He is My Brother's Father

John 14:8-13 ESV

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Hebrews 2:9-12

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

Hebrews 5:9-10

9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

My Brother’s Father

My main thought: I can’t know the Father except through the Son, and I can’t know the Son, who is the living word, unless the Holy Spirit reveal Him through the written word.

Intimacy with God. The closest model that we have is family, and more specifically the family of God/ the church is supposed to be the fulfillment of that on earth. Looking at Israel as a nation of families that serve God together and separate from the world around them and this looks so different compared to American families and even ones in the church.

An understanding of how important family is to God, results in an understanding of how important it is to know the heart of Jesus, so that I can know my Father. Some cultures vary slightly, but for the most part there is identity in our connection to our families. We see ourselves in light of family. I’m of the Hebert clan. My name is Matt Hebert and I am Jimmy’s boy. Biblically, it would sound like this: I’m from the tribe of Judah, a son of Jesse, my name is David.

I used to have an uncle that would introduce me to family members: this is a Molaison your 2nd cousin once removed. What does that even mean?

Identity- the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. Who are you? What are you?

• People identify so many ways

• How do we identify?

I am a son of the creator of the universe. I am set apart from the created world which is fallen in Adam. I am a new creation in Christ. Through faith I identify with Jesus. I am one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. I have been born again. I am a new creation. My original identity was dead to God and alive to sin. My new identity is alive to God and dead to sin. I am a son of God, because I have been made accepted in His beloved Son (Ephesians 1:6). I am part of the family of God.

Family is a beautiful thing on earth because it is a reflection of the Father’s plan from heaven: Bridegroom, bride, offspring…

But earthly family, like everything else can take on something it was never intended to be. Even in the lives of church goers, the concept of family can become bigger than Christ in our lives. I love my family. But I cannot let my family get between me and Jesus. And if they do, He says I am not worthy of Him (Matt 10:37; LK 14:26-30).

This is not God’s definition of Biblical family

• Mom’s—kids—soccer, swim, dance…

• Women—how they are accepted within a larger group of women

• Dad’s—provider—

• Men—work (ethic) Colossians and Ephesians not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God

• Kids—sports

Rudderless waves tossed on an ocean…

But let’s understand something our flesh, which is the remaining part of us that is still affected by the fall loves those things because they give us **recognition—and flesh will love a gospel that promotes these things.

In a world that is struggling with identity. Men that identify as women and vice versa. People that identify with the real Jesus are seen as weird, because it results in a denial of self while everyone else is being deceived to preserve self.

Everyone says, “I’m good with Him…” No, if our “old self” isn’t dying and Jesus isn’t being fashioned, we’re not okay with Him. The world is thrown into chaos, the church is thrown into chaos, families are thrown into chaos. Will the real Jesus please stand up. Could I please get a clear picture of the Lord, so I can know who I am, because I really need to know my Father?

John 1:18 KJV

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 1:18 NASB

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 1:18 AMP

No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

John’s writings refer to God the Father over 110 times

Bosom— Deut 13:6 “The wife of your bosom”

Moses Numbers 11:12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?

That is the best description, the intimacy of when a mother puts her baby to her bosom for feeding and nurture. The bosom is a place of closeness, intimacy and protection.

John 13:23

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Through John, the Holy Spirit shows us something very important. Jesus was in the bosom of the Father and John made sure that he was in the bosom of Jesus.

John, through the Spirit, shows us that the only way to the bosom of the Father is to be close to the bosom of the Son. God reveals Himself to humanity through His Son. He is the Son of God for He is God born of God. He is the Son of man for He is God born of man. He is the only way that man can know God.

God is my Brother’s Father and because of the self denial of my brother God has become my Father too. I cannot know our Father except through my elder brother.

His Son is His beloved, and His beloved Son manifest the Father to a lost and dying world. He desires to see His Son..because His Son glorifies the Father. Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name [reputation/character] your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven….

John 17:4

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

John 17:6

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17:5

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Now, He looks to His right and sees His only begotten unique Son. In ages past, He left that place of glory to become my brother, so that He could teach me about our Father…

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

He became like me in physical flesh, so I could become like Him, renewed in spirit, and a partaker of His divine nature.

His Son brings Him joy. His Son brought His glory to this earth. God said, “As surely as I live the glory of the Lord will fill the earth (Numbers 14:21).” Joshua [Jesus]— the purpose of Joshua and Israel was to get us to the place where the world receives the Son.

Joshua was a man who refused to allow wickedness to rule God’s earth and stop God’s plan.

Joshua 24:14-15

Choose Whom You Will Serve

14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

How He longs to look upon the earth and to see His sons bearing the image of His Son. How else will this earth be filled with His glory on this side of the Millennial reign unless His Sons bear the image of His only begotten Son?

What does He see when He is looking for His Son:

Isaiah 66:2

…but to this man will I look,

even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,

and trembleth at my word.

Matt 5:3 …blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God

He looks upon the earth for to see His Son:

John 5:19

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

He listens to the conversations of men hoping to hear the voice of His Son

John 12:49

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Paul said:

Galatians 4:19

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

1 John 3:2-3

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Colossians 1:13

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Philippians 2:15                         Unmixed

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Conclusion

In this relationship, my brother sits me down. I have not been able to shake this thought from my mind all week. You can’t get a better illustration to describe what I’m trying to say in this message than this. My elder brother is Jesus and I am an adopted son. 5 times in the New Testament the terminology adoption as sons is used. He [Jesus] is the natural born Son of God. He is the elder and I am the younger. He knows my Father, and I desperately need to know Him. He sees my struggles in the relationship that I am having with our Father.

