Ten Keys to Your Salvation - Part 3 - Revere the God Family

What is in a name? We might think of a name as a few letters, a simple word, and yet a name represents an entire entity. An entire entity. It may represent a company, but when you hear the name, it represents all that company is, all that company does, and all that company stands for, what it's known for. If it's a person's name, you pop out a name like Saul or David. Simple one-word name. And yet, those names come with a full lifetime. They come with a full set of deeds, a full set of character. A name is a very big thing. When you hear the name of something, or someone, it will evoke in you some type of a response. We merely say a word like Churchill. Something comes to mind. If you say the name of an individual, someone you know, their face will pop up. Not only will their face pop up, but along with that will come an understanding or a perception on your part of what you think about that person. That name will evoke a response from you that is positive, or negative, or rather indifferent. Who? Irrelevant? You know, humans are imperfect. All humans are imperfect. And so any name that we have from a human or a human institution will not come to us with any sort of absolute perfection in our mind. Rather, any name will generate a variety of reactions and responses in different people. In Proverbs 22 and verse 1, it says, A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. You see, a person's name means so much to that individual. It carries so much weight. It is really the encapsulation of all that that person has become to that point in time. And a person can be assassinated by simply somebody casting aspersions on their name or on them, and kill a lifetime of character. It's called character assassination. Kill a lifetime investment that they have made in who they are, what they are, and what they stand for. A name is very important. There is one family name that has perfect traits. It has nothing negative associated with it. Perfect character, perfect deeds. Everything about it is just A1. The full family is without any flaw whatsoever. They should have a very good name that's reverented by all.

Today, let's take a look at the third of the ten keys of our salvation. The title is Revere the God Family. Revere the God Family.

Sometimes we can focus on the name and give the name some reverence to hallow in name. But what we're really doing is we're thinking of the God-head, the God-family, God the Father, Jesus Christ. And when we talk about them, we, in our minds and in our words and in our deeds, are actually showing and reflecting onto that family what we think of them.

How important is the God-family to you? If you honor, treasure, and respect your relationship with a family, an inheritance awaits you. That's what God tells us. This is a wonderful thing. This is an important thing. We shouldn't do it just to get something. Oh, a rich guy came to town. I'll just say really good things about him and maybe some of that wealth will just percolate over or I'll get something off of him or her. That's not what this is about. God can smell that a mile off. But if we really love and respect and have reverence and honor the God who made us, the God who died for us, the God who saves us, the God who is offering to bring us into his divine family, if we have that great honor and awe and respect, then God wants us to be part of that if we fulfill our part of the covenant. So let's take a look today at this third key of our salvation. In Matthew 6 and verse 9, Jesus Christ gives us this important key as something to do every day, something really to do every moment. But in the model prayer outline, he says in Matthew 6 and verse 9, in this manner, the manner of prayer, begin with, Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name. Now we don't use the term hallow a lot, do we? We'll look at that in just a moment. But we begin here by being told to say, our Father. We have a close connection with a Father. We recognize him as our source of all things, as the author, the finisher of our faith, the institutor of life, the one who will grant eternal life. Our Father, you know, the Bible talks about honoring Father and Mother and revering in one place in the Old Testament. It says, Revere your Father and Mother. And this is a concept that we are to begin with at birth, to look at that family that we are physically of and have reverence for the heads of that family. And here, as we grow in now to the spiritual family of God, the first thing that we're told, our Father in the spirit realm, in heaven, hallowed be your name. You know, the only time the word hallowed is used in the New Testament is right here, when Jesus said these words. It's the only time it's used. When Jesus said, pray, here in Matthew and in Luke, pray this way, our Father in heaven hallowed be your name. He's saying something here that is very special.

Thayer's Greek lexicon says this word, hallowed, is hadgis adzo. To render as holy.

So, when you pray, you say, our Father, I'm rendering as holy, to acknowledge as holy, and to separate from profane things, and to dedicate to God.

So, let's just put this into the concept here that Jesus is saying. You pray, our Father, I see you as holy. I render you in my mind as something that's unique. It's holy. I acknowledge you as holy.

I separate you from all profane things. Any ideas, concepts, words of men, logic, discussions, whatever. No. You and what you say is special.

