GETTING OUR RELATIONSHIP RIGHT
WITH ONE ANOTHER
Intro: There is no revival in the heart, in the home, in the church – until we get out relationships right .. Jesus made that truth plain -
Matthew 5:23-24 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
God says in Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption – and follows by describing how we should treat each other.
2 Cor 2:11 - Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. – Speaking of forgiving one another
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. – Here the relationship between a husband and wife is said to effect our spiritual relationship with God.
We then, must get our relationships right, if we want God to revive us in our heart, in our home and in the house of God ….
1/ Relationships in the Family
Col 3:18-21
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Submit to the Lord by submitting to your husband (and trusting the Lord)
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Love – unselfish, others first … bitter - don’t provoke or exasperate them, be bitter for what you do for them
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Obey, yes – honor --- obey with respect, treat them with respect – well pleasing – something to do for God. Not rebellious or talking back …
Collin was 5. As a disciplinary measure, his folks sent him to his room. “Stay there until you are ready to act right”, they said. After 20 minutes, Collin reappeared.
“I have 2 things to say,” he announced, “Number one – on one ever comes into my room again, and Number two – I am king of the world.” And he went back to his room.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Provoke – exasperate: expect too much, criticize but don’t praise, inconsistent discipline and example
2/ Relationships in the Family of God
*** God expects us to be kind one to another – putting away unkindness and criticism
Listen to Eph 4:31-
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Compare that with Luke 6:37
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
*** God expects us to forgive one another
Eph 4:32 -
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Jesus Set the example for forgiveness
Col 3:13-15
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Jesus had a legitimate quarrel against us and forgave us … requires the same of us
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. This kind of love for one another is the evidence of real Christian maturity – where what Christ wants is more important than what I want
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. There is peace … there is unity … there can be a thankful, not a complaining, spirit.
Then there is 2 Cor 2:10
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Here is a problem – when someone does something to offend a brother, that is between them – you don’t jump in on that offense – you don’t hold a grudge
*** God Expects us to Restore the Fallen Brethren
2 Cor 2:6- 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Here the purpose of church discipline – withdrawal of fellowhip – is explained – RESTORATION.
*** God Expects us to Put Away Offenses, without keeping a record
Matt 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven
*** God Expects us to Recognize His Hand, even in our relationships with others
Gen 50:20
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Maybe you need to get some relationships right with your family – husband, wife, parents, children …. You need to go to that person and bring them with you to the altar so you can pray together and get that relationship restored ….
Maybe you need to get some relationship with your church family right – some brother or sister in Christ – you need to come and pray over that relationship, confess to the Lord - then go to that brother or sister and restore that relationship – pray with them, hug them …
Listen: This is not the time to point fingers or blame anyone – it is time to restore!
