Kingdom Relationships Series

Luke 8:16-21

Introduction: Recap of Part 14

• Jesus Introduces the Kingdom

• The Kingdom of God is the realm of God, visible or invisible, where God’s systems and ways of doing things are already established and working.

• We showed the development of the Kingdom from the declaration of John the Baptist to the Millennial Reign of Christ. (Including the Church)

• The Different Responses of People to the Kingdom are clearly laid out in the Parable of the Sower. (He provides the Seed… We provide the soil)

• Wayside Soil - the skeptical, superficial Christians who punch the clock and go home.

• Rocky Soil - Shallow, flashy saints. The shouters and professors but not the possessors.

• Thorny Soil - Worldly desires choke out the Word. (We are called to live holy)

• Good Soil - These receive the Word of God with joy and allow it to shape their lives.

I. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM?

A. There are different levels of devotion. - Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

1. Surrender is Key

B. Lamps, Lights, Jars

1. Luke 8:16 - Let your light Shine. Don’t hid it or be ashamed of Jesus or the move of God. Don’t be lazy with your faith!

2. Luke 8:17 - There is no such thing as Closet Christianity. If you are a real Christian people are going to know it. If you are a fake Christian that will manifest itself also.

3. Luke 8:18 - We need to be careful how we hear. It’s those who are excited about learning God’s Word that receive revelation concerning the Mysteries of God!

II. The Importance of Kingdom Relationships - Luke 8:19-21

A. The Apostle Mark seems to indicate that the family and friends of Jesus were there to rescue Him from Himself.

1. Mark 3:21 - And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

2. Mark 3:31 - There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

B. Jesus clarified relationships in the following way.

1. He did not deny that His earthly mother, friends and family were there, however He expanded their understanding of the Kingdom by explaining that there was also a Spiritual Family that was extremely important in His eyes.

Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

III. Jesus taught the Principle of Priority.

A. God must be #1 in our lives even above our families.

1. If you place your family above God then you have replaced God and started worshipping your family as your God.

B. This is the value that Jesus puts on Kingdom Relationships. Here are some of the most misunderstood Scriptures in the Bible. I feel the need to clarify them.

Matthew 10:36-39

36. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Luke 14:26-27

26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

1. These passages are descriptive of outward attachment or adhesion. In other words, if a person allows their family to stand in the way of their attachment to God and His work then they are not worthy of Him.

2. The Preachers Homiletical Commentary describes the word “hate” in Luke 14:26 like this: Hate not.—The word cannot be understood of active hatred, since Christ commands us to love even our enemies, but denotes a deep and heartfelt alienation from all ties, and affections, and feelings, that would interfere with devotion to Christ.

3. This is further clarified in Christ comparing the Church to the physical body with Christ as the head.

Closing: How is your attachment to God today?

• It begins at Calvary

• The level of relationship you have with God after salvation is completely up to you.

• I don’t want to be a fringe Christian!

• Develop a “soaking mentality.” (God I want to soak up as much of you as I can!)