And so, I separate you and I dedicate my concept here to you as God. In the Old Testament, the term would be fear of the Lord.

The term fear of the Lord comes from the Hebrew, and it means to revere, to reverence, among other things.

For on the wrong side, certainly as the Bible says there in Proverbs, the beginning of wisdom is the beginning of understanding. That's to learn the fear of the Lord.

Better fear breaking God's laws and working against God. That's the beginning of wisdom.

But as you grow in wisdom, it's the reverence for God. And that's why point three is to revere the God family.

A name, then, is a representation of the family.

How would be your name? It says, God is to be revered. And that name is simply the icon, like Tesla, stuck on a car, the letter T.

You know, like Boeing, alongside an aircraft, like Mercedes, etc., etc.

When we say God, we're actually referring to the Godhead, and all that God is, and all that God does, and all that God will be, and all that we are in connection with God.

So, yes, we're to revere the God family, the Godhead, not only the Godhead, but all of those who are gods.

So, in this image, as it were, when we say God, usually we'll come up with some form of an idea of, when we say God, who we're thinking about, who we're talking to, who we're referring to.

And thus, when we say that, how one feels about God comes to mind.

It's a good thing to ask, you know, just as if I threw out the name Susan, what would come to mind? You put out the name God, what comes to mind?

Now, several things could come to mind. If you care, a summary of Susan would come to mind.

If you don't care, maybe nothing would come to mind. See? Maybe you'd think about something else. When you hear the names God, Jesus, Messiah, the Christ, Savior, Lord, what comes to mind?

Well, with humans, a variety of things would come to mind. Either repugnancy, indifference, or strong love, conviction.

God receives all of these things when His name is mentioned, when He comes to people's mind.

The response that we have whenever we hear God's name mentioned, or we use God's name, would also be indicative of how we feel about God.

If we were to casually just throw God's name around, obviously we would be rather indifferent to God and His family, to the Godhead, to who God is. More caring about ourselves.

If God is a best friend forever of you, one who is deeply admired, a strong connection with, like a father, like a special brother, then that name is inseparable from that individual.

That name, that reference to that being, would be one filled with gratitude and hope and amazement and connection and appreciation, love and respect, adoration. The term name in the Hebrew, when it says the name and His name was, from Brown Driver's Briggs, that word name means name, reputation, fame and glory.

See what that word means? It's just not a name. You just throw that out there. Joseph. You don't just throw that out there. It connotates the person, the reputation, the fame and the glory.

That is what the importance is of understanding the names of the God family, or anybody's names, really.

Today, the name of the God family is in constant use. It's used all the time by most people, every day. It is used consistently.

You hear it. It usually begins with the word, oh, sometimes, oh my. Then out it comes. Or holy. Holy and then something else.

Or it begins with, like, for Jesus, for Christ, but some other euphemism, some other word put with it.

What happens when it comes from your lips? If it were to come from my lips? Would we excuse it? It doesn't really matter.

See? Is that how we feel about God? That's how humans feel about God, evidently. Because they will link God's name to the most vile, vicious, four-letter, garbage words that are out there and sling them around like mud.

Sinful humans often defame God, and they use His name. They will even link Him to Satan, the Father of Lies. It's very common. Probably one of the most common uses of God's name is to link Him with liars. Just like that. Link God with Satan, the Father of Lies. How is this done? Oh, I swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. As we heard in the sermonette, some attorneys got a client, and the client will get off only if it can lie well enough, swearing to tell the truth, linked to God, hand up there. God, take my hand. I swear on God's name and then link Him to lies.

And this is done not just in courtrooms, it's done on the street, it's done parents to kids. It's just common use. And nobody believes anybody is telling the truth. Are we indifferent when we hear the God family name abused? Or are we incensed? Or something in between? After all, it's God's problem, right? It's His name. Not my problem. Or is it? Let's see. Let's see as we go along today. In Leviticus 19, verse 12, God tells His new people Israel. Leviticus 19, verse 12, already having thousands of years of experience with humans, He says, And you shall not swear by my name falsely. Don't use my name and then lie. Nor shall you profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

And He goes right on, don't cheat and rob your neighbor, etc., etc.

