Its ok to be Limited

Early on in Ministry I bought into the impossible Standard that I had to be available to everyone for anything 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Now before I go on let me say I am available 24/7 to anyone going through a legitimate issue…sickness, death, Even a spiritual crisis. These are important and I am honored to be there for you or anyone during these times.

However I have learned that in order fo me to be of any use to God I need to be led by the Holy Spirit above all. This means setting limits that allow me to lead from my greatest abilities instead of others expectations.

Setting resonable Limits on invasive people is Critical to allowing the Holy Spirit to speak in your life.

Paul spells how how we set these limits

2 Timothy 2: 22-26

2 Timothy 2:22–26 NLT

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Paul is letting Timothy know that no matter how close to God Timothy is there will be people that will want to hijack the agenda and as much as we would like to ignore them or even cut them out of our processes we must engage with them.

We need not feel guilty for limiting the influence of people that are not spiritually, emotionally, or even mentally as healthy as they could be.

When we are dealing with such people we are to be:

Be Patient not Permissive

When we hear the term limits we can take it to one of two extremes…Completely block people from our life…or let people take control of our life. Both of the extremes are bad.

Limits are and exercise of Patients not Permissiveness. God wants us to stay focused on mission regardless of pressure from others or self preference.

Paul tells us in this scripture just how to practically do this.

Engage with People who Keep you grounded

As we engage with people we trust it helps us to not become self centered... v 22

Refuse the back in forth arguments

Arguments automatically put everyone including you on the defensive....The object the becomes winning and not consensus. v 23,24

Lovingly share the truth with those who are in opposition.

Avoid arguing your point just outline your thoughts…if allowed. 25a

If we believe that God is leading us it is not important to win the argument…it is only important to make sure people truly understand what God is leading us to

Allow God to change their hearts

25b...Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth...

Perhaps not because God can’t but becuase God will not violate free will. Some people will never come around…

Pray that they will come to awareness

Prayer and develops a genuine concern for even the most difficult people. v26

illl...New Baptists apologizing to me for believing the worst…I continued to be involved with the community and even with the one that spoke bad about me…I limited my time with him but I continued to love and minister from a Wesleyan perspective.

Consistency and patience will win out even if invasive people never embrace you.

This is why limitations are important…we do not get to decide who drops into our lives. People tend to interject themselves in our lives and the problem we often have is we think as Christians we are obliged to allow them to affect our lives even if it is in a negative way.

When in fact Jesus didn’t even do this. Jesus limited people…last week he moved on to another group of people becuase He was called to preach the good news to everyone.

This was limiting invasive people. He did not ignore them or cast them out of his life…he did what he could for as long as he could and moved on.

This is a tough practice to master again becuase it requires that we are in close relationship with God. Paul highlights this when he says that we should

2 Timothy 2:22 NLT

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Limiting invasive people is not the same as isolating ourselves from people that think differently.

In fact it requires we invite an intimate relationship with Holy Spirit and surround ourselves with those who call on the Lord So that we can adequately deal with difficult people and situations.

Active participation in Christian Community (The Church) is important. When we seek Holy Spirit together we learn from Holy Spirit together.

When we seek youthful or worldly pleasure we become isolated from each other and from Holy Spirit.

Where is Holy Spirit in your life? I was asked this by my spiritual advisor the other day and I did not really know what to say…I was stumped…what did he mean?

Then it hit me…the reason I struggle with other peoples expectations and my own expectations is becuase I spend more time seeking a good reputation than I do seeking the power of Holy Spirit in my life...

So much of my struggle is not because of others but becuase of my need to be “The one you can count on” What if Instead of me being “The Guy” I was just with The real One”

Where is Holy Spirit in your life today? Are you with him or trying to impress him? Are you with God or are you trying to impress others?

Are you unintentionally running toward youthful passions? Or are you looking for ways to enjoy the company of those who are calling on the Lord?

The Holy Spirit wants to lead you with power, and wisdom. Let Holy Spirit be with you so you can limit and lead invasive people in your life.

Response:

What ways can you just Be with Holy Spirit this week?

What ways can you enjoy the company of others in our congregation who are calling on the Lord as well?

Communion is a great start…time to be with Holy Spirit and Call on the Lord together.

Communion/Benediction