Wednesday October 14, 2020
Two Weeks ago we talked about Relational Connections. These connections are necessary to walk in freedom!
Tonight we’re going to be talking about the wisdom of having boundaries in our lives!
- What we learn first about the image of God is that He’s connected and accomplishes His desires through those connections and enjoys relationship!
Genesis 1:2-3- “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
John 1:1- “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
God is connected in that relational bond! And He’s passed on that part of His image to us!
2. What we also learn about the image of God is he’s separate from the one’s He is one with or connected with.
THIS IS CALLED BOUNDARIES!
The trinity is a reality! You have God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, ALL ONE but three distinct people.
Jesus constantly communicated about and to the Father, God. Jesus even said, “hey I’ve got to leave so the Holy Spirit will come.”
YET HE PRAYED IN JOHN 17
John 17:20-21- “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
God has passed on His image to us. We become one with God but we don’t become God. God is separate! THAT’S BOUNDARIES MY FRIEND!
There’s a New Age teaching that’s called Pantheism. It teaches, we are god, we are one. all things in the universe are god. It loses it’s separateness!
Isaiah 45:5- “I am the Lord, and there is no-one else; There is no God except me.”
God is separate yet He is one with us through His Son Jesus Christ!
BOUNDARIES!
A child is connected to their mother but they grow and develop autonomy!
Our freedom from and unto the one’s we love!
It’s the ability to choose, own things, and be in control of me. It’s called leaning self-control!
What we do is lose control of ourselves trying to control other people.
No verse says you should control other people. We should grant each other freedom and have control of ourselves!
THINK ABOUT THIS.
We never want to break the will of someone. We want to discipline that will and challenge that will but not break that will.
Will is part of the image of God! Yes it needs to be sanctified and strengthened but not broken!
Someone that doesn’t have a will, will be abused by the will of others!
Boundaries are about freedom, ownership, self-control and responsibility!
WE ARE ONE WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT WE ARE SEPARATE.
Boundaries are about self-control, not controlling others!
Mark 10:7-8- “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one,”
A man and woman leaves the most important relationship in their lives and clings to the now most important relationship in their lives. Leave and cleave.
THIS DEMANDS BOUNDARIES! A MARRIAGE WILL NEVER BE ACCORDING TO GOD’S DESIGN AND BE WHAT GOD’S CALLED IT TO BE IF THERE’S NOT BOUNDARIES PROTECTING THE PRIORITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
BY GOD’S DESIGN, THERE’S ALWAYS RESPONSIBILITY ON BOTH SIDES!!
Revelation 3:20- “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Some babies have a nursing mother and the child has to be simulated to nurse.
Everybody has a roll and when we try and take that roll it’s not going to work!
God says, “I’ve secured the promised land for you, now you have to go possess it!
It’s impossible to be an addict, dysfunctional or irresponsible alone. Someone’s got to make excuses for you, cover for you or take responsibility for you.
A BOUNDARY SAYS NO TO THE EVIL, NO TO THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY!
SO HOW DO I ESTABLISH HEALTHY BOUNDARIES?
Grace-Truth and Time
I’m going to come and connect with you and support you and help YOU HAVE SELF-CONTROL. BUT I’M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY SELF-CONTROL!
I’m going to help you be responsible but I’m not going to be irresponsible in the process.
Matthew 18:15-17- “If your fellow believer sins against you, you must go to that one privately and attempt to resolve the matter. If he responds, your relationship is restored. But if his heart is closed to you, then go to him again, taking one or two others with you. You’ll be fulfilling what the Scripture teaches when it says, ‘Every word may be verified by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ And if he refuses to listen, then share the issue with the entire church in hopes of restoration. If he still refuses to respond, disregarding the fellowship of his church family, you must disregard him as though he were an outsider, on the same level as an unrepentant sinner.”
I’VE GOT BOUNDARIES