Luke 8:19-21 – The Family of God – Bible study

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 dont 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 couldnt 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 dont 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 wont 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 playthat 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 Gods 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, selfishjust 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 familymother, 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 dont 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 dont, 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 dont 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. Gods 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.