The Family Business

Happy Father's Day

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Pray

A Prayer for the Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14–15 NIV

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

(NIV)

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Paul starts with the phrase "For this reason." We have already talked about the reason, but let's review, because it does have an effect on our discussion today. The reason Paul can even come to God the Father in prayer is because of the Gospel. It is because the Gospel has reconciled, or moved us from guilty to innocent. This allows us to approach the Father in prayer. By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can come to the Father.

Paul in this letter to Ephesians, specifically at verse 2:11-22, emphasizes that the gospel is presented to all regardless of race or religious background. The Gospel is bringing together both Jews and Gentiles into God's family. This idea carries with it a whole lot of baggage.

As we look forward to stepping outside our walls this summer, we, of course, have been studying this Ephesians passage. Today, I want to look at verses 14 and 15.

Judaism is not just a religion; it is also a race. They are the chosen people of God. People were "in" by birth. Who was in and who was out was very important to them. As a result, the Jewish people kept and recorded very detailed genealogies. Many people when they first attempt to read through the whole Bible get to the genealogies and start to get exhausted.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

Paul starts this prayer, with the phrase, “For this reason”. We have already talked about the reason, so I will only briefly review. Paul writes for this reason. The reason is the Gospel. Because of everything the Gospel has done to reconcile us to the Father, Paul can come to God His Father in prayer. And Paul comes kneeling.

Probably, the single most important reason for the genealogies is that it proves that Jesus is the line David, and a rightful heir to the throne, and the Messiah of Isreal. But remember at the time the Jews didn't know that reason. Instead, the Jewish people were recording the genealogies because they placed great importance on their family, clan, and tribe.

Often prayer was done standing, sometimes arms raised and eyes toward heaven, while it was not unusual to be kneeling, it indicates a particular intensity to his prayer. It indicates a particular respect and submission to God the Father. It indicates a dependence.

Remember, these were the children of Abraham. As the descendants of Abraham, they were entitled to inherit the blessing Abraham received from God. The blessing was the promised land. The land of the country of Israel. It was divided up among the 12 tribes, and the land was passed down through inheritance from Father to son.

Because of the gospel, Paul comes kneeling, begging, pleading, depending on God the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

So, when we read Paul's prayer, we have to realize that Paul was bringing all of this background into his prayer.

Specifically, in this context, the aspect of the gospel that Paul is emphasizing is that the Gospel is bringing together both Jews and Gentiles into God's family. This idea carries with it a whole lot of baggage. Remember Judaism is not just a religion, it is also a race. They are the chosen people of God.

Paul writes

So, who was in and who was out was very important to them. As a result, the Jewish people kept and recorded very detailed genealogies. Many people when they first attempt to read through the whole Bible get to the genealogies and start to get exhausted.

Ephesians 3:14 NIV

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

Probably the single most important reason for the genealogies is that it proves that Jesus is the line David, and a rightful heir to the throne, and the Messiah of Isreal. That is certainly the single most important reason, but I am not concerned with that specific reason today.

Often prayer was done standing, sometimes arms raised and eyes toward heaven, while it was not unusual to be kneeling, it does indicate a particular intensity in prayer. It signals a more intense level of respect and submission to God the Father. It shows his utter dependence on God the Father.

Today, I am simply stating that the Jewish people placed great importance on their family, clan, and tribe. Remember, these were the children of Abraham. As the children of Abraham, they were entitled to inherit the blessing Abraham received from God. The blessing was the promised land. The physical land of the country of Israel. It was divided up among the 12 tribes, and the land was passed down through inheritance from Father to son.

Because of the gospel, Paul comes kneeling, begging, pleading, depending on God the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

As we look forward to stepping outside our walls this summer, we, of course, have been studying this Ephesians passage. Today, I want to look at verses 14 and 15.

So, when we read Paul's prayer, we have to realize that Paul was bringing all of this background into his prayer.

When Paul describes the Father, He is not just praying to the Father of Abraham, or the Father of the Jews, instead Paul is praying to the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name. It no longer matters whether you are from the tribe of Judah, or the tribe of Benjamin or the tribe of Dan. It no longer even matters if you are descended from Abraham or not. It doesn't even matter if you are Greek or Roman. It doesn't even matter if you are alive or dead. He is still your Father.