As God is my witness, people says, then they lie. Nothing but the truth. Let's take a historical example of a church member. Matthew, chapter 26, verse 73.

Jesus Christ saw it coming. It happens all the time. It hurt. He knew it would hurt. So He points this out in advance.

He told Peter, He said, you know, you're going to betray me three times before the cock crows.

In verse 72, again, Peter denied, With an oath, I do not know the man.

The new Revised Standard Version writes it this way. Then He began to curse and He swore an oath. I do not know the man. New Living Translation writes it this way. Peter said, I swear by God, I do not know the man.

See, there are times when one's own personal safety or benefit is so important to a person that they will trash the name of Almighty God and the family of God, and they'll link it to Satan and a lie.

God hates that. You know, the first three commandments, the first three points in this series, all have a common theme. Let's go back to Exodus 20 and verse 3. Exodus 20 and verse 3, let's read them together. And notice how this is about the family of God and revering the family of God. These first three points are.

He says in Exodus 20 and verse 3, you shall have no other gods before Me. You, my people, you'll put nothing before Me. And then verse 4, you shall not make for yourself a carved image. Verse 5, you shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, I'm a jealous God.

You know, it's you and me. My family and you. You're my children, He's saying here. And He said to us in the New Covenant, you're my children. And I'm your God, I'm your Father. Jesus is your elder brother, your husband. We're family here. And then we come to the next verse, verse 7.

And you shall not take the Hebrew word there is lift up. You shall not lift up the name of the Lord your God in vain. Vain in the Hebrew means in emptiness or falsehood or to desolate that name. For the Lord will not hold Him guiltless, who takes His name in vain. In other words, who raises it up emptily with emptiness or who desolates the name of God. Now, what does that mean? The Lord won't hold Him guiltless. He means He won't forgive you. You will be guilty. That's what God is saying. God will account Him guilty and then punish Him for it. So we begin to see here just a casual little euphemism or taking God's name in vain. It isn't just about a word and how it was used. It's about how we think about the family of God, how we reference that family, and then what we do to or with the God family name. This is very, very important. It's a human habit to link God's family names with the worst events. The things that catastrophe come in. Just listen to a catastrophe. If you see one happen or if you hit your hammer, your finger with a hammer or something, listen to what comes out or listen to what comes out of your neighbor. Listen to what comes out on TV. Somebody sees a disaster and they're videotaping it. Just listen to the voices. It's always God's name that is flying around. Oh, my! is a habit in society. Or it comes out with one of the names of the Godhead in the worst events. Or the most detestable deeds. Again, when we look in things like dictionary.com and you look at a euphemism, for instance, goodness. Definition. A euphemism for God. As in, oh, my goodness. Gosh, the origin was 1750 AD. It's an alteration of the name God. Jeez, it's the shortened form of Jesus. You know, and these are the nice ones. Euphemisms go downhill pretty fast after that. They really do. Expressions masquerade often because people, for some reason, don't want to necessarily directly just trash God's name. So they'll come up with euphemisms that begin with the same letters or the same sounds as God's name. A totally different word, but it always has the g or the cr that begins with it. Or it's a male. You know, always a boy or a man, you see. Because that's what Jesus is, the Son of Man, or he was a child. These are considered to be nicer, you know, expressions of defaming God.

Sometimes there are euphemisms that replace euphemisms. They don't even have those sounds anymore, but there's something that is over here, maybe like a grasshopper or something, or cotton or something, you see. But it still has the g and the c, but that used to replace something that used to be God. And so there's just a whole, almost language of euphemisms that lead back to God's family names. Now David was ashamed about this in Psalm 139 and verse 20. Psalm 139 and verse 20. He says, For they speak against you wickedly. So speaking against God and doing so wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. They lift up your name, but they do it in a way to sort of trash it. Do I not hate them? Verse 21. Oh, Lord, who hate you? See, how do we feel when the family name, the God family name, is being used and abused? I don't mean just the word. I mean the rest of the God family with it. See? All that God stands for. How do we feel about that? David said, Do I not hate them, Lord, who hate you? In the New Covenant, we might say, Do I not hate the sin of those who are sinning against you? We don't hate the person, but rather the deeds. And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies. What he's saying here is, I have a strong identity with family name. With the law that I love. With the God who is living, going to die for me. I feel a strong identity. And in Psalm 23 says, You're my Lord. You're my shepherd. And I'm going to dine at the table there with the Lord. I do. I dine at the table in the presence of my enemies. And I'm going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I'm family.

