God's Family Plan For Us

In the last week's sermon, I spoke about our God-given purpose. The fact that the Holy Days reflect not just God's plan of salvation for all of mankind, but our individual purpose within that and our collective purpose as a church as well. And as we keep those days, we're reminded of what God purposes for us as His people. And today, I'd like to jump off from that topic and talk a little more about the family structure that God has ordained, because we've just had the blessing of the little children, which is something that I think we look forward to with great anticipation.

And it seems like a good time to be reminded as well the importance, the significance that God places on the family and the importance we must place on the family as well. So the title of this message is God's family plan for us. God's family plan for us. Family is something that is very important to God. And again, through His Holy Days, He reveals that to us.

Family is central to what God is doing, what it is that He's bringing to pass, not only individually in our lives, but in the world as a whole, that which we see lined out yet in the future in the Bible, that which we've walked through through these Holy Days we've just finished up. God's plan is a family plan. He's building His family through us. I'd like to begin in Ephesians chapter 3 to identify, again, specifically, this is what God is doing. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3, it's the introduction that Paul wrote to this epistle.

And he says, Blessed be the God and Father. So when you bring in Father, now you're talking about a family relationship. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. And so what we see right off the bat is God the Father and Jesus Christ have a very special relationship. They exist together in a family relationship where you have the Father and the Son. And this is the family that God is building. In addition to that, God is in the process of expanding His family beyond those two beings of the Father and the Son to include us as well.

Verse 4 says, Just as He chose us, you and me, in Him, in Jesus Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame, before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons, again, that's another family term, by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us acceptable in the beloved. And so clearly God's plan is a family plan.

God's plan is a family plan. It is what He is doing. Hebrews 2 and verse 10 tells us that God is working to bring many sons to glory. And it's an effort that is ongoing and includes the active involvement of both God the Father and Jesus Christ. In bringing many sons to glory in the family God is building. When Jesus walked the earth, He says, My Father has been working until now, and I am working. And what do you suppose the work is? Again, it is the family business. It's what God and Christ are doing to bring many sons to glory into the family of God. So we're working on this together with them, with one another, because we are that family they are building.

God created the physical family in the beginning with the intent that it would model His spiritual family. That when you looked at the family structure that God ordained from the beginning, you would see a model, a representation of what God is doing unto salvation. And that understanding is awesome. And that understanding should motivate us to be as strong as we can be in our own personal family relationships. Between husbands and wives, between parents and children back to their parents, and between siblings as well, with the understanding that what God is building is a family.

And that begins with us. That's what God is building. So how are we doing? We should ask ourselves, how are we doing? It's good to evaluate every now and then. Take a look inside our own family structure. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, how are we doing in this incredible calling from God? The Bible contains many instructions about living a godly life and existing in the structure of a godly family. So I want to look at a few of those briefly today in reminder of how you and I should function in the family relationship God has placed us in.

I first want to look at husbands and wives. Let's go back to Genesis chapter 1.

Genesis 1, I want to begin by looking at the first marital union that we see recorded in the Bible.

Genesis chapter 1. This is instructive because, again, it points to what God has ordained from the beginning and what it is he intended with the first man and first woman. Genesis chapter 1, verse 26. I went here last week. Genesis 1.26 says, then God said, let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them. So right from the beginning, right, two distinctive genders, male and female, and there's no confusion here. And as the Bible says about everything that God created, it was good. Verse 28 says, then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every creeping thing, every living thing that moves on the earth. Joint dominion, if we want to say with God, joint rulership over the earth is what God vested in man, this first man and his wife. But what we see here directly is that God blessed them. Put them together, he blessed them, he blessed their union is what he blessed. He blessed their marriage. He said, be fruitful, multiply, have family, produce children, fill the earth. And Genesis chapter 2 gives a little more detail as to how the relationship between the first man and the first woman came to be. Genesis chapter 2 in verse 18 says, and the Lord God said, it is not good, that man should be alone. I will make him a helper, comparable to him. At this time, Adam is by himself. God brings to him, you know, all the animals to name, and yet there's none like him in all of creation. Verse 19, it says, out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field, every bird of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would name them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all the cattle, to the birds of the air, the beasts of the field. But for Adam, there was not found a helper comparable to him. And it's kind of interesting to consider, why didn't God just create a man and a woman together, and pair them up from the beginning, from the first conscious thought that Adam had, there was the woman? Because it would seem that was the way with the animals, the mates for the animals, as God had created this. But I think part of the lesson was that God was revealing to Adam, through this whole process, the need he had, for a companion. You know, if Eve had always been there, it would just sort of be, well, this is how it is. But to look around and see, there is no one like me. I'm alone in this physical existence. I think he gave Adam probably a deeper appreciation for the gift that God gave him, as he provided for him, the woman. This would be a companion for Adam, and it would be a very special relationship. Verse 21, it says, and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam.

