Living Between the Extremes - Lesson 7 - Biblical Boundary #5

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.

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

Here is what I believe the progression of our spiritual growth should be.
What I am basing this on is how my spiritual progression has gone,
Backed up by other men in this church I spoke with.

- We start out as a dry brittle sponge. Every message we hear was written for us. We soak it all in. How did Pastor know I needed that? Much like that dry sponge soaking up any moisture found, our new spirituality is ready to receive anything given to it.
- We aren’t as absorbent. Some messages are for us, some don’t apply. We are not the new person in church.
- We grow in our spirituality, we need Sunday evening and Wednesday evenings as we realize Sunday morning is more specifically for the unsaved or the newly saved Christian.
- We need help from ‘Study Bibles’ and commentary notes to help us understand the Bible better
- We outgrow commentaries as we find them to not always be accurate as they are one man’s opinion, or a consensus of men’s opinions.
- We seek the Lord’s understanding to reveal His Word to us. He gives us a deeper understanding of scripture. Ideas that we feel we are the first person to come up with. Later we find out that others have thought that too. Either way we were given that inspiration independent of someone else’s opinion.

Opening thoughts on my opinion of growth…

Where might you be on that scale if you believe it to be accurate…





Here is our 5th guideline for establishing Biblical Boundaries

Would it cause a brother to stumble?

Let’s look at that as it applies to Husband and Wife relations

1 Peter 3:1-2, ‘Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.’

Even before you say it, you are right.
Us men don’t deserve your subjection,
However the Lord put it here.

No, a husband is not allowed to blame his wife for his lack of growth,
Just as a wife is not allowed to blame her husband.
With that in mind we are not to take that for granted,
And hinder the other.

What advice do you have for us here?





1 Peter 3:7, ‘Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.’

Two parts here.
Give her the honor she deserves as the Lord commands.
That our prayers be not hindered.

Women what advice do you have for us men as how we can honor you?

Men, why would we want our prayers hindered?





Romans 14:13-23, ‘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 know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.’

There is a lot there.
What jumps out to you?





Remember we are talking about a Biblical boundary,
Would it cause a brother to stumble.
I’m not talking about that person who walks into church
with their shoe laces already tied together.

I’m not talking about the Arabs who will be offended by the Jews
no matter how much land they give them.

I’m talking about offending someone else in this room.
Someone in another classroom.
Someone who doesn’t go to Sunday School
And who only comes to church three times a month.

Romans 15:1-4, ‘We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.’

Verse 2 jumps out at me.
Pleasing our neighbor.

What are your thoughts here?





God made us all different.
Some are analytical and drive themselves crazy
looking at everything from every possible angle.
God made us that way, we are to walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but as wise.

God made some more lackadaisical,
Things don’t bother them like water off a ducks back,
Or in one ear and out the other.

Some have no tolerance for nonsense.
Some have no expectations of others and expect them to act that way.

God made us different for a reason.
He made me one-way and you another.
You are not wrong because you are not like me
And vice versa.

Galatians 6:1, ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’

Here it says a fault.
Something we can attach a scripture to.
Not, ‘I don’t think you should have done that.’

Spirit of meekness.
Think about setting a broken bone,
You have to be very careful so it heals properly.

Can you give me some advice as to how I am supposed to do this?





1 Cor. 8:10-13, ‘For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.’

Why do we fret over these matters?

There’s enough black and white that we don’t have to dabble in the grey.

So which is it?
I won’t do it in front of you, or I won’t do it?





Here is something I read this week in the book ‘Made to count.’
Manage your strengths or they will manage you.
And
Ignore your weaknesses and they will trip you up.

I don’t want you to stumble,
And I need help at times,
Let’s work together, growing in one accord,
To be the individual He designed us to be
And the part of the body He also designed us to be.

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