When Paul prays to God the Father from whom every family derives its name he is saying a whole lot more than what it looks like at first glance. He is saying that it no longer matters where you from the tribe of Judah, or Benjamin or Dan, or whether you aren't even descended from Abraham at all, maybe you are Greek or Roman. It doesn't matter, if you have trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you are part of a new family. The family of God the Father, The family of the great I AM.

The only thing that matters is the Gospel. The gospel now decides who is in who is out, the gospel decides who your father is. All that matters is if you have trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. If you have done that you are part of a new family if you have done that you are part of a new family. And this new family has God the Father, as the head.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

We already talked about the reason, so I will only briefly review. Paul writes for this reason. The reason is the Gospel. Because of everything the Gospel has done to reconcile us to the Father, Paul can come to God His Father in prayer. And Paul comes kneeling.

Paul writes, from whom His whole family in heaven and earth derives its name.

By Jesus, you are now a child of the Great I AM.

There is this certain kinship that we share with all the believers. We share it even with those that have gone on before us. In this letter to the Ephesians Paul certainly, adds this element of the heavenly.

And it is from God that we derive our name. The family name is a big deal, who your Father is, matters. This was even more so true than it is today, and we lose a bit of it, but it is still a big deal.

Often prayer was done standing, sometimes arms raised and eyes toward heaven, while it was not unusual to be kneeling, it indicates a particular intensity to his prayer. It indicates a particular respect and submission to God the Father. It indicates a dependence.

Families over the ages have designed elaborate crests, to represent their family.A person's last name determined their occupation. You did what your father did. There are the last names of Smith, Baker, Cooper, Taylor, Miller, all related to occupations. Some men here ended up in their father's occupation, and whether or not we did, what our fathers did, still mattered. We all asked one another what our Dad's did, and to a large extent our very identity was tied up with it.

SO he reminds us that we are part of a much bigger family. Everyone here at St. Luke's who trusts in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins is part of this family. Everyone in Faribault who trusts in the gospel is part of this family. Everyone on earth who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is part of this family. Even those that have died to trust in Jesus are part of this family. And it is from God that we derive our name. God the Father.

People spent time watching and working with their father's. When the little Smith boy was old enough to go into the shop, he helped his father and became the blacksmith. Young men helped their dad on their farms to learn how to farm and to later inherit it and farm it themselves. And it goes on and on. with the carpenters and the woodworkers, and bricklayers.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

The family name is a big deal. Who your Father is, matters. Families have designed elaborate crests, to represent their family.

SLide-Ancestry.com (1)

Because of the gospel, Paul comes kneeling, begging, pleading, depending on God the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Your family name determined who you were. A person's last name determined their occupation. You did what your father did.

But what Paul is saying here, is that it doesn't matter. What Paul is saying is here is that when you go to Ancestry dot com, there should be a little different format.

When the little Smith boy was old enough to go into the shop he helped his father and became the blacksmith. Young men helped their dad on their farms to later inherit it and farm it themselves. There are the last names of Smith, Baker, Cooper, Taylor, Miller, all related to occupations. And speaking for many of us men here, whether we ended up in our father's occupation or not, and some point as a child it was important what he did.

Have you heard of this, ancestry dot com? It is very cool. You can put in your name and your birthday, and father's name and you can trace your lineage and see where you came from.

Specifically, in this context, the aspect of the gospel that Paul is emphasizing is that the Gospel is bringing together both Jews and Gentiles into God's family. This idea carries with it a whole lot of baggage. Remember Judaism is not just a religion, it is also a race. They are the chosen people of God.

But what Paul is saying here, is that it doesn't matter. What Paul is saying is that if He were in charge of Ancestry dot com, you would put your name in the box and there would be one question. Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of you sins?

But what Paul is saying it there should be one place you would put in your name, and then one question. Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?

If you answer no, then your lineage would come up with page after page of people. But if you answer, yes I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, When you press enter, it returns only one answer for your Father, . I AM WHO I AM

If you answer no, then your lineage would come up with page after page of people.

Think about that for a minute. Let that settle in.

