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Family is ultra important! Do you understand that just like we have a physical family we have a spiritual family as well? Such as what? A Heavenly Father. A divine brother in Jesus Christ. Our brothers and sisters in faith meaning our church family. We have a deep connection and reason for joy in this Christmas season.
My life has been enhanced by my family both physical and spiritual. Hasn’t yours? I know that some of you have experienced pain and brokenness – welcome to togetherness!
This sermon started due to my curiosity of the phrase, “Son of the Most High”. I’m not staying home in a passage, but I am trying to stay home on a concept. Son of the Most High.
READ: Luke 1:29
CHALLENGE: Experience the Joy of a Spiritual Family
Luke 1:29-33 – Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
It’s interesting to contemplate Christmas in light of family connections both real and spiritual. To whom was Jesus born? God selected Mary who was engaged to Joseph but not yet married. Joseph learned about the pregnancy and was going to divorce her quietly. However, God showed up and kept them together because they were both important. Jesus had parents who watched over him, loved him, and took care of him. He grew up in the context of a family just like the rest of us. He also had God as his father. Our entire understanding of the nativity is a mother, a father, and a child.
- JOY IN THE LOVE OF A PARENT
“Son of the Most High”. If there is a son, there’s a father. And the Divine Father was a huge part of Christmas because he gave us the gift! John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
We just did a baptism last week and we baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our father, who art in heaven”. Our spiritual understanding is couched in the framework of family relations and we have a heavenly dad!
Since Jesus was the son of the Most High, let’s look at the concept for a minute. The title, “Most Hight” is first used in the Bible to describe God in the days of Melchizedek. Genesis 14:18-20 – Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Melchizedek is a legendary character and three times in this passage, God is called, El Elyon. It describes the exaltedness and overwhelming majesty of God. He is the highest power there is and above all of creation. He is sovereign over all the world.
There is no one like God. You can’t find someone more powerful. There’s no way to be greater than He is, so He is to be revered! We come to a God who is awesome!
- Our Heavenly Father Gives Life
So, what did this Most High do? Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
God created the reality in which I live – heaven and earth. He’s so powerful that he created us so He gives us life! I owe my every breath to Him. One thing about dads is that concept. Do you remember the classic phrase, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out”!
David said that God formed Him in the womb so we would not be here if God had not made us. Nor would anything else since He is the maker of all things. The greatest gift I’ve ever been given is the chance to be alive. My spiritual life is also ultra-valuable. We can leave the dark of spiritual death and enter the dazzling and joyful light of spiritual life. To be alive is beautiful. Physically and spiritually.
John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
In Him was life! Jesus is the resurrection and the life and anyone who believes will live. He came to give life and give it to the full. A new life today and eternal life in the future.
- Our Heavenly Father Gives Victory
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand
His enemies were delivered into his hands. The enemies took his nephew Lot as a prisoner of war. He was about to lose someone He didn’t want to lose, and he didn’t stand by idly and allow it to happen. He put his faith into action and went after these armies and God gave him a great victory.
These forces were so powerful that they had not only conquered Sodom and Gomorrah. They conquered every area east of the Jordan River before coming around the Dead Sea. These armies were a wrecking machine, yet Abraham whooped them with 318 solidiers!
How was that possible? God! Lot was taken away and God helped Abraham get him back. It’s a great picture of sin because sin takes things away from us, health to relationships to hope to joy. God gives the victory meaning that He can restore what evil took from us.
Yes, Abraham was warring but God was fighting. You need victory? Your loving heavenly father is a great place to turn. Victory even over the toughest temptations. The Most High creates life and He gives victories. But that’s not all! I thought about being a dad and quintessential dad-ness is to provide and protect as well. We’re all about it.
- Our Heavenly Father Provides
It’s Christmas and there will be lots of gift giving. I love it. I love finding stuff to give away. It’s awesome! James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
He gives us every good gift including our very life. In life, where would we be without a parent? Without provision? You young ones may have no clue how fortunate you are.
Examples
Jesus reminded us that we don’t even have to worry because our Heavenly Dad will provide for us. We can count on God! What are your needs? David said that he never saw the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. God always provides!
- Our Heavenly Father Protects
The Psalms talk about God as a refuge, a rock, a strong tower, as the wings of a bird sheltering the young. So many protective images for God.
As a husband and father, I want to be protective. I bought a camera for my daughter’s new apartment. Our driveway goes uphill and it turned into a sheet of ice. This is a nightmare scenario and I don’t want my wife or family falling. That required getting salt, salting, getting an ice blade and chipping and shoveling. I want to be protective.
The same true of God. He makes a way out of temptation. We have the armor of God. Our heavenly Father is protective. We pray in the Lord’s prayer to deliver us from evil.
