Living Between the Extremes - Lesson 12 - pre - Conclusion

Introduction

Some of our Biblical boundaries are clearly defined as pertains to our relationship with God.
Our relationship with our parents and our relationship with others.
Even our relationship with our spouse.

Even if we don’t like what those boundaries are they are clearly defined.
We can modify them in our minds but they are clearly defined.
We can even say, ‘we don’t believe that that’s what the verse means.’

If the boundary is not clearly defined or if ‘we don’t think’ it is clearly defined
We can know the right direction.

Even in so-called “gray areas,” we can determine biblical boundaries
through the application of God’s Word.
From a practical standpoint, we can do this
by asking ourselves questions based on biblical truths.

Once again here are our eight guidelines for establishing Biblical Boundaries

· Am I being brought under the power of something that should not be controlling my life?
· Am I edifying myself or others?
· Can I ask God to bless it with a clear conscience?
· If the Lord returned at this moment, would I be ashamed?
· Would it cause a brother to stumble?
· Would it be cause for a lost person to reject the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior?
· Dose my conscience condemn me for it?
· What is good or right about this thing that I would allow it in my life?

Opening thoughts…





Testimony of why I wanted to do this class

Our foundational verse is…

Proverbs 11:1-3 ‘A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.’

Does anything jump out at you in those verses that you would like to share?





Pastor Moses told us before from the pulpit,
If the Bible has an opinion about a matter –
Than we have an opinion about that same matter.
If the Bible is silent on a matter –
Than we are to be silent about a matter.

2Peter 1:20, ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.’

So how is it that people can disagree about what a scripture is saying?





I don’t speak Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic.
I speak English.
You will hear words like,
‘Well what that means…’ or
‘If you read the original text…’

My answer.
I don’t care what you think it says or what others think is says.
What does it say?
In addition read the context.
The whole sentence, paragraph and chapter.
Then let’s see what it says.
Living between the extremes.

I believe we are caught between the person we are and the person we want to be.
In addition to that we are either living in the past or in the future.
Are we studying the scriptures for ourselves to live our lives?
Or do we trust what we have heard others say?
Let’s search the scriptures and find the balance,
that safe place where we can reside.

I have heard people say that McDonalds is sin.
Mormons believe that coffee is sin.
Down south the major cash crop is tobacco and they smoke.

Jesus’ first miracle was to turn water into wine.
It doesn’t say He drank it,
Does he condone it?

Matthew 15:11, ‘Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.’

What advice do you have for us here?





Let’s focus more on that,
What comes out of our mouth.
Others are watching what we do.
The unsaved world to let us know when we slip.
Even our ‘friends’ at church.

I can’t worry about your co-workers.
I also am not going to worry about those people in church
who are going to gossip about you.

Let’s assess our heart and make sure our motives are true.
Let’s review the scriptures to make sure our heart is in check.
Let’s not be driven and motivated by things like:
Guilt, shame, intimidation, coercion and other such words

Having said all that
let’s make sure we are not the person
doing the intimidation and the shaming.

1 Corinthians 8:9, ‘But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.’

Again thinking about living between the extremes,
What advice do you have for us here?





Some questions to consider…

- Are you stronger spiritually today than you were a month ago, or a year ago?
- Do you struggle with the same problem areas of your life as you did before?
- A rut is a grave with both ends kicked out of it. Are you in a rut?
- If so are you attempting to climb out or do you feel comfortable there?


1 Corinthians 8:13, ‘Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.’

Your thoughts here…





I believe because of the pain we have gone through previously
we are quick to point out others faults.
We are also very quick to point out when we are right.
Possibly because we never received the praise we deserved.


Romans 14:13, ‘Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.’

I stated before that I believe some people get out of bed in the morning
with their shoe laces tied together.
Then they want to blame us when they trip and fall.

Let’s rule out those people with this verse they are in a different category.
How can we use this verse as it applies to our true brothers and sisters?





Conclusion

We can please some of the people some of the time,
And we can please all of the people none of the time.
Rather than proving to others that we are always right
Let’s rest in the fact that the Lord knows we are right.

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