I'm fam. I'm the great grandfather of Jesus the Christ.

David revered the God family. And so do you and I. But immediately in that context, David continues in the next verse. In verse 22. Verse 23, Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxieties. And pluck this out. And just let it be a stand-alone phrase. But it actually goes with those who are taking God's name in vain. And David here is saying, I don't like that. I don't like that. I can't stand those people who do that. So God, look in me and search me and see if I'm doing that. You know, I did that personally a few years ago. I'll tell you, it's a little embarrassing.

I had to start listening for what came out of my mouth and what I was saying that I was unaware of. Some of these things. To begin to research them first. Know what they were. And then to begin hearing in certain connotations, little things pop out of my mouth. I thought, you know what? That doesn't fit. That's not right. I'll just stop that. Well, you don't just stop that, it turns out, because that's sort of in the flow.

And after it's gone out, you do well to even recognize it was said. So the first step was to hear it said. It was gone already, right? You hear it said. Some little thing, some little cutesy thing. You hear it said, oh, wow, I didn't want to say that. I'm not going to do that again. There it goes again some other day. Well, I'm just going to set up a screen for that. It takes a lot of work. It took literally years to work through and figure out and cleanse the language. And so David here brings up a very, very good point. Try me, know my anxiety, see if there's any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of understanding, the way everlasting. You know, none of us are perfect in our relationship with the God family. But we need to be growing in our adoration of God, in our great deep reverence for God. We need to revere the God family and all associated with it, including that which it's recognized by its name. Why is God's name given such importance? Let's go to Exodus chapter 34 and verses 5 through 10. Exodus 34 will begin in verse 5.

He proclaims the name of the Lord, and he says in verse 7, keeping mercy for thousands, for giving iniquity and transgression and sins. This is an incredible God. And in order to do that, God had to die. God had to give His only begotten Son.

In verse 8, Wow! See, this is really an incredible God. As the word proclaim the name, remember the Hebrew word? It's actually Shem, which means reputation, fame, glory.

That is involved in the name. It's God we're talking about. Not just a name, not just a little thing here, though. We've just got to do something with these letters.

In verse 10, God said, Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvel, such as not been seen or done in all the earth nor in any nation.

And all the people among you shall see the work of the Lord, for it's an awesome thing that I will do with you.

That's the same in the new covenant, even more so an awesome thing that God will do with us.

And we should have this awesomeness just on our minds all the time, with great gratitude for this calling we have. You know, when you think of John 3, verse 16, and God so loved the world that he created it, and then he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him with works will be saved. They won't expire, they won't die, they will be saved. They'll have everlasting life with God. What a wonderful thing to treasure.

And so God is to be revered by us, by all peoples.

If we were to treat that casually, or with indifference, or with disrespect, we would be defaming and de-gracing the great God's family of the universe.

And we don't want to do that. We don't want to do that. So we might ask ourselves, each individually, how much do I revere and appreciate the family of God all the time? I don't just mean theoretically. I mean all the time, as I go through life. And would I ever degrade that family? Well, what about using God's name in a disrespectful context? The name or the family of God, or representing the family of God in a disrespectful context? You know, it's like honoring your father and mother. It's not just with lips, is it? It's how you live your life. It's what you do. It's how you speak of them, obviously. But it's how you represent the family name. You have a family name. How do you represent that family name? In Deuteronomy 28 and verse 58, God says, if you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in the book, and think about this, observing all the words in the law that are written in the book, that you may fear, you may revere His glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God. See how the two come together? When you think of the law of God, right there, part of it is to revere the awesomeness of the God who made the law. That's part of the law. It's right here, written in the book of Moses, in the law. Do what's in the law, but also do it to revere the awesome name. The awesome, and it's not just the name, remember all the things that name means? It's the whole context of what that name belongs to. David extolled the wonderful God family. Again, let's look in Psalm 111 and verse 9. We can't look to any human as being perfect in any way. David wanted to be. He strove to be. So do all of us, so do you, but sometimes we have to recognize what's the next thing I need to work on. How can I improve here? God gives us the Ten Commandments as ten key elements of our salvation.

