"Family Matters"

Matt 12:48-13:1

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
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Mark 10:29-31

29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
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Why is it that the devil often attacks us through those closest to us? David even said it was him who used to break bread and fellowship with me who has betrayed me. Betrayal often starts with those who are closest to you in proximity. As we look throughout scripture we see many examples of betrayal from family members.

* Miriam and Moses (questions his authority).

* Aaron and Moses, leads people into sin and rebellion in Moses absence (While on a prayer retreat).

* Cain kills Abel because he is jealous of him, jealousy stills kills in the Church today, one of the test you will have to pass is those who are close to you being promoted while you are still in process. Can you celebrate their ascension? Or will you be like John who said after his ministry was decreasing and Jesus was increasing, are you the one or is there another?

* The relationship between Jesus and John had changed, and now he is in prison, he is offended because Jesus didn't come to see him. Jesus said blessed is the man who is not offended by me. In other words, I am about my father's business, you should be secure in our relationship.

* David is questioned by his brother Eliab, what are you doing here? Go back to those few sheep. I have learned that the place that your family attacks you is the place they are bitter. Eliab did not know who he was, he had a mistaken identity. Why is it that when we accept a call that they refused, they hate us for it. The reality is they hate you for what they never responded to.

* David wasn't even invited to the ordination service. Most theologians believe it was because he was conceived in sin (Psalms 51).

* Joseph's brother's said here comes the dreamer... They attempted to sabotage his dream and destiny when in fact they accelerated Joseph ahead of them. Joseph later sad what you did to me sent me before you. Any time there is a attack against you, there is an ascension.

* Jephthah (Judges 11) The bible tells us that he was the son of a harlot. His brothers drove him out and labeled him as a bastard child. The later came to him and asked him to lead them into battle and God gave him a great victory! God will cause those who have persecuted you to promote you!

* Jesus brothers rejected him and often questioned him. Here is something that has bothered me. How come you never here of Joseph after the age of twelve. Scripture never tells us what happened to Joseph. I am inclined to believe that if he died scripture would have mentioned it. Could it be that Joseph struggled with the fact that Jesus was not his offspring? Could the persecution he received from the hometown (Jesus borne of a virgin) have forced him out of the picture. Could this have been the first example of a fathers abandonment?

*Job's wife cursed him and told him to curse God. What if Job had listened, he would have not received the call to double blessing (inheritance).

* Many times we see favoritism in the family. The funny thing is the one left out usually got the blessing.

Jesus tells us that in the last days mothers and fathers will persecute their children... Family members will turn on those who have responded to the call.

Jesus also tells us that:

* Those who will be more committed to the Kingdom (heavenly citizenship), they will receive a hundred times more in this life and the life to come. This is only the second time in scripture where the hundred fold blessing is mentioned.

* Kingdom relationships are of higher priority than earthly relationships. In fact the earthly family was derived from the heavenly family.

Eph 3:14-16

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Family was God's idea).
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* I have never seen anyone great who did not first face and overcome conflict in the family, never.

Why should I receive Christ's call?

* Because he was nailed to the cross. Are your family members willing to be crucified?

* I will stand before God and give an account, you will not stand before your family and they will not stand with you.

* If you have been marked by your family, it is because God has marked you for greatness. The sibling that receives the greatest persecution received the greatest promise.

How do you respond?

1. Ignore your critics, love them but ignore their criticism.
2. Focus on the prize (desired end)
3. Pray for them that they will discover who they are.
4. Kill them with kindness, a soft answer turns away wrath.
5. Recognize if they did it to you, then God has a purpose (promotion) in it.
6. Recognize it is only a test.
7. Put the Kingdom of God first and foremost.
8. Know that your destiny is not in their hands.
9. Forgive and go forward.

Blessings,
Craig Sloan