He slept, and as he slept, God took one of his ribs, closed up the flesh in its place, and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man he made into a woman, and he brought her to the man. And Adam said, now this is bone to my bones, flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out of the man. Again, this was a very special creation. God made the first woman from the man. It doesn't say that he fashioned her out of the dust of the ground, as he had done with the man. He took her literally from the man as this creation, and it's significant because God wanted Adam to feel a personal connection with this woman, and a connection that was unique from all the other animals, all the other creatures of creation. This woman was not only made similar to his likeness, but she was a part of him, literally bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. We can also recognize that taking the woman from the man's rib showed God's intent for the family structure, that the man would have a position of God-given authority, and the woman would be at his side as a companion to that. But there was a lead and a companionship that God intended from the beginning. Verse 24 says, therefore a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, and they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. So God, from the beginning, ordained an intimacy in this marriage relationship.

First, it was an intimacy by creation, having brought her created Eve out of a part of the man, but also the intimacy that then comes now in the sexual union that happens between a husband and a wife. It's how God intended it from the beginning. One man, one woman coming together as one, forming a family. God saw that it was good. Ephesians chapter 5 shows us how the same marriage relationship is to function yet even today. Ephesians chapter 5, we have Paul's instructions to the church regarding marriage, regarding the roles of husband and wife, and how we should view those. And I'll just say up front before I read it, this is the model. Okay, this is the standard that God set. So there are times where there are challenges, and there are difficulties even in submitting to that model. And I will just say, when there is, it's not because there's a problem with the standard or the roles that God has set. There's a problem with us at times, because we're human. And there are times that we fail to live up to our God-given roles, but this is, as God intended, from the beginning. And if it's lived properly by both the man and the woman, it is something that leads to joy in the family God is creating. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 22, excuse me, let me get in the right book. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 22, Paul writing, he says, wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. It says, for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church. He is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. What we see here is the relationship between the husband and the wife that's intended to reflect the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. And just as Jesus leads the church in a very loving and committed way, he has her best interest at heart. He has given himself for her, that bride to be, so must the husband conduct himself towards his wife.

This is describing a relationship of self-sacrifice. It's describing a relationship of commitment and a role of service towards our wives, gentlemen, that the standard has been set by Jesus Christ himself and the love he shows to the church. So for men and married men, this is our model.

Love our wives, serve her, sacrifice for her, give yourself fully to her as Christ is done for the church. It says, the wives in turn, they are instructed to submit to the leadership role of her husband as to Christ. And again, as I said, it can be a very wonderful thing, and it's intended to be wonderful when we fulfill our roles as God intended. If one or the other are failing to live up to the God-given roles, there's challenge, and there's trouble in these things. But God says, the wife is in turn to submit to the leadership of her husband. It's a role God has given him and a role he has given her. This type of relationship is designed to work well, and I would say it is something that the wife generally does willingly and joyfully when her husband is fulfilling the role that God has given him. A husband who is loving, who is honorable, and who is committed to leading according to God's instructions. In the beginning, God says, this is good. It is what he ordained to be so, and is what he has continued to give us to live by.

My advice to young ladies is this. So if you're listening, my advice to young ladies is this. Don't marry someone you cannot trust to fulfill their God-given role.

