Romans 94
Be kindly
affectioned to one another
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
Let’s remain standing as we open our bibles to: ROMANS
Now I want you to notice in this scripture the Apostle Paul is speaking to the brethren and he says, Be kindly affectioned (that means affectionate) one to another with brotherly love… Now the word Paul uses here when he speaks of affection is a Greek word which has to do with a nurturing and cherishing ones relatives, or natural family. He says here be tenderly affectionate towards one another in a loving way. Paul is letting us know here that our love and affection should be no less real and caring for those who are brothers and sisters in the Lord than they are with our own flesh and blood families. In fact Jesus said that the flesh and blood relationship is not the presiding factor in determining who your real family is.
In so many words, Jesus said, the real family is not the flesh one by human genetics, but the one that is by God genetics. Now, I know that I could preach this year after year and Sunday after Sunday, but the results will be the same regardless, because there is an old expression that says, “blood is still thicker than water”. And what that expression means is that when it comes right down to it, most people don’t believe the Bible. They prefer their own flesh and blood to the children of God. But what did Jesus say about that? That is the real question. Because we have millions of people wearing T-shirts with the saying “what would Jesus do?” As though they want to do what Jesus would do in any given situation, but when it comes right down to it, all you have to do is see how they prefer their own flesh and blood over the flesh and blood of the Lord. We find our example in the book of Matthew.
MATTHEW 12:46 ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren (now,
the word brethren here is used because it is generic, in that it means both his
brothers and sisters were there to see him, and they ) stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother
and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered
and said unto him that told him, Who is
my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my
mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever
shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and
sister, and mother.
Now, that ought to settle it once and for all. He tells us right here who is our KIN, if indeed we are sons of God. . But will the people receive that? Not on your life. Therefore, I want to look closer at this great thing he is saying here because this affects everyone of us here this morning. We all have family in the flesh. I know of no orphan in the flesh here among us, so I can be pretty safe in saying that everyone of us in here this morning, needs to consider what Jesus is saying here, and what the Apostle Paul is telling us when he says we need to Love nurture and cherish each other in brotherly Love.
Now, in order to get
the real feel for this situation, I want you to put yourself there in that
place listening to this man Jesus. And I want you to carefully consider what he
is telling these people. Now, notice in verse 38 ¶ Then
certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would
see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and
adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to
it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three
nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of
Now, here stands his mother, the woman Mary, Some call her the mother of God, which is ridiculous to Think that the eternal God could have a mother who was not eternal. But that’s there problem not ours, so we won’t focus on that. .N evertheless, here is the woman who gave birth to Him, and his flesh and blood bothers and sisters are outside wanting to see him and speak to him. Now, something must have been up for them to all gather together and walk over to see him.
she stands outside where he is preaching and so, someone interrupts the service on behalf of his brothers and mother in the flesh. And what is the reaction to them? Is it a happy reaction? Is it a reaction that seems to be desirous of seeing them? It doesn’t appear to be that way, now does it? Let’s read it again to savor what is happening here.
¶ While he yet talked to the people, (therefore
we see here that Jesus was in the midst of speaking to these people. God had
sent Him to speak because in the Book of John, he said, JOHN 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted
up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of
myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent
me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things
that please him. So Jesus is preaching Presence to the People, and
he is about His Father’s business and in the middle of His sermon, his mother
in the flesh and his brethren in the flesh show up and want an immediate
audience with Him.) behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring
to speak with him. (they knew he was in there preaching, or they
would not have stood outside. But notice the Scripture tells us that they
desired to see him, and that word means to seek with demand, to strive in order
to obtain what they are desiring, so they must have been fusing a little bit
outside, trying to gain access to him.) 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy
brethren stand without, desiring (striving, pushing themselves
forward in the throng trying to get in, in order ) to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and
said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?(Now
catch what He just did. He said Who is my mother and brethren. He showed right
there that flesh and blood does not even count concerning the
Now, it is pretty apparent that this was not the Father speaking because of the ay Jesus referred to His Father, but it was the Son in complete surrender to His Father God.
Now, there was
another time that his mother showed up while he was speaking the Words of His
Heavenly Father to another group of men, and we find this in the Book of Luke
chapter 2.
LUKE
Now, Jesus never called her mother, and neither did he call Joseph father. He said, don’t you know what’s going on here? Don’t you know that I must be about MY Father’s business? And if he was doing Joseph’s business he would have been in the carpenter shop, but he was about his Father’s business, in His Father’s House, the temple, teaching and talking his Father’s Word with the instructors of the law.