In Psalm 111 and verse 9, David said, he has sent redemption to his people. He has sent his Son to die for you and me. He has given us redemption. He has redeemed us through the blood of Christ to his people, the ones he has called at this time. He has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. Holy and awesome is his name. Remember, this name, holy in office, holy and awesome is his legacy, his deeds, his glory, his character, along with the name that those are represented by. Verse 10, the fear or the reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. See, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When you really revere God, you are tapping into the wisdom of the great Godhead and applying that. And a good understanding of all those who do his commandments. And consequently, his praise endures forever. The praise, the sacrifice of lips will go on forever because that is the wonderful God that he is.

Another way that we honor or dishonor any name is by the actions that we do. Let's look at one illustration in 1 Timothy 6 and verse 1. Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honor. It's a difficult position to be in, but he's saying, do that.

So that the name of God and his doctrine may not be blasphemed. In other words, what you do as an indentured slave or servant to someone else who is not a good master, reflects on the Godhead, the God family, and the reputation of God, and the doctrine, the teachings of God. So that those will not be blasphemed. You and I carry around a lot of responsibility in how we count our masters. For instance, there are masters that we have in government, there are masters we have at work, there are masters we have in leaders, whatever you want to call them, that we come under the authority of. And he's saying, let those look to them in an honorable way. Find something to honor them in. So that the name of God and his teachings are not blasphemed. But you might say, okay, I'm an honorable Christian, right? I'm an elect, I obey the law of God, we teach the law of God. Let's go to Romans chapter 2 and verse 17. Can we just sort of duck and say, I'm an exception. Romans chapter 2 verses 17 through 24. Paul says, indeed you are called a Jew. Down in verse 29, spiritual Jews. We are spiritual Jews. If we are in the body of Christ. And you rest on the law, you make your boast in God, you know his will. Verse 18, you approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law. You're confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. This kind of describes us pretty well. But he says, you therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? See, how we actually conduct ourselves is much different than how we might believe. And this is common for all humans, by the way, even those who are God-fearing. How we conduct ourselves can be different than what we believe. You who say, do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? In its various forms? Mentally, visually, religiously? Will you abhor idols? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? Dishonor God, the name of God, the Godhead, the family, the body of Christ, whatever you want to call it, do we dishonor God by breaking the law? When you and I break a commandment, or a law of God, no matter how much we want to excuse it, we defame the Godhead. Verse 24, for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. God will look at our life, and if we are sinning, He will see somebody that really doesn't represent Him well. And yet, if others on the outside look at your life and you say, Oh, I'm a representative of the true church, the true religion, I've got the right way of life, and you sin, then the name of God is blasphemed among the unbelievers because of you, as it is written.

And verse 28, for He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor a circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, but He who is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision that of the heart, and the Spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men, but from God. If we are praised by God, you see, then we are related to God. We are godly. We are right in His eyes. We are doing just. We are just in His eyes. What business do we have being involved with sin? 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14. The Apostle Paul raises this question to us. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 14. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? You know, right now this world is awash in lawlessness of all types. All types of laws. Civil laws, civil disobedience, rebellions, but of course, godly lawlessness.

According to the Bible, even religion sets aside God's laws for traditions and other teachings. And what communion has light with darkness? So, can we be in the body of Christ and start stitching light with darkness and lawlessness with righteousness? And what accord has Christ with the devil? Are we going to start, you know, having a little fellowship with Satan and Babylon the Great, you know?

What part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols, with idolatry? For you are the temple of the living God, as he said. I will dwell in them, I will walk among them, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Now we begin to see we are associated with the name of God and the reputation of God. See, it's not just this thing about God's way up there and he's got a name and we better respect it.

Oops! We are God's people. We are part of that God family. It is our name that we're trashing as well. It is our name that others are disrespecting. It is our name that we are representing if we are gods, if we are Christ, if we are children of God, sons and daughters of God.