Okay, because there will be challenges. Young ladies, do not marry someone you cannot trust to fulfill that God-given role. This is speaking of a God-centered marriage, where each member serves one another in the bond of love and trust, and is something that is wonderful to experience when it is done, again, according to what God has ordained. Man's role and the woman's role. If we understand that God is building his family, and we understand the means by which the church is to become the bride of Jesus Christ in that family, then we should be encouraged to put our best effort forward in making our marriages work today. And it's something that should be constantly on our mind in terms of not pointing at the spouse, but examining self. You know, am I doing what God has given me to do to fulfill the role he has given me in this relationship?

And if you're both led by God, and you're both evaluating yourself from that standard, then I believe the blessing of a wonderful union will follow, because both husband and wife will be striving to live by the blessed relationship that God has given to them both. Now, in many cases, marriage leads to children, it leads to parenthood, and as parents then we have an obligation as well to continue in the education down to the next generation, to continue to model the family that God is building and help to bring those young ones along to understand the value in that as well. Again, God is building a family, and our family should reflect what he is doing unto salvation. And so the parent-child relationship is an opportunity and a responsibility for parents to reflect a godly family to their children. God is bringing spiritual children into his kingdom, and that blessing begins with us. Blessing little children, the ceremony we've just gone through, it's setting these children apart before God, asking for his blessing as they grow up, that they would look to him, that they would apply these principles, that they would understand the family that God has allowed them to be brought into by birth physically, but also the family he's bringing them into spiritual birth and salvation. Psalm chapter 127, let's look at the blessing of children. Psalm chapter 127 verse 3. This is a song of a sense of Solomon. Psalm 127 verse 3 says, Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. You think of a warrior, maybe think of a movie you've seen, we have a warrior with the bow and the quiver full of arrows, and it says children are like that. Well, what does a warrior do with an arrow? Well, he whips it out, doesn't he, and he points it to a target, and that target is God, at least who we would direct our children toward, who we would point them toward. We point them towards God as the target. We direct them on that course, and at some point we have to release that arrow and let it fly. But as parents, as the one that target and pointed, we do have a responsibility, direct them towards God, and then we release them. Now they have a responsibility to pursue that relationship for themselves. But if we've done our job, they will be pointing, by God's grace, in the right and proper direction towards him. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quib. We're full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gates. Children are a blessing, and we must use the parent-child relationship to teach them of God, to teach them of God's purpose for them, why they were born, where they're going, and the ultimate purpose of life. Deuteronomy chapter 6 reminds us of the heavy responsibility God places on parents to point their children to him. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 5, the children of Israel have wandered 40 years now. They're receiving instruction as they're preparing to come up to the promised land. And how will they live? And how will they direct their children? Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 5 says these words, they back up, verse 5, you shall love the Lord your God, parents, adults, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children. You shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. God is saying you parents begin with honoring this way of life for yourself. Sanctify the Lord God, set him apart in your focus, live this way of life, make it apart to you. Now you teach your children, and you teach your grandchildren, and you point them in the direction that God would have them go. And it's not saying that you constantly hammer them over the head with Scripture, you know, moment after moment, but it does say you're to be teaching them all the time, you know, when you're in your home, when you're walking by the way, when you wake up, when you go to sleep, because life provides opportunities continuously to teach our children object lessons through things we see, the things we encounter. In our house, as Austin and Tabitha were growing up, oftentimes we'd watch the news in the morning, and early morning news around seven o'clock, everybody's eating breakfast, getting ready for school, and the news, believe me, provided ample opportunity for object lessons. And Darla was always saying things like, see kids, that's why God says don't do this, or this is why God's Word says do that, and there's cause and effect, and oftentimes you would just see the consequences played out on the TV in the news right in front of you, people who either did or did not follow the principles of God's Word.