So He sits me down and teaches me the things that I don’t know, but it’s those things that He has learned from His closeness to our Father. He speaks to me the words He heard from the bosom of His Father, and through His word, and the intimacy I have with the Spirit, through the cross, I learn what pleases my Father.

1. The Father is pleased with His beloved

2. Isaiah: it pleased the Father to bruise Him

What a Father! What a Son!

Psalms 2 Rebellion

The Reign of the LORD'S Anointed

1 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

God’s remedy to rebellion

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

His King is Messiah/ His King is His Son

7 I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

In this Psalm, I see war and restoration. I see rebellion in man and obedience in the Son. Messiah the King, who is the Son of God, will restore the will of His Father!

1-3 The rulers of the nations are in rebellion against Yahweh and His Messiah

4-6 Yahweh sits above them and their plans. In the heavens, He laughs and promises to put them in terror—judgment is coming… and the promise of its coming is this truth… “I have set my King on Zion my holy hill.”

7-9 This is the ordinance [decree] by which Yahweh will accomplish this judgment upon these nations that are in rebellion against Him. He says, “I will give birth to a Son” I will give Him the nations as His heritage/inheritance (the first man Adam was not faithful and allowed in the rebellion). Through MY SON, I will judge the rebellion.

10-12 The way to please the Father is to kiss the Son, bow down in reverence to Him. Anything else will result in the release of His fury.

This Psalm allows humans a glimpse into the mind of God, His plans for the earth and His  quashing of the rebellion against Him. The heathen nations and their leaders rage against God and His anointed one. But we learn from the scriptures that humans are not alone in this rebellion: Daniel 10…Prince of Persia, Prince of Grecia, Michael Prince of Israel. NASB Ephesians 6:12.                   

Rebellion

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

In our minds this morning, I ask that we keep these thoughts surrounding the big plan of God and that we remind ourselves about the rebellion against God, because we are seeing it openly manifesting all around us in our nation and all around this world, and I can promise you this…it’s only going to worsen. So I’m asking that we tuck away in our minds these truths as we consider the idea of the Son and the Father.

I don’t think that He ever left, but the Father has lovingly reinserted Himself into this fallen earth in an intimate way through Jesus. The rebellion of His creation in Adam had distanced itself from His presence, but He is committed and has His eyes on an eternal kingdom that is comprised of an eternal family that was all made possible by His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. In His word, He uses familial terminology: Father, son, and brother, Bridegroom, bride, offspring, children.

John’s explanation about who are the children of God vs who aren’t is this…

1 John 3:10.   Seed of the Son- train of His Robe                                      Rebellion                                                         

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 Peter 2:9-11 war against the soul- keep your mind and heart connected to the earth- vision

The word "peculiar" here is used in a way not often seen today. The Greek word means literally "to make around," that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. The same verb is used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 43:21

the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." The word "peculiar" today usually means "odd, strange." But it is not so used here. The Greek word speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God__ Wuest

God’s family

This family of God is a special kind of people. It is a family of Sons. Sons because this family is created in and through the Son. It is a family of sons that are king-priests. They rule with Him and for Him because that’s what kings do. They intercede with Him and for Him because that’s what priests do. And the more they die, the more the image of His glorious Son is formed in them, resulting in their yielding to their Father’s will, because the Son always does the will of His Father. He only does what He sees His Father do, and He only says what He hears His Father say.

Satan’s plan is to rob from man his opportunity to be a son and to rob from God His opportunities to have sons through His Son.

In a non-rebellious son is the desire to please a father. And a good Father wants to be with His Son, and during that time he teaches his son the important things of life. I have heard stories of men who said that their fathers taught them how to work on engines by telling them to tear them apart and put them back together again, and it better work and there better not be extra parts when you’re done. I’ve heard other men tell me that their father did the same but was by their side and coached them every step of the way until they were ready to do it on their own, and I’ve heard men tell stories of how they had no father, or if they did, their father didn’t really want them around.

One concept of fathers and sons that intrigues me is when there is a family owned company that has been passed down through the generations. The father taught the son the “bidness” Jesus said why are you looking for me. I must be about my Father’s business (Luke 2:49) and so it is with us. Our Father wants to teach us His business. He wants a family of sons that will submit to His will, allowing their own personal flesh and desires to be crucified, so that His Spirit and WILL can be produced in them.

There has been an ongoing thought in my heart over the last couple weeks, and this is it. The Father said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.”

I am realizing that the more I listen, to the words of my Father, the more I hear that the fallen fleshly part of me must be done away with, so that Jesus can be formed in me. In order for this to happen, it means that I must be crucified with his Son, so that a new creature can be resurrected in His Son, and the more that I submit to the will of the Father, the more my original man that was born of the earthy man (Adam) dies and the more that the heavenly man born in Jesus is formed, and when this happens, the Father starts to see a reflection of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased instead of a reflection of a rebellious son that was born in the image of his earthly father Adam.

Romans 8:29-30

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified

Romans 8:13-16

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Son or sons= 10

The fall turned Adam into a fearful slave. The Son made a way that we can become sons through the Son.

Spirit= 16

Flesh= 8

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Hebrews 2:11-14 it’s not okay for rebellion to be allowed into the house

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Hebrews 2:16-18

16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Brethren/prodigal

And so we have the struggle of the Spirit and the flesh and the struggle of the sons of God vs the sons of the devil.

JN 8:32-47

Satan’s sin results in slaves— the Son’s obedience produces sons

Denney explains; "It was not the spirit proper to slaves, leading them again to shrink from God in fear as they had done when under the law of sin and death__ Wuest

In the fall (Law of sin and death, they shrank from God in fear. In Christ, we have not received that spirit of slavery.

Galatians 3:26

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Galatians 4:1-7

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. He has an inheritance for His Son!- the nations

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2-3

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:6-10

6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.