You see it is strengthening the hands of the Lord's children, it is coming in to check the crushing overweight of the adversary, coming alongside to lift up the testimony in some life or home where the enemy is trying to crush the testimony out and the testimony is something maintained in domestic relationships, in family life, private life.
Having said that, let us proceed to note that the next thing revealed in the New Testament is that this supreme truth in Jesus Christ is the birthright of every one born into God's spiritual family; the heritage of every truly born-again child of God.
With all that the Lord needs and desires to do in the recovery of His first thought, His original idea for His people, not the least is the recovery of the spiritual family.
Any fresh movement of God which relates to His original thought will most certainly reintroduce the spiritual family, and all that that means.
There is a tremendous value connected with the spiritual family life and with the training in the family.
There is no training better than the training in the family.
Really, the Lord responsible and useful men and women are not trained in the institution; they are trained in the family.
It is because of the lack of that family background of training that so often those who go out into the Lord work break down in the matter of relationships.
The tragedy of so much of the work of God is the tragedy of broken relationships between workers who are put together in an organized way, and they have never gone through the discipline of family life to know how to live triumphantly with difficult people.
There is an immense value in the training of the spiritual family and that necessitates very close relationships.
He has a very peculiar family, made up of all sorts, and some of the sorts are very funny sorts; and that all provides the basis of a wonderful training.
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. (Ephesians 3:14,15)
God is acting in this dispensation to get a family, and God present dispensational activity is not going to be defeated by death, and He is not going to be cheated of it by death.
He will get a Family, and will cheat death of that Family.
It is not God, Infinite and Mighty, as such, it is the Father; and it is a deathless Family that He is after.
This Family is never divided by death, this Family is never broken into by death, this Family knows no such thing as bereavement by death, this Family will never lose a child by death.
Of course, as the Family, when we enter into the appreciation of that, that is our comfort: that in this Family we do not lose anyone.
Death may touch things here, but the spiritual Family is no more separated in the spiritual reality and in the eternal oneness of the Father house, than they would be if they were still here.
Because we have a Father who has got a Family that can never be broken up by death and never lose a member by death.
Our hope is that the whole Family will be together with not one missing.
i>The whole family in heaven and on earth....That is a part of the meaning of Fatherhood, and that is what the Father is doing in this dispensation; getting that kind of Family.
We can never have a severe mentality in the right atmosphere of i>the Father.All these things have to be brought into that realm; the Lord dealings with us now are the dealings of the Father and are along the family line.
It seems that when the Lord Jesus chose His twelve disciples there was, at the back of the choice and back of the purpose of having a company of men always with Him the intention of showing and expressing what the character of the Firstborn is so far as relationship to other members of the Family is concerned.
To put that in another way: if we study the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in relation to His own when He was here on the earth, we have a good example of what family characteristics are in the thought of the Father.
It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. § It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man … that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
I believe that a work of God sometimes goes on behind a particular man or family, village or district before the knowledge of the truth ever reaches them.
Could it be possible that God would so love an individual as to give His only Son to die for him and still love him to the extent of following him with the pleadings and drawings of His grace until He has won that soul into His own family and created him anew by the impartation of His own divine nature, and then be careless as to what becomes of the one He has thus given His all to procure? -L.S.C.
John 4:34. But assault after assault was made upon His faith and His obedience… sometimes through the direct taunts and attacks of the tempter and sometimes subtle suggestions of family and His dearly loved friends… to leave His path of total dependence on the Father. Sometimes through the persistent criticism and accusations of religious leaders – whose hearts were set to discredit and denounce Him.
Many go on happily because their surroundings are happy, and they have no opposition to speak of - perhaps in a Christian family, or in a happy Christian fellowship.
Noah, Daniel, and Job were Ezekiel’s – These three men…. These three men travailed in prayer. These three men worshiped the Lord. These three men lived by faith. These three men pleased the Lord. These three men were effectual prayer warriors. These three men were found interceding in the fiercest of times. These three men were found pleading for family; for friends; for their nation
Believer’s Journey
Rebirth into the family of God is the first step on the journey of a lifetime that requires us to grow in grace and spiritual maturity.
Jacob sought God for a blessing, a paltry, little, insignificant, pathetic, blessing: Save me and my family, save me from the wrath of my worldly brother, who seeks my life.
Though my relationships are falling apart and friends and family are hostile toward me – thought pestilence ravage the earth, and apostasy and criticism is rife in Christendom.
Free Gift of Grace
God’s wrath and condemnation for the sin of the world was poured out on Christ. All that man has to do to receive this free gift of grace is to believe on Jesus Christ – simply believing puts us in union with Christ and places us into the family of God.
Jesus Christ did not become a man for 33 years only – but a man forever. When the eternal Son of God was born in Bethlehem, as the perfect Son of Man, He became a fully-fledged member of the human family in a human body – with a human nature, which He will retain throughout the eternal ages to come.
However magnificent a gift we receive from family or friends, it pales to insignificance in comparison with the inexpressible gift of Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God – for God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes on His name, would not be condemned (as he justly deserves) but be given eternal life.
God’s Inconceivable Gift
We are adopted into the royal family of God – as sons of God and children of light.
It was the eternal Son of God Who laid aside His glory to become the second Man Who would redeem the family of man from their sins, by becoming their substitute Sacrifice.
Only a family member could become, “a daysman” – “a goel” – “a kinsman-redeemer”. A beautiful example of such a “kinsman redeemer” is discovered in the book of Ruth..
the Church. Is this not a stupendous truth? Is this not something that should rejoice our very beings? Jesus, the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy (that’s you and me) are of the same family with the same Father – so He is not ashamed to call us brothers.