And the point is, though, parents teach. Teach your children. Use whatever opportunities present themselves to show them the truth of the way of God. I think we all understand that teaching our children involves as well more than simply words. It involves actions. Because our children are attentive, they watch us, they hear our words, but they also watch our actions. And God has called us to not only be those who can speak the truth of God, but those who live it as well. And our children need to see that God's way works. Sometimes that is a challenge. Sometimes it's a challenge that in the church we haven't always lived up to. We say, this is God's way, and God's way works. And yet we can't show it in our marriages, in our relationships. Our children are watching, and they're learning. And so then the responsibility as well comes back on us, on the parents, to model what God has given us as good, to show our children it works. So then they say, yes, I want that for myself. Actions many times speak louder than words. Our children listen to us, they hang on our every word, but they also watch our actions. So, parents, I would say most anyone can produce children in a relatively easy form, where now you've brought another life into the world, but it doesn't just end there. The hard work is in the responsibility to bring them and point them to God, and be the example God would have you be. It is a very high calling, and one that we must never take lightly in the church of God. I would say, parents, pray for God's help, and ask Him to guide and direct you as you guide and direct your children. Ephesians chapter 6 now then brings us into an understanding of the roles and responsibilities that children have in this process. The Bible contains instructions for the children as well.

Everybody does their part. Everybody is working to model the family that God is building. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 1 says, children, obey your parents and the Lord, for this is right.

And I actually want to take this. I want to read this. You can follow along in whatever version you have. I want to read this from the Living Bible, because I think it's written in a little more easy to read verse and flow for the children. So I say, children, if you're here and you're listening, listen to what this says. This is what God says to you, how you function in a family.

Ephesians 6, 1 through 3, children, obey your parents. It says, this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you. He's given them a role of responsibility.

Okay, honor your father and your mother. This is the first of God's 10 commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise that if you honor your father and your mother, yours will be a long life full of blessing. And that sounds pretty good, doesn't it? We all want long life, and we all want blessing. And God says, parents, if you're fulfilling your God-given role, as He's given to you, children should be able to look to you and receive the instruction that will be a blessing to them. And so the words for the children are, look to your parents, hear their words, heed their warnings, and it will lead to a life God intends for you.

Honor your father and your mother. Additionally, children, the things your parents teach you are intended to save you heartache. They're intended to direct you in a personal relationship with God.

And it's so important that our children understand that from the very beginning, God wants a relationship with them. And He's cultivating a relationship with them, because if He's called you and you've responded, as I mentioned in the, I believe it was in the Prayer of the Blessing of the Little Children, Acts 2, 39, this promises to you and to your children, and to all those who are far off. The Gentiles were the reference there. As many as the Lord God would call. So as the parents respond in relationship with God, God wants a relationship with the children. And the parents have responsibility to point them to Him. And the children are instructed to listen to the training and the admonition of their parents.

I would encourage our children to form a routine, to learn to pray to God daily. That's communicating to your Heavenly Father. And I would encourage them as well to form the routine, as we adults do, of reading God's Word, because that's God's communication back to them. And as children, even at a young age, you can have a conversation with God. Pray to Him, read His Word, understand what it is He would have you to understand and to live by, and come to know Him as your Heavenly Father. Again, this is a family relationship. And this is what God is doing. We're all to see Him as our Father, Jesus Christ as our brother. And He's bringing us all into His family.

So parents, let's guide them in that relationship. Children, let's listen to what your parents would have to instruct you in. Heed their words, because the relationship you developed with God is foundational to every other relationship in this life. The career you get, the person you'll marry, the person you'll grow up to be in your interactions with everyone else, those relationships must be founded on a right and proper relationship with God. Then you will receive the blessing of Heeding the words of your parents. Long life, blessings from God.

Now, eventually our children grow up into teens, they grow up into young adults, and again, you've pointed that arrow and you've released it, but now they have decisions to make. They must stand on their own two feet, and the question becomes, will they submit to God and follow His lead, or will they go according to the course of this world? It's their choice, but hopefully we can feel good as parents about the foundation we've laid, and hopefully they then can take that forward the next step as God would have them to do. And so the question then becomes, young people, what will your focus be? When you can make your decisions, what will your focus be? Ecclesiastes chapter 12 contains important instructions for young people. Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

Beginning in verse 1. This is a very simple instruction. It's a very important instruction, though, as well. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 1 says, Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them. Remember God when you're young. You know, don't say someday, okay, I know God's real, I know I should respond to Him. Someday I'll have a relationship with God. The instruction is, do it now. You don't ever want to find yourself in the circumstance of saying, well, someday, you know, once I've graduated from school and I get that degree that I'm really after, then I'll follow God.

