The Enemies I love

The Enemies I love

Intro

Tonight very important teaching for everyone.  Thanks for being here those that are in the middle of finals… If you pay attention this will help you for the rest of your life. 

I always say that the area where it is hardest to hear from God is in the area of relationships.  Not just romantic interests either…friendships

What happens when the people most damaging to you and your relationship with Jesus are the ones that are closest to you?

What about when the authorities over you are against everything you stand for in the Lord

What happens when you allow yourself to “fall for” the one you aren’t supposed to?

Scenarios:

*Come back from rafting on fire for the Lord, but as time goes by people you grew tight with got busier schedules and the time to hang just isn’t there?  But all of a sudden an old “friend” calls up and wants to hang.  What do you do?  You could influence them for Jesus!  But since you are just learning to walk yourself, you are too prone to falling. 

*You make a decision to date only Christians because you feel that that is what Jesus wants from you, and it would be the healthiest thing.  But as time goes by, other friends are going with so-and-so to the formal, and when they ask who you are going with you make up some excuse why you aren’t going because you feel like a loser, even though you made a winner’s choice.  So when the guy who lives like a hellion, but goes to church and believes in God asks you out what do you do? 

Hungering for Completeness

Colossians 2:10 (NLT) "and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe."

Some people make bad choices because they are so stinkin’ lonely, or just bored all the time. 

God shaped hole.

Filled with His Spirit, not God from a distance.

Misplaced Mercy

Mercy is one of the greatest attributes that we can show to people.  But sometimes we can let our heart lead us astray.  We can compromise what God has given us for the sake of not hurting someone’s feelings.  I want you to know that God is a merciful loving God, but He is also righteous and holy and He knows the right path for us even if it seems wrong at the time.  If you have chosen to follow Jesus then there will be times of blind faith, when you either trust Him or you die spiritually.

Missionary Dating

Missionary Friendships (that drag you down)

Nothing is more important than maintaining a healthy relationship with the Lord.  Without that you won’t be any good to anyone.  Do not in your pride think that since you are a pretty good guy or girl that you will be of any real value.  You are broken, we all are.  Jesus even lays it out straight for us when He says that “apart from Him we can do nothing.” 

Prov 16:25 (NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Matthew 10:34-39 (NLT) "“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it."

Altar/Summary

Balancing statement:  Focus of tonight is how we sometimes have to sever connections with others…But remember God calls us to connect with people and live connected.  No one is called to be some lone ranger Christian.  It’s just that sometimes with the circumstances that we talked about, we need to make a hard and uncomfortable choice.