Luke’s Genealogy
Luke’s family tree, was for Gentile readers, starting with Adam as federal head of the human race and tracing Christ’s parentage to Heli, father of Mary – not of Joseph.
Work of Christ
If we don’t repent or change our mind – we remain dead in our trespasses and sins. When we do repent or change our mind about God’s free gift of grace, that is offered to all sinners who are dead in trespasses and sins we are born again.. and the Holy Spirit places us in Christ as part of God’s family – FOREVER. Let us never add to the amazing work of Christ on the cross when by His blood alone He paid the price for your sins and mine. But rather let us simply accept God’s free gift of grace – by faith alone.
If we have been brought into the family of God, should we not obey His voice? Let us not disobey our Father’s instructions -but by faith rest in His WORD.
Life of Contempt
His could not have been an easy life, being the oldest in a family of brothers and sisters, and His virgin birth brought with it a life of contempt and accusation – for He was considered as the illegitimate offspring of a woman – pregnant before her marriage.
Magnificent Prayer
What a magnificent prayer to know that Paul was praying this for you and for me. What a wonderful prayer for us to pray for others dear believers in the family of God..
One Family
We are members of one body; united by one Spirit – one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
We are all possessors of the same life-force. We are all equipped with our own gift – for we are all baptised into the one family of God by the one indwelling Spirit.
His family is to include both Jew and gentile; male and female; slave and freeman. Not only the Spirit’s life breathed into us but His very life indwelling our frame – and then the most astonishing revelation is given to the church – which is His body.
A holy temple set apart to Him, fitly framed together; Whose builder and maker is God – a body; a family; a household; a building; a dwelling – a temple for the Most High.
We who are His family are to be the building in which the family will be housed.
We were chosen by the Father and adopted by Him into His family.
Stunning Truth
When we first trusted Christ as Saviour we became a part of the household of God. When we initially believed in Jesus, the Spirit took up abiding residence inside us, and we became part of the family of God – and we became His permanent habitation.
Temple of God
The moment in time we trusted Christ as Saviour – we were born into His family - we became part of the household of God, in eternal union with Christ.
At a time known to God, we were placed in His family and in-dwelt by His Spirit. We were in-dwelt by the Spirit of God – the home and temple of Christ’s Spirit.
How quickly we rush to aid a sibling or other family member when sling-shots fly.
How much more protective we are of our own kith and kin when push comes to shove – but if this is the case in Adam’s fallen race – how much more in the family of God.
Confusion and Consternation
One area causing Christians confusion and consternation is – 'am I truly saved?' This is a question that bothers many believers. 'Am I really part of God’s family?' This is not just the few, but many born-again people just doubt their security in Christ.
The father is head of the family and his help-meet has an equal yet submissive role.
Wives should be submissive to the head of their family, united under Christ – and then children will have a secure foundation on which to build their faith.
It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself and which caused me the most severe mental suffering.
Having been, born into His family, gained the wonderful birthright of eternal life, and made complete in Him, we too have a body that is being prepared for us, in heaven.
It is the only sufficient tool we need as we address all the important issues of life, in a manner well-pleasing to Him: emotional issues; relational issues; family issues; social issues and spiritual issues.
And she is so blessed to be in a family, as we are.
A family that will nurture her spiritually, and lovingly lead her to the One who created her – and teach her alongside her brothers and sister to, Glorify God and enjoy Him forever
We needs must value His fellowship, more than that of friends or family, until like Abraham we would willingly give up ALL we hold and love dearest in this life.
Sometimes His temptation came through direct taunts and attacks from the tempter. Sometimes His trials came via a subtle suggestion from His family or a dearly loved friend. Throughout His life, Jesus was enticed to leave His path of total dependence on the Father..
Family of God
But then, we were born of the Spirit, from above, becoming part of the family of God. And so as believers we walk in the self-same steps as our Saviour and King.
Wise Preparation
Noah heeded the word of the Lord and made ready an ark of salvation for his family. Israel were ready to move camp in the wilderness, as soon as God’s pillars appeared. The prudence of wise preparation is a repeated warning in the book of Proverbs.
Heed to Yourself
Oh, we all have many family and business, financial and relational problems, but it is giving these problems preeminence in your thoughts – in your heart.. lest at any time your hearts be overwhelmed with the cares of this life.
Rebelliousness
A multitude of reasons can divert our attention away from the important - Urgent pressures; family pressures; religious pressures; political pressures: financial pressures; social pressures; marital pressures - so many urgent pressures.
But we can still join with Joshua and others that listened to the voice of the Lord: 'but as for me and my house we will serve to the Lord.' As for me and my family we will trust His word and listen to His voice.
Justification and Sanctification
It is also vital also to rightly divide between justification and sanctification. 1) Justification – the salvation of the spirit : born into the family of God. 2) Sanctification – the salvation of the soul... living as a child of God. 1) Justification – born again once and in eternal union with Christ forever. 2) Sanctification – growing in grace throughout life.
And years pass and decades roll by and he looks back to that day of his salvation when faith was shared with friends and family and some joined and others refused.
As members of God’s family, we are heirs of riches beyond our power to estimate, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order… that we may also be glorified with Him.
Spiritual Discernment
And it is through Christ that we have been so endowed. It is by Christ that we have been brought into God’s family. It is in Christ that we stand and in Him that we are accepted by the Father.
Spiritual Discernment
And it is through Christ that we have been so endowed. It is by Christ that we have been brought into God’s family. It is in Christ that we stand and in Him that we are accepted by the Father. It is Christ and Christ alone that is the means that has brought about our eternal bliss. All Scripture is given by God to teach, train, and encourage the whole church of God, but the wealth of knowledge within its pages are only for those that trust in Christ. The unsaved man is incapable of trawling the depths of the wealth of Scriptures..