Reconciling Relationships Series

Reconciling Relationships

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Stir = with a view to incitement, irritate, spur e.g. irritate and provoke for love and good works

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another

Schism = a split or gap, division, rent

Relationships exist in three main areas

1. Family Those family reunions were a place where you were supposed to learn how to get along with one another

2. Marriage In this relationship God teaches us to die to self and live for someone else

3. Church To learn about relationships – being part of a body – appreciating one another

Relationships exist at three levels

1. Fellowship - daily

2. Partnership – connected by some thing

3. Friendships - acquaintances – core - intimate

The biggest attack by the Devil is against these three areas because the Devil knows that if we can ever work this out – watch out!

Only 1 out of 7 Christians are in any relationship where there is accountability where someone can look you in the eye and speak into your life

Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Coming together for Doctrine – Fellowship – Communion/ Covenant (Breaking bread was a time of blessing) – Prayer, this is God’s desire and plan for believers

What keeps us from intimacy with other believers?

• There is a social trend of isolationism and disengagement

Home – work – home – drive through – home delivery – internet – dating online – self fulfillment

• The fear of becoming vulnerable – the original sin factor

• Offences - Matthew 18:7 “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Skandalon = trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare, occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling block.

Wholeness comes from whole relationship

Benefits to Proper Relationship

1. They defeat the Devil

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

1 John 2:11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Darkness = means misery – the reason why most of us are miserable is because we have broken relationships – Is it possible for believers to walk in darkness? Yes if we believe this scripture!

Acts 3:21 God is a God of Restoration. The Bible is a book about restoration. From beginning to end we see God moving touching and restoring those things that have been lost particularly man.

The Bible opens with the account of a Creator God who is brooding over the loss of a perfect state. He is concerned, the Holy Spirit moves, God is near ready to accomplish His work. He does and we see the account of His work in Genesis Chapter 1. Genesis meaning beginnings it is the seed plot of the whole Bible. It shows us the seed from which all things grow.

DAY ONE LIGHT AND DARKNESS - John 1:5 “the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”. Two conflicting powers are striving to control the day, causing a continually shifting but ceaseless battlefield.

LIGHT DARKNESS

Day Night

“movement” a motion “deviation” to wind or turn

to illuminate to hide from view

to reveal to conceal

John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.