God loves us and as it says in Romans 8, there is nothing that can separate us from His love. In fact, we are more than conquerors. The love that a parent has for their child and then their grand children is amazing. Have you ever thought that God loves you even more than you love them?
Life, victory, provision, protection from a loving God! Allow those truths to bring joy into your life.
- JOY IN THE HOPE OF A CHILD
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
You wonder what will become of your children and you’re proud of their accomplishments. But there is hope that a child brings in life. A wonderment. A betterment. A blessing. Your child is born and in your arms and you’re holding potential. A person that can possibly impact countless others. A person to become close to and who will bring joy to your life.
Look at the promise of Christ. Call him Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of the Most High. He will reign and His kingdom will never end. That’s lofty. Talk about hope! And not only does Jesus bring promise from the start. He brings great hope for our lives as well.
Call Him Jesus and Jesus means Deliverer. Matthew 1:21 – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins.”
That’s huge in and of itself. Sins lead to death eternal. Guilt. Scars. Broken relationships. It’s a menacing problem because it’s a dark twisted power within and we don’t have an answer for it. Not until Jesus! Through Him we can be free and have a clean slate in God’s eyes. The penalty is canceled and the power is neutralized.
He will be great and He clearly did stellar miracles that were jaw dropping. Stilling storms, feeding thousands with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Raising Lazarus. Healing the blind, the leprous, the paralyzed, and the demon tortured. He did so many great things. We pray in His name to this day. Obviously our hope is in Jesus. I have hope of answers to prayer and forgiveness and new life through Jesus. Hope!!
He’s going to reign. We believe that Jesus is coming back and will reign on this world. It hasn’t happened yet but that’s hope right? Isn’t hope part of the season? I believe that it’s a powerful season and there is always hope for people. There is hope for you – never give up!
- JOY IN THE TOGETHERNESS OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD
2 Corinthians 6:16 – What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 – And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
That’s powerful and encouraging because you are part of this amazing family. We belong to God.
Talk about connection! God desires to be your God. You will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty! You’re God’s children. What a family to be connected to.
- You Have Extraordinary Value
1 John 3:1 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
God acknowledges that you’re one of His. What love. To be called God’s children! All men are created in the image of God. Jesus died for you! God knows every hair on your head.
You’re not trash. You’re not junk. You’re not impossible to love. You’re not the sum total of your worst decisions. You’re not you’re past. You’re not worthless. You’re God’s child. And there may be days you feel low about yourself and if that’s because you’re doing low things, then do better things and truly live out being a child of God. But you’re not junk.
Because God values us, we should value each other. We had our grandson Zeke helping us with the Christmas tree and he was so excited. He only broke two ornaments which was not bad! But it’s worth it to have him with us. I place more value on having his help than the ornaments.
What about at church – people come first right? All of our phenomenal people and volunteers are more important than the building or the organization. People are more important than possessions. More important than your schedule. It’s a simple thought but it’s profound and impacts how we minister.
I appreciate the value that God places on us that we should be called the children of God. You are loved and we want people to sense that.
- Acceptance
You will be my sons and daughters. That’s family. We use the word church family because there is a spiritual connection between us. The Bible often uses the words “brother or sister”. It’s powerful.
I’ve always felt that I belong with my family. I’m accepted by them. I love my family no matter what because they’re fam. And they do not have to earn that love. They don’t have to be perfect.
Isn’t this like God’s love? Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We were not perfect and God loves us anyway. You were a sinner and he loved you. Jesus demonstrated this throughout life – he was the friend of sinners. Love covers over a multitude of sins and families forgive and let things go. We’re accepted.
There are places where I feel I belong because I’m from there. Eastern, Pa. I understand the mentality. When I’m with my brothers or uncle and aunt, I belong and it’s a great feeling. Throw me into an auction setting and I’ll be comfortable there. When we have common ground it bonds us together. Your faith is common ground with every other person of faith. When it comes to church, we belong.
- Connection Together
There’s a sense of connection, togetherness, and support. We need to have each other’s back and to bear each other’s burdens! One of the concerns that I have is that people have that sense of connection. And especially support. When you have family around you, you have a strong support system. Not everyone has that so we need to focus on being that encouragement to others.
One of the concepts that resonates with me is being a father to the fatherless. I’ve known so many with broken relationships and they just need to know someone cares about them and will encourage them. There’s a strong connection here that we have. And I want that to spill into a willingness to help each other
Christmas is a season of sacrifice. And for family we make sacrifices. You put yourself out for the people that you care about.
My wife and I moved here having no family connections at all. My only blood relatives within 300-400 miles are my children and grandson. So what do you do? Jeri also went to the funerals and weddings I did but we had children. Step in Betty Brainard. Thank God for her being a grandmother to my children for years! Wow!
And I hear so many stories of how you support each other. It’s SO important.
.John 1:12