Or someday, when I have the job that I really want and I move up to the position, I can set my own schedule, then I can take the Sabbath off and the Holy Days off and follow God. Or someday, when I find that person that I truly want to marry, then I'll put God first. The instruction is, remember your Creator from the beginning. Don't say someday. Embrace today. Verse 6, remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well, then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the Spirit will return to God who gave it. The point is, develop that relationship with God while you have the ability to do so. While you have the strength and the vitality, the attention span and the health. Young people, remembering your Creator in your youth has tremendous advantages, because these are your energetic years. You're full of life and vitality, and you have the energy to throw yourself all in to pursuing career, pursuing family, and pursuing God. You're full of life and vitality. You're highly teachable in your early years.

Scientific studies show the mind of a youth is like a sponge, and it's capable of just absorbing so much more information than someone who has advanced in years. And so you have the ability right now to study God's Word, absorb it, and develop that relationship in a way that will serve you tremendously throughout the entirety of your life. And also, young people, you will find that if you develop this relationship in your youth, it will save a tremendous amount of unnecessary heartache, because you apply the principles of God to your life today.

Life is full of blessings for doing God's way and cursings that we would call the consequence of disobedience. And it's a cause and effect. And God says, live this way, know me, and pursue this life from a young age. If you do that, you will be ordering your steps according to God's great purpose for you. And I just say, young people, as you grow up, sometimes it can be easy to, I don't know, dismiss maybe what it is you heard from your parents. Because now that I'm on my own, I'm going to do it my way. And all I can say is, it seems like the older we get as people, the more we sound like our parents. And it's probably because there's certain lessons we've learned along the way. And we say, okay, now I understand why my parents taught me this. That's why they taught me that.

Proverbs chapter 1 verse 8. Important instruction as you grow up and make your way into the world, as you make your own decisions. Proverbs chapter 1 and verse 8. Solomon says, My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

For they will be graceful ornaments on your head and chains about your neck.

Solomon saying, young people, the teaching of your parents has value, and they are a treasure to you.

And as you live them, you will reap the rewards of what it is they taught you, if indeed they taught you, according to the godly principles.

Consider them carefully. Don't forsake them. Don't forget them, especially as you make some of the most important foundational decisions of your life that will impact you for years to come.

Where am I going to live? Who am I going to marry? What's my job going to be? What's my life identity going to be as my own person now? Make God central to that purpose.

And finally, I would just say to everyone else here, even if you're not a spouse, if you're not a parent, if you're not a brother, if you're not a sister, if you're not a grandparent, God has still placed you within a family structure for a very important reason. And if you ever doubt that, just simply look around the room, because God is building His family right here. And He's brought us into this relationship. You and I are brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the spiritual family of God. You recall time in the Gospels when Jesus Christ, His family were waiting to see Him. He was busy teaching, and someone says, your mother, your brothers are here to see you. And Jesus stated, whoever does the will of God is my brother and my sister and my mother. It is how the spiritual family of God works. So, brother, this family relationship that we've been given, physical, is an incredible blessing, and the spiritual family is an incredible blessing as well. And these relationships give us all opportunities to encourage one another in the ultimate purpose for our calling. Again, to be children, to be sons and daughters in the family of God.

This family relationship gives us the opportunity to strengthen one another in the ultimate purpose for our existence, the divine family of God that will include more than God the Father and Jesus Christ, but many children in the bride of Christ as well. Let us never forget, brethren, God's plan is a family plan. As God's intent from the beginning before the foundation of the world to produce children for His kingdom, that ultimate purpose for our physical families points to that. And it is the foundational point where God is then bringing forth children for His own spiritual divine family. It is why the family and structure is so important to God, and it's why the family structure must be so important to you and me as well.

Brethren, have a wonderful Sabbath.