25-1221a Transcript

(1:38) It is my pleasure to stand before you this morning to deliver another message (1:49) as it falls upon me according to the rotation of the man who speaks. (2:01) And it’s my privilege to stand before you. (2:08) I give thanks to Roger for both readings of the scriptures this morning.

(2:15) I had Wyatt Woosley to be the reader, but he has the flu. (2:30) I’m thankful for those who volunteer and help out when others are not here (2:43) because of illness or some other reason, (2:53) which is appropriate for the lesson that I’m going to be giving, (3:04) which I started on Wednesday, December 10th. (3:11) When I filled in for Scott, when he had his eye injection, (3:17) couldn’t be here, I titled that lesson, (3:27) Someone Needs Help By Someone.

(3:33) And that lesson that was presented dealt with the family relationships (3:46) that is the Fleshly family. (3:50) Starting with the husband and wife, we looked at the relationship between the two. (3:59) Then looked at the children produced from that relationship.

(4:07) As parents, the husband and wife need to bring the children up (4:17) in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (4:24) Fathers are commanded not to make their children angry, (4:32) but to bring them up in the training and the admonition of the Lord. (4:40) According to Ephesians 6.4. (4:46) And children are to be obedient to parents, (4:51) and honor their parents, honor their father and mother.

(4:57) According to Ephesians 6.1-3 and Colossians 3.20. (5:07) Now, this morning, I want to delve in to the spiritual family, (5:20) which is the church. (5:23) Now, you may wonder about the title and the lesson. (5:33) I’m not going to talk so much about the problems and the health, (5:41) so much this morning.

(5:46) Tonight, I will deal with problems that arise. (5:51) Some of the problems, both in the Fleshly family and in the spiritual family. (6:00) But in John 1.12-13, we have this.

(6:12) But as many as received him, (6:16) to them he gave the right to become children of God, (6:22) to those who believed in his name, (6:25) who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, (6:35) nor of the will of men, but of God. (6:43) And so, these verses tell us that it is up to man (6:54) who believes in Jesus, (7:02) that they have the power to become children of God. (7:09) Now, in the view of some, (7:14) are we not all children of God, automatically? (7:22) But in the sense of being created by God, perhaps.

(7:28) But spiritually, we may not be children of God. (7:35) We may be the children of the devil. (7:41) But if we believe Jesus is God, (7:52) as this is pointing out in the first verse, (7:58) that he created us, (8:01) he’s the creator, (8:04) and he came to bring life into the world, (8:11) we have the power to become children of God.

(8:20) We have that right. (8:25) Those who believe in his name. (8:28) And it’s not the will of man, but of God.

(8:37) Now, notice that it says, (8:42) who were born not of blood. (8:50) Now, in John 3, verses 3 and then in verse 5, (9:03) we have Jesus saying, (9:05) Jesus, and he’s talking to Nicodemus, (9:13) a man of the Pharisees that came to Jesus (9:17) and spoke to him the night, (9:22) and Jesus answered and said to him in verse 3, (9:31) Most assuredly I say to you, (9:34) unless one is born again, (9:38) he cannot see the kingdom of God. (9:45) Nicodemus became puzzled at this.

(9:49) He asked, how can a man be born when he is old? (9:56) Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? (10:01) And then Jesus says, (10:07) he answered him, (10:09) Most assuredly I say to you, (10:13) unless one is born of water and the spirit, (10:20) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (10:26) Notice that this is the way (10:30) that we can become his children. (10:35) We find that out later in Galatians 3, 26 and 27, (10:49) when Jesus is talking to the Galatians (10:57) and he tells them in verse 26, (11:06) For you are all sons of God, (11:09) who faith in Christ Jesus.

(11:12) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ (11:17) have put on Christ. (11:21) So this is baptism. (11:24) And you know many will argue, (11:32) they’ll quote verse 16, (11:37) For God so loved the world (11:39) that he gave his only begotten son (11:42) that whoever believes in him (11:45) should not perish but have everlasting life.

(11:53) This verse doesn’t talk about being baptized. (11:59) But they forget that up in verse 5, (12:04) he says, (12:05) Most assuredly I say to you, (12:08) unless one is born of water and the spirit, (12:16) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (12:19) Some of them will try to change that scripture.

(12:27) Trying to make that scripture (12:30) still refer to the fleshly birth of a child. (12:38) This is talking spiritually. (12:43) And this is how we become (12:46) sons of God or children of God.

(12:49) Escalations 3, 26 and 27 tells us. (13:00) Again, we look at Matthew 12. (13:07) And look at 48 and 50.

(13:15) But we have Jesus in Matthew 12. (13:23) He healed a demon-possessed blind man. (13:33) And the Pharisees accused him of casting out the devils.