Slide Ancestry.Com (2)

So, who was in and who was out was very important to them. As a result, the Jewish people kept and recorded very detailed genealogies. Many people when they first attempt to read through the whole Bible get to the genealogies and start to get exhausted.

But if you answer, yes. Yes I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ. When you press enter, it returns only one answer for your Father.

When I smelled that machine in the trailer, all these memories of my dad came back to me. It was like I was back in that factory that he worked in. But that is not my Father's business.

Slide Ancestry.com (3)

No, see when we walk through the doors of the church now we are about our Father's business. We are taking up the family business. It is now our identity.

Probably the single most important reason for the genealogies is that it proves that Jesus is the line David, and a rightful heir to the throne, and the Messiah of Isreal. That is certainly the single most important reason, but I am not concerned with that specific reason today.

As we look forward to stepping outside our walls this summer, we, of course, have been studying this Ephesians passage. Today, I want to to look at verses 14 and 15.

. I AM WHO I AM

The first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, occur at

Think about that for a minute. Let that settle in.

Church, we need to be about our Father's business.

Today, I am simply stating that the Jewish people placed great importance on their family, clan, and tribe. Remember, these were the children of Abraham. As the children of Abraham, they were entitled to inherit the blessing Abraham received from God. The blessing was the promised land. The physical land of the country of Israel. It was divided up among the 12 tribes, and the land was passed down through inheritance from Father to son.

All those ancestors, everything you father did, you whole heritage in one single moment. The moment you place your faith in Jesus, it is all wiped out. You are now a child of the king!

But how do we do that? I have three specific implications for our church today, in relation to father's day.Character, Unity, and Inheritance.

When I smelled that machine in the trailer, all these memories of my dad came back to me. It was like I was back in that factory that he worked in. But not any more. Now, my father is the Great I Am. Yahweh the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Character. We must strive to be like our Father's character.

We already talked about the reason, so I will only briefly review. Paul writes for this reason. The reason is the Gospel. Because of everything the Gospel has done to reconcile us to the Father, Paul can come to God His Father in prayer. And Paul comes kneeling.

Those thoughts about my dad's business, that is not it anymore. No, my Father has a different business.

So, when we read Paul's prayer, we have to realize that Paul was bringing all of this background into his prayer.

And Father's we must instill our Father's Character into our children.

Now, brothers and sisters, when we walk through the doors of the church, now we are home. When we are here then, we are about our Father's business. We are taking up the family business. It is now our identity.

The first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, occur at

Jesus said be perfect as your Father is perfect.

When Paul prays to God the Father from whom every family derives its name he is saying a whole lot more than what it looks like at first glance. He is saying that it no longer matters where you from the tribe of Judah, or Benjamin or Dan, or whether you aren't even descended from Abraham at all, maybe you are Greek or Roman. It doesn't matter, if you have trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you are part of a new family. The family of God the Father, The family of the great I AM.

Luke 2:49 NKJV

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

How can I do that? I am constantly burdened with sin.

Often prayer was done standing, sometimes arms raised and eyes toward heaven, while it was not unusual to be kneeling, it indicates a particular intensity to his prayer.

Church, we need to be about our Father's business.

In the Book of Romans, chapter 7 Paul describes that struggle.

Paul writes, from whom His whole family in heaven and earth derives its name.

But how do we do that? I have three specific implications for our church today, about father's day.

Character, Unity, and Inheritance.

The Lord Jesus Christ will rescue you from that

Character. We must strive to be like our Father's character.

There is this certain kinship that we share with all the believers. We share it even with those that have gone on before us. In this letter to the Ephesians Paul certainly, adds this element of the heavenly.

And Father's we must instill our Father's Character into our children.

Set your minds on things above and do not give up.

Matthew 5:48 NIV

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Think back for a minute to those young boys learning their Father's trades in the blacksmith shop. They didn't get it all right at first. They didn't start out forging a battle sword. They probably started sweeping and stoking the fire..... But they spent time in the shop.... Day after day at their father's side learning the craft. They learned from watching a skilled craftsman forge a battle sword the right way. They didn't try learning it on their own, and they didn't learn it watching someone unskilled.

Jesus said be perfect as your Father is perfect.

