Download - Breaking Free
Breaking FreeBreaking Free
The "Onlys"The "Onlys"
"It's just the way I am…""It's just the way I am…"
"It's just the way I am…""It's just the way I am…"
If our Jesus isn't powerful enoughIf our Jesus isn't powerful enoughWe need a new JesusWe need a new Jesus
Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness
Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness
Wholeness produces WholenessWholeness produces Wholeness
Brokenness causes BrokennessBrokenness causes Brokenness
Wholeness produces WholenessWholeness produces Wholeness
When Wholeness touches BrokennessWhen Wholeness touches BrokennessBrokenness is made WholeBrokenness is made Whole
LeperLeper
Woman with the IssueWoman with the Issue
Your brokenness…?Your brokenness…?
She took great care of himShe took great care of himSuffering with grace to do soSuffering with grace to do so
Everyone agreed- "She's a saint!"Everyone agreed- "She's a saint!"
Everyone said he was a loving husbandEveryone said he was a loving husbandShe was lucky to haveShe was lucky to have
Such a great "catch"Such a great "catch"
Flat Pepsi…Flat Pepsi…
What dysfunctional behaviorsWhat dysfunctional behaviorsHave you seen masquerade as love?Have you seen masquerade as love?
What dysfunctional behaviorsWhat dysfunctional behaviorsHave you seen masquerade as love?Have you seen masquerade as love?
- Jealousy- Jealousy- Possessiveness- Possessiveness
- Controlling- Controlling- Manipulative- Manipulative- Self-centered- Self-centered
Self-centered:Self-centered:
- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it
Self-centered:Self-centered:
- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it
- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting
Self-centered:Self-centered:
- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it
- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting
- Because it makes me happy- Because it makes me happyTo make you happyTo make you happy
Self-centered:Self-centered:
- For what I can get out of it- For what I can get out of it
- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting- For as long as I am Interested/benefitting
- Because it makes me happy- Because it makes me happyTo make you happyTo make you happy
- To be seen as loving and giving- To be seen as loving and giving
We can onlyonly loveTo the extent
That we know God's love
The secret to God working in you
is God working through you
We can onlyonly loveTo the extent
That we know God's love
We love because he first loved us- I John 4:19
Created in his image
Created in his image
Fallen
Created in his image
Fallen
Murder of a brother
God's righteousness demands justice
Yet he still loves
Jesus dies
God shows his loveshows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us- Romans 5:8
In Christ Jesus we have:
- An example
Jesus means we have:
- An example- The power to follow
We can onlyonly loveTo the extent
That we know God's love
Agape:
Unconditional, others-centeredSeeking their best interestsWhen they don't deserve it
Even when it costs
Agape:
Unconditional, others-centeredSeeking their best interestsWhen they don't deserve it
Even when it costs
I can't- and won't- outside ofGod's love in me
The secret to God working in you
is God working through you
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the onlyonly way we'll know we're living truly,
living in God's reality.
It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when
there is something to it.
For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than
we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer
accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!
- John 3:18-21 (Mssg)
The greatest loveComing from us to others
Doesn't originate with usDoesn't originate with us
- Humility
- Gratitude
- Grace towards thosewho don't know yet
(there was a time when you didn't…)
Problems loving certain people…
- Spouse making you mad
- Negative towards spiritual family
- Whole groups of people
The answer to your problemsLoving People
Isn't to do better in loving them But to drawer closer to God
God isn't into betterGod is into new
God isn't into betterGod is into new
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me
- Psalm 51:10
The chain of unhealthy loveIs broken by the agape love of God
The OnlyOnly way to love:Actions
Love doesn't wishLove doesn't wishLove doesLove does
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down
our lives for the brothers.
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his
heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
Little children, let us notnot love in word or talk but
in deed and in truth- 1 John 3:16-18
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and
one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”
without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
- James 2:15-16
Love doesn't wishLove doesn't wishLove doesLove does
"Yesterday after marriage counseling she turned right onto the street and
passed a house…
Then she saw this…
She thought to herself…“Self, Love doesn’t wish. Love Does.”
And pulled into the driveway.
This is Hazel. She 81.
Heather told Hazel to go have some tea while she mowed the rest of her lawn…
I get this text message…
I think to myself…"Self, how are you so lucky?"
Instead of seeing Hazel drinking tea on her porch, Heather hears another lawnmower come from around the corner…
Hazel has 2 lawnmowers.
Hazel gives Heathera Dr. Pepper…because, Love Does
Heather drinks her Dr. Pepper and cleans off her heels.
Love doesn't wish…Love Does.
OnlyOnly if my love for GodTranslates into obedience
Do I love God
Love doesn't wish.Love does.
OnlyOnly if my love for peopleTranslates into the action of serving
Do I love people
I OnlyOnly love GodIf I love people
If I can'tcan't love peopleI don'tdon't love God
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he
who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God
whom he has not seen- 1 John 4:20
The secret to God working in you
is God working through you
Love is…AgapeNot emotion or warm fuzzies
Love is action, not just words
Unloving is part of brokenness
When Wholeness touches BrokennessBrokenness is made Whole
Jesus is exampleAnd power to follow
Do I have a hard time:
Loving the unlovely?
Loving those close to me?
Loving groups of people?
Is my love:
Dysfunctional?
Jealous, Manipulative, Possessive?
Self-Centered?
"We love becauseHe first loved us…"
The answer is Jesus
- Knowing him- Walking closer
"I will NOT do better…
I WILL walk closer"
As a church…Pray for, center on, walk with
Love doesn't wish.Love does.