(13:42) Bob Roosevelt, the prince of the devils. (13:46) And he answered them, (13:50) This isn’t right thinking. (13:54) If the devil casts out devils (13:58) or if he casts out devils by the devil (14:04) and if even Satan casts himself out, (14:09) he’s divided against himself.

(14:12) And anything like a family or a city (14:19) or a nation is divided against itself. (14:24) It won’t stand. (14:26) So that reasoning was not right.

(14:30) And as he is talking (14:34) and saying things to this crowd, (14:42) in verse 46, (14:45) while he was still talking to the multitudes, (14:48) behold, his mother and brothers (14:51) stood outside seeking to speak with him. (14:56) Then one said to him, (14:59) Look, your mother and your brothers (15:03) are standing outside seeking to speak with you. (15:10) But he answered and said to the one who told him, (15:15) Who is my mother and who are my brothers? (15:22) And he stretched out his hand (15:26) toward his disciples and said, (15:29) Here are my mother and my brothers.

(15:35) For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven (15:41) is my brother and sister and mother. (15:48) So Jesus is telling us that if we do (15:54) what the Father in heaven, (15:59) what his will is for us, (16:05) that we will be his brother and sister and mother. (16:09) In other words, we will have (16:11) that kind of a relationship with Jesus, (16:17) a family relationship spiritually.

(16:21) He will be our brother. (16:24) We will be his brothers and sisters and mother, (16:32) spiritually speaking. (16:36) Now in Ephesians 1, (16:41) which was read in your hearing also, (16:48) we want to look at that (16:51) and we want to deal with Ephesians 1, 3-5.

(17:07) Again, reading from this scripture selection, (17:16) Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, (17:21) who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (17:26) in the heavenly places, (17:30) in Christ, (17:31) just as he chose us in him (17:35) before the foundation of the world (17:39) that we should be holy and without blame (17:43) before him in love, (17:49) having predestined us to adoption (17:54) as sons by Jesus Christ to himself (18:00) according to the pleasure of his will. (18:09) Now let’s look at this for a minute, (18:13) or a little bit. (18:18) First, I want to look at the word chose.

(18:28) God, through Jesus Christ, (18:32) has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (18:36) in the heavenly places, (18:38) in Christ. (18:39) He chose us in him. (18:47) I am reminded of a story (18:52) that appeared on TV (18:55) that’s very similar to the book (19:01) that says chicken soup (19:05) for elders or for whomever.

(19:11) And will tell stories that are of interest. (19:19) But on the television, (19:22) there is this family (19:26) that has one boy (19:31) that is adopted by the family. (19:37) And it starts out with the older boy (19:44) of a morning before school starts.

(19:48) He’s picking on this young boy (19:53) that is adopted. (19:57) Well, they go to school. (20:00) When the adopted son comes home, (20:07) he’s not very pleased.

(20:09) He’s sad. (20:13) And he doesn’t say anything. (20:18) And he is sitting on the couch (20:25) down, with his face down.

(20:28) And he says, (20:32) the oldest boy, (20:35) I’m going to tell you, (20:38) sits down beside of him (20:40) and asks him, what’s the matter? (20:43) And he tells him (20:46) that he drew a picture (20:52) of a woman (20:54) that he viewed as his mother. (21:02) And he drew that picture (21:04) and he had it (21:07) that drawing as he wanted it. (21:12) Another classmate (21:17) sees it and tells him, (21:22) now, (21:25) we don’t know according to the account (21:28) what happens (21:31) that separates him from his mother.

(21:35) But this young boy tells him, (21:38) oh, your mother didn’t like you. (21:42) She just casted you aside (21:44) like you were trash. (21:50) That caused his face (21:55) to be downcast (21:57) and that caused him to be sad.

(22:01) So telling this other brother (22:07) this story, (22:12) that boy tells him, (22:13) he says, listen, (22:17) my parents chose you (22:24) and my parents do not (22:27) accept trash. (22:33) Now look at what (22:35) this verse says. (22:39) That God chose us in him (22:44) before the foundation of the world.

(22:49) God had this (22:50) in his mind (22:55) before he created the world. (23:02) When man (23:06) would sin against him, (23:12) we would be in Christ. (23:17) We were chosen (23:18) even before the foundation (23:22) of the world.

(23:27) And it says, (23:28) having predestined us (23:31) to adoption. (23:36) Notice that (23:37) being adopted (23:39) means (23:41) he chose us. (23:45) Just like (23:46) the parents did (23:48) that adopted (23:50) boy in the story.

(23:56) Now we may live lives (23:59) that (24:00) is not (24:03) in God’s eyes (24:06) right before his eyes. (24:10) And maybe (24:12) we may be thought of (24:14) as really (24:16) trash (24:18) by others. (24:23) But when God adopts us (24:25) he doesn’t look (24:27) at us (24:29) as trash.

