God's Family--Part 2 (855)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRODUCTION:
1. With all that is going on it is extremely important that we draw closer as a family.
A. Jesus understood the need to draw close to spiritual family.
1. Jesus loved the family of Lazarus.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
A. Jesus was so close to Lazarus that even though He knew He was going to raise him from the dead, He groaned in His spirit and wept.
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.
2. Jesus was close to His apostles but there were three that he was even closer to.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
A. There was one apostle in whom Jesus was extremely close.
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
1. Jesus would entrust His mother to the apostle in whom He loved when He was dying on the cross.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
2. Today we are going to talk about the second verse to the song “God’s Family”.
BODY:
1. When a brother meets sorrow we all feel his grief.
A. As family when one is terminally ill we should share their grief.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
B. We should be there for one another to share one another’s burdens and fulfil the law of Christ.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
2. When he’s passed thro’ the valley we all feel relief.
A. Revelation 14:13 tells us three things that we need to know as a Christian family concerning death.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
1. Those that die in the Lord are blessed.
2. Those who die in the Lord find rest from their labors.
3. Those who die in the Lord have their works follow them.
B. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 tells us two very important things we need to know as a Christian family concerning death.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1. We should not sorrow as the rest of the world.
2. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe we will also.
C. Knowing and understanding these five things should bring us close as a family of God.
CONCLUSION:
1. Together in sunshine—When everything is good.
2. Together in rain—When everything is going wrong.
3. Together in victory through Jesus precious name.
A. We will be able to have victory in Jesus because of the Church family He gave us and be steadfast, immovable together.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
B. This is why His word tells us to never forsake His Church but to draw near to God together.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
C. It is Through sharing this time of sorrow that we truly become the family of God.