Remember You're Family - Remember Your Family

Father’s Day:

Honoring the present ones and the ones who aren’t.

Introduction

Last two weeks: Pentecost and “But God”

Pentecost: God’s desire to dwell with His people and the people’s rejection.

But God: We once were one way, but by His grace, we are another.

Ephesians builds upon itself concept by concept.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

As the first chapter treated of THE FATHER’S office; and the second, THE SON’S, so this, that of THE SPIRIT.

Eph1 & 2 establish the gospel and His work/ 3 establishes our identity and unity/ 4-6 is how we walk it out.

This week is about Remembering your Family.

I have been excited for this Sunday for two major reasons:

firstly, circumcision:

second, working through chapter breaks:

If you connect with God through learning, or knowledge- break out your notes and turn to Eph 2:11

However you do.. Steward this message because it is for you!

Story:

Identity in the family- You belong regardless of your struggle. Isolation is the enemy.

I remember a time where I lived in “cover up”. I wasn’t authentic.

“we wouldn’t fit in, we wouldn’t be accepted, we wouldn’t be apart of the family if others saw our unholiness”..

We have this belief that in order to be apart of the family, we have to maintain face. Is that authentic family? is that unity? Doesn’t that create divisiveness?

God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way.

Leighton Ford

You are created to overcome, to take dominion, to build, to worship, to give glory to the Father. Spiritual growth happens within the context of community.

The Gospel isn’t about joining a club, the Gospel isn’t about having your perfect life..

Don’t accept the “partial” gospel. Accept the ongoing working power within us.

We are Family.

Hospital, a Family, and an Army (Romans 12)

Romans 12!

hospital for healing/ renewal

family for identity, unity, growth

army for purpose, Kingdom mission

There are always parts of our lives simultaneous in each. We are being sanctified, coming into unity, and going out constantly. It’s not a one stop shop.

This is important because: As a family, we are here to build eachother up- we are here to serve and be served- Walking in step with the Spirit is walking with His people. Our unity reflects God.

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

We can easily create an idea where you graduate from one to the other and never go backwards. This creates shame. fear of judgment. ultimately, fear of man.

Thats not who we are. we are a family and we love one another.

Lets Get started!!!

Remember who you were

Ephesians 2:11–12 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

circumcision was designed to be an outward response to an inward work

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Spiritual Significance

The act of circumcision symbolized the need for cleansing if the holy God was to enter into relationship with an unholy people.

Circumcision: participation in the covenental promise.

Genesis 17:1–14 “...that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” ... I will make you exceedingly fruitful....to be God to you and to your offspring after you ...all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Genesis 17:9–14 “.... Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. ....So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.””

if you did not participate you were excommunicated, you were unholy.

It was always God’s design that it be inward and outward-

Deuteronomy 10:16 and Deuteronomy 30:6 this command assumes the form of a promise: “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” see.. Sin in the lives of the chosen people made their circumcision meaningless before God. Thus Moses told the Israelites to humble their uncircumcised hearts (Lv 26:41)

Circumcision became a symbol. an outward appearance. a marker of holiness (eventhough their hearts werent in the right place)

Jesus made a way for Gentiles-

Romans 2:28–29 “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

REMEMBER

Its a heart issue! No longer is your outward appearance what makes you holy.

Matthew 15:11 “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.””

Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Its a heart issue! No longer is your outward appearance what makes you holy.. Its from the inside. Now, we are invited to allow the Spirit to change us from the inside out. no longer the other way around.

What used to keep us out of the presence of God, the promises, relationship is no longer there. This is the Good News.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God so cares about what is on the inside. The good news is that there is access to the Creator of Heaven and Earth

Brought Near

Ephesians 2:13–17 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

Imagine the Jews, who once thought those people were so unholy, were so far off.. they didn’t necessarily want others to be brought in.

As our family grows: Who are the people that we are calling the uncircumcision? Who are those who are unholy to us?

Just as we have been brought near. Just as we are a family… Who else is God’s desire to be brought near. Who do you have enmity against?

Such were some of us.

Remember who you are

The two have been made one:

Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:19–20 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

Acts 10:44- Acts 11:18

Peter’s revelation of Gentiles

Acts 11:17 “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?””

Romans 12:4–5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

You are apart of the family

We are a dwelling place

Ephesians 2:21–22 “..Christ the cornerstone...in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Be-ING built: We all have a measure, we all have something to bring to the family-

Ephesians 4:7 “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Each have been given something to give, each has something to receive from someone.

ongoing process

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

The church is a divinely established institution- the church is the continuation of the Lord’s presence and ministry in the world.

1 Peter 2:5 “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The Holy Spirit makes the church holy and pure. For just as the temple was a holy and sacred place under the old covenant because God dwelled in it, so also are believers sanctified under the new covenant because they are the temple of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Lets continue onto chapter 3

Paul, a prisoner for his family

Ephesians 3 “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Paul was under House arrest for his family.

Paul is stewarding his mission in spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. A spiritual father stewards their mission.

Ephesians 3:6 “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Ephesians 3:7–9 “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,”

Remember, you are Family

Ephesians 3:10–12 “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”

Through US! Those who seemed unholy

Those who were far off have been brought near. God’s family is available to all of us through faith by grace. We have access to the Father- we are made holy by the Spirit.

Koinonia: physical and spiritual The Spirit produces a unity within the body. This does not mean uniformity, but oneness in aim and action. Acts 4:32 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

The Spirit creates in us a stronger consciousness of membership in the group than of individual identity.

“God is the founder of every true koinonia in the gospel. and God will complete the purpose of every koinonia in the gospel.”

As we experience koinonia with the Father and the Son, we draw closer to each other and enjoy fellowship (koinonia) with one another.

R. Kent Hughes

Manifold Wisdom

manifold wisdom: Greek referred to the beauty of an embroidered pattern or the variety of colors in flowers.. The manifold wisdom is the beauty of the new relationship between believing Jews and Gentiles in one body. This is communicated through the church

John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.””

As a family: God has brought you together in His sovereignty and providence to accomplish more than you could apart.

Gods wisdom: Always above mans

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

Psalm 46:10 ““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””

Always above the powers and principalities: Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

This is what having a Heavenly Father is like. Knowing that it is all okay- its all for a plan, a purpose. We are each beautifully woven together.

Remember your Family

Ephesians 3:12 “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”

Remember you are family. You have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Ephesians 3:14 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,”

Ephesians 3:15–19 “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Action:

Invitation to participate in the new covenant.

Galatians 5:22–26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Galatians 6 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.…”

Pray this: Ephesians 3:16–19 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Who are we asking these things to?

Ephesians 3:20–21 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Looking to the Future

Ephesians 4:1–7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

You cannot accomplish the full measure of your life outside of community. There has been grace given to you to fight in the army, but you cannot do it without identity and family.

Response:

House Churches are the foundation for everything we do.

Everyday relationship with our Father

Everyday relationship with His people

House church leaders: Gather your housechurches and pray:

to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being

to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God

Bear one another’s burdens- Do you know that you are loved? Do you know that you are apart? Are you known?

we need to be a people who create a space for authentic relationship

we need to be a people ready to incorporate “new” people-those who seem “unholy” or different. far off... Invite others into the covenant!