Often we focus on getting rid of the sin rather than focusing on God. We devise all kinds of ways to avoid the sin, and that works to some extent. It helps for a while. But the best way to kill a sin in your life is to fill your life with God.

How can I do that? I am constantly burdened with sin.

I am going to use an alcoholism analogy here, you can stay away from the bar, but unless you work on the problems that caused the behaviors in the first place, it isn't going to change.

SO he reminds us that we are part of a much bigger family. Everyone here at St. Luke's who trusts in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins is part of this family. Everyone in Faribault who trusts in the gospel is part of this family. Everyone on earth who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is part of this family. Even those that have died trusting in Jesus are part of this family. And it is from God that we derive our name. God the Father.

In the Book of Romans, chapter 7 Paul describes that struggle.

Sin is chasing after something that isn't God. We need to fill ourselves with things of God, and chase after him.

Romans 7:21–25 NIV

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Spend time with your Heavenly Father. Learn who he is. Listen to Him, spend time in prayer, read his word be filled with the Spirit, the sin will die.

The Lord Jesus Christ will rescue you from that

The family name is a big deal. Who your Father is, matters. Families have designed elaborate crests, to represent their family.

As you do that Fathers, your children will see you and follow you. As you spend time with your Father and are about His business when you spend time with your children they will take on His character as well.

Romans 8:5–7 NIV

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Unity.

Set your minds on things above and do not give up.

Your family name determined who you were. A person's last name determined their occupation. You did what your father did.

Paul, without doub, has unity in mind. Of course the phrasing in this verse, from whom every family on heaven and earth derives its name. ALso, back in chapter 2, starting at verse 19 Paul writes

Think back for a minute to those young boys learning their Father's trades in the blacksmith shop. They didn't get it all right at first. They didn't start out forging a battle sword. They probably started sweeping and stoking the fire..... But they spent time in the shop.... Day after day at their father's side learning the craft. They learned from watching a skilled craftsman forge a battle sword the right way. They didn't try learning it on their own, and they didn't learn it watching someone unskilled.

.

Often we focus on the sin rather than focusing on God. We devise all kinds of ways to avoid the sin, and that may work to some extent. It helps for a while. But the best way to kill a sin in your life is to fill your life with God.

And then In the very next verses following this prayer, Paul gives us a picture of that unity in the Church.

I am going to use an alcoholism analogy here, you can stay away from the bar, but unless you work on the problems that caused the behaviors in the first place, it isn't going to change.

When the little Smith boy was old enough to go into the shop he helped his father and became the blacksmith. Young men helped their dad on their farms to later inherit it and farm it themselves. There are the last names of Smith, Baker, Cooper, Taylor, Miller, all related to occupations. And speaking for many of us men here, whether we ended up in our father's occupation or not, and some point as a child it was important what he did.

Sin is chasing after something that isn't God. We need to fill ourselves with things of God, and chase after him. We need to learn his character.

Specifically, in this context, the aspect of the gospel that Paul is emphasizing is that the Gospel is bringing together both Jews and Gentiles into God's family. This idea carries with it a whole lot of baggage. Remeber Judaism is not just a religion, it is also a race. They are the chosen people of God.

Spend time with your Heavenly Father. Learn who he is. Listen to Him, spend time in prayer, read his word be filled with the Spirit, relay on the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, the sin will die. Then you head toward what your father is like.

Be completely humble, gentle, Be Patient, bear with one another in love, and there is ONE LORD ONE FAITH ONE BAPTISM ONE GOD and FATHER OVER ALL. Again Focus on God, not on the sin. Focus on the things above that is the way.

But what Paul is saying here, is that it doesn't matter. What Paul is saying is that if He were in charge of Ancestry dot com, you would put your name in the box and there would be one question. Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of you sins?

As you do that Fathers, your children will see you and will follow you. As you spend time with your Father and are about His business when you spend time with your children they will follow you. They will take on His character as well.

Inheritance.

When you have the family name, you also get the inheritance. Just the young boy working in the shop or on the family farm will one day inherit it, works with his father to learn the craft, Paul writes in

If you answer no, then your lineage would come up with page after page of people. But if you answer, yes I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, When you press enter, it returns only one answer for your Father, . I AM WHO I AM

The next point is unity.

