First-Born Among Many Brethren

We know that in everything God works for good with

those who love him, who are called according to

his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also

predestined to be conformed to the image of his

Son, in order that he might be the first-born among

many brethren. And those whom he predestined he

also called; and those whom he called he also

justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

When we think of all things working for good we often

picture a journey where nothing goes wrong ... a vacation

to Hawaii where everything is perfect ... we drive down

the avenue and every traffic light turns green. But

when God works for good in all things, the "all things"

are all things, not just the pleasant things that happen...

all things, even the struggle,

the battle,

the tragedy,

the chaos,

the pain.....

all things somehow producing a miracle.

And the miracle:

"....for those whom he foreknew he also pre­-

destined to be conformed to the image of his

Son, in order that he might be the first-born

among many brethren."

The miracle produced by the "all things" here is a new

race made up of men and women whose lives have been trans­-

formed into an unmistakable likeness to Jesus......

transformed through the "all things," by the fire licking

at their lives.

Where is this new race to be found? In heaven? One day

in heaven no doubt.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multi­tude

which no man could number, from every nation,

from all tribes and peoples and tongues; standing

before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in

white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation

belongs to our God who sits upon the throne,

and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood

round the throne and round the elders and the

four living creatures, and they fell on their

faces before the throne and worshiped God,

saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor and power and might

be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,

"Who are theses clothed in white robes, and

whence have they come?" I said to him, "Sir,

you know." And he said to me, "These are

they who have come out of the great tribulation;

they have washed their robes and made them

white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are

they before the throne of God, and serve him

day and night within his temple; and he who

sits upon the throne will shelter them with

his presence. They shall hunger no more,

neither thirst any more; the sun shall not

strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the

Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their

shepherd, and he will guide them to springs

of living waters and God will wipe away every

tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:9-17

There is coming a day when those people whose lives

have been conformed to the image of the Lamb will serve

God day and night in the temple of- his body...they will

- hunger no more,

- thirst no more,

- weep no more.......

and never again know anything but blazing life.

But is this the first place we see them? ... in heaven?

when the battle is ended? No, these brethren of the

Son of God, these men and women who bear his likeness,

have been walking this earth for twenty centuries. And,

- every place where they walk,

- every place where they gather,

- ever place where they live and work,

is a doorway to the very glory of God.

We're not talking about churchianity, we're talking about

the men and women who take on the likeness of the Son of

God through the "all things" God sends their way.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, God's own people, that you may

declare the wonderful deeds of him who called

you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Once you were no people but now you are God's

people, once you had not received mercy but

now you have received mercy. I Peter 2:9-10

All this relates to the changes that are hopefully going on

in our lives right now. Perhaps we're asking, "Where are

you leading us Lord? What are you bringing forth?"

And the answer is:

"I am bringing forth believers who are so conformed

to the image of my Son that no one with eyes to see can miss it.

I am raising people who bear the marks of the new race of

the brethren of the Lamb."

This is something God is doing.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined

to be conformed to the image of his Son, in

order that he might be the first-born among

many brethren. And those whom he predestined

he also called; and those whom he called he

also justified; and those whom he justified

he also glorified.

....he foreknew,

he predestined,

he called,

he justified,

he glorified .... through the, "all things"...through

the flame, the trial, the confusion.

Does this mean it's automatic? Not quite.

In all things God works for good for those

who love God, who are called according to

his purpose.

All things become redemptive when we.....

1. Love God.....and

2. We love God so much that we answer his call.

As history moves toward its final crisis there is a

stirring and shaking and a sifting in the Body of

Christ all over the earth as the Lord God raises up

a people for the final sweep. And these people who

are being raised up for the final sweep are not hot

shots, but men and women who are conformed to the image

of his Son...who reflect in their living and speaking

and working the glory of the first-born of this new

race ... because they love God...because they love God

so much that they're answering his call.

We know that in everything God works for

good with those who love him, who are called

according to his purpose. For those whom he

foreknew he also predestined to be conformed

to the image of his Son, in order that he

might be the first-born among many brethren.

Predestined ... what does this mean? Does this mean we're ,

so predestined that we just sit back and let God zap us

into the image of his Son? No ... those whom he foreknew

he predestined ... meaning that God knew a million years

ago who would respond to his call and who wouldn't.

"You are the salt of the earth....."

He predestined you to be the salt of the earth, but if

you lose your taste you will be set aside.

"You are the light of the world...."

He predestined you to be the light of the world, but

if you play it safe by keeping your light under a bushel

even the light that you have will be taken from you and

given to someone who will put it on a stand.