(24:30) He looks at someone (24:32) being precious. (24:37) And so (24:38) being adopted (24:40) by God (24:43) into the family of God. (24:49) Jesus (24:49) emphasized that one must (24:51) follow the Father’s will (24:53) to become (24:55) children of God.

(24:58) We are brothers (24:59) and sisters in Christ. (25:03) In (25:03) Ephesians 3 (25:05) verse 15 (25:17) For this reason (25:20) I bow my knees (25:22) to the Father of the Lord (25:24) Jesus Christ (25:27) from whom (25:28) the whole (25:31) family (25:32) in heaven (25:34) and earth is (25:36) named. (25:38) I believe that (25:39) is talking about (25:41) the church (25:44) and the universe.

(25:48) The church (25:51) and the family (25:53) in heaven and earth (25:55) is named. (25:59) Jesus, we are to bear (26:01) his name. (26:04) And the name that we are (26:05) to bear is Christian.

(26:09) And we are a spiritual (26:11) family. (26:13) Brothers and sisters (26:15) in Christ. (26:18) And in any (26:19) family (26:22) there are problems (26:25) that arise.

(26:27) Now I’m going to say this (26:29) that (26:31) from the divine (26:32) side (26:33) the church is perfect. (26:37) This family (26:38) is perfect. (26:40) But (26:41) since we have (26:43) humans (26:45) people (26:47) that are in the church (26:50) which comprise (26:52) the church (26:55) there comes problems (26:57) that arise (26:58) because (27:00) we as people (27:04) have our own (27:06) thinking.

(27:07) We have our own ways. (27:09) We (27:11) may think (27:13) and we may do things (27:15) that are not right. (27:19) But (27:20) you know if we’re wanting (27:21) to please God (27:23) we must do (27:25) what is right.

(27:28) We must realize (27:31) that (27:32) Christ (27:33) died upon the cross (27:35) for us as we learned (27:37) this morning that (27:38) his death is the (27:42) sacrifice (27:44) that was given. (27:47) He was the perfect (27:48) sacrifice. (27:50) He did no sin (27:52) but he became (27:54) sin for us.

(27:57) He died for us (27:59) that we (28:00) might not face the death (28:03) that (28:04) rightfully (28:05) belonged to us (28:08) because we (28:10) sinned. (28:12) But (28:13) if we’re walking (28:15) in the light (28:16) and we are (28:20) wanting (28:21) to please God (28:23) and we are doing (28:25) everything to please God (28:28) as it says (28:30) in 1 John (28:33) that (28:34) if we walk in the light (28:36) as he is in the light (28:38) we have (28:40) fellowship with one another (28:42) and the blood (28:44) of Christ (28:46) that was shed upon (28:48) the cross, that was (28:50) shed in his (28:52) suffering and his dying (28:56) cleanses (28:57) us (28:58) from what? (29:00) All sin (29:02) for there (29:04) is no condemnation (29:06) Romans 8 says (29:08) in Christ Jesus (29:12) but still (29:14) there are problems (29:16) that arise (29:18) in the church. (29:20) Tonight we’re going to (29:22) look (29:24) at those (29:26) problems (29:28) that affect both (29:30) the fleshly family (29:32) and also (29:34) the spiritual family (29:36) we’re going to (29:38) look at some (29:40) examples (29:43) but if we want to become (29:46) part of the family of God (29:48) if we haven’t done so (29:52) let’s think about (29:54) what we read (29:56) in John 3 (29:59) and also (30:00) verse (30:03) 3 (30:04) and 5 (30:06) that we must (30:08) be born again (30:10) and that birth is (30:12) of water and of (30:14) the spirit (30:16) and as Galatians (30:18) 3, 26, 29 (30:20) says (30:22) that we are (30:24) all children of God (30:26) through faith (30:27) for as many of us (30:30) that have been (30:32) baptized (30:34) into Jesus Christ (30:36) have put (30:38) on Christ (30:42) we need to realize (30:44) that when we become (30:48) part of the family of God (30:50) then we (30:52) need to make every effort (30:53) to please (30:56) God (30:57) and as problems (31:00) arise (31:02) in families (31:03) they need (31:04) the family to (31:07) work to solve problems (31:09) and so (31:11) it is in the spiritual family (31:13) we need to work (31:15) to solve problems that (31:17) come up (31:19) so if there are those (31:21) who have (31:23) need to (31:25) and concern (31:27) that needs to be brought (31:29) before the church (31:30) whatever it is (31:32) why not come (31:34) and why not (31:35) do so while we stand (31:37) and while we sing