Inheritance is certainly a key idea in Ephesians, and Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to us to guarantee that one day we will receive our spiritual inheritance.

So, who was in and who was out was very important to them. As a result, the Jewish people kept and recorded very detailed genealogies. Many people when they first attempt to read through the whole Bible get to the genealogies and start to get exhausted.

Paul, without doubt, has unity in mind. "From whom every family on heaven and earth derives its name. " Also, in chapter 2, starting at verse 19 Paul writes

Having a view of this inheritance helps us to live differently. We are assured, and therefore we can be without fear.

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

.

Think about that for a minute. Let that settle in.

In Luke Chapter 12, in the middle of Jesus preaching about material needs, as he says to not worry, he says in

Paul has this unity, one family under one Father in mind. And after praying, in the verses following this prayer, Paul writes about that unity in the Church.

Ephesians 4:3–6 NIV

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

AN

When I smelled that machine in the trailer, all these memories of my dad came back to me. It was like I was back in that factory that he worked in. But that is not my Father's business.

Probably the single most important reason for the genealogies is that it proves that Jesus is the line David, and a rightful heir to the throne, and the Messiah of Isreal. That is certainly the single most important reason, but I am not concerned with that specific reason today.

Be completely humble, gentle, Be Patient, bear with one another in love, and there is ONE LORD ONE FAITH ONE BAPTISM ONE GOD and FATHER OVER ALL. Again Focus on God, not on the difference. Focus on the Father, and we will be unified as we all look to our father. Focus on the things above that is the way to unity.

Inheritance.

No, see when we walk through the doors of the church now we are about our Father's business. We are taking up the family business.

When you have the family name, you also have the inheritance. Just like the young boy working in the shop or on the family farm will one day inherit it, he works with his father to learn the craft, he uses the very same things that he will one day inherit.

Ephesians 1:14 NIV

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Today, I am simply stating that the Jewish people placed great importance on their family, clan, and tribe. Remember, these were the children of Abraham. As the children of Abraham, they were entitled to inherit the blessing Abraham received from God. The blessing was the promised land. The physical land of the country of Israel. It was divided up among the 12 tribes, and the land was passed down through inheritance from Father to son.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as a guarantee that one day we will receive our spiritual inheritance.

The first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, occur at

Having a view of this inheritance helps us to live differently. We are given the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the tools of the Church to further the kingdom of God, to be about the family business.

Brothers and Sisters, if you not placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, turn to him. Turn to him, and have your sin removed, become part of the Family of the Father. Be his child.

Church, we need to be about our Father's business. But how do we do that? Jesus said be perfect as your Father is perfect? How do I do that when I am burdened with sin? I can't share the gospel, i might drive my friend away. I don't have the time or the money to care for the widows and orphans, how can I do that? See, that is what Paul is praying for He is praying that the church will have the power through the Holy Spirit to do that.

As you become his child, follow his character, let us be unified as one family with one father, and know that we have an inheritance from God the Father held for us until that one day when we are called home in glory.

So, when we open the Bible to the book of Ephesians, we have to realize that Paul was bringing all of this background into his writing.

Think back for a minute to those young boys learning their Father's trades in the blacksmith shop. They didn't get it all right at first. They didn't start out forging a battle sword. They probably started sweeping and stoking the fire, but they spent time in the shop. Day after day at their father's side learning the craft.

You have opportunities every single day to be about your Father's business. You are not going to be perfect; it is a process, you may struggle with a particular sin, and you may struggle and you may struggle. But Jesus has won the victory.

So when Paul writes for this reason, what he is saying is because of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

I can't share the gospel; I might drive my friend away. I don't have the time or the money to care for the widows and orphans, how can I do that? See, that is what Paul is praying for He is praying that the church will have the power through the Holy Spirit to do that.

You may not be able to share the entire gospel right now with your firend, but you can pray, and let them know you have faith.

to be about your Father's business. You are not going to be perfect; it is a process, you may struggle with a particular sin, and you may struggle, and you may struggle. But Jesus has won the victory.

(NIV)

You may not be able to share the entire gospel right now with your friend, but you can pray, and let them know you have faith.