Encounter Church
Sunday August 09, 2020
Boundaries
God is a boundary setter!
In Genesis 1 God looks out over the earth and the earth was “formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters.”
Genesis 1:3-4- “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.”
God set a boundary between light and darkness.
How does God bring order to chaos? By setting boundaries!
Genesis 1:9-10- “Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”
God set a boundary between the dry land and the seas.
Proverbs 8:29- “I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,”
Psalms 74:17- “You set the boundaries of the earth,..”
ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES IS SOMETHING GOD JUST DOES!
The most amazing thing to me is that God even sets boundaries on Himself!
People argue over whether God is sovereign or man has freewill. Which is it? It is both!
In His sovereignty, God has chosen to give man freewill. He has the power to not grant that and He has the power to grant it.
In His place of infinite power God has chosen to grant freewill to people. This is illustrated in the following scripture.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
God desires that all come to repentance and be saved. In His omnipotence, He could force that on everyone. But He sets a boundary on His own use of power, so that everyone’s freewill is respected.
God sets boundaries for himself and toward others! And it’s something we must do if we are going to enjoy life to its fullest.
Genesis 2:15-17- “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Adam and Eve, of their own free will, violated the boundary God had established and then God exercised His sovereignty and took them out of the garden.
Adam and Eve learned there was a consequence to violating the boundary God had established!
THERE ARE AWESOME CONSEQUENCES TO LIVING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES GOD HAS ESTABLISHED FOR US.
Deuteronomy 4:39,40- “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”
CONCLUSION: What do I believe is the most important boundary God has established?
Exodus 20:2-3- “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
What do I believe is the most important boundary God has established?
God must be First!
Deuteronomy 6:14-15-“Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Don’t fool around with other gods, the gods of your neighbors, because God, your God, who is alive among you is a jealous God.”
JESUS SAID IT THIS WAY AND I LOVE IT!
Matthew 22:37-38- “Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
HOW DO I KNOW IF GOD IS FIRST IN MY LIFE, THERE’S NOTHING THAT COMES BEFORE HIM, HOW DO I KNOW?
I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND READ MANY THINGS THAT ARE INDICATORS OF GOD BEING FIRST IN MY LIFE.
IF I DO THIS. IF I DO THAT. IF I GIVE THIS. IF I SAY THIS.
But here is where I think it begins.
Is my relationship with God my highest priority? It’s all about Love.
Am I totally invested in my relationship with God? Do I love him with ALL?
WHY DO I BELIEVE IT BEGINS THERE?
Revelation 2:2-6- “I know all that you’ve done for me—you have worked hard and persevered. I know that you don’t tolerate evil. You have tested those who claimed to be apostles and proved they are not, for they were imposters. I also know how you have bravely endured trials and persecutions because of my name, yet you have not become discouraged. But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.”
CLOSING: Boundaries! God is a boundary setter! As long as Adam and Eve lived within the Boundary God had established that had everything they needed in life!
Everyday they obeyed God and didn’t indulge themselves in the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they were PUTTING GOD FIRST!
BUT WHEN GOD WAS NO LONGER FIRST, AND THEY PUT THEIR FOCUS ON THEMSELVES. THEY CROSSED A BOUNDARY GOD HAD ESTABLISHED.
BUT WHN I LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES GOD HAS ESTABLISHED, SUCH AS, GOD YOU’RE FIRST IN MY LIFE:
Psalm 145:3- “God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.”
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you in this message?