You know, as Jesus said, he quotes the Old Testament. He said, and he called them, you are gods. And if he called them gods, right? And the scripture cannot lie. What is being said? Well, that term used in the Old Testament that he's quoting from Psalms, you are gods, is the term Elohim. Now we know Elohim from Genesis 1.

God said, let us make man in our image. And now he says, you are Elohim too. Why is he saying that? Because you are God's children, you're God's sons, you're God's daughters, you're God's elect, you're part of God's family. See? And so here, what Paul is saying here, he's quoting, and they shall be my people.

Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean. And if you don't, I will receive you. If you separate and do these things, then, verse 18, I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

So the third commandment here, along with the first two, are all about the Godhead, the God family, and you are part of it. Now, how do you feel about the family that you have, the body of Christ that you're stitched into? How do you feel about being part of a luim, and being given the opportunity to be a full, divine member of that family? In Micah 4, verse 1, we know that in the end times, people will blaspheme God's name. And there will be a religious leader that comes along and just totally blaspheme God's name, and goes after the family, the family members, the body of Christ, the church members, goes after and tries to say horrible things. And Jesus said, you know, the whole world is going to hate you. That's the family. That's part of...that shows how much family we are.

In Micah 4, verse 1, now it shall come to pass in the latter days, after that, after the removal of Satan, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains. The government, the rulership of God's house will be established on top of the nations, and shall be exalted above the hills, the smaller countries, and people shall flow to it. Verse 2 of Micah 4, many nations will come and say, come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways. We shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Verse 5, notice, for all people walk each in the name of His God, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God, forever and ever. See, we will walk in the name, in the power, in the glory, the authority, in the family. We will walk in the family of God forever. That's a treasure. That's something you and I should really be supportive of, in awe of, and reverence deeply.

If your personal family name were attacked, how would you feel?

Would you say, whoa, that hurts me, and myself, and my pride, and, you know, I'm feeling debased. Would you go to war over that? Would you maybe get an attorney? Would you start a verbal war? Would you start a defense? Would you start, you know, as James 4 says, where do wars and fights come upon you? You know, you want something, you can't get it, you can't get it back, maybe it's your name, your reputation.

What about if it's God's name? Let's go to Matthew 24 here in verse 9.

What about the name of God? How would you feel if the name of God were really trashed and persecuted? Verse 9, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations. Why? For my namesake. Because you're in the family. See? That's what he says is going to happen in the end times.

There are going to be people who are family, God's children, who identify with him, who support, defend that name, who love and revere the family of God, and they will be hated by all nations for my namesake, for the name of God's sake, for the reputation and the glory of God's sake.

But there will be others who really aren't that welded to God, and they will fight for their own name. Verse 10. And then many will be offended. Oh, how do you get offended? You get offended only for me. And they will betray one another and will hate one another. So it comes down to what family are you of? What family are you for?

What country are you of? Whose allegiance do you bear? And if it's of God's, then you will be hated for his sake, for the family's sake. If it's for yourself, you'll just go into some sort of brawls with other individuals.

If you're one who reveres the God family, something very special is taking place in you. Let's go to Romans 8 and verse 14. Romans 8 and 14. I'm hoping today to show here a clear distinction between a casual relationship with the family of God and one that is very close, one that's very familial, one that is really a person is stitched into this family, mentally, spiritually, even physically. Romans 8 and 14 says, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. This is who we become. You see, this is the character. It's not just some sort of little device of controlling something. No, led by the Spirit of God, this is an internal guidance system. It's who we are.

Going on in verse 15. For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by which we cry out, Abba, Father, Family, Daddy, Father, the Spirit itself, bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. This is who we've become.

And if children, then heirs. Airs of what? Airs of God. Airs of the God-head, God-family. See? That's who we are. That's who we're becoming. Firstfruits. And joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together. Can you see how suffer with Him just pops out? If you're really family, then when the world hates God, it's going to hate you. And He says, you're going to be heirs of God the Father, God-family, the God-head, joint heirs with Christ, if you suffer with Him.

If you take it on the chin for the family, that we may also be glorified together. See? We will actually be glorified as God is glorified, as Jesus Christ was glorified. We'll be glorified together like them, if we indeed are family.

