Galatians 6:10
AUDIO MP3
Aug 3, 2014 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (Galatians 6:10; 2Corinthians 6:18)
A.
Look at Galatians 6:10
1.
At every opportunity, every time God opens a door for you…
2.
Do good, to everyone
a.
To friends
b.
To neighbours
c.
To enemies
d.
People near, AND far away
e.
Fix flat tyres on the side of the road, take someone out for coffee; fix someone
a meal; mend a fence, watch someone’s children…
3.
But do good, especially, with special priority on doing good, to those who
belong to the household of faith!
B.
What is a “household of faith”?
1.
A group of people who are not religious, not a company, not a business, but A
FAMILY
2.
“A Family of Believers”
a.
A Household of Faith - THAT is what a church is
b.
Church is NOT a Building! Not a Religion! Not a Denomination (like Baptists,
Catholics, Presbyterians)! But a family
3.
A very big family – called the Family of God!
C.
Made up of SONS and DAUGHTERS (2Cor 6:18)! As part of His FAMILY! His HOUSEHOLD!
Not just a ‘follower’ or believer, but a PART OF GOD’S FAMILY!
1.
What a thought! To be known as a “son”, or a “daughter” of Almighty God!
2.
A sinner, yes, but a forgiven sinner, washed, cleaned, justified, and seen in
the eyes of God, as a SAINT!
3.
Oh how amazing is “the household of God!”
D.
And all of Mankind is invited to join this different family
E.
If only people knew how special God’s family is!
II.
Preview
A.
The Family of God
B.
A People of Faith
C.
Different than the World
D.
Taking Care of the Family
E.
From Generation to Generation
III.
Message
A.
The Family of God (Eph 3:14,15)
1.
It is GOD’S Family
a.
It is a bit more important than your family or my family
b.
It started with
1)
God the Father
2)
God the Word, who became flesh, and dwelt here among us!
3)
And God the Holy Spirit
c.
THESE three are THE BELOVED
d.
And people, sinful people are invited into that beloved relationship (Eph 1:6;
3:14,15)
2.
They are JUST as important as your family in your home (Matthew 12:47-50)
3.
You must be Born Again INTO this family (Eph 1:12)
a.
No one is just born into this family – no one starts off as a Christian
b.
Your first birth put you into your own family
c.
And your FIRST spiritual “father” is the devil himself (John 8:44) – whether you
wuill admit it or not
1)
No matter how religious you may be
2)
No matter how zealous
3)
No matter how good you try to live
4)
Your first birth is never going to be good enough to get you by the judgment!
d.
Only a whole new birth can place you into God’s family (John 3:1-7) a SPIRITUAL
birth, internal
e.
It is called being quickened, converted (Eph 2:1-9)
f.
There is NO OTHER WAY INTO this family!
1)
No good works
2)
No back doors
3)
Only through ONE Door, Jesus (John 14:6)
4)
Try to get in ANY other way and you are a thief and a robber (John 10:1)
g.
Life is not all about getting into church, or into a religion, but into the
family of God!
h.
If you want into God’s family, you will have to come in HIS way! Through God’s
only begotten Son!
4.
We are SECURE in this Family (Eph 1:13,14) – DIVORCE is something MAN demanded,
not God!
a.
God’s family is FULL of imperfect people
1)
Who have been converted, Forgiven, Justified by Christ alone – not their own
good works
2)
Made into SAINTS, HERE, not just in heaven where people expect saints live (Eph
1:1)! God’s saints like in Ballincollig, Dripsey, Coachford, Douglas, Cork city,
Carrigaline, Hollyhill!
b.
And we have been SEALED by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives until
the day we are redeemed (picked up) – raptured!
c.
Can you imagine the fear of a person growing up in a home where at every step
they fear being kicked out of the family, disowned, rejected, divorced,
abandoned?
d.
It CAN’T happen in God’s family – THANK GOD! We are sealed, safe and secure!
5.
God dwells amongst His family (Eph 2:20-22; 2Cor 6:14-18; 1Cor 6:19)
6.
We are all one big household – one big family (Eph 3:14,15)!
a.
We are brethren (Mt 23:8)
b.
Sons and Daughters – brothers and sisters in a great big family!
c.
Yes, we have pastors, and teachers, and evangelists, coordinating, guiding
d.
But Bible believers, true followers of Jesus Christ have NO Popes, Cardinals,
Arch-bishops, Priests, Acolytes, Canons, Deans, Nuncios, Protodeacons, Primates,
Nuns, Monks, Monsignors!
e.
Just ONE Master, one Leader that we follow… JESUS!
f.
One day we will all be together in our Father’s house (John 14:1,2)!
B.
A People of FAITH (Eph 2:19)
1.
We are a people, bound together…
2.
NOT because we are some superior race (Eph 2:13-19; 3:6; Gal 3:28). We don’t all
look the same – but we DO believe the same!
3.
NOT because we have one big central church headquarters.
a.
Did you know that there is no mention of “the church of Rome” in the Bible?
There were churches there, but they were never honoured above any other church!
b.
Just churches, everywhere – equal to each other, no matter the size, or wealth!
c.
The church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1)
d.
The church at Antioch (Acts 13:1)
e.
Ephesus (Acts 20:17)
f.
At Cenchrea (Rom 16:1)
g.
The church of God which is at Corinth (1Cor 1:2)
h.
