* Illus. People’s dogs tend to look like them.
* Family members typically carry a resemblance to each other.
I. Those of God act like it.
* Some people have no place for Jesus’ teachings. (37)
* What Jesus is saying doesn’t fit into their plans, their lives, or their family situation.
* Jesus was with the Father and truly testified of what He saw with him (38)
* No one was in better position to describe the things and ways of God than Jesus.
* The people protested that they were the descendents of Abraham. (39)
* “Jesus, review the history. We are special; we are God’s chosen people of Abraham.”
* Jesus response was, “You certainly don’t act like it.”
* “You seek to kill the messenger of God, very much unlike Abraham.” (40)
* “You are acting more like the children of a murderer. (41a).
* They responded, “You are offending us. We have one Father; God.” (41b)
* What was Jesus’ reply? Act like it then!
* Matthew 7:16-20 - “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
* People who are of God act like it.
* No, we are not perfect, but we have a desire to do the service of God and we confess and admit failure when we fail.
* I John 3:9 - Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
* The Natural thing for a Christian to do is to serve and please God. For a believer, sin is unnatural.
* These, and many other professed Christians, show a nature that is more bent towards sinning than to righteousness.
* Paul said that being a “living sacrifice” is our reasonable, or natural, behavior and service. Romans 12:1-2.
* The conclusion? If we are of God, it should begin to show.
* Evangelist Dale Patterson says, “When I was saved, God did a work in me. As I grew in Christ and in knowledge, God began doing a work through me.”
II. Those of God Love the things of God.
* Jesus’ response was, “If God was truly your Father, you would love the things of God, including me. I am from God.” (42).
* I will be honest, I really am concerned about those professed Christians who hate Church.
* I worry about those who hate the things of God.
* I worry about those who hate some preachers and professed Christians.
* That is not natural for Children of God.
* I John 4:19 - And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
* If we are of God, we will love the things God loves.
* Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Ephesians 5:25.
* When you have a family resemblance of God, people notice how you love all, not how difficult you are to get along with, how you hold grudges, how you don’t like this one and that one.
III. Those of God understand the things of God.
* Jesus told them, “The reason you don’t understand is because you are not from God.” (43)
* “You understand and desire the things of Satan more than the things of God.” (44).
* Satan was a murderer and a liar. Like father, like child.
* You cannot understand both, the ways of God and the ways of the world.
* I Corinthians 2:14-15 - These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
* If you rely on your reasoning and logic, you will not “get” the things of God.
* They will seem like foolishness to you.
* First of all, you have to be saved, born again.
* Has there been a time in your life when you surrendered to Jesus Christ by believing and calling upon Him to save you? Romans 10:9-10.
* Secondly, you have to be spiritually minded, by renewing your mind, delving into the Word and letting the Spirit of God teach you.
* The Word of God, taught by Holy Spirit, will readjust your belief system and grow you spiritually.
* Otherwise, you will not look like the family of God.
IV. Those of God hear what He says.
* They meet with Him on a regular basis, speak to Him, and can hear the small, still voice. (47)
* I believe that is the key.
* Look at the evidence of faith in reverse order here.
* We can hear the voice of God. Thus, we understand it. Therefore, we love what He says because we love Him. Finally, we do what He tells us.
* This is the mark of the believer.
* Jesus pealed the unbelief of these defiant ones off like skins of an onion, until He got to the root cause.
* They did not obey because they did not love Him.
* They did not love Him because they did not understand Him.
* They would not understand Him because they wouldn’t hear Him.
* It begins with hearing. Listen to God today.
* Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
* Here is our acid test. Do you hear God today?
* John 10:27-28 - “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
* Conclusion: There are going to be people who say, “I have never started my family connection with God.”
* Some will say, “I am not sure if I am in God’s family or not. I hope so.”
* I John 5:13 - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
* Still others will say, “I know I am in the family of God, but I haven’t been living like it. I certainly haven’t been loving like it.”
* That’s what this alter is for. It’s a place for seeking, a place to mark a change in your life.
* How is your family resemblance with the heavenly Father? Is this alter calling for you?
Illust. Family Resemblance.
