Lessons 57-58

LESSON 57 - Mark 3:31-35

31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without (outside) seek for thee. 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Luke 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. )

While Jesus was talking to the people, His family came to speak to Him. They couldn't get inside because it was so crowded and packed with people wanting to hear the teachings of Jesus.

Have you noticed that Jesus used every opportunity to teach a principle of God to the people? Here He uses this visit by His family to teach how "family" is defined in the kingdom of God. In Mark 3 He said that His family were those who do the will of God; in Luke 8 He said that His family were those who hear the Word of God and do it.

In this saying Jesus was teaching that there is a spiritual family that is defined differently from what we have in the natural. Jesus gave us a larger concept of how family is defined in God's dictionary. The family of God is made up of all those who hear and do the Word, the will of God. In a natural family, the mother carries the child and is delivered of it in childbirth; so too, the spiritual mother in the family of God is the one who brings Jesus to the world and helps them to see Him as Savior, to hear His Word and to embrace Him as Lord in their lives.

In a natural family, brothers and sisters are those who resemble their elder brother, who learn from him and try to be like him. Therefore,in the spiritual family of God, brothers and sisters are those who are conformed to the Son's image Romans 8:29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For 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.

In God's family, the brothers and sisters of Christ have His mind, so they can think like Him...

1Corinthians 2:12-15 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Having the mind of Christ allows you to choose to live as Jesus lived, doing the will of God every day.

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ,

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be anything praiseworthy, think on these things.

1Peter 2:21-24 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body...

Your membership in your natural family was not determined by you, but membership in God's family is determined by your choice to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, with the evidence of this choice being your daily walk with the Lord. Luke 8:21 ... Jesus answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

In the next lesson we will look more closely at what the will of God involves.

LESSON 58 - Mark 3:31-35 cont.

31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without( outside) seek for thee. 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

We see in this passage, as well as the accompanying passage in Luke 8:19-21 from last week's lesson, that the will of God and the Word of God are aligned. The Word of God reveals the will of God.

Let's look at some of the many verses on the will of God.

First, God's will is done in heaven...Matt. 6:10 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

The true family of God on earth will do His will as Mark 3:35 stated. This is also emphasized in what Jesus said:

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat (that which sustains Me) is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work

John 5:30 I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 6:38, 40 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Hebrews 10:9 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book (Psalm 40:8) it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

As brothers and sisters of Christ, we should desire to do the will of God every day. It is a good idea to start your day saying that to the Lord, asking for Him to remind you of that during the day, asking Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit so that His will be comes your will, too.

We can understand His will through the Bible and what He shows/speaks to us each day: The following verses not only say that we can understand the will of God, but that yielding to it and being filled with the Holy Spirit are how we can accomplish God's will in our daily lives.

Ephesians 5:17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God...

We are also to do good works as God directs us for this is also His will. He created us to do good works.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

As we cooperate with the Lord, God changes us, so that we want His will and want to do it. Philippians 2:13 it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Knowing His will will result in changing your conduct day by day...

Col 1:9-12 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Being thankful is a way to do God's will. Instead of complaining, think of something to be thankful for and say it out loud. Thanks is a part of our praise. Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

The Lord wants us to love Him so much that we choose to do His will, no matter what happens in our lives. He wants us to remember that what we have to look forward to in heaven, as a result of godly living, is a much, much bigger and better reward than what we possess here. Hebrews 10:36 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling (seizing) of your goods (possessions), knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, ..., after ye have done the will of God...

2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh(produces) for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Sometimes God does not intervene to stop persecution of a Christian by the devil and the wicked. 1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf... 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

God does not always intervene to stop the devil's attack on believers, because in the final analysis, God knows that the Christian will have a great opportunity to use his faith, the Word and the strength God gives (Phil.4:13) to defeat the enemy. By choosing to trust the Lord in trying circumstances, the Christian changes into an overcomer, a conquering warrior, a spiritual hero of the faith... ...and there will great eternal outcomes and benefits from it.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Jesus was the perfect Example of doing the will of His Father, even though terrible suffering was involved. Yet in the end, He overcame the enemy, defeated him soundly and won for Himself both a people for His name and the great blessings and rewards of His Father.

God's will includes such things as obeying the laws of your government...

1 Peter 2:13-15 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God... This even involves simple things like obeying the speed limits and paying taxes.

God's will is that we pray, including that all would be saved and become mature believers in Christ. 1 Timothy 2:4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The will of God never contradicts His Word. His Word reveals His will. That's one of the reasons that we study His Word carefully. This hasn't been an exhaustive study on the will of God, because we've not looked at every verse in the Bible on this topic, but the ones we have read give us a good start for knowing and doing His will. I hope you will look for other verses on the will of God, as you read His Word each day.