Honoring The Heavenly Father

CBC HONORING THE HEAVENLY FATHER

6/21/09

TEXT: JOHN 1:12

INTRODUCTION: WHAT A PRIVILEGE WHAT AN HONOR TO BE CALLED A CHILD OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

AS WE HONOR OUR EARTHLY FATHERS THIS MORNING, WE PAUSE TO REFLECT OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE ALSO.

1. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE MY FATHER’S SON.

2. HE WAS NOT A FAMOUS MAN, BUT HE WAS A WONDERFUL FATHER.

3. HE WAS NOT A WEALTHY MAN BUT HE LEFT ME A SPIRITUAL FORTUNE.

a. I AM STILL DRAWING INTEREST ON THE SPIRITUAL INVESTMENTS THAT HE LEFT ME.

b. I DID NOT HAVE THE BEST OF CLOTHES, CARS, OR OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE, BUT HE GAVE ME SOME SPIRITUAL LESSONS THAT WERE INVALUABLE.

4. HE REWARDED ME WHEN I DID WELL, AND LIKEWISE PUNISHED ME WHEN I DIDN’T.

a. SOMETIMES ONE OUTWEIGHED THE OTHER (GUESS WHICH ONE).

5. HE WAS NOT A WELL EDUCATED MAN BUT HE HAD A WEALTH OF WISDOM.

I. A CHILD OF GOD ENJOYS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES, THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY.

(A) WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL BIRTHRIGHT.

1. WE HAVE RECEIVED SON SHIP* INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.

2. WE HAVE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS. WE ARE “BLOOD - KIN” INDEED.

3. WE HAVE BECOME JOINT-HEIRS WITH JESUS TO ALL THAT HEAVEN AFFORDS.

4. WE, WHO WERE HELL-BOUND, HELL DESERVING SINNERS, HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE OUR SINFUL COURSE OF LIFE REVERSED AND RECEIVED THE MERCY OF SALVATION AND A TITLE DEED TO HEAVEN.

5. THAT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE AN “ICE-COLD BAPTIST” SHOUT!!!!!

(B) WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY.

1. WE HAVE A PHYSICAL BIRTHDAY (MINE: JULY 3, 1944)

2. WE ALSO HAVE A SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY (SALVATION DATE)

3. WE WERE BORN INTO A PHYSICAL FAMILY. (PHYS. FATHER)

4. WE WERE ALSO BORN INTO A SPIRITUAL FAMILY (SPIRITUAL FATHER)

( C ) WE HAVE SPIRITUAL BENEFITS.

1. JUST AS WE HAVE BENEFITS THROUGH THE PHYSICAL FAMILY (PROVISIONS, LOVE, FAMILY FELLOWSHIP)

2. WE ALSO HAVE SPIRITUAL BENEFITS THROUGH THE FAMILY OF GOD.

3. THERE IS NOTHING SWEETER THAN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FAMILY OF GOD.

4. WE GROW AS CLOSE (SOMETIMES CLOSER) TO THE FAMILY OF GOD AS WE DO TO OUR PHYSICAL FAMILY.

II. A CHILD OF GOD CAN CLAIM SPIRITUAL REGENERATION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

John 1:13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(A) NOT OF BLOOD (the union of A father and mother, or of a distinguished or illustrious ancestry)*John 1:13

the union of father and mother, or of a distinguished or illustrious ancestry*

(from Adam Clarke’s Commentary

1. IT CAME NOT BY MAN, NOR THROUGH MAN BUT BY GOD.

(B) NOT BY INHERITANCE OF MAN, NOR THE WILL OF MANKIND.

1. NOT BY THROUGH THE PROMISES OF A NATION NOR THE PRIVILEGES OF A FAMILY BUT BY AND THROUGH GOD THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS THE SON.

2.THE JEWS COULD NOT CLAIM IT THROUGH ABRAHAM, NOR THE RICH JEWISH LINEAGE.

3. IT CAME ONLY BY ACCEPTING CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR.

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

Eph 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

III. A CHILD OF GOD IS DRAWN INTO THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY. (ROYAL INVITATION)

MATHEW 22 (INVITATION, WEDDING GARMENT ETC)

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

(A) YOU DON’T JUST “JOIN THE FAMILY OF GOD, YOU ARE BIRTHED INTO IT.

1. YOU HEAR THE WORD OF GOD (SERMON, LESSON, TRACT)

ROMANS 10:17: FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

3. YOU ARE CONVICTED OF YOUR SIN, YOU REALIZE YOU ARE A SINNER AND ON YOUR WAY TO HELL UNLESS YOU GET SAVED.

4. YOU REPENT OF YOUR SINS, ACCEPT CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, AND ARE CONVERTED TO SALVATION.(SP. BIRTHED)

(B) WITH THE SON SHIP COMES ROYAL PRIVILEGES.

1. PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN.

2. THE PROMISE OF A ROYAL ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

3. THE PROMISE OF PEACE AND THE BLESSINGS OF PROVIDENCE.

LUKE 15: GREATEST LOVE STORY OF A FATHER AND SON YOU WILL EVER READ.

1. THE PRODIGAL SON LEFT THE FATHER’S HOUSE

2. TOOK HIS INHERITANCE AND WASTED IT ON WORLDLY LIVING. REDUCED TO THE HOG PEN ***

3. LIVING AMONG THE HOGS, STARVING TO DEATH, FILTHY, HOME-SICK, HEART-SICK,

4. IN THE HOG PEN, HE REMEMBERED HIS FATHER’S HOUSE.

5 THE FAMILY THAT LOVED HIM

6. THE BREAD THAT SUSTAINED HIM.