Title: The Family of God
Text: 1 Peter 4:7-17 (16)
Date: 8/2/08
Location: Sulphur Spring Baptist Church
We sometimes use the phrase the family of God to refer to the church. I want us to read a passage of Scripture this morning that actually uses that phrase to describe those of us who are believers. The Apostle Peter was the first one to use the Phrase The Family of God to refer to the church.
When you think about the word “Family” what do you think of?
Are those thoughts positive or negative?
When you think about your family does it encourage you or depress you?
I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the family that I was privileged to grow up in.
Most of you know I have a twin brother but some of you may not know I have a sister that is three years older than my brother and I.
I’ll admit when we were growing up Mark and I didn’t have a lot to do with our sister. We enjoyed playing baseball, or basketball or football with the kids in the neighborhood and Teresa……..Well there’s no good way to say it she just wasn’t very good when it came to sports. I’m serious; when she was in the 5th or 6th Grade she played on the girl’s basketball team, although she didn’t get to play very much. One night the coach put her in towards the end of the game and she almost scored 2 points for the other team. My brother and I were so embarrassed that we wanted to crawl under the bleachers.
Have you ever felt like that about one of your ‘brothers or sisters’ in Christ? Let’s face it we can all be goofballs from time to time. In fact sometimes some of us don’t have the good sense that God gave to a goose. I know people that will say and do just about anything regardless of where they are or who’s around.
Now be honest, when you see or hear a ‘brother or sister in Christ” making a fool out of themselves don’t you just want to crawl under the nearest pew.
But that’s not what the Bible teaches us to do. It says that we should love and pray for one another. So instead of being embarrassed and looking for the nearest hiding place maybe we should stand there and pray for them. Pray that God will give them whatever it is that they need at that particular time.
After all, maybe they are going through a difficult time and what they are saying or doing is just their way of dealing with it.
Now I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about my sister. I told you that she’s terrible when it comes to sports, but let me tell you something else about my sister. She is very talented when it comes to music. She has a beautiful voice and has sung in the choir and praise teams at her church for several years. She is also a pretty good pianist, although my brother and I didn’t appreciate the fact that she always wanted to practice her recital piece while we were watching Gilligan’s Island. I guess you could say she got all the musical ability and my brother and I got all of the athletic ability in the family.
So the second thing I want you to remember this morning is that we have all been given special gifts and talents that God wants us to use for his glory.
1 Corinthians 12:4 says,
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1CO 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by n one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many….
1CO 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?
1CO 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don’t need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don’t need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
1CO 12:23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
1CO 12:24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
1CO 12:25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1CO 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
So just because someone does not have the ability to stand before a group of people and preach or teach the Word of God doesn’t mean that God can’t use them. God can and will use all of us if we will just make ourselves available to Him.
I thought about something else this week as I reminisced about my childhood. My brother and I played baseball together from the time we were 6 years old until we were 19-20 years old.
But I remember once when we were about 10-11 years old that He was selected to the all star team and I wasn’t. I wasn’t mad at him for making the team, but I guess I was envious and maybe even a little jealous.
Unfortunately sometimes when someone in our church family is fortunate enough to get a promotion or a new job some people have a tendency to be a little envious or jealous. Of course we would never admit it but we are.
Instead of being jealous and envious we should praise the Lord for the way God has blessed our brother or sister in Christ. In the passage of Scripture we just read the Apostle Paul said that we should rejoice when a brother or sister is honored.
Sometimes siblings have a way of irritating one another or getting on each other’s nerves.
Our girls like to watch the t.v. show “Full House” which was popular back in the 1990’s when Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were just babies. On the show, “Stephanie” is the middle sister and there are times when she irritates her older sister D.J. to the point that D.J. wants to throw her out of the house.
In one episode D.J. and her best friend Kimmie Gibbler were in D.J.’s room talking to a cute guy that D.J. obviously wanted to go out with. He was just about ready to ask her to go to an amusement park, when Stephanie spoke up and said…,
“hey, D.J. do you remember the time we went to that amusement park and rode “That rollercoaster” called “Thunder Mountain.” D.J. tried to ignore her by saying no, but Stephanie didn’t take the hint. She said, remember you had eaten all of those corn dogs right before we got on the ride and by the time we got off you had thrown up all over the place.” The young man looked at D.J. and said, well I guess it’s time for me to go home. Needless to say, D.J. wasn’t very happy with Stephanie.
Well, if we are honest with ourselves and honest with God we have brothers or sisters in Christ who just irritate us and get on our last nerve. Maybe it’s how they talk, or perhaps it’s what they always seem to be talking about. Then again, maybe it’s a nervous habit that they have.
My Brother-In-Law, Kevin Cherry has a habit of bouncing his knee when he sits at the dinner table. We were having Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at my mother’s a few years ago and my sister in law was sitting on the opposite side of the table and she suddenly said, “Are we having an earthquake.” He does it without even realizing it.
The truth of the matter is that we all have our little quirks, or things that we say or do, that irritate others.
The important thing is that we as Christians shouldn’t allow the devil to use a brother or sister’s quirks to irritate us to the point that we can’t stand to be around them. After all we’re family, and family members are supposed to love and accept one another regardless of their shortcomings.
Unfortunately sometimes family members get mad and say or do things to one another that inflict either physical or emotional pain. It’s unfortunate but true that we have a tendency to hurt the ones we love more than anyone else.
Back when I was at college at Murray State I was dating a young lady who for whatever reason didn’t like my mother very much. In fact she had convinced me that my mother didn’t like her and that my mother didn’t really want me dating her. When I confronted my mother about it she was deeply hurt that I would think such a thing. Fortunately I woke up and realized what was going on and apologized to my mother. She accepted my apology and assured me of her love for me.
