Children Born of God
Rev. Sean Lester
May 4, 2009
For Living Water Assembly of God, Newberry, Michigan
QUOTATION QUESTION. Who can become God’s children? (30)
(NIV) John 1:11,12 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
(KJV) John 1:11,12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Introduction:
All families have their unique culture, values, and traditions.
- Many good things can be said about them.
o Patica and pasties.
o Memorial day, thanksgiving, and grandparents
- However, they also have their issues.
o Religion, occupation, and views of right and wrong.
o Rejection, abuse, expectation
o Love, but limited to human wisdom and understanding
The way of life in the family of God
- The challenge to love all people.
- The challenge to make the right decision despite personal consequences
- The challenge to accomplish and to demonstrate the power of God to unbelieving people.
- The challenge to nurture a growing family of God in the midst of a fallen culture.
- The challenge to prove God right and to know God through testing His Word.
Proposition: The life that people crave for righteousness, fulfillment, and relationship with God is found in the family of God that is created around faith in Jesus Christ.
Interrogative: How does one become a part of the family of God?
Transition: You have to be born into it by making a decision to put your faith in Jesus Christ.
I. Receive Jesus
a. To receive Jesus means to accept Him for who He is and for what he wants to do.
i. He is the Son of God, that means that He is God who decided to become a man in order to guide people out of sin and into a right relationship with God and to live with Him for all of eternity.
ii. He is the Lord who has the right to command us in what we do.
iii. He is the Savior who frees us from sin and it’s penalty and gives us a fulfilling life now and for eternity.
iv. He is the Word who spoke and continues to speak the truth and to apply it to righteous living.
b. By contrast, to reject Jesus means doing what the Jewish rulers did:
i. Rejected the truth of what he was saying because he wasn’t the person approved to say it. (who can forgive sins)
ii. Rejected the truth of what he was saying because it wasn’t what they wanted to hear. ( I am the bread of life, and that is more important than the bread I multiplied)
iii. Rejected the truth of what he was saying because it meant approving of people that were unsavory.
iv. Rejected the truth of what he did because it threatened the position and power of those who stood to lose.
c. Receiving Jesus means the same for us today as it did for the Jewish people back then.
i. Searching Jesus’ Word for the principles of truth that help us make righteous decisions.
ii. Calling all people, of all classes into fellowship with us and with the Lord.
iii. Recognizing that Jesus has the right to command us to act, to appoint and to relieve us of responsibility, and to move us into any area of ministry anywhere.
iv. Accepting Jesus without demanding His power.
d. Jesus was rejected on the face of what he said for many reasons. Such as…
i. He said it and not them
ii. He was not academic
iii. He said things too plainly
Practical example: One of my students in the Outdoor challenge suffered greatly from distrust of adults. Ronnie, the son of wealthy lawyers from New York, was in a condition where he wouldn’t take instruction because to do so would imply that he was dumb. Consequently, he was behind in school. With other people, he would dominate the conversation so that others would be unable to share. Consequently, he didn’t have many friends. The “sin” that caused his parents to send him to us was finding neighbors wheel chairs and throwing them into the river. To be certain, his behavior was caused by the mistreatment and neglect of others. Because of his background, the process of convincing him to accept us as caring people who would help him was long and frustrating. But, all people are born into sin and manifest sinful behavior for the same reasons. Salvation comes from being brave enough to trust the Savior and to listen to Him about how to live, what He thinks of you, and what must change.
II. Believe in His Name
a. Belief in His name means acknowledging His Power and Authority
i. Like the Centurion recognized that all Jesus needed to do was speak the word for his servant to be healed.
ii. Believing that He will bring fulfillment to your life even when doing the right thing seems to be destroying your life.
iii. Believing that He is right.
iv. Believing that if you do what He says to do, no matter the outcome, you will be in God’s will.
v. Believing that He will do what He says he will do.
b. By contrast, lack of belief in His name means falling away from salvation, or rejecting salvation.
i. Example: people followed him because of his miracles, and then left him when he told them that he gives true life.
ii. Example: Thomas betrayed Jesus because the prosperity he thought following him would bring was not going to happen.
iii. Example: people who are attracted to Him because of the preaching of health, wealth, and happiness walk away from the church because they were disappointed that they didn’t receive what they thought they would receive. i.e. the death of a loved one, loss of a job, someone wasn’t nice to them…
c. Belief in His name means trusting Him to honor his word when doing so would seem to be painful.
i. Tithing is an act of trust.
ii. Teaching and participating is an act of trust.
iii. Accepting responsibility for a mistake is an act of trust.
iv. Telling the truth is an act of trust.
Practical example: Skylar is the family cat. By family cat, I mean that he belongs to momma and tolerates the rest of us. He is a good example of knowing whose authority to trust. Now there are many reasons why Skylar loves momma and not the men of the house. It may be that when the boys were small they tried to love Skylar by squeezing him to death. It may be that he knows I don’t like pets, and have expressed joy in wondering if there were indeed many ways to skin a cat, and that I would like to try one. Now, keep in mind that my wife is not the syrupy sweet type. However, Skylar, the cat that doesn’t like people, jumps into momma’s lap and purrs loudly as momma strokes his fur and speaks gently and gushingly. Sure, we all feed the cat, but the cat knows that it is at momma’s orders. We let the cat in, and then out, several times a day, but he knows that momma is the one commanding it. Skylar makes a good point for us. The Lord loves us and uses His authority and power to care for us and to give us life. There are others who care for us and help us, but it is the Lord who commands it. Salvation comes to people as a result of realizing who Jesus is and trusting in His Name.
III. Following His Ways
a. A child looks to His Father for guidance.
i. The Father gives instruction and discipline. It is the way any family operates. The Father does it through the local congregation and through the natural family, or even in a corporate setting.
ii. The Father provides for His children.
iii. The Father gives responsibility
b. All families have a way of life, including the family of God
i. Chores, taking care of the family of God
ii. Values, things we do and don’t do
iii. Activities, games and fellowship meant for enjoying each other.
Practical example: I have known many people who drifted away from the church and salvation because, like the rich young ruler who failed to follow Jesus, they loved the things they owned or the life they wanted more than they wanted a lifestyle of following Jesus. The lifestyle of following Jesus means living simply so that one can be responsible for their family and for leading others to salvation and fulfillment in Christ Jesus. Those whose lifestyle reflect the desire for wealth or personal ambition don’t understand the purpose for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. A person does not join the church to be saved. A person fellowships and cooperates with other believers in the mission of the church because they are saved.
Conclusion:
- I have decided that the best the world can offer me can’t compare to what the kingdom of Heaven offers me.
o Fulfillment for my life on earth and a promise of eternal life.
o Love and fellowship for who I am apart from who others want me to be.
o Relationship with the One who made me and who sacrificed for me.
- The decision to become a child of God belongs to everyone regardless of social distinction.
o Popularity is of no consequence
o Wealth is of no consequence
o Past sins are of no consequence
o Potential gain is of no consequence
o Talent is of no consequence.
- The family of God is made up of those who decided to follow Jesus.
o What decision do you make?
