The Family of God: July 9, 2017

The Family of God (James Robor)

Sunday Message July 9, 2017,

Hearts on Fire Christian Fellowship Espoo Finland

 

God is our Father…If we have the same Father in heaven, that makes us brothers and sisters…

 

Listen Here (streaming audio or download)      

http://heartsonfirechristianfellowship.sermon.net/mca/main/main/20960402

 

MESSAGE NOTES:

(All scriptures are New King James version unless otherwise stated)

 

A. We Are All Sons And Daughters Of God

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

1 John 3:1-2

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

 

B. If we have the same Father, that makes us brothers and sisters…

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

 

C. We are citizens of heaven, God is a King, we live under his Kingdom and we are part of his household. This makes us princes and princesses, part of a royal family.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

 

D. We are joined together and built together

Eph 2:21 (ESV)…being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

How are we built together? (through Christ)

What are being built together into?…(a dwelling place for God)

 

E. We are to treat everyone good, but especially our church family

Galatians 6:10

 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1. Our brother and sisters in the Lord extends beyond our church family

Matthew 12:46-50

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

F. In Christ we are one body…we suffer and rejoice together..we work together

Romans 12:5

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

1 Corinthians 12:26

 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

1. As a family we are to look out for each other, checking up on each other, caring for each other

Acts 20:28 (ESV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

 

G. As a church family, we agree to meet together regularly…and to be encouraging to each other

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

H. James’ experiences of being part of true church family in Indiana

• ate together
• spent 3 to 5 days every week together, etc.
• called each other brother and sister