Unfortunately sometimes that happens in the Family of God. We misunderstand or misinterpret what someone says and get mad about it. We end up saying or doing something that we shouldn’t that causes hard feelings or division to come into the family of God.
Jesus had something to say about this in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:21 we read…
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
MT 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
MT 5:23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
MT 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
I have always been a little taller and at least 15 pounds heavier than my brother, and for years he teased me about it. It used to bother me, but I finally got to the point that I quit letting it get to me.
Do you know anyone who likes to make fun of people? Unfortunately sometimes people make fun of others so they can feel better about themselves.
That’s just not right, as Christians we shouldn’t make fun of one another.
We should remember that the Apostle Paul tells us to build one another up…instead of tearing one another down.
My brother and I have always been very competitive. It didn’t matter if we were playing basketball in the back yard or ping pong down stairs we played for blood. It was good in the sense that it made us better athletes, but it was bad in the sense that we both developed the attitude of winning at all costs, which isn’t a healthy attitude to have when it comes to your family.
It’s okay to be competitive on the soccer field but as Christians we need to realize that we’re all on the same side and that we shouldn’t be competing against one another in any way. That goes for churches and individual Christians.
A few years ago my brother called late one Sunday night and shared a problem that he was experiencing in the church in Georgia where He was serving as the pastor. It broke my heart to know that my brother was suffering, and I did my best to encourage him and help him through that difficult time.
Unfortunately, sometimes we as Christians go through trials and tribulations. That’s one of the things Beth Moore told our ladies yesterday during the Live Simulcast. She explained that we all experience times or seasons of testing.
Sometimes that Season of testing comes in the form of trials (which are hardships that God allows us to go through in order to test or strengthen or faith in Him.)
At other times that Season of testing comes in the form of temptations. Temptations do not come from God, instead they originate with Satan, and their goal is not to strengthen us but to destroy us.
When we go through seasons of testing we shouldn’t have to go through them alone. We are family and as ‘brothers and sisters’ in Christ we need to be there for one another just like I was there for my brother when he needed me a few years ago.
But unfortunately sometimes we get so caught up in what’s going on in our own lives that we have tunnel vision and don’t realize what others are going through. And then sometimes even though we may we know that their having some problems we don’t know exactly what to say so we don’t say or do anything.
I need to read something to you this morning that was written by a member of our church family.
He says, “During the last 14 months I have only been in this sanctuary on two occasions. I consider you my Christian family, but during this time when I was hurting so much, I haven’t received the support and help that I so desperately needed. I have been accused of adultery and misconduct, which I am not guilty of. I want you to know that I am not angry with any of you in fact I love and pray for you every day. I simply felt I needed to let you know what was on my heart.”
Your Christian Brother
Roger
I believe this is a good example of how important it is for all of us to do our part in helping those we know who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Too many times people slip through the cracks and are never heard from again. If the Lord leads you to, I would encourage you to send Roger an encouraging note this week and let him know that we do care about him, and from this point on you’re going to do everything you can to help him.
In closing I want to share something else that Roger has written. He wrote this for two teenage girls that he has become a father figure to. He has also given copies of this to his children and grandchildren. I believe it contains some good advice which all of us could benefit from. It is entitled “You are who you allow yourself to become.” I goes like this:
“SURROUND YOURSELF WITH HAPPY PEOPLE, KIND PEOPLE AND FUN PEOPLE. IT IS GREAT. IF YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PROBLEM PEOPLE, YOU BECOME A PROBLEM WITH THEM. IT IS OKAY TO LOVE PEOPLE, THAT IS YOUR PLAN OF LIFE. BUT DON’T LET YOURSELF BEOCME ONE OF THEM (MEANING YOURSELF).
RESPECT EVERYONE AND DON’T TALK BADLY OF OTHERS. DON’T BE ENVIOUS OR JEALOUS OF OTHERS. BE WHO YOU ARE AND NEVER ALLOW OTHERS TO MAKE YOU SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT.
TRY TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES.
THERE IS MORE IN LIFE FOR YOU THAN YOU KNOW. THERE IS LOVE, HAPPINESS, RESPECT, LOYALTY, COMMITMENT AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF JOY.
HAPPINESS WILL BE WITH YOU THROUGH YOUR WHOLE LIFE IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE. DON’T FILL YOUR MIND WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S TROUBLES. WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS OF OUR OWN. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND ONLY GOOD THINGS WILL SURROUND YOU.
I’M NOT PERFECCT MYSELF AND NEVER WILL BE, BUT I TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON EVERYDAY. IT IS SAD THAT OUR SOCIETY IS SO JUDGMENTAL BUT WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.
THAT IS THE WAY IT IS.
BECOME ALL OF YOUR POTENTIAL. DON’T SETTLE FOR JUST ENOUGH TO GET YOU BY. YOU WILL LEARN THINGS AND YOU WILL BEOCME A BETTER PERSON.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY. I WANT IT EASIER FOR YOU.
THESE LOVING WORDS ARE FOR YOU BECAUSE I CARE SO MUCH.
YOU ARE GREAT AND WONDERFUL CHILDREN. THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY LOVE YOU ARE YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, AND YOUR FAMILY. SO PROTECT THAT. DON’T DO ANYTHING THAT WILL SHOW YOUR MISTRUST TOWARDS THEM. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART.
Conclusion: The Church is the family of God, and consequently we need to encourage one another. We need to build one another up, instead of tearing one another down. We need to forgive one another instead of holding onto a grudge. We need to love and accept one another for who we are, and finally we need to support one another and be there for each other when we go through trials and tribulations.
