'god's Family' Series

Gods Family Heb.10.19-25.

Introduction.

From filling up at the petrol station, shopping at the local shopping centre, buying the flat pack from Ikea, Its very rare you find others filling your car at the pump, or somebody else taking your shopping to the car or even the Ikea building your flat pack up (Flat pack house) Society in general has got taken up with a help yourself mentality. We live in a self serve world!

But what about a self-serve Church?

It’s a contradiction in terms! But they do exist.

Individualistic mentality

The people in the self serve Church consider only their own wants and needs rather than others, they consider going to Church is about what can God give them rather than what they can bring to God and others!

The real purpose of the Church is not to serve oneself but one another and for the benefit of those outside of the church!

I believe this attitude goes hand in hand with the great emphasis on the personal relationship with Jesus. People say this is my personal relationship, but that relationship is a shared one with countless others!

Bill withers got it right when he sang ‘we all need somebody to lean on…lean on me.’ We are made for fellowship, community for relationships. It’s the gospel, which creates a real loving fellowship. Sister sledge ’We are family’

“The Church is a building community where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Everybody is somebody

You see when we comes into that relationship we come into a greater family relationship with each other and with God and in no way shape or form is it individualistic. Surely we are all called to follow Jesus as our example who said.. Mark10.45.The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve…

A Church, who understands the gospel, will be serving others.

Jesus Christ is Lord

In fact to be a true Christian Church at all one must be a gospel Church.

Martin Luther put it, ‘The sure mark by which the Christian congregation can be recognized is that the pure gospel is preached there. For just as the banner of an army is the sure sign by which one can know what kind of lord and army has taken to the field, so to the gospel is the sure sign by which one can knows where Christ and his army are encamped…. likewise, where the gospel is absent and human teachings rule, there no Christians live but only pagans, no matter how numerous they are.”

We see here there is a community emphasis on let us v22-25 who are called to demonstrate faith v22, hope v23 and love v24!

1) V22 we are called (let us) to deepen our relationship with God.

(Demonstrating our faith)

Have you ever seen those James Bond films, where he seeks out the the secret location but access is denied him. Only the select few can enter in!

Last week the Oscars took place in America with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Kate Blanchett, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman picking up Oscars it’s a prestigious event. Only the select few can enter in!

As a young man I always remember being denied access into certain night clubs in Blackpool as I waited in the Que. Other people would stroll to the front hold out their gold VIP cards and go straight into the club. When I eventually got to the front I would be rejected entrance. Only the select few can enter in!

This is the old way

This was the case for Israel in regard to entering the Most Holy place. It was sealed with a curtain from the holy place, only the High priest could enter this holy room, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he offered the sacrifice for the nations sins.

This is the new way

V20 But Jesus death has removed the curtain and open up a new living way and all believers may walk into Gods presence at any time (6.19,20.)

Jesus is our great high priest and has become the once and final sacrifice.

The old way would was trod once a year by the select few, but this new way can now be trod at any time and by anybody who truely believes!

In what manner should we draw near?

With the Full assurance of faith this is unwavering confidence which leaves no room for doubt. (Heb11.6) Have you this faith? Confirmed confidence of faith.

Like at the airport you’ve pre booked your seat and your notlike those on standby.

a) It is a gift, which is free when we draw near to God through Jesus Christ! Eph.2.8.

Not on feelings a man came to D.L. Moody said he didn’t feel saved! Was Noah safe in the Ark? Feelings or the ark!