Gtcotr/ws071019
Psalms 68:6 God sets the
solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But
the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Family
… That’s what God wants more than anything else. The Bible makes this very plain.
Many of you can understand the overwhelming desire to have and to be a family.
People who have caring, loving family may not realize just how much a person
who does not have a functional and supportive family feels. There is a longing
that nothing else will satisfy. Life can feel empty without family. This must
have been what God felt when He first decided He was going to do whatever it
took to have one.
Have
you ever eaten until you were full? Feels like you could not eat another bite.
You just didn’t want another thing. It’s great to be full and fully satisfied.
Now imagine what it feels like to live each day in starvation, deprived of
daily bread and without hope. Each night to go to be hungry and empty and
afraid. Perhaps many people who have plenty of food can understand how terrible
it is for people who have none and those who may be forced to watch their
children suffer and die from starvation.
We
believe hunger is horrible however, we may not as easily recognize the daily
pain and emptiness people experience who live without that close-knit, secure
feeling family provides. We were not designed by God to be born or to live on
earth or in heaven without that feeling and that blessing only family
relationships can give.
Once
again, Family is the single most important plan, will,
purpose and pursuit of God. Nothing else in the universe or eternity
matters to God and to you as much as does family. This is the picture God gave
us when He made Himself a Father and calls us His children. God wants family
and He wants us to be not only His family, but He wants us to be family
together wit each other. This is the relationship that is birthed when each new
Believer is Born-Again. We are born into the family of God as one of His dear
children and we are supposed to be and live as brothers and sisters together in
Christ in this world and in the world to come.
There
is no other way to get to heaven … you must be Born-Again and become a Child of
God and a member of His family.
On
the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, 3000 people were saved in the
streets of Jerusalem. Some of these Believers returned to their native
countries and cities while many others remained in Jerusalem and became a part
of that first Church Family.
Acts 2 NKJV
42 ¶ And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every
soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate
their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who
were being saved.
Now
the Church family was growing … every day people were being Born-Again! What
excitement and what powerful results. They had all things in common and even
sold extra stuff, like a family garage sale, and took the proceeds and met
needs within the family. It was awesome.
Well,
some time later, maybe 1 to 3 years after that first big Jerusalem revival and
the birth of the first Church, there was another powerful revival in Jerusalem.
Peter and John were going to pray and a man who had been lame for over 40 years
was miraculously healed. As a result of that miracle, 5000 people were believed
Peter’s preaching and were Born-Again.
Can
you imagine waking up one morning with 3000 children, well, let’s so we can
relate, let’s say 3 children … Can you imagine waking up one morning with 3
children and before sundown you have 5 more children born to you? Think of the
extra formula and diapers and baby beds and bottles and pacifiers and socks and
blankets and on top of that you wake up every morning so pregnant that you have
more children each day! That’s a growing family!!! And Daddy just wants to have
more and more and more … He wants a big family! He doesn’t just want a bunch of
kids … He wants a family … unified … filled with love, patience, joy, peace,
provision and blessed in all they do.
God didn’t just save people; He didn’t just begin a Church; God
birthed a family!
That’s
what we see when we read the Book of Acts. Especially when we get towards the
end of the 4th chapter of Acts.
Acts 4 NKJV
32 ¶ Now the multitude of
those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that
any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the
apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace
was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among
them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and
brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at
the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also
named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a
Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold it,
and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Why
did they do that? Because they wanted to! This is the family of God in action.
However, this is a description of what the first Church family did and although
it is our pattern it is not a prescription of what each one of you should do.
This practice should not be taught for doctrine as evidenced in Chapter 5 where
Peter said that what we have is ours and we can do whatever we please with it.
Even though it is not a commandment, it is however a pattern and an example of
how each one of us should feel about our brothers and sisters and their needs.
We should have the same care for them as we do ourselves. We should love and
care for every Born-Again Believer like we are supposed to love
and care for a brother or sister.
Acts
is all about the family of God and as such … we should recognize God’s plan and
work for His will. They didn’t love like this to become
family, they loved like this because they were family. Only you can fill
God’s emptiness. Only you can accomplish His will. Family …
