents. Christians must learn to trust
their heavenly Father.
c. Children obey their parents. Christians must learn to obey the
Father.
B. Wives are types of CHRIST.
Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered;
1. Christ is in no way inferior to the Father.
2. Yet He LEARNED TO PLACE HIMSELF in the role of submission.
3. Wives, while you may not appreciate your opportunity to do so, you
picture what the Lord did in coming to this world as the
Submissive Servant of the Father when you submit yourself to you
husbands.
C. Husbands and fathers are types of the FATHER.
1. Men, this is the type of role we are to play—that of the Father.
a. No doubt, for this type to be effective, we must have
authority.
b. But likewise, to be effective, that authority must be tempered
and immersed in love, kindness, mercy, and goodness.
2. The old saying is that absolute authority corrupts absolutely.
a. It is true.
b. We must always be at war with our corrupt nature else we ruin
both our marriage the picture God gives us.
3. Gentlemen,
a. Strive to learn gentleness for the Father is gentle.
b. Strive to learn mercy for the Father is merciful.
c. Strive to learn meekness for the Father is meek.
II. From our family PERMANENCE we learn about our relationship to God.
A. Family relationships are permanent relationships.
1. I do not say that every family relationship will always be pleasant
or close, but every family relationship will always be permanent.
2. Family relationships should be pleasant and close, but they are
not always.
B. Why are family relationships permanent?
1. It is not because of closeness of the heart, proximity in location,
or even love.
2. Family relationships are permanent because of birth and blood.
a. Brothers and sisters are born into the same family and family
blood fills their veins.
(1) All the children may not have been born at the same time.
(2) They may not have all been born at the same house.
(3) But as long as they were born to the same mother and
father, there is a bond between them.
b. No matter what else happens between them, they will always be
bonded together.
3. So it is with God’s family.
a. We have been born into the family of God and neither time,
sin, nor the devil can break that bond.
b. Even more, we are bound by blood.
(1) I do not mean a common blood that fills our veins.
(2) Rather we have all been placed under the blood of Jesus
Christ.
(3) Such blood cannot be called common for it is anything but
common; yet it is common to all the saved.
c. The birth and blood makes the link between God and His children
permanent!
(1) Sadly, the children may not always be as close to their
heavenly Father as they ought.
(2) Because of sin, the relationship between the Father and
the children may not always be as pleasant as it should
be.
(3) But the relationship between Father and child will never
be broken because it is a family relationship.
III. From our family UNITY we learn about our relationship to God.
A. Here I notice that not all families are a united.
1. It is not easy to mold a family into a unit of ONE, yet that is
what family is all about.
2. The best way for a family to become a unit and stay a unit would
be that every member of the household fulfill their role, and
then practice loving characteristics—-being kind, forgiving, and
just work extra hard!
3. Just one problem with that.
a. Most every family is made up of a lot of idiots in it.
b. We talk about having a black sheep in the family but most
family have a herd of dumb clucks.
c. Many family members are proud, jealousy, envious, greedy, short
tempered, selfish—just plain dumb.
4. Typically, in every family that has unity, there is one member who
works to keep that family together.
a. They arrange the gatherings.
b. They arbitrate the disputes.
c. They soothe the ruffled feathers.
5. If you have a family with unity, you can probably pick out that
person in your family—mother, father, grand parent.
6. The problem is that when that family member is no longer with you,
your family unity is likely to fall apart.
B. To insure that we are a unit in our heavenly relationship, God does
all loving.
1. Our heavenly Father does all the forgiving.
2. Our heavenly Father shows kindness even we do not ask for it.
3. Our heavenly Father does all the work.
4. When you think about it, all we do in the heavenly relationship
is reap the benefits.
C. Now, I understand that if we want to be rewarded, we are going to have
to do more than just take from God.
1. However, even those who never do anything more than take from God
of goodness, mercy, kindness are still part of His family and are
loved by Him.
2. Friend, you don’t have to earn it, deserve, or even thank Him for
it!
3. God has joined us together into ONE family.
D. By having an earthly family we ought to at least appreciate it.
IV. From our family REPRODUCTION we learn about our relationship to God.
A. Have you ever considered the fact that you are on the end of a
string thousands of years long?
1. Every living person today is on a string that goes through
two needles (Adam and Noah).
2. Christians are also on the end of a string that goes
through two needles (cross and Pentecost).
B. If you can physically reproduce and you don’t, you foolishly
cut off your string.
1. Life is a gift from God.
2. God has preserved your line through disease, accidents,
the elements, infant and youth mortality, infertility, and
all other potential threats.
3. You ought to pass that gift along to as many in the next
generation as God will allow.
4. Last command we had on the subject was to BE FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY,
REPLENISH.
C. If you don’t reproduce spiritually, you foolishly cut off your
string.
1. Salvation is a gift from God.
2. We are the benefactors of those who have gone before us.
3. The last command we had was to go tell every creature.
V. From our family WORTH we can learn about our relationship to God.
A. You have a name that has hopefully been passed down to you with
honor. Carry it nobly.
B. As high as you would carry your earthen name, carry your
spiritual name even higher.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.
There is one trait that the earthly family can not teach the spiritual. That is
trait is love. God’s love always outshines anything and everything that this
world can muster.
1. If you are in need of some love tonight, come to Him.
2. If you think you have some love tonight, come find out what love is all
about.
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