Another time we find
Jesus in
JOHN 8:28 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have
lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father
hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And
he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; (Now,
here he is preaching presence again. ) for I do always
those things that please Him. 30 As
he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 ¶ Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
[then] are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him,(and who
are they? They are the ones who were believing on him.
He gave them the Seed test, and wasn’t satisfied that they just agreed with
him, but he honed in more and more, until they parted ways with him, and said,
) We be Abraham's
seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest
thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the
servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the
Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I
know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath
no place in you.(You see, He just kept talking to them about the
Word Long enough until the Word separated and they showed what seed they really
were. Then once he knows, he really nails them to a wall.) 38 ¶
I speak that which I have seen with my
Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our
father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you
the truth, which I have heard of God: this
did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your
father. Then said they to him, We be
not born of fornication (Oh, they didn’t like what he was
telling them, he was calling them serpent seed, and they knew it, and so they
began claiming lineage even before Abraham way back to God); we
have one Father, [even] God.
42 Jesus said unto
them, If God were your Father, ye would
love me: (and that is what the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us
here in Romans 12, Be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love…which means to Love one another with a
pure heart, fervently.) for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of
myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not
understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my
word. (Ands we know to hear means to understand according to
what Jesus said in Matthew 13: 10-17.
Then Jesus nails down their coffin) 44 Ye are of [your] father the
devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When
he speaketh a lie, he speaketh
of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. 46 ¶ Which of you convinceth
me of sin?(of unbelief?) And if I say the
truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He
that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear
[them] not, because ye are not of God. (Now,
look who needs a quote from William Branham to know that the Evidence of being
Born again is to recognize your day and its message. Jesus is saying so right
here. He says, if you are of God. If you have your
source in God, then you will hear and you will recognize the Word of God)
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto
him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?(Now,
notice when confronted with the truth the serpent seed will always come back to
calling the Elect a devil.) 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my
Father, and ye do dishonour me. (Now,
notice that Jesus is saying, “Look, all I have been telling you is what My
Father has told me to say, and yet why won’t you honor me as I honor my Father?
Because he is not your father or you would honor Him by honoring me that is
telling you what He has said for me to say. And don’t they do that today, those
who are oneness in this message? Don’t they dishonor the Son by making him
nonexistent in their theology? Then Jesus continues by saying, Look, I’m not in
this for my own self. ) 50 And I seek not
mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 ¶
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never
see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know
that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of
death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest
thou thyself? (Notice how that everytime
they are given something from Jesus that they don’t understand, instead of
saying, “Br. You said this and I don’t understand, what do
they do? They call him a devil, and aren’t they doing the same thing
today? How can you expect two opposing lineages to get along when the One says things the
other has no way of understanding? ) 54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing:
it is my Father that honors me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him:
and if I should say, I know him not, I
shall be a liar like unto you (who say you do know him.): but I Do know him, (And what is
the evidence that Jesus knew Him? He said, ) I keep his saying (I
keep His Word).
Isn’t that exactly
what Jesus told us is the evidence that we love God, is by Keeping His Word? JOHN
Now, let’s continue
with John 8: 56 Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad. 57 Then
said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself,
and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Notice,
Jesus was one step ahead of them, and by going right into their midst they
couldn’t throw the stones at him because they might hit one of their own.
Another time Jesus speaks of the end-time
conditions in reference to flesh and blood kin relationships, he does not speak
to highly at all. In MARK
Then again in LUKE
Now, this impression
Jesus made on gthe disciples must have been strong enough
that others remembered it so well themselves, for we find another listing of
this in the book of MATTHEW
Now, we all know the parable of the prodigal son, but what was Jesus trying to tell us by this parable? I believe He was showing us a son who didn’t have respect for the things of His father, and so the father gave him his inheritance up front and let him leave. It was a test of his character. What is he going to do with all of his wealth. And so we find it is a story of how the son having no character and no respect for the things of his father has to learn the hard way the things which his father jholds so dear.
LUKE
Let’s just bow our heads in prayer. Father, we have come into Thy Presence once more, and you have welcomes us back into Thy fold once again to never depart from thy presence again. Lord, Help us to have the attitude of rejoicing when those who have gone astray once more come back into the fold. May we present the fatted calk, and make music that will be sweet to thy ears, and we pray Lord, that the young of heart that have grown wrestles and have departed from thy presence might once again return to live in thy presence in humbleness of mind and with a character that has been reborn through the suffering road that they have chosen to take. Grant them an end like this son that your son Jesus has shown us in this parable for we ask it in Jesus Christ’s name.