At Babylon (1Peter 3:18)
i.
the church of
Ephesus (Rev 2:1)
j.
the church in
Smyrna (Rev 2:8)
k.
the church in Pergamos (Rev 2:12)
l.
the church in
Thyatira (Rev 2:18)
m.
the church in Sardis (Rev 3:1)
n.
the church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7)
o.
the church of the Laodiceans (Rev 3:14)
4.
NOT because of size or wealth, but because of the presence of Jesus Christ
there, and the preaching of the truth of the Gospel there (Mt 18:20).
a.
It is very important that people are
welcome in a church
b.
But the important thing is to make sure that He is welcome here, and honoured in
all we do! More than all of us combined!
5.
But because of the faith that has been handed down to us in the Bible! We are a
people of FAITH
a.
What binds us together is our faith in the God of the Bible
b.
Not our culture that we grew up in – not our history – not our location
c.
But our faith in the God of this Bible!
d.
We live by that faith. Just trusting Jesus Christ; walking by faith instead of
by sight (2Cor 5:7). Trusting HE knows the way we should take, and following Him
C.
We are Different than the World
1.
We are different by design!
a.
Every child takes on the characteristics of his or her parents – genetics –
designed
b.
The same is true for a born again believer – we are no longer the same – from
the moment of salvation (2Cor 5:17)!
c.
If you find yourself different than you were before conversion, then, you have
truly been converted. If you are still the same, then fear! You only have
religion, and not conversion!
2.
If we are not different than the world around us, then we have not joined the
family of God – we are supposed to be different than the world (Titus 2:14; 1Pet
2:9)
D.
This Family is For (Eph 3 & 4)
1.
Anybody - the Lowest of the Low - Gentiles (Eph 3:1-6)
2.
Fellowship (Eph 3:6-9) Encouragement
– no longer “fellowshipping” with the works of darkness (5:11,12), but with
believers! Where do you get YOUR fellowship from?
3.
A Testimony (Eph 3:10) – to the world
4.
Training (Eph 3:16,17) – getting rooted and grounded – strengthened, bonded
together by the truths of this Book being understood, and believed, and lived
out in each of our lives, every day!
5.
Prayer (Eph 3:20,21) – Jesus said, “my house shall be called a house of prayer”
6.
Loving (Eph 1:15; 4:2, 16) – not constantly nit-picking and fault finding, but
doing a lot of covering, and caring, and forgiving, and giving to each other
what the world cannot afford!
7.
Expanding (Eph 4:16). It is not just for sitting here, but going into all the
world, affecting the world around us instead of the world affecting us!
8.
As long as you come in through the Door, you are in the family! Any other way,
and you are a thief and a robber (John 10:1)
E.
Taking Care of the Family (Eph 4:1-3,7-16)
1.
All Believers Live for Each Other, First
a.
Not just here, amongst ourselves
b.
But everywhere
2.
THAT is our vocation – ministering to each other in love
3.
You have been given a gift from Christ
a.
Not a talent
b.
But a calling, a gift to serve others, at high cost
c.
Different Roles, Callings and Ministries (1Cor 12) – I will devote a whole
Sunday to this idea
d.
It will NOT be something you find easy to do
4.
Whatever your gift is, it is meant to:
a.
Perfect the other believers – the saints
b.
Do the work of the ministry
c.
Edify the whole body of Christ – our church, and other Christians
d.
Not mainly for the benefit of your company, or your own family, but benefit the
family of God!!!
e.
So that we stop being childish and immature, and instead all grown-up
f.
Joined together, tightly (compacted)
g.
Supplying the needs of the body
h.
Edifying everyone in love
5.
THIS PLACE, US PEOPLE should be THE most amazing place because of the love of
Christ amongst us ALL! Because we take care of each other, in love for each
other!
F.
Always Investing in the Next Generation
1.
Why sacrifice so much of our time, of our monies, or our lives?
2.
Because, What we do here today, is not about us and our wants
3.
But about faithfully continuing the family of God (2Tim 2:2) into the next
generation
4.
Passing on what God gave US
5.
Investing a love for God into our children, into our teenagers, into young
adults, first in our homes, and then…
a.
In every Sunday School class time
b.
Through faithful preaching, and teaching of this Book
c.
In personal Bible study
d.
Through one on one Discipleship
e.
In attending Bible Institute
f.
All so THIS household of faith has qualified men and women to serve the future
people of this church
g.
And, So that more churches get started
6.
If the next generation gets lost, it will be lost by parents who do not have
their children in church every week, and in every service!
7.
If you don’t care about a Bible believing church being here into the next
generation, then stay home this evening, and every Wednesday evening! Don’t read
and learn your own Bible. Don’t go soul-winning! It may just help the devil
close another church!
8.
But if you DO care, then bring the next generation to hear this Book taught
(Psalm 78:1-4)
9.
Make the people in this room, your priority – as much as your family at home are
10.
Because they are family
IV.
Invitation
A.
So what do you think of when you think of a Church? A Building, a Denomination,
a Religion?
B.
A Church, a real church is filled with family members – filled with the
household of God!
C.
Some people come and sit amongst family members, all their lives, but have never
been born again into the family of God! And they one day, will discover they
wasted all those years, ignoring so great an invitation – to become a son or
daughter of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone!
D.
Don’t sit any longer on the sides, watching this group of believers press
forward
1.
Get born again into the family of God – get into the family of God, BY FAITH,
before the door closes
2.
And then get stuck into this local family – serving each other, ministering to
each other, building each other up
3.
And, Look forward to one day being with the whole family of God, in our Father’s
house in heaven!