Those whom he foreknew he predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son.

Everything from God's side has been and is being done.

Jesus came and laid down his life,

and washed away our sins in his blood,

and broke the hold of evil on our minds,

and drove the curse of death from our hearts.

Jesus is pouring his Spirit on us afresh today. The

words he speaks to us are spirit and life. Out of this

is emerging,

- a new race,

- a royal priesthood,

- a holy nation ... God's own people,

for the purpose of manifesting God's light to the world.

If we are part of this new race,

- we are not brought into it as zombies,

- we are not robots,

- we are not brainwashed members of some cult;

we enter this race, receive this transformation with

clear minds and free wills because we love God so much

that we are answering his call.

We know that in everything God works for

good with those who love him, who are called

according to his purpose. For those whom he

foreknew he also predestined to be conformed

to the image of his Son, in order that he

might be the first-born among many brethren.

If we love God, if we are answering God's call, it shows

up as we conform to the image of his Son in five specific

ways.

1. If we love God, if we are answering God's call, we

freely submit our bodies to Jesus' lordship.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the

mercies of God, to present your bodies as a

living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,

which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

When Peter left his fishing boat,

Matthew his tax office ..... this was a bodily, a

physical response .... when Jesus refused to turn stones

into bread, he was submitting his physical body to the

purpose of his Father.

In one way or another Babylon and the king of Babylon

have ruled us through our bodies. The first step in

the miracle change is that we give Jesus our physical

body....

"My body is no longer mine, but yours. I

offer it today (and every day) as a living

sacrifice."

Who does your body belong to? Who do you serve? Who

ever or whatever rules your body is your God, true God

or an idol.

2. If we love God and are answering God's call, we

freely submit our minds to Jesus' lordship.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewal of your mind, that

you may prove what is the will of God, what

is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

For many of us, Babylon became the keeper of our minds

when we were children in school.

Babylon still tells us what to think,

what to buy,

what's really worth doing,

what's really worth having.

But now we become Jesus' disciples ... his pupils ... he is

our teacher, our master. We give him our minds and he

begins to open our minds to truth we have never seen.

"If you continue in my word (do it), then you

are my disciples indeed, and you shall know

the truth and the truth shall make you free."

3. If we love God and are answering God's call, we

freely submit our daily life to Jesus' lordship.

....eating,

....sleeping,

....working,

....recreation, resting,

....friendships, problems, our finances....

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say,

Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance.

The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about

anything, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests

be made known to God. And. the peace of God,

which passes all understanding, will keep your

hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

So, as we head for work,

as we answer the phone,

as we walk down the street, scrub floors, change

diapers, wash toilets, Jesus, deep down inside, is Lord

over it all. His presence is there...he's in charge...

absolutely in charge. And when he is in charge, all

things work together for good.

4. If we love God and are answering God's call, we

submit to Jesus' lordship over our life together.

For by the grace given to me I bid every one

among you not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think, but to think with

sober judgments each according to the measure

of faith which God has assigned him. For as

in one body we have many members, and all the.

members do not have the same function, so we

though many, are one body in Christ, and in­-

dividually members one of another .Romans 12:3-5

....one body in Christ. He is the head. He is Lord: He

calls the shots. He directs. Not my idea of what form

the Body should take. Not your idea or anyone elses

idea. He is Lord of our life together and he will guide,

rule,

and prosper our work if we submit to his lordship over

us. And as Jesus rules our corporate life, all things

work together for good.

5. If we love God and are answering God's call, we

submit to Jesus' lordship over our ministry to the

world.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority

in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them

to observe all that I have commanded you; and

lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

"Some day, when my affairs are in order, and my

children are raised, I'm going to be a missionary."

.....0 yeah?

Jesus' command,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,"

is not for someday, but for now. He is Lord over our

ministry to the world and he is calling for action now.

If he says, "Go make disciples," what choice do we have?

And as we go make disciples, starting right where we

are, all authority in heaven and on earth is at our

disposal.... Jesus himself is with us.

As the world moves toward its final crisis, the Lord is

calling out and raising up a people who bear his likeness,

are moved by his love, are aflame with his holiness, are

anointed with his power.

Jesus is the first-born among many brethren: If we love

him ... if we love him so much that we are answering his

call...

we give him our bodies,

we give him our minds,

we give him our daily life,

we give him our life together,

then we go out and make disciples of all nations, and lo,

he is with us all the way to the End... and beyond... he is

with us.... making all things work together for good.