It's really an incredible thing that you and I are offered. How can you glorify the God-family today? How can you and I in our lifetime develop this relationship? One way is by being in harmony with the body of Christ, with the rest of the body of Christ, you might say. Romans 15, verse 5. Romans 15, verse 5 says, Now be the God of patient endurance and comfort grant to you to be like-minded toward one another. So we've got to put off all those things that aren't like-minded. Selfish opinions, selfish pursuits, things about me and my name and me, you see. We've got to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus. That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together as one body in action, in word, in deed, we are to glorify the God-family. And all that we are and all that we do, and with one mouth. Therefore, verse 7, receive one another just as Christ also received us to the glory of God. His receiving of us sinners, terrible people, glorifies the family of God as we repent and we come in underneath their government, underneath their rulership, and we then become like them and become their children. It shows them honor and glory, just like physical parents. As you perform well and do the family's work and come under the family mindset, and you grow up and you become honorable adults and bring them children, you glorify your parents. It's very, very gratifying to God that we receive one another. Another way is by serving one another. An example of this is found in 2 Corinthians 9 and verse 7. 2 Corinthians 9, verses 7 through 15. Here we find an example of members serving other members, and notice how it glorifies God.

We often just focus on the serving that's being done. In verse 7 of 2 Corinthians 9, it says, So let each one give as he purposes in his heart. So there's a need in the church, the famine. Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. So we begin to involve God now.

So he says, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you. What does that mean? All the favors of God on his side are what? Calling, repentance, baptism, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, led by the Holy Spirit for salvation. And God says, if we reciprocate, if you remember Matthew 6 and verse 33, if we reciprocate and seek first the rulership of God and his righteousness, all these things will be added to you.

So God gives, we respond, and he gives more. These are God's graces. These are God's favors. And he's saying here, and God now, once you do these things, is able to make all favors abound to you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good word.

See how God gets involved in supporting, helping others, and serving others? It's another wave of what we call grace, another wave of favors, so that he can have an abundance available in you. As it is written, he has dispersed abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. This isn't about you. This is about God. We are a representative of the God family, and when we give, when we serve, when we help others, it fulfills what God said he would do. Now, verse 10, May he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

So this giving goes with righteousness, and the increase of it, and God's support of it. Verse 11, While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. People aren't thanking you. They're thanking God. God is involved at every step, but it doesn't quit there. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.

We are really stitched in here in glorifying the name of God by loving and serving others. Verse 13, While the proof of this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. And by their prayer for you, who long for you, why do they long for you? Because of the exceeding grace of God in you, the favor of God that's in you, thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

That's a wonderful, wonderful way to glorify the God family and honor the name of God. And simply by being a true member of the family, we can glorify the God families. David said in Psalm 34 and verse 3, listen to these words, O magnify the Lord with me, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. That's what we should do as the body of Christ.

Those who are reverent members of the God family are going to receive something very special. They are going to be awarded with the God family divine names. We don't know what those names are. God hasn't given His names for humans to trash. His names are comprised of common words that mean many things, and they're patched together. But God has a name. God has a name in heaven. And God's name throughout His kingdom will be given to those who are part of His family.

And we read of this in Revelation 3 and verse 12. Revelation 3 and verse 12. Those who are part of the firstfruits will reign with Jesus Christ. And when we are raised, notice what He says, And He who overcomes, I will make Him a pillar in the temple of my God, and He shall go out no more. And I will write on Him the name of my God. This is Jesus Christ speaking. I will write on Him the name of my God. You're going to be full family with the divine name of God written on you. But that's not all. And the name of the city of my God, New Jerusalem. And these aren't just names.

Once again, these are sort of the emblems, as it were, that represent the God family, that represent the headquarters of the God family. And I will write on Him my new name. Right now, the only name we know of for Jesus is Joshua. And that's a fairly common name. That's the English form. The name that Jesus has was a name that others had throughout Scripture. What is His divine name? We don't know, but... He will write His divine name on you and me, if we truly are members of the God family. In conclusion, King David sums up our desire regarding the God family and the name of the God family.

Let's conclude with Psalm 72 and verse 18. Psalm 72 verses 18 and 19.

And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. Next time, brethren, we will look at part four, which is keeping the Sabbath holy.