THE BLESSED LIFE #3: BLESSED RELATIONSHIPS
THE BIG IDEA: God’s desire is that we would experience blessed relationships. This happens as we walk in love and forgiveness, purity and faithfulness.
THE GUIDELINES FOR LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:17-20).
• If we teach and do His commandments, we will be great in the Kingdom.
• FATHER ILLUSTRATION: As a father, I have rules for my kids because I love them.
• We don’t keep God’s commands to earn our salvation. They are for our own good!
ILLUSTRATION:
Charles Spurgeon, The Doctrines of Grace do not Lead to Sin.
“There is the story of half-a-dozen boys who had severe fathers, accustomed to beat them within an inch of their lives. Another boy was with them who was well beloved by his parents, and known to do so. These young boys met together to hold a council of war about robbing an orchard. They were all anxious to get about it except the favoured youth, who did not enjoy the proposal. One of them cried out, "You need not be afraid: if our fathers catch us at this work, we shall be half-killed, but your father won’t lay a hand upon you." The little boy answered, "And do you think because my father is kind to me, that therefore I will do wrong and grieve him? I will do nothing of the sort to my dear father. He is so good to me that I cannot vex him.”
ILLUSTRATION OF THE BLESSING FROM OBEYING GOD’S WORD:
“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5:1-6).
• Because Simon Peter obeyed Jesus’ Word, they were abundantly blessed!
BLESSED RELATIONSHIPS #1: LOVE AND FORGIVENESS:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old: ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger o the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will be no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” (Matt. 5:21-26).
• Remember, our highest calling is to love God and love people.
• If we don’t love people, we don’t really love God (1 John 4:20).
• Be quick to make reconciliation in relationships.
• If someone has offended you, go and talk to them about it (Matt. 18:15).
• To have blessed relationships, we must walk in love and forgiveness.
BLESSED RELATIONSHIPS #2: PURITY:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, for it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30).
• Jesus said that blessings don’t come just from an external observance of the rules.
• We must have a clean hands AND a pure heart!
• Jesus said that lust is just as bad as adultery. This is why pornography is wrong.
ILLUSTRATION: A man and his wife were shopping at a mall kiosk, and a beautiful young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. His eyes followed her. Without looking up from the item she was examining, his wife asked, "Was it worth the trouble you’re in?"
• In verses 29-30, Jesus is talking about radical amputation – but he is not telling you to actually physically cut off your hands or pluck out your eyes!
• Radical amputation = to cut off all accesses in your life to temptation.
• To have blessed relationships, we must walk in purity.
BLESSED RELATIONSHIPS #3: FAITHFULNESS:
“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you what whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” (Matt. 5:31-32).
• God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Why? “When two people marry, God stands as a witness to the marriage, sealing it with the strongest possible word: covenant. Covenant speaks of faithfulness and enduring commitment… Divorce is here described as violence. To initiate divorce does violence to God’s intention for marriage and to the mate to whom one has been joined.” (Jack Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Bible).
• People today don’t understand the Biblical concept of covenant – promise – faithfulness.
• God’s plan for marriage is one man and one woman, faithful for life.
• Sex before marriage is wrong. Living together before marriage is wrong.
• True love waits. The Bible says, “A friend loves at all times.” (Prov. 17:17).
• To have blessed relationships, we must walk in faithfulness – and love at all times.
STORY: “Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him… But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one… And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11).
• To those who have been victims of divorce (through no fault of your own), or those who have been divorced in the past, Jesus says, “I don’t condemn you.”
• To those who are married now but thinking of divorce, Jesus says, “Go and sin no more.” In other words, don’t get divorced – stay together, work it out!
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.” (Deut. 30:19-20).
• How do we choose death? anger, hatred, lust, adultery and divorce
• How do we choose life and blessing? love, forgiveness, purity and